Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 118

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Successor, No Thanks—Just Healing for Me / Chapter 118

“Oh my…….”

Lea covered her mouth in surprise at the children’s gesture.
That Colorful Dye was something Mudu had purchased for a considerable sum to celebrate the two children’s birthday.
Even though he was the finest blacksmith in all of Asteri Territory, paint remained an extraordinarily expensive commodity.
Moreover, this particular item had undergone special magical treatment—it dried the moment you applied it, leaving no residue on your hands—making it truly precious.
The children understood its value, so they didn’t use much of it, applying only the smallest amounts when adding finishing touches to the toys they’d made.
And yet, how happy it had made them!
But now they’d freely given it to the Young Master.

‘Of course, the Young Master may not find it particularly moving…….’

Still, in their own way, the children had offered their very best compromise and comfort.
Lion’s expression was complex because of it, and mysterious—as though some inexplicable secret lay hidden within.

“……Can I really use it?”

[Colorful Dye]
-A special dye purchased at great expense by a father who loves his children dearly.
-Can be thinned and used like regular paint, and dries instantly upon application.
-Applying the included Finish Coating will elevate the quality even further!

Lion looked into the children’s eyes as he asked.
Then Ipari, whose hair was now prettily braided into twin tails, twisted a lock of hair and murmured softly.

“It is a bit wasteful, I suppose…….”

She glanced sideways at Lea, then broke into a smile.

“But the Young Master needs his own toys too!”
“……!”

Lion was left momentarily stunned by words that seemed to pierce straight to the heart of the matter.

“That’s right. That’s right!”
“So don’t be sad about not being able to make pretty things.”
“Yeah. We’ll bring you materials that we can make pretty!”
“…….”

Of course, they hadn’t fully grasped the true reason behind Lion’s troubled expression.

‘They say small children understand people’s hearts better than anyone else.’

Lion set down his carving knife and wood, then gently stroked both children’s heads.

“Thank you.”

They seemed truly admirable.
It was a treasured possession that even a child might have refused to part with.
Yet these children had offered it freely.

‘If I had a niece, would I feel something like this?’

Just a few months ago, these children had done nothing but press their faces against the window and stare; now they’d somehow grown enough to comfort him in return.

“Hehe.”
“Young Master, are you moved?”
“Yeah. I was really moved. Thank you.”

With that, Lion added playfully,

“So I can use up all these paints, right?”
“……Um!”
“I didn’t think that far ahead……”

When he asked again, the children pouted their lips and hesitated, as if struck by the waste.

“It would be wasteful, but… you’re more important, Young Master.”
“R-right, so use them quickly!”
“Yeah. And since Young Master is good at everything, we can learn from watching you!”
“That’s right. Hehe. My father said there’s no better learning than watching someone skilled do their work.”

At those words, Lion finally burst into laughter.

“Ha! Really?”

There was no way he could refuse after they said all that.

‘I should buy them some paints as a gift later.’

He couldn’t think of a way to do it just yet, but he wanted to repay their kindness somehow. Lion took the brush the children offered him and began applying color slowly and carefully.

For someone doing it for the first time, he was remarkably thorough.
And……

‘This is more fun than I expected.’

But unexpectedly……

Yellow, then light green, then blue, and finally crimson!
Lion grew confident in each brushstroke and found himself absorbed.

“Wow.”
“He paints so well……!”

The children watched in awe as Lion applied the colors, their eyes fixed and distant, as if a kindergarten teacher had drawn out their very souls and left them mesmerized.
When he finally finished everything……

[Asteri Block Set]
-A delightful toy with colorful hues mixed together; just looking at it makes you want to play with it!

-They interlock, making them perfect for developing children’s creativity, and they seem like toys that won’t get boring even after a long time.

A reasonably satisfying result had been born.

It had been deeply rewarding.

[Woodworking proficiency experience has increased by 40%.]
[By filling your own deficiency, your eyes open to a new talent!]
[New talent acquired: Painting]
[Painting proficiency has reached Apprentice Lv.1.]
[Chain effect triggered!]
[From now on, you can create dyes directly using Alchemy.]

“…….”

Lion fingered the tiny, intricate blocks—now smaller than his own fingers—and let out a quiet laugh.

‘What in the world.’

How had he ever envied this simple block game so much?
How anxiously had he worried over leaving even the smallest scratch.
What was it, really.
Of course the pieces were meant to be stacked, twisted, and fitted together—marks were inevitable.

‘It’s fine now.’

Lion gripped the block and spoke the truth to himself.
He didn’t have to fret anymore over breaking things.
When he desired something, he could pursue it without giving up.
If he couldn’t obtain it, he could make it with his own hands.
If the child he’d been—the one still trapped in that cold room all those years ago—if that small self could now step outside, then he would take that child by the hand and lead them out himself.
To remain locked away forever would be too sorrowful.
What was this small ache, in the end.

