Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 123

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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 just want to heal. Chapter 123

With help I hadn’t anticipated, getting into the Temple proved far easier than expected.
Watching Licht step forward with such enthusiasm to resolve the matter, it seemed Peter’s situation would work itself out smoothly as well.
Which meant Lion’s task was…….

“I’m not sure what exactly, but like the priest said, I should be doing something here. Right?”
Beep.

Nature, who had been quietly hiding in his pocket until now, peeked out and nodded with a solemn expression.
It was as if she were saying, “Turns out that Licht fellow is actually a decent guy.”
Lion chuckled and sat up from the bed, slowly turning over what lay ahead in his mind.

First of all, caution remained necessary.
Just how good and righteous a person Licht was—that was something he’d need to learn more about going forward.
After all, he was a candidate for Archbishop, the very center of Temple politics.
Despite bringing Lion here like this, he might discard all propriety and handle things purely to his own advantage.
But because of that…….

‘The fact is, I got in here easily.’

It seemed Licht had compromised by not prying too deeply into his identity either, so for now, let’s call it a mutual understanding on both sides.

“Still, I never know when my cover might be blown…….”

Lion pulled out paper and pen, sent a letter to his brother, and rose from his seat.

“Before that trustworthy priest arrives, should I take a quick look around?”
Beep.

Nature wore the same sinister smile as Lion.

* * *

Lion moved freely through the Temple interior without any particular obstruction.
It was thanks to the VIP Token that Licht had given him.

“My goodness, this token! You must be a guest of the Precognitive Dream! Welcome, welcome! However did you manage alone without a guide priest…….”
“Ah, I wanted to look around on my own, so I stepped out. Would it be alright if I wandered a bit?”
“Of course. Please, feel free to explore. May the blessing of the Divine always be with you.”
“Yes. Thank you.”

Lion mimicked the priest’s gesture appropriately and walked on.
The priests looked surprised to see him, but they seemed intent on giving him time alone and stepped aside.

‘This is rather convenient.’

So Licht’s thoughtfulness had been genuine after all.
Despite it being morning prayers, no one bothered Lion.

‘I wonder what he intends?’
‘A VIP guest of the Archbishop candidate wouldn’t be an ordinary person, surely?’

Of course, he couldn’t do anything about the curious glances, but they were the sort he’d received often enough at his own Estate, so it didn’t faze him.
On the other hand, something caught Lion’s curiosity.

‘There aren’t many older people here.’

The Temple was populated almost entirely by people Lion’s age or younger.
Was this also the influence of the Ritual?

‘This isn’t something I can address right now. I’ll set it aside for later.’

Lion passed through the throngs of people heading toward the Prayer Room and made his way in a direction where fewer souls gathered.

“Let’s see what we have.”

He consulted the signpost.
As he suspected, the path to the main worship hall was packed with worshippers, while the Seminary and Garden appeared comparatively quiet.
It was precisely the direction that suited him.

‘The Seminary it is, then.’

With his VIP Token, he could go anywhere—slipping into the Seminary’s Library to read for a while before making his exit seemed ideal.
Before long, a Library considerably more modest in size than the one within the House Asteri Estate caught his eye.

‘These books are probably all related to Anyatras mythology.’

If so, he could read them with genuine interest.
Lion picked a book at random and opened it.
And then—

“Hm?”

Something felt off. He examined the book more closely.

‘What’s wrong with this?’

It was clearly positioned at the very front of the shelf.
Which meant anyone could easily access it, and it should have been arranged so that even a child could reach it without strain—and yet…

[Gods and Shadows: An Inquiry into Ancient Depths and Wisdom, Volume IV]

The title screamed at you: “I am a difficult book.”

‘Now that I think about it, this one too.’

What was this? This one as well?
Lion pulled down several more books positioned at eye level for a child.
They were unmistakably difficult texts, several of them.
Conversely, the books at his own eye level—those positioned high on the shelves—were generally simple in structure.

– Theology from the Foundations
– Learn the Tales of Anyatras Through Song!

“…This is chaos.”

How on earth was this organized so poorly?
Just then—

“Heh heh… I fear I have shown you an unseemly state of affairs, honored guest.”

An elderly priest with a hunched back emerged slowly from the far end of the library.
His white hair and thick, round spectacles gave him the appearance of an aged scholar.

“Oh! My apologies. Overcome with frustration, I fear I have forgotten my manners.”
“I am the librarian in charge of these books, but my health being what it is, I am ashamed to say I have not been organizing things as properly as I should…”

The priest adjusted his round spectacles with a rueful expression and swept his hand across the bookshelf once more.
Pale dust tumbled from the priest’s hands, drifting down in a fine cascade.
The sight of it troubled Lion—dust that had traveled with them through all these years.

“I do make the effort, but with all the years on these bones, even Anyatras’s blessing won’t straighten this old back…… *chuckles wearily*.”
“…….”
Silvia’s face flickered through Lion’s mind unbidden.

‘Now that I think about it, she wore that same expression once.’

He felt as if he’d stumbled into something tender by accident.

“I’ll organize things at my own pace, so there’s no need for you to worry—”
“If you don’t mind, that is.”
“Pardon?”
“Would it be alright if I helped you put this place in order?”
“Ah…… if you wish it, then surely it must be Anyatras’s grace at work.”

Truth be told, having seen the Library in the Labyrinth kept in pristine order, Lion found the real chaos of this place unbearable.
An irresistible impulse had seized him.

