Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 70
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 70
“Huh?”
Lion was flustered by the nosebleed that dripped down without any real pain.
What did I even do to cause this?
‘When I made the hoe, I actually pushed myself.’
This time, he hadn’t done much of anything.
All he’d done was draw a summoning circle and stand quietly inside it.
‘Now that I think about it, my body does feel a little achy and chilled.’
Lion pressed his nose with his hand to stop the bleeding and took stock of his condition.
He also seemed to have a fever.
‘No way…’
Was my level just that pathetically low?
Could I not even handle that tiny form?
As he thought that and looked at Nature…
The little one was wearing quite a flustered expression too!
Then, as if it couldn’t be helped, it changed its form once more.
Not into a person, but into a smaller, simpler animal form.
Swoosh!
Its shape shifted almost like a liquid, and what appeared was…
a round little chick.
“Pfft.”
Lion couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out.
Isn’t that just way too adorable?
It was supposed to be an ancient-class spirit, but it looked exactly like a ripe yellow potato.
Nature itself seemed shocked by its own appearance, inspecting its wings.
It clearly looked like it was thinking, “My contractor is this weak…?”
Having accepted its own state, Nature pecked at Lion’s finger with its beak as if in protest.
As if demanding to know what he’d been doing to end up like this.
Its expression said, How dare you reduce me, the one called the Spirit King, to this form?
[Bleeding stops through the energy of ‘Nature.’]
Fortunately, it seemed it hadn’t been solely tormenting him.
Even with the spirit’s energy weakened, a Spirit King was still a Spirit King; the nosebleed stopped in an instant.
[Your companion spirit is expressing discontent toward you.]
[To resolve the discontent…]
“Okay. Alright.”
Lion waved away the following explanation with his hand.
Nature pecked at his palm a few more times with its beak and raked at him with its tiny claws to express dissatisfaction, then seemed to give up and plopped down onto his palm.
‘…But then, what happened to the original character?’
Had it died?
This was an ancient spirit, nothing else.
What was more, it was not some other spirit but the very Nature it had once contracted with that had been summoned.
That meant one of two things.
Either it could no longer be summoned and the contract had been dissolved, or it had died and the contract ended.
‘But Nature knows me…’
It was a tough question. If I ever became capable of having a conversation with Nature, I’d have to talk about it then.
Lion wiped his face with his sleeve and looked around.
The fairy dust that had fluttered in the air glittered and disappeared with the summoning, and the surroundings tidied themselves back to their original state.
“Lion! Are you alright?”
The moment Petrick saw the summoning circle settle down, he used magic to teleport over in a single breath and wiped Lion’s face with a handkerchief.
The traces of blood on his face were cleanly wiped off onto the luxurious handkerchief.
“Ah, Grandfather.”
“What in the world…”
“I’m fine. My body was just a little startled, that’s all.”
“…”
Despite Lion’s calm words, Petrick’s worry and concern only grew until it shot through the roof.
“More importantly, this little one is my spirit.”
“…”
Petrick’s expression grew even more serious.
‘As expected, you do know.’
Lion had introduced Nature because he wondered if Petrick knew about it, and it seemed he’d hit the mark.
‘If that’s the case, then Grandfather…’
He knew about the alternate character. The druid.
Did that mean that guy was the Hero?
That was still not certain.
“I see. Have you decided on a name?”
“I chose Nature.”
“…Nature?”
Petrick looked down at the tiny chick resting in his grandson’s palm.
Judging by the energy… it was certain.
An ancient spirit.
It had belonged to that druid. And the name was even the same.
But how on earth?
“How did you choose the name?”
“This little one told me.”
“…”
Before the atmosphere could grow any heavier, Lion patted Petrick on the shoulder.
His grandfather seemed to have many concerns of his own, but agonizing over it here wouldn’t produce any answers.
“Oh dear~ but just summoning this tiny little thing was such a struggle… I feel sore all over.”
“Hmm, indeed. Your body must have gone through quite a shock. Let’s head back at once. Can you walk on your own?”
If not, Petrick was fully prepared to transport Lion using flight magic or whatever it took.
“Ha-ha. I’m a bit achy, but I can walk perfectly well. Let’s go back quickly.”
The two swiftly exited the labyrinth.
Not satisfied with even that, Petrick escorted Lion all the way to his room and personally handed him over to Elvia before finally departing to see to his own tasks.
“First, please get plenty of rest, young master.”
Elvia was also quite worried and immediately laid Lion down onto the bed.
“Okay.”
Of course, since today was the day the elves were leaving, he would have to get up a little later to at least see them off, but first he had to rest a little before that.
He must have been tired, because drowsiness washed over him.
‘Elvia will wake me in a bit.’
Nature also settled down next to Lion’s bed on its own and closed its eyes.
Perhaps because of its small form, it didn’t consume any energy.
Or maybe, since it was a curious creature, it might have been using its own energy on purpose.
Blink.
Smiling contentedly at Nature, Lion slipped into sleep before he knew it.
* * *
Petrick, who had left the labyrinth with Lion, was in a state of extreme unease for the first time in a while.
He had not felt this anxious since the time Lion went missing inside the labyrinth.
Petrick paced his room several times with a grave expression.
It was unlike him, but he could not keep still after what had just happened.
“…As I thought.”
Then, as if he had made a certain resolution, he took out his communication device and contacted someone.