“……It’s because of you two.”

Lion looked at the two children and spoke from his heart.

“I’m truly grateful.”
“Hehe…….”

The two children didn’t fully understand the depth of his gratitude, but they laughed along with him.
After all, the Young Master’s expression had returned to normal!

‘We did it, didn’t we?’
‘Looks like it!’

The paint had been used up far more than they’d hoped for……!
Yet Gaji and Ipari both felt as though they’d gained something far greater in return.

* * *

At the moment Lion had just completed the blocks.

“……Congratulations! The final examination has passed at last.”

As the Formal Priest handed over the documents, the couple exhaled in relief.

“Truly, thank goodness.”
“We were so worried he might not meet the qualifications…….”

The couple.
That is, Peter’s prospective adoptive parents exchanged a glance before looking at Peter, who sat between them swinging his legs awkwardly.

‘What a lovely child!’

In truth, the couple had been unable to have children for a long time.
If they hadn’t wanted children, it would’ve been different—but they desired a child more than anything.
Still, they’d quietly been hesitant about adoption.
They feared that if a child of their own were born later, the adopted child might grow distant from them.

“Dear, what if we volunteered at the Orphanage instead of adopting? Even if we can’t adopt, those children will need the care of adults.”
“If that’s what you wish, let us do so.”

And so the couple began volunteering at various Orphanages.
Among them were children as beautiful as dolls, and others far more composed than their peers.
Many seemed the type who, if raised, would never cause worry and would grow up fine on their own—but.
That wasn’t what the couple wanted.
A child they could truly raise as their own.
They yearned for such a child, and when they entered the Temple Orphanage—the last one they visited—that wish came true.
Peter.
Stubborn, unwilling to show his face to others.
Though much improved, he remained filled with distrust toward adults, and was bold enough to declare he would not obey them obediently even if adopted. A defiant little thing.
The couple fell in love with Peter’s very nature on sight.
It wasn’t romantic love.
It was the conviction that this child must be raised by them, evident to anyone who saw him.
A feeling so strong they wished, if possible, to be together forever.
From the day they met until now, they had done everything in their power, and at last won Peter’s heart enough for him to consent to adoption.
But that wasn’t the end.
On the day they resolved to adopt him, the couple called Peter over and spoke to him with all their sincerity.

“You can call us aunt and uncle for as long as your heart needs to.”
“That’s right. You don’t have to force smiles or act cute. Even if you remain Peter and not our son, we will love you with all our hearts.”
……

Peter wanted not to believe them.
Words were easy, but he’d never known anyone who kept them.
And yet…… occasionally, there were those who did.
Like that Young Master who’d come to the Orphanage once and shared bread with him.
Perhaps because of that……

‘Just once.’

If he were rejected, he could always return anyway.
With that thought, Peter consented to the adoption and,
awkwardly reaching out his hand, he took his mother’s.
But what was this?
The adoption process turned out to be far more complicated than expected!
Nothing like it had been before!

Ah……

Yet even through all those arduous procedures, the uncle and aunt remained steadfast in their resolve and did their utmost.
And finally, just now, the final examination was completed!
C-could it really be happening this time?
Only then did it feel real.

“Well, all you need do now is undergo a simple ceremony in a few days, and the adoption will be perfectly complete.”
“This ceremony, you say……”
“Ah! Actually, it’s merely a formality at this point.”

The Formal Priest explained slowly.
In essence, it was displaying the adopted child before the Divine, and confirming whether the child was indeed one sent by the Divine.
In other words, it was time to check for Divine Power.
The lady, hearing this, grasped Peter’s hand with evident concern and asked.

“If that makes him a child of a god…….”
“Yes. He would walk the Path of the Priest, just as I do. But there’s nothing to worry about. Peter shows no trace of Divine Power.”

The Formal Priest examined Peter once more and nodded.

“Is that so? How fortunate.”

Peter himself felt quietly relieved.

‘…Wait. Why am I relieved?’

Somewhere along the way, I must have grown fond of this couple.

“Yes. So you needn’t worry. Only two people in existence have ever walked the Path of the Priest in this manner.”
“Two people?”
“The Saint, who was the previous Archbishop, and the priest currently being considered as the next Archbishop Candidate.”
“Ah.”

Only then did the couple relax.
It seemed to mean that anything less than that level would be acceptable.

“Oh, and as it happens, that Archbishop Candidate is staying at this temple for a while. I suspect he might oversee the ceremony.”

He’s quite fond of children, you see.

Wink.

The Formal Priest’s reassuring wink dispelled the anxious mood that had settled over them.

“Well then, when shall we set the date for the ceremony?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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