Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 91
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 91
Petrick furrowed his brow at Lion’s declaration.
“You’ve barely returned from a long journey and haven’t even shaken off the travel fatigue, and you’re saying you want to go to the forest?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Petrick had resolved not to be easily swayed this time.
First, for the sake of Lion’s health.
And second.
‘That brat, again…’
He’d sent not a single letter while he was away, and now, the moment he returned, he was saying he wanted to dash off to the forest without even sharing a meal together.
Indeed.
Petrick was feeling hurt!
Lion was about to launch into an explanation when he paused.
He had been a little too hasty because of Rickshel.
Lion took a good look at his grandfather.
It was a coldly stern face, with a gentle energy radiating off him.
It was the face that everyone feared…
But he understood.
His grandfather was feeling quite miffed!
‘Whoops.’
Perhaps it was due to his time with the severely deadpan Clarentia that he’d momentarily forgotten his grandfather’s feelings.
Lion cleared his throat as if to explain, then smoothly changed tack.
“I’ll explain that while we have dinner together.”
“…Mm.”
In a flash, Petrick’s intensity subsided slightly.
Seeing this, Elvia, who had been watching with a fond smile, subtly added.
“As it happens, the head chef prepared a sumptuous feast upon hearing that the young master had returned.”
“Ah! Now that you mention food, I’m hungry. You’ll join me, won’t you, Grandfather?”
Seizing on Elvia’s words, Lion drove in the wedge.
The fact that he was hungry.
“Mm!”
Petrick’s eyes widened slightly.
A grandchild so precious that putting him in your eye wouldn’t hurt… was hungry?
‘Did the Bydantis household not provide him with meals?’
Or perhaps the food just hadn’t agreed with him.
The food from those people was all heavily seasoned and excessively greasy.
Could he have gotten an upset stomach?
‘Those rogues. If a guest visits, you must take good care of them!’
Now that he thought about it, his grandson’s face looked like it had shrunk to half its size after his trip.
In an instant, an image flashed through Petrick’s mind: Lion, unable to eat properly for days, suffering from a mild illness.
Naturally, Lion had experienced nothing of the sort.
In fact, hadn’t he even woken from sleep and polished off a hearty midnight snack?
But Petrick’s mind, having already started imagining the worst, grew only more impatient.
“Let us be on our way.”
Petrick raised his hand and swept it gracefully through the air.
Then…
Whish!
A light gust of wind swirled underfoot, and their bodies rose slightly from the ground.
Elvia, recognizing the magic, stopped where she stood and bowed politely.
“Then, may you have a pleasant meal.”
“Huh?”
Those were the last words.
Whoosh!
Lion and Petrick’s bodies shot toward the dining hall!
* * *
After that came a storm of a meal.
“Eat up, now.”
“Will you be full from just that?”
“Have this, too.”
“…”
Lion stared at the dishes set only before him and the mountain of food piled high on his personal plate.
He’d been so rushed that he’d gone and uttered the forbidden phrase.
‘I shouldn’t have said I was hungry.’
Lion just gave an empty laugh as the food kept piling up.
He was so full that the food in front of him was even burdensome, but he wasn’t displeased.
No, actually… he was happy.
It was his first time receiving this kind of love, after all.
“Ah, I went to my grandmother’s house this time and ate way too much.”
“Had a snack, ate a meal, ate chicken, ate fruit, ate rice cake, drank sikhye… Ugh.”
“You must never say you’re hungry in front of your grandparents.”
Occasionally, people who visited their countryside homes for the holidays would say such things.
Their faces would fill out over a few days, and they’d return home half-forced to take side dishes they couldn’t possibly finish.
‘So that’s what it feels like.’
Lion—Baek Yi-hyeon—had no concept of a ‘family home.’
A single small bed, one desk to place a computer. Clothes barely hanging on a rack.
A cramped kitchen and a small fridge. Packs of 2L water bottles stacked beside it, making it hard to move around properly.
Places he’d move on to, from one lease to the next when contracts expired.
That was home.
A hometown, or a family home.
There was no such thing as a happy, comfortable ‘Home Sweet Home.’
So perhaps, as a child, he had gotten angry at people who grumbled like that.
It was resentment, jealousy, and envy over something he couldn’t have.
Of course, once he became an adult, he’d grown capable of giving appropriate responses like, ‘It must have been delicious. But it was nice, right?’
“…Still, a home-cooked meal is the best.”
Yes. Perhaps this was what he had wanted to say.
Receiving this overbearing attention, eating until his stomach was bursting.
And even whining, I can’t eat any more~
“…”
At Lion’s sincere answer, Petrick just wordlessly pushed the bowl closer.
“Eat more.”
It was a remark that could have felt indifferent, but Lion just grinned.
“I’m full.”
“For eating merely that much.”
“I truly can’t eat any more.”
Filling the voids he’d inevitably felt as a child felt so good it made his heart ache with emotion.
“Then I shall have them bring out dessert.”
“Hahaha. Alright.”
Seeing his grandfather, so awkward at expressing himself, go to this extent for him, he had to live up to those expectations.
‘…Huh? Could it be he felt this way too when I made the dakgalbi?’
Amid the heartwarming feeling, Lion experienced a shift of perspective.
Ah, so the portion size had been a bit much back then.
Well, the dakgalbi alone must have been five to six servings.
Around the time Lion was savoring that small happiness.
The food was cleared away…
Thud!
With a heavy sound, a colossal dessert appeared.
“…Hm?”
A gigantic cake, pie, and over ten scoops of sorbet.
