Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 67
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 67
“If it’s a matter of imports…”
“Yes. I would like to purchase that potion at a fair price. I will pay any price.”
“…!”
At that extraordinary offer, Freyania’s eyes widened to saucers.
For a closed-off nation like the Elf Kingdom to propose an import deal first was something that happened maybe once every few centuries.
No, there might never have been such a case until now!
“You might not understand, being human, but this is no ordinary matter.”
Embrog added.
“Not to boast, but our country has many things you humans would covet. All manner of magic stones, special fabrics, and even special plants that alchemists would desire.”
“M-Master. I can assure you, this is indeed a tremendous opportunity.”
Freyania nodded as if to confirm it was true.
“I see.”
Lion agreed with a nod.
It was thanks to the knowledge he’d gained from playing <In the World>.
One of the first ways a beginner could earn money was through the trade system.
And the place that paid the highest prices was none other than the Elf Kingdom.
Of course, opening a trade route was challenging, but once you did, you could rake in silver and earn some neat items.
So, as Freyania had said, it was indeed a good opportunity…
unfortunately, Lion had no need for money or items.
He was an Asteri, after all!
“Is that because this potion looks useful?”
Lion took the spirit water from his pocket and shook it.
“Yes.”
Moreover, it wasn’t something they desperately needed and that Lion had to keep producing.
They had said spirit stones were as common as dirt in the Elf Kingdom.
So the only reason they wanted it was simply because its effects were a bit better.
To put it bluntly, it was an item of pure avarice.
“Then I’ll send you off with a few bottles.”
“That is not what I was seeking…”
“And if you ever need more, please visit my territory. If you bring the materials, I’ll make it for you.”
“…Pardon?”
To refuse money?
A human?
Tialli’s eyes widened for an instant before returning to normal.
If things stayed this way, they wouldn’t have a stable potion supply, but they’d essentially receive free potions in small quantities.
Why would he do this?
“I thought it would be a great opportunity for you, Lord Lion Asteri. May I ask why you’re turning it down?”
“As you know, I’m not in need of money. I simply enjoy alchemy for its own sake; I have no goal of gaining anything from it.”
Above all, he didn’t want to stand out.
Now was the time to push Rickshel forward.
“And I’m a bit embarrassed to say this, but until a few months ago, I had a life that was practically on borrowed time.”
“A-A borrowed time?”
It was the first time Embrog had heard this, so he asked in shock. ‘Borrowed time’?
Human lifespans were fleeting enough as it was!
‘So that’s why he looks so pale?’
“If you wish, you may ask the Head of the family. In any case, perhaps because of that, I still want to take it easy with my body.”
“…”
That meant he couldn’t mass-produce it.
Now there was no arguing with his refusal.
“Of course, I’m not saying I won’t make any. You offered a good deal, and Endairon has improved that much, so I’d like to do my best, even if only on a personal level. So I’d appreciate it if you could think of it that way.”
“…! I see.”
Tialli finally nodded, as if satisfied.
At first, they had thought Lion was thoughtless…
‘He’s deeper than I imagined.’
Lion Asteri’s desire to be a friend to the elves had to be sincere.
After all, hadn’t he offered to provide the finest gift he could—the spirit water—without any conditions?
And in a weakened body, at that!
That was the problem!
‘Such kindness!’
The Elf Kingdom had many ancient traditions.
One of them was to give everything possible to those who approached with sincerity.
It sounded grand, but in summary it was this:
a spear to enemies, generosity to friends.
And in this situation…
Hadn’t Lion personally said he wanted to be friends with the very nation where the elves lived?
And sincerely, at that!
With all the effort he could muster!
In truth, normally they would have to contact the Elder Elf right away to obtain permission… But Tialli remembered a conversation.
“If a situation requiring my authority arises, Tialli, act as if you are me.”
“You’re giving a retired servant too heavy a burden.”
“Hahaha. Just this once, please.”
And so Tialli possessed that authority.
“Very well. From now on, the Elf Kingdom shall be a friend to Lord Lion Asteri.”
“Yes. Please visit often.”
“And…”
Tialli looked at Embrog and Freyania.
“I have a subject I’d like to discuss privately, so I’d appreciate it if you’d excuse us.”
“Understood.”
Embrog withdrew without any particular complaint.
Freyania, however…
“…”
“I have no intention of doing anything untoward, so you may rest easy.”
“Y-You promise?”
“Yes.”
Only after extracting several more promises did she finally slink out of the room,
though she kept shooting looks that said, ‘If anything happens, shout!’ ‘I’ll do whatever I can!’ until the very end.
Click.
“From now on, I will give you a personal gift sent to me by the Elder Elf.”
“The Elder Elf?”
Lion’s eyes rounded at the name.
The Elder Elf was effectively the leader of the elves.
Why would they send him a gift?
“I, too, dare not fathom the Elder One’s profound intentions… but I assure you it will not be an unwelcome gift for you, Lord Lion Asteri.”
