Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 132

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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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Heir Training is Too Much for Me; I Just Want to Heal — Episode 132

The moment the priests entered something they shouldn’t have—silence fell.

“…….”

Lion lay comfortably on the bed, listening to the two of them in silence.
Of course, none of this was true.

‘Both of them are actually pretty good at this.’

He hadn’t worried about his younger brother, naturally, but even Licht had thrown himself into his role, completely absorbed in the performance.
Gripping some piece of paper tightly in his hand, no less.

‘Good thing I prepared the lines in advance.’

It was obvious the priests would visit the room, so he’d turned that to his advantage and written a script for it.
Of course, Lion had only provided the idea; it was Ricshel, who had diligently completed his Heir Training, who had brought it to life.
As a result, the two of them were now delivering passionate performances according to the script!

“I apologize. I was unable to discover that much myself.”
“Then it’s useless even in the Temple?”
“For someone with this much power to be unaffected by Holy Power…….”
“……That’s enough. I don’t wish to hear any more unverified talk. My brother will be cared for by his family, so the Temple’s help is unnecessary. And surely he’d prefer to remain with his family, wouldn’t he?”

Wow. They’re genuinely terrifying at this.
Ricshel had certainly learned a thing or two through various training in his Heir Training, but Lion never dreamed Licht would follow along to that degree.
Even Lion, who had written the script, felt genuine truth in Licht’s words.

‘Though his facial expression seems off.’

The stiffness in his face from the thought of lying, and the way he kept glancing at the paper to confirm his lines in between.
Compared to his younger brother, it was definitely awkward.
But as long as they didn’t get caught, that was what mattered, wasn’t it?
Besides, given the situation, it would sound quite convincing to whoever was listening.
Perhaps something along the lines of: Licht’s circumstances have become quite dire!

‘As expected, it’s gone quiet outside too.’

The commotion from outside, which had been chaotic moments before, fell silent as though cold water had been poured over it—all thanks to Ricshel’s decisive line.
He suspected Ricshel’s action of lifting and slamming his chair down also played a role.
Excellent.
That setting about the “distinguished guest’s” time running short.
And the priests happening to overhear it!
Lion nodded at the way things were progressing smoothly.

“Peep peep.”

Nature, who had delivered the letter and returned, seemed exhausted too, flopping onto the bed and rolling around.

‘Like rest stop potatoes.’

Rest stop potatoes—pale and small baby potatoes dusted generously with sugar—were a delicacy among delicacies.
When you popped one of those fluffy potatoes into your mouth and chewed, the sugar crystals that hadn’t fully dissolved would crunch like candy, and the taste was absolutely exquisite…….

Growwwl.

“Ah.”

I’m starving. Come to think of it, I skipped meals because of all that commotion.

‘I should wrap this up and get back to eat something.’

Lion was lying there peacefully with that thought when he felt a sharp gaze upon him from somewhere. It belonged to his younger brother, who was in the middle of a performance.

A small chill ran down his spine.

Those eyes were so keen that even Lion, ordinarily so unflappable, found himself genuinely startled.

“Brother. Are you hungry? Surely you weren’t neglected for a proper meal at the Temple, were you?”

Ricshel kept his voice low lest anyone outside hear, yet the atmosphere he conjured was decidedly sinister.

“Huh? No, this is just today, you see…….”
“I apologize. I failed in my duties and was unable to ensure our Benefactor received a proper meal.”
“……?”

Why was he apologizing now, of all times?
Lion stared at Licht with bewilderment, but his gaze did nothing to stop him.

“I shall attend to matters with the utmost haste.”
“Yes. I’ll assist you.”
“…….”

It seemed some understanding had been reached between the two of them.
Well, all things considered, this worked out well, didn’t it?
After all, he’d been hoping they’d grow closer. Yes, this should be fine.
Ricshel and Licht whispered to each other a few more times in hushed tones, and once they’d clearly established their respective positions, they stepped away from the door.

“Then I shall take my leave first.”
“Very well. I’m counting on you.”

Licht carefully closed the door and left the room. This much Lion had already anticipated. Licht’s role was to first express his opinion that he would “follow whatever decision the Benefactor makes.”

But then.

“Brother. Please accept this first.”
“This is…….”

Lion examined the thin, crown-like hair ornament.

[Escape Circlet]
-Allows the user to change appearance as desired, limited to one use.
-A corrective effect has been added to make the user appear genuinely unwell, prepared for the event that the wearer fails to escape Night Self-Study.

‘……So they have Night Self-Study here too, it seems.’

How eager would anyone be to escape? The world outside held so many wonders!
He understood completely.
And the fact that he knew of this item meant…….

‘Ricshel has escape experience of his own.’

He was relieved his younger brother didn’t live as a perfect student all the time.

“Ahem! It’s merely an item I received a recommendation for, since magic shops don’t carry the exact same hairpin.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”

That’s a shame, then. There’s something fun about sneaking out of night self-study like this.
But more than that—

“You stayed behind just to give me this?”

The original plan had Ricshel leaving at the same time as Licht.
The idea was for the family to make their position clear on Lion’s behalf, since he’d overexerted himself completing the Sanctuary.
After settling things that way, Ricshel and he would slip quietly out of the Temple.
Then the story would unfold with Licht guiding things toward the notion that since the Sanctuary work was finished, they should repair and compensate for any damage it caused.
That way, Patrick’s adoption issue would be resolved too.

