Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 12

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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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Successor or Not, I’ll Just Heal — Episode 12

“I don’t think of it as hardship. If anything, you’ve had it harder…….”
“You’re the one carrying the weight of the family in my place. And you know it’s always harder to watch someone suffer than to bear the suffering yourself.”
“……No, truly, I don’t regard it as hardship. I’ve never blamed you for any of it. Besides, among the people of the Domain, there are many enduring far more difficult circumstances than I am, and I have the responsibility to look after them. However…….”

Rickshel hesitated before continuing.

“Yes. To be honest, right now I do envy you a little. Because you have something I don’t.”

Rickshel spoke his truth, then quickly added as if to excuse himself.

“That doesn’t mean I’m dissatisfied with where I am now. I’ll continue working hard going forward…….”
“That’s enough. That’s all I need to hear.”

Lion patted Rickshel’s back a few more times.

‘He’s still just a kid.’

Rickshel was younger than Lion remembered him being.
A grandson who resembled Patrick. A once-in-an-age prodigy.
Beneath that lay only a boy whose sensitivity was still intact.
Or perhaps it was precisely because of that sensitivity that he remained pure.

Sitting alone together in the dark forest, their mutual wariness seemed to fade, and the two of them sat by the fire, talking idly until the sun dipped low on the horizon.
Trivial matters at first, then news that Sylvia had finally decided to retire, and talk of the coming-of-age ceremony that would soon take place.
And as the conversation waned, so did the flames.
Rickshel paused thoughtfully before asking carefully.

“Um, brother — if I get the chance next time, may I come like this again?”
“Of course. Whenever you need rest, come here. And…….”

Lion stirred the remaining embers, making sure they were fully extinguished, then added.

“You’re at an age where you should be a bit more free-spirited. If you don’t feel like studying later, it’s fine to act on your desires once in a while.”

It might have seemed like meddling, but it was something Lion had learned clearly in both his previous life and this one.
You had to do the things you wanted to do.
Otherwise, you’d burn yourself out.

‘How much he must hate studying.’

“……Thank you so much, brother!”

Rickshel’s face broke into a peaceful smile at Lion’s permission.
It was a warm evening.

* * *

Just as Rickshel had said, Sylvia came to tell Lion of her decision to retire.
Though it was a pity to see the grandfather go, she looked so content that Lion set aside his regret and sent her off with his blessing.
After that, nothing much changed.
As always, he gathered medicinal herbs and ingredients, raising his Level and Achievements.
Unfortunately, Achievement messages didn’t appear as frequently as they had before, but he still managed to accumulate more Shillings regardless.

[You currently possess a total of 71,500 Shillings.]

Moreover, his relationship with his brother had grown quite close — Rickshel now visited Mimir Forest every few days, leaving Lion with scarcely a dull moment.
Everything was moving forward smoothly.
……That was what I thought on one particular day.

“From today onwards, I will be serving you, young master. My name is Elvia.”

A new maidservant had arrived.
The woman who introduced herself as Elvia bowed politely and smiled.
But……what was this strange sense of discord?

‘Hm?’

A puzzle in Lion’s mind clicked suddenly into place.
Grandfather had insisted on a higher rank. Sylvia had retired.
And now Elvia, who bore a similar presence to that Sylvia.

‘Ah……’

He had a rough idea of why it was the case.
But what of it?
In the end, everyone’s life amounted to much the same thing, and everyone had their own peculiar reasons.
As long as one lived without causing trouble here, that was enough.

“I’ll be counting on you, Elvia.”
“Of course. Please call on me whenever you need anything.”
“Right. And thank you.”
“…….”

Elvia tilted her head slightly, as though she didn’t quite understand.

“Because of you, it seems my relationship with my younger brother has grown stronger.”
“I apologize, young master. That is difficult for me to comprehend.”
“I’m eccentric that way.”

Lion offered the condensed reply in a single phrase and rose from his seat.

“……Well then, please call on me if you need anything.”

Sylvia……no, Elvia smiled once more and vanished into the darkness.

‘A dwarf’s descendant and a spirit too—what’s one witch more?’

There was nothing new to be surprised about.
Lion shrugged and left the room.
Today was the day he had promised to go into town with Rickshel.
There was something Rickshel really wanted to do, something that would be better done together, but what could it be?

* * *

At that same moment.
Rickshel Asteria sat with his characteristically cold expression, tapping his finger slowly against the table.
Spending time with his elder brother was invariably a worthwhile experience.
Eating delicious snacks, watching his brother gather medicinal herbs over his shoulder.
Even though he merely sat idle and ate what was given to him, a certain peace of mind and an inexplicable sense of security bloomed within him.
It was a situation with nothing wrong about it.
And yet.

“……Sigh.”

A deep sigh escaped from Rickshel’s lips.
Still, his heart felt heavy.
The reason for that heaviness was also his elder brother.
It was because of Lion Asteria.
As he spent more time with his brother and found himself watching him up close, the realization had cut deeper still.
His brother’s physical condition.

“And yet, climbing the forest without missing a single day……”

His stamina wasn’t improving.
It defied all logic. Stamina was supposed to grow in proportion to exertion—that was only natural.
Especially for a body that couldn’t sense mana, it should have been more pronounced.
Yet Lion seemed to be growing weaker instead.