“…”
Lion hesitated for a moment.
They had said it was a personal gift.
After having gone so far as to call each other friends, it would be awkward to refuse.
And well… it was a gift, after all.
“This gift will cause you no trouble, Lion. I swear it on my spirit.”
“Then I shall gratefully accept.”
Tialli’s expression brightened at last.
‘I worried he might refuse this too.’
Thank goodness.
Before Lion could change his mind, Tialli quickly produced the gift.
It was…
“…!”
[High-Grade Spirit Stone Set (★★★)]
-Possesses effects far superior to ordinary spirit stones.
-Even a spirit languishing in illness will regain vitality with just one of these stones!
-Can be used as food for newborn spirits.
-Sale price: 5,000 Shillings
It was a collection of high-grade spirit stones.
‘Their appearance is almost like jewels.’
Unlike mid-grade spirit stones, which still looked like rocks, high-grade stones boasted a remarkably delicate luster and transparency.
And the effects were outstanding as well.
Mid-grade spirit stones were said to be effective for ailing spirits, but these were beyond that.
And to think they could be sold in the Shilling Shop…
‘If I sell just one of each element, that’s twenty thousand Shillings, isn’t it?’
A tremendous windfall!
“Spirit stones. My country possesses many high-grade spirit stones, so please don’t feel burdened.”
That probably wasn’t true.
Of course, the Elf Kingdom would have better spirit stones than this human land, but these were high-grade.
‘They must come from a high-grade spirit.’
Given that even among the elite, only Embrog and the recently arrived Tialli had high-grade spirits with them, this was by no means an ‘ordinary’ gift.
Of course, he had no intention of refusing it.
“Is that so? Thank you.”
Lion accepted the gift without showing doubt, as if taking Tialli’s explanation at face value.
He would have refused an ordinary elf’s gift, but…
the sender was the Elder Elf.
They were like an emperor among humans.
A gift from an emperor—this much was within reason.
“I’m the one who’s grateful you accepted so readily. And…”
And?
“Is there another gift?”
“Yes. It might be sudden, but wouldn’t you like to try summoning a spirit?”
“A spirit? But I…”
Lion was flustered by the sudden suggestion.
He appreciated that they thought so highly of him as to suggest a spirit summoning, but…
‘It’s not that simple.’
Lion knew because he had raised a druid in his previous life.
A spirit summoning ritual required a lot more time and mental strength than one might expect.
And that wasn’t all.
The location mattered too.
The ritual had to be performed in a place rich in natural energy to increase the chances of calling a good spirit.
‘At least a place like Mimir Forest.’
He did have such a place.
The end of the Library Labyrinth.
So you might ask, couldn’t he just summon one there?
Lion actually met all three conditions.
He had ample time, and his mental strength was peerless.
But the problem was…
‘I need a spirit mage to assist the summoning.’
Yes. That was the big problem.
Even if this was a chance to call a spirit, he couldn’t bring an outsider into the family’s Labyrinth.
Sensing Lion’s hesitation, Tialli smiled.
‘So he’s troubled by this. He really is a kind soul.’
Tialli was once again misunderstanding the situation!
Spirits are beings from another dimension whose time is infinite.
Elves might at least be able to stay with a companion spirit for a long time, but to a spirit, other beings pass in the blink of an eye.
The problem is that spirits are more sentimental than one would think.
A spirit who has seen its master depart will rarely form a contract again.
It will spend an eternity waiting for that master who might return someday, scattering into nature for a while before reforming.
“I understand. You’re unwell, so you’re worried about what might happen to the spirits left behind. But when the time comes, you can simply dissolve the contract and release them. That is the way of nature.”
Tialli smiled warmly and took a small bottle from their robes.
“I won’t insist you make a contract right now. But please accept this. It’s a powder used when forming a contract with a spirit.”
[Fairy Dust (Unmeasurable)]
-A fairy dust that only a very special fairy can produce under special circumstances. It serves as a medium to communicate and directly contract with spirits from another dimension.
-The finer and more brilliant the powder, the higher the spirit you can contract.
-This item can no longer be obtained.
“This is…”
Lion looked at the fairy dust, which had been pressed into his hands.
Wasn’t this the very thing that could solve the problem of needing an assistant spirit mage that he had just been worrying about?
As far as he knew, this wasn’t something you could easily get.
“Ideally, I’d like you to summon a spirit while I’m still here, but if you make up your mind later, use that powder. Then a spirit that suits you will surely respond.”
Would it be just a response?
Something incredible might appear.
The Elder One had probably bestowed this fairy dust because they believed Lion could summon a spirit of the highest class or above.
‘In that case…’
Tialli pondered for a moment, then added one more thing.
“If possible, I think you should have a guardian… at least one person.”
“A guardian?”
“Yes. For an ordinary spirit I wouldn’t say so, but your spirit affinity is exceptionally high… so a rather rough spirit might appear.”