It was the Elder Elf, Boaresia.
- It seems that child has accomplished something, for you to contact me first?
Before long, the connection went through, and Boaresia asked her question in a leisurely tone.
-Yes, what grade of spirit emerged?
“Hoo…”
Instead of answering, Petrick let out a deep sigh.
-Petrick?
“How far did you anticipate this?”
-What, exactly, are you referring to?
“Today Lion summoned a spirit with the fairy dust you gave him.”
-Yes. That must be why you contacted me.
“And that thing appeared.”
-That thing, you say…
“An ancient spirit. The one the druid used.”
-…
The room instantly fell still.
-Impossible. It probably isn’t an ancient spirit.
“Your reasoning?”
-An ancient spirit does not contract with someone it has never met.
“…”
-Even if it did encounter one, an ancient spirit… would likely be waiting for its former master.
“Indeed.”
There was a high probability it would be waiting for that druid.
The druid.
A person whose name he did not even know.
The human who had suddenly appeared and saved the Hero when he was severely wounded and afflicted with “Corruption.”
The one who introduced himself simply as a druid of decent ability, and whom the Hero, upon waking, also introduced as an acquaintance.
With his distinctive gentle aura and extraordinary spirit affinity, he traveled with them for a short time with the permission of the Elder Elf.
He was certainly on the Hero’s side, but he was one of the “supporters” whose identity remained unknown.
On top of that, his power…
‘If he wielded an ancient spirit, his potential would have rivaled the Hero’s.’
Yet Lion had not only recreated the Hero’s potions but even summoned the spirit of one of that person’s companions.
‘What on earth… is going to happen in the future.’
-Petrick. I cannot guess what thoughts you are having, but the fact that you contacted me must mean you need my help. In that case, as one who has lived a long time, I can offer you some advice.
The voice paused for a moment, then continued.
-The fact that an ancient spirit has chosen a new contractor likely means that a great ordeal lies ahead. If what happened fifty years ago occurs again…
“…”
-Do not, under any circumstances, let him be sacrificed.
The Elder Elf’s voice was cold. Yet there seemed to be a hint of amusement in it as well.
Petrick understood the reason.
In that short time, the Elder Elf had grown considerably attached to that unidentified druid.
It was a very brief encounter even by human standards, yet they had become friends the likes of which she had never had.
But…
-There is no need for your pity. It was but a fleeting bond.
“Yes.”
Who was there who had not lost someone in that war?
You part ways, you go missing, you die, you lose them.
And the same had happened to that Elder Elf as well.
-Ahem, let us stop reminiscing about the past here. Before my people depart, I will tell them to check on your grandson’s condition.
Alright then. If time permits, I shall meet your grandson one day. With that formal closing, Boaresia ended the communication.
Of course, Petrick did not have the slightest intention of showing his grandson to Boaresia.
“Oh dear…”
It seemed he had hit a sore spot for the Elder Elf.
‘Elves, honestly.’
There was a reason they deliberately named humans “the Human Race” and drew a firm line.
It was likely because of that exact trait.
Anyway… she said they would check on Lion, did she?
His grandson was probably out cold from exhaustion right now.
‘Surely they won’t forcibly wake him up.’
Since they were acting on the Elder Elf’s orders, they would adjust their actions accordingly.
Thinking that, Petrick picked up a pen.
Because the things he had to do to protect Lion had increased.
Not just the Hero, but the Hero’s supporters.
He needed to gather information on them as well.
* * *
If there was one thing Petrick had overlooked, it was that the higher the level of a spirit mage, the deeper their reverence for ancient spirits.
Gulp!
Embrog and Tialli were murmuring among themselves in front of Lion’s door.
Seeing them like that, there was a frivolousness to them that made it impossible to believe they were high elves.
But considering the situation, it was understandable.
“It is an ancient spirit, yes? We simply must see it with our own eyes!”
“Mhm! I concur.”
“Since young Lion is said to be asleep, how about we slip in quietly and come right out? We can also check his condition as per the Elder’s orders.”
“Mhm! Excellent.”
The two of them already had their eyes rolling.
An ancient spirit!
An encounter that even elves could hope to experience once in a lifetime, if at all!
And that wasn’t all?
Rumor had it that simply being near such an ancient spirit could increase one’s spirit affinity, and there were abundant legends that one could even receive good fortune.
Whether that was true or not, they didn’t know, but surely just meeting it once wouldn’t hurt.
More than anything, if they didn’t do it now, who knew when they’d get another chance!
Today was the day they were departing, after all.
“Now, on the count of three, we open it quietly.”
One, two.
Bang!
“Whoa.”
Unfortunately, the duo’s infiltration ended in failure.
Because Lion had woken from his sleep and swung the door wide open.
“…”
The two froze in their tracks for a moment, then politely bowed as if nothing had happened.
“You are awake. We were waiting for you.”
“Yes. Indeed we were.”
Anyone could see they had clearly been about to sneak into his room, but Lion decided to let it slide for now.
Because before he’d left his room, Elvia had given him a heads-up.
“Young master. There are two pointy-ears… ahem, two elves waiting outside.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They seem to have a great many questions for you, but you do not have to answer all of them.”
In other words, they could easily turn into a nuisance.
‘Their eyes are spinning.’
Indeed, a kind of madness shimmered in the two elves’ eyes.