Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 13

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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 Unknowns and the Healing Wish — Episode 13

“Welcome!”

Lion, having just arrived, fought the urge to gape by pulling his hood down lower over his face.
He’d wandered the territory extensively, yet he’d never imagined a place like this existed.
Though in fairness, buried as it was in the back alley, not knowing of it would have been natural.

“It’s a place only those in the know find. As for illegal goods…….”

There wouldn’t be any. Probably.

“…….”

Probably. Wasn’t that a problem?
Lion mulled over Ricshel’s words as he slowly surveyed the shop interior.
A broom swept the floor’s dust on its own, while a large feather duster worked through the air, shaking dust from the floating shelves.
A magical dustpan caught it all and deposited it into the waste bin.

‘A robotic vacuum…….’

Suspended shelves displayed an array of magically treated items.

[Ear-Shaped Earrings]
-Allows you to hear twice as well.
-Single-use item.

[Three-Use Fountain Pen]
-Effective on exam papers.
-The handwriting mysteriously comes out different — completely undetectable!
-Ink sold separately.

There were all manner of tools, yet somehow the items all…….
They didn’t seem to be for uses adults typically made of them?
Ricshel answered without Lion even asking, as if aware of where his gaze fell.

“……I learned of this place while attending the Academy.”
“I see.”

So this was where Academy students came when they wanted to cut corners.
That explained why Lion hadn’t known of it.
Typically, the children of high-ranking nobility attended the Academy.
Of course, someone of Ricshel’s standing didn’t attend for long — he only showed his face formally for the sake of networking.
Private tutoring was more effective, and Ricshel’s brilliance had always surpassed even that.
Lion’s ignorance stemmed from his frail health.
He’d never even properly had a coming-of-age ceremony, so what more needed to be said.

“Appearances aside, many of these items are quite effective.”

The shop clerk let out a satisfied chuckle at Ricshel’s assurance.

“If there’s something you’d like, just say the word! We have potions that clear your sinuses right up, and magical tools that wash your hair automatically. Well, everything except hair-growth medicine, of course.”
“We’re looking for Shapeshifting tools.”
“Shapeshifting tools! You’ve come to exactly the right place. Come, come this way!”

The Shapeshifting tools commanded a steep price, so the clerk guided them to a back room.

[Skinny Bracelet]
-In a tight spot? Caught by the guards? This one does the trick.
-Side effect: At 12 o’clock, you’ll crave a midnight snack.

[Height-Increasing Insoles]
-Use them on days when you want to look taller than everyone else.
-The effect lengthens the ankles rather than the legs, so people with a keen eye might notice.

‘By grade, it’s the work of a skilled-tier craftsman.’

It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t spectacularly effective either.

“From here to there—all shapeshifting tools. The low-end ones subtly alter your impression, while the high-end can change your hair color entirely. Changing your natural hair color is the most difficult part, you see. Especially…….”

The Sales Clerk, speaking rapidly to boost sales, tugged a cord hanging from the ceiling.
A collection of elegant items, far finer than anything displayed before, descended.

“These here are quite effective……but the price point is somewhat higher.”

They were items of excellent both in appearance and effect.

“I’ll take that one.”

Ricshel pointed with a single finger at one Hair Pin set.

* * *

[Invisible Product]
-Even your parents won’t recognize you in disguise.
-Hair color, eye color, even secretly inscribed tattoos. You can transform yourself as much as you wish.
-Automatically deactivates ten hours after you put it on.

“Well then, please visit us again!”

Ricshel and Lion left the shop.

“How was it?”
“It’s an interesting place. I’ll have to come back and look around again sometime.”

As Lion casually showed off the complimentary bag the Sales Clerk had given him, Ricshel let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness. I was actually a bit embarrassed.”
“Hm? Why? Did you scribble something with your Fountain Pen too?”
“No, it’s not that…….”

Ricshel glanced around cautiously before letting it out.

“I was embarrassed that only I had attended the Academy.”
“Ah.”

So Ricshel meant he’d been worried that Lion might harbor uncomfortable feelings about it.

‘Well……given that he doesn’t harbor such thoughts even in his memories, it seems like it wasn’t an issue?’

Besides, Lion himself wasn’t really the Academy type if you thought about it.
Group living and all that.

‘If anything, he probably would’ve wasted away even more.’

Asking cooperation and collaboration of a sickly person meant exactly that.
Of course, some training in living alongside others was necessary……but Lion was temperamentally unique, so let’s leave it at that.