“Brother, are you truly all right?”
“Of course. Obviously.”

Ricshel’s question let Lion understand why the boy had stayed behind.

‘He was worried about me.’

Lion had known better, yet couldn’t help the worry that crept in anyway.
Besides, the emotions he’d been performing might have left residue in his body.
Actors did say Method Acting left aftereffects like that, didn’t they?
Young Ricshel needed time to compose himself, to work through those feelings.

‘I haven’t paid enough attention to him.’

But if he stayed here consoling Ricshel, Licht wouldn’t be able to keep all those priests in line.
Lion deliberated for a moment, then deliberately scrambled up with renewed energy and moved about the room.

“Maybe it’s the holy water—my body feels fantastic.”
“Truly, sir?”
“Can’t you see it for yourself?”
“I cannot say.”

Right. He couldn’t say.
Lion glanced at the mirror positioned to one side of the room.
Apart from his hair being somewhat disheveled from all that rolling around, he looked exactly as he usually did.
In fact, if anything, his skin looked better than usual—perhaps from the holy water.

“Either way, I’m really fine. Just a bit hungry.”
“Ah.”

The moment Ricshel understood that hunger was the issue, the light of determination rekindled in his eyes.

“Understood. I shall resolve everything and return for you shortly.”
“Right, right. We’re eating together, then?”
“…Yes! If you don’t mind, I’d like to eat out tonight.”

Oh, eating out sounded good.
Lion nodded readily, and Ricshel left the room with a meaningful promise to finish quickly.
And then—

“…It’s gotten so quiet?”

Not a sound came from beyond the door.
There had been so many people—how was there not even a murmur?

“No. Don’t think about it.”

I’ll manage somehow.
Lion flopped back onto the bed.
Perhaps it was because this was the Archbishop candidate’s quarters—the sunlight streamed in beautifully, and the bed was so inviting that it seemed tailor-made for a quick nap.

“Just a short rest.”

Come to think of it, he’d barely slept while working through the aftermath of what had happened in the Sanctuary.
With matters seeming to resolve themselves and having seen his sister’s face, the tension in his body finally unwound, and his eyelids grew heavy.

“Squeak…….”

Nature, already half-asleep, made a sound—whether a snore or a response, Lion couldn’t tell—and nestled onto his chest, drifting off to sleep.
Lion stroked Nature’s soft fur for a moment before……he too slipped into slumber.

* * *

Lion’s eyes opened slowly.

‘Where is this…….’

A dream. He understood instinctively.
Lion scratched his head idly and murmured to himself.

“Was I really that exhausted?”

A lucid dream—he’d experienced a few of these back when he was working hard and catching brief snatches of sleep.
But…….

‘For a lucid dream, this is remarkably clear.’

Even when you became aware that you were dreaming, dreams typically refused to obey your will.
Usually, you’d either get swept up in the dream’s events or watch it shift and change before waking naturally…… but not this time.

“It’s quiet.”

His body responded without the slightest resistance.
Lion wandered through the dream wherever his feet took him.
After what felt like several minutes of walking, the surroundings gradually began to materialize.
Moist earth and grass emerged beneath his feet, and he could sense the slightly humid air.
And then the sound of water rippling in channels, and a spring connected to them in the center.
This was the Sanctuary.

‘The layout is a bit different, probably because it’s a dream.’

Besides, there were no butterflies to be seen.
As he mused at how strange this dream was becoming……

“So you’re the distinguished guest.”

A strange voice reached his ears from somewhere.
A voice he’d never heard before—not in his present life, nor before the Possession.

“Do you know me, sir?”

Somehow, a figure now stood beside Lion.
A middle-aged priest with an upright bearing and gray streaking through his hair.

‘I feel like I’ve seen that face before…….’

He didn’t know this person, yet something about them felt familiar. The thought had barely formed when a piece of information surfaced in Lion’s mind.
A portrait.
No matter that Lion had skipped Heir Training, as the firstborn son of House Asteri he’d been taught at least the essentials.
One of those essentials was memorizing the faces of the Empire’s notable figures.
And this person was unmistakably—

“Are you the Archbishop?”
“Haha. Quick on the uptake. Truly Patrick’s grandson.”
……

Only then did Lion understand.
This wasn’t a lucid dream.
If anything, it was as though the Archbishop had invited him through the dream using his own will.
Could Holy Power do something like this?

“Don’t be so tense. I’ve invited you here simply to offer my thanks.”

The Archbishop smiled gently and gestured to Lion. A table and chairs had materialized near the spring’s source, and atop them sat cups of Holy Water poured like tea.
The Archbishop’s manner seemed anything but hostile toward him.
In fact, Lion found himself thinking that this man would likely keep everything that had happened here secret.
He’d even received the gaze of the Eternal Flame God himself—at minimum, this instinct wouldn’t lead him astray.
Besides—

‘Perfect timing.’

Wasn’t there something he’d been meaning to ask?
About the Seal.

“Then shall we have a word?”
“Heh. A wise choice indeed.”

And so, within the dream, Lion began a private audience with the Archbishop.

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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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