Macarons, éclairs, and cupcakes packed onto a plate!
Looking at the menu one by one, they were all Lion’s favorites.
The only problem was that there were too many and the variety was overwhelming.
“Eat.”
“…Pardon?”
“Eat.”
Only then did Lion snap back to reality.
Wasn’t this a bit too much?
‘So this is why those people whined about it.’
Really, you had no choice but to eat an incredible amount!
Lion gulped and picked up his fork.
Thinking that the moment this meal was over, he’d have to drink at least one potion.
Thus, Lion, having done his very best to devour the food, had no choice but to clutch his full belly and slump back in his chair.
“Hmph. Very well. So, what was the reason?”
Petrick, wearing an exceedingly satisfied expression, finally asked in a gentle voice.
“Ah, it’s just that Rickshel will be quite exhausted when he gets out of the training ground.”
“He will. He must be having a very hard time right about now.”
Petrick nodded his head.
The 5th Circle.
Some refer to the realm of the 5th Circle as the first step of an Archmage.
A qualification to glimpse the supreme state.
It was said that mages who could not leap over that wall would forever remain at the 4th Circle.
Of course, the realms of ascension beyond that required tremendous enlightenment and effort to reach.
But isn’t the very first step always the hardest?
All the more so when leaving your footprints on the path of an Archmage.
‘They say the physical fatigue is no joke.’
Because it is the first step into a certain state, the body cannot keep up and feels pain, it was said.
Commonly known as ‘Mana Growing Pains.’
Though the degree of pain differed by individual, it was said that seriously afflicted people felt pain comparable to Mana Shock.
Not to mention having their stamina continuously chipped away.
Perhaps that was why the stamina of high-ranking mages got slashed in half.
“However, I just happened to discover something good in the Bydantis territory.”
“What is it?”
“A hot spring.”
Lion added further explanation.
He assured that coming out after entering this hot spring made your body feel undoubtedly better.
“And so, I intend to make one.”
“Make… a hot spring?”
“Yes. In Mimir Forest.”
“…”
Petrick fell silent for a moment at Lion’s words.
Of course, if it was a hot spring with such efficacy, it was desirable.
But wasn’t a hot spring something that couldn’t be created simply by willing it?
Hot springs are naturally formed.
No matter how outstanding Lion’s talent in alchemy or spirit arts, wouldn’t it just end up as warming water?
Even if he managed it, it was obvious his body would take a toll.
“Wouldn’t it be better to instead send him on a trip to a place where a hot spring already exists?”
“It’d be nice if you could come too, Grandfather. But can you make the time?”
“…”
It was impossible.
If it were within the Empire, he would somehow squeeze out the time to go, but the moment he crossed continents, his response to emergency situations would be delayed.
Even for Petrick Asteri, crossing between continents required consuming a great deal of mana.
Moreover, if someone as powerful as Petrick used an immense amount of Magic Power to travel for no apparent reason…
Wouldn’t the people over there be horrified?
“Right?”
He had no words to refute that.
“Can’t you two just go without me?”
“Nah. It’d have no meaning without you, Grandfather.”
Petrick’s heartfelt suggestion was cut off in an instant.
“Hmm.”
Petrick pondered.
‘If it’s Lion…’
He was a kid who achieved ridiculous things.
Thus, this hot spring plan would also likely be accomplished somehow.
Yes. It was precisely because he could likely do it that he was more worried.
“I have methods for everything.”
“…Fine. Is there anything I can help with?”
“Hmm, could you come with Rickshel when he gets out? I’ll have it completely ready by then.”
“Alright. However.”
“However?”
“By no means overwork yourself.”
At that look in his eyes, Lion smiled confidently.
“Don’t worry! Overworking myself is what I hate most.”
Unfortunately, Lion failed to notice that those very words doubled Petrick’s worries.
“Hah.”
So he was going to overwork himself after all.
Petrick let out a deep sigh.
* * *
“Whew. I’m still so full.”
Lion, having eaten a massive meal and a massive dessert, rubbed his full belly as he headed to his room.
Honestly, he wanted to dash off to Mimir Forest this instant, but seeing his grandfather worry, he figured he should at least stay in the mansion today.
“I’ll rest today and set out tomorrow.”
Seeing his grandfather’s face brighten at that single sentence, he couldn’t help it.
Plop!
Lion lay on his bed and sprawled out comfortably, spread-eagle.
Thinking how truly wonderful comfortable, familiar bedding was, he rolled around a few times, then stared at the empty air.
[You have unclaimed rewards.]
[Please check the rewards in a safe location.]
[Would you like to check the rewards?]
Right. The recompense for having returned the necklace.
He had to check this.
“What could it be?”
Truthfully, contrary to his expectation that the necklace might be related to the ‘Main Character’, he had gained no information whatsoever.
Because Tialli, a High Elf, had given him information, he’d vaguely thought it was connected to spirits, but it wasn’t that either.
Returning the emotions held hostage in the Holy Sword was all there was to it.
Of course, Marquis Bydantis regaining his emotions was a good thing.
On top of that, he’d even been given permission to act as Rickshel’s partner, so from Lion’s standpoint, the result couldn’t have been better.
But maybe because he’d been expecting something, he felt a little disappointed for no reason.
‘I wish there’d been more information.’
About the Main Character. Or the Alternate Character.
If not that, then at least what exactly had happened during the War Against the Demons.
‘Well, you can’t expect to be full on the first spoonful.’
Lion nonchalantly brought his finger to the screen asking if he wanted to check the reward.
Thinking it wouldn’t be anything special.
However.
“…What’s this?”