“Shall we start with the disguise?”
“Yes.”

Ricshel and Lion each took one of the oddly-shaped Hair Pins.

“We only need to adjust our hair and eye color.”

Their concept was that of wealthy, kind-hearted young masters—the sort who could offer aid without drawing suspicion.
That was the whole point, after all.

“Right. What color do you think would work?”
“The most common color around here.”

The most common combination in this region was brown hair and blue eyes.
The moment they both inserted the Hair Pins, the pins vanished without a trace, and their hair and eye colors shifted.

“Perfect. Shall we head to our second destination?”

The second destination Lion and Ricshel were making for wasn’t an orphanage—it was a mill.
As they drew closer to the mill located by the river, the rich aroma of grain grew stronger.

“I hear they bake bread here as well as mill grain.”
“Bread too?”

Curious.
Most mills only ground grain or pressed oil, didn’t they?

“Is that why we’re coming here?”

The Asteri Territory was large enough to support several mills.
Yet Ricshel insisted on visiting the one furthest on the outskirts, which made Lion wonder at the reason—though now it became clear.
Of course, it wasn’t bread Ricshel was after.
It was Nicholas, the mill keeper.
According to the steward’s report, unlike other mill keepers, Nicholas didn’t skim grain for himself, and despite living outside the territory by the nature of his work, he maintained close ties with the people—a rare thing.

‘And that’s not all.’

He was known to take pity on others and made regular donations.
He believed that if one did good works, the gods would surely arrange good fortune in return.
He was one of the few devout believers in this territory where Magic had become the mainstream.

‘I don’t pretend to understand faith in gods over Magic, but…’

In the current situation, he was a person they couldn’t afford to overlook.

‘If we build a rapport with him, we might just meet a Priest.’

And so flour had been added to the donation goods, and they had decided to visit the mill in person.

“It smells delicious.”
“Yes. They say bread made from freshly milled flour is quite special.”
“I see.”

Freshly milled flour, eh…

‘It must be whole grain.’

Fine white flour, sifted smooth as snowflakes, had its merits, but whole grain flour had a character all its own.
There was texture to it, a subtle tang that sharpened the appetite when eaten before a meal.
Is that all?

‘Cookies would be nice, too…….’

Lion’s mind drifted to the whole wheat cookies he’d eaten long ago.

‘Crispy, with that nutty aroma — they were perfect.’

Now that he’d acquired a talent for Cooking, he wanted to try making them himself if he could.
The moment he saw milled whole wheat flour, new recipes would unlock — and since he was already here, he’d love to watch the process firsthand.
That way, whenever he wanted something later, he could simply make it.

“…….”

While Lion was lost in thought, the brothers arrived at the Mill.

“Welcome, welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

A broad-shouldered man emerged from the cottage just as the milling work seemed to finish.
It was Nicholas, the miller and baker.

“Did the work go well?”
“Very well indeed. It’s been ages since I’ve milled wheat this fine — not a single worm-eaten grain, and truly excellent work! But……, why do you need so much flour?”
“I once saw children going hungry. It weighed on my heart, so I thought I’d make a donation.”
“Ah, a truly generous decision. Have you already chosen where to donate?”
“I was thinking of either the Layla Orphanage or the Medic Orphanage.”
“Hmm.”

Nicholas nodded thoughtfully.

‘Not a bad choice, but…….’

The two orphanages the young nobleman had mentioned were both running reasonably well.
Children were adopted into noble families often enough that they lacked for nothing; these places benefited from a virtuous cycle of abundant donations and subsidies.

‘Well, I suppose that’s all these young masters know of.’

Of course, those weren’t bad places either.
He believed that sharing was always important, however it was done.
Nicholas was about to nod with a faint smile when Ricshel spoke up, as if reading his mind.

“The one under the Temple? I thought their facilities were better than most.”
“That was true before, yes. But recently their situation hasn’t been good — the orphanage receives fewer subsidies than it used to, and they’re struggling.”

“How many children are there?”
“Not so many, really. Perhaps around thirty?”

“I see.”

Nicholas wiped his damp palms on his clothes, anxiety creeping through him.

‘This young master…….’

He was just a common miller, so he couldn’t claim to know much, but the man seemed to be the heir of some considerable house.

‘To place an order for flour in such quantities.’

If this arrangement held, the orphanage’s circumstances would surely improve considerably.

“…….”

It was Lion who broke the silence.

“Then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bake bread for the children to eat right away, would it?”
“……!”

For Nicholas, this was welcome news.

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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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