‘And I’ve picked up a useful ability lately, too.’

Hadn’t he gained a new skill when he crafted blocks a few days ago?
Lion promptly removed every book from the library shelves.
Then he drew out the dye that Geumjiok Yeoplip had given him from his pocket.

‘I’ll paint the bottom of each spine to classify them by difficulty level.’

At minimum, dividing them into basic, intermediate, and advanced would make them far easier to distinguish.

“Hmm?”
“I’ve always taken an interest in the books here. I wanted to study from the basics up, one at a time, and this is perfect timing. Would you be willing to help me classify them by level?”

With a wink and a playful grin, Lion set about organizing the books.

“……!”

At those words, the old librarian and priest’s eyes widened in surprise.
The meeting had been sudden, the offer of help sudden, the task itself sudden.
Yet somehow it felt as if a grandson had appeared in his life, helping him with his own labors.

‘How can such kindness exist in a person!’

Creases of joy deepened around the priest’s eyes.

“Hehehehe…… then shall we study Anyatras’s mythology together, old and young alike…….”
“I would be honored.”

And so an hour passed. Then two.
The sun had not yet climbed to its zenith.

“……!”

[Your Dyeing Proficiency experience has increased by twenty percent.]

The old priest’s eyes flew open in astonishment.

‘Is… is such a thing even possible!’

The books that had been pulled from the library were now arranged on the shelves, each one precisely sorted by its proper level.

‘Impossible!’

These weren’t the carefully selected texts of the 100th level he’d set aside?
There was no way anyone could accomplish this easily, no matter how much he’d helped.

“This is… no, wait….”

Librarian and priest.
Or rather, Ann, the director of the Seminary at the Anyatras Asteri Branch, clicked his tongue as he watched the VIP complete his trial perfectly.
Not just knowledge, but the goodness to help others.
And patience to boot.
How could someone possessing all these virtues be a VIP instead of a priest?

‘What a waste of talent!’

“You’re truly remarkable….”
“Please, don’t say that. How difficult it must have been for you to do all this alone. It was hard for me too. Didn’t anyone else help you?”
“Well, it’s not that….”

The priests who had just been singled out wanted to protest but held their tongues.
Ann blinked away tears, then quickly composed himself.
This was an opportunity.
Though he sensed no Sacred Power from the VIP whatsoever, the fact that an Archbishop candidate had brought them here, combined with their exceptional understanding of theology, meant the possibilities of them becoming a seminary instructor were boundless.

‘Perhaps this VIP holds the key to resolving the Sacred Power Depletion Crisis we now face!’

So even if it meant being impertinent, he had to ask….

“I beg your pardon, VIP. This is an impertinent question, but… cough. Might I ask your name…?”

Just then.

“Ah, there you are.”

From far off, Licht had been searching for Lion and appeared urgently.
And upon seeing Ann….

Crackle.

A brief exchange of glances occurred.

“I’ve been looking for you. Shall we return now?”
“Oh, ow, my back! VIP, my apologies, but could you possibly help me as far as the interior of the Seminary? Just to that point?”
“Pardon?”
“VIP. I have something urgent to discuss with you.”

Ann and Licht each seized one of Lion’s arms and began pulling.

“What? Why is everyone suddenly doing this?”

Lion, unable to grasp the situation, found himself caught in the middle, powerless to resist.
He couldn’t shake off one side—the man was elderly—and he couldn’t brush off the other—this was the fellow who might save Peter!

‘Why are these priests acting like this?!’

Then, at that critical moment!

“Squaaawk!”

Nature, who had been watching quietly—or rather, discontentedly—from Lion’s pocket, suddenly burst into the air with a brilliant flourish and cried out, spraying cold water in all directions.

Splash!

A few droplets of water, as frigid as snowflakes from House Bydentis, scattered across each of their faces.

…….

“Perhaps we should step inside the Seminary and discuss this matter?”
“……Yes, let us do so.”

The priests, having come to their senses, composed themselves and headed indoors.

* * *

“I must sincerely apologize for the commotion just now. It was simply that your talent is so extraordinary.”
“Not at all. I’m grateful for such kind words.”
“Ahem. You needn’t worry. Though this man does occasionally lose himself when discovering a promising new Seminary student, he is, I assure you, firmly on our side.”
“On your side, you say……?”

Licht answered while covering his reddened face with his fist and clearing his throat several times.

“Allow me to introduce him. This is the Seminary Director, who seeks to fundamentally resolve the Sacred Power Depletion Crisis.”
“Ah, the Seminary Director, then…….”

Hmm?
Lion looked at Anne again.

“The Seminary Director…… is that so?”
“Haha. Embarrassing though it may be, that is indeed the title I bear.”

Anne adjusted his round spectacles once more and let out a warm, good-natured laugh.

“Now then, the important matter at hand isn’t that, is it? I confess I don’t know how you’ve come to understand this problem, but your skill alone is impressive enough to leave even me speechless—so I’ve resolved to share everything I know, however meager my knowledge may be.”
“Just a moment.”

Lion raised his hand.

“Don’t you two not know who I am? Are you truly comfortable with that?”
“We are.”
“Because you hold a VIP Token.”
“…….”

That’s…… it?
Even if my true identity is revealed later, I’ll claim ignorance?
Lion—Lion Asteri—slowly lowered the hand he had raised.

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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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