‘It must be the lingering effect of the Mana Shock.’

Healers and physicians who examined him found nothing wrong, but he knew better.

“……Perhaps a priest’s examination is necessary after all.”

A priest.
Unlike mages who pursued truth through mana, they were those who sought enlightenment through the divine.
There was an invisible barrier between priests who had awakened Holy Power and mages who had awakened through Mana Shock.
And what of the Asteria Family, a Magical Prestigious Family?
Fifty years ago, during the war with the Demon Race, they had cooperated only briefly with the High Priestess, the saint of the previous generation, against a common enemy—and the moment it was over, they went their separate ways, or so the story went.
The implication was unmistakable.
The eldest son would not receive an examination from the Temple, illness or not.

‘Besides, the Lord of the House doesn’t concern himself much with my brother.’

No doubt he had never shown Lion’s condition to a priest.
He didn’t grant privilege even to his eldest son.
If anything, he was harsh—cruelly so.
Had Patrick heard this, he would have struck his chest in protest, crying out at the injustice; but the world’s judgment was different.
Rickshel, in particular, had no doubt that the Lord neglected his elder brother.
That was simply his nature, and he was too occupied with external affairs to spare attention elsewhere.
But.

‘The situation is worse than I thought.’

For all his eccentric manner and expression, Lion’s pallid cheeks and eyes perpetually shadowed by exhaustion were unmistakably those of an unhealthy man.
He could collapse at any moment and it would hardly be a surprise.

‘At this rate, he’ll fall ill before the Coming-of-age Ceremony reopens.’

And perhaps—
This time, he might not get back up.
Rickshel’s eyes squeezed shut.
Unlike the indifference he’d felt before, thoughts of his brother now flooded his heart with an aching concern.
Of course, if Lion heard this, he would claim he’d been awake all night brewing Potions—but unfortunately, Lion would never hear such words.

‘I have to take action myself.’

For Rickshel to arrive at this conclusion after wrestling with his thoughts alone was the only natural course.
The difficulty lay in a single fact: he had not yet risen high enough within the Family to wield its power as he wished.
But then—who was Rickshel?
The youngest mage, known to equal or even surpass Patrick, the prodigy of the age.
Not to boast, but his mind was sharp.
A plan came to him readily.
A way to arrange for his brother to be examined by a priest, unseen by either the manor or the Temple.
Today was the day he would take the first step of that plan.

Knock, knock.

While Rickshel was mulling over his strategy, Lion entered his room.

“You’re here early!”

The coldness that had settled on Rickshel’s face gradually softened.

“Today’s the day we promised to volunteer, so I couldn’t be late.”
“That’s right. It’s noble work.”

Rickshel offered a warm smile, clasped his hands behind his back, and squeezed his fists tight.
Volunteering.
Rickshel had started by thinking about the easiest way for ordinary people to meet clergy.
That would be to go about doing volunteer work.
Priests were naturally inclined to help others, and their doctrines also encouraged service.
So if he made the rounds volunteering, he would naturally come into contact with clergy.
Once he grew close to them through volunteering, he could subtly ask about his brother’s condition.
Of course, to do that he would need to keep his identity hidden.

‘That won’t be a problem.’

He knew just the right place for it.
So today was essentially about laying the groundwork for his volunteering.
Rickshel smiled and left the room with Lion.
Right. If there’s no direct connection, he could work his way up from below, step by step.
Slow, but the most certain method.

‘Just trust me, brother.’

Rickshel had resolved firmly.
He would make Lion Asteria’s life long and happy.
And if that proved difficult.
At the very least, he wanted to create many memories with his brother, the way Lion had given him memories.

“…….”

Of course, Lion had no idea of Rickshel’s steely resolve and determination, so he merely wore a somewhat puzzled expression.
He seemed to be in quite a good mood today.
Lion had no particular thoughts about it.
He’d simply agreed to come along since there was time to spare and volunteering seemed like worthwhile work.
Wasn’t it admirable, though?
Usually, people born with a silver spoon don’t bother to look around at the world.
Especially in a world where society was divided between commoners and nobility—it was even more so!

‘He’s truly lord material.’

Sharp and impartial at work, yet warm-hearted when helping others.
Wasn’t he the very picture of an ideal lord?

‘And it’s a good opportunity for me too.’

In my previous life, I was too busy just getting by to afford charity, let alone volunteer work.

“So, where are we starting from?”

As Lion asked, Rickshel answered with grim determination.

“First, if we go as we are, we might attract unwanted attention, so I’m planning to buy some disguises.”
“Ah.”

It wasn’t a bad idea.
Lion and Rickshel certainly looked far too distinguished to pass themselves off as ordinary commoners.
Well-maintained hair, fine clothing, hands unmarked by calluses.
And those unmistakable violet eyes that screamed to anyone with eyes to see: “We are children of the Asteria Family.”

“You’re planning to wear commoner’s clothes, then?”
“Pardon?”
“Good thinking. The clothing is definitely the biggest problem.”
“Ah, actually, you needn’t worry about that, brother.”

Rickshel smiled, glancing toward Lion.

“We’re not headed to a tailor—we’re going to a magical tool shop.”
……

Such a place existed?

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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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