Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 183

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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 Heir is None of My Concern, I Just Want to Heal Chapter 183

Hoffmann studied Lion’s face carefully.
The usual playfulness and ease had drained from his expression, tightening visibly—he was clearly caught off guard.
And that reaction was probably….

‘Not because his recipe had been discovered.’

If he’d been anxious about exposure, it would have shown the moment he produced the Potion.
But his expression hardened only when Hoffmann mentioned putting his name on the Patent Certificate.
Which meant.

“You don’t want the credit going to you, then.”
“Hah, well….”

Lion offered only an awkward smile, neither confirming nor denying.
Hoffmann understood perfectly.
He was likely worried that if the eldest son established merit, it might shake Ricshel’s standing within the family.

“I apologize. It’s only that I was concerned something might be wrong with the Potion.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”

It had been a near catastrophe.
A Potion bearing the Hero’s name, no less.
If something went wrong with a Potion of such value, it rarely ended without serious consequence.
It could have damaged not just the Magic Tower’s reputation, but House Asteri’s standing as well.

‘That boy must have foreseen even that, and acted accordingly.’

In that alone lay proof of how deeply Lion valued the family.
Hoffmann felt a warmth bloom in his chest—something beyond words.
And so he had spoken, moved by the desire to give Lion something in return.

‘Of course, I knew he’d refuse.’

But he wanted Lion to know that there was at least one person in this world who recognized his achievement.
Lion was House Asteri’s own, a mage and an Alchemist both!
It meant the boy burned with the same fire to pursue insight and truth, and to use them for the good of the world.

“What you’ve done is truly remarkable.”

Truth be told, he would have wanted to share this with Lion someday anyway, whether today or some future meeting.
This gratitude was not as Hoffmann of House Asteri, but as one who had walked the path of a Healing Mage because he wished to protect people.

“Because of your courage, many lives were spared. Of course I must express my thanks. I’m truly grateful.”

You have nothing to regret.
Hoffmann rose from his seat and bowed with complete sincerity.

“The greatest recompense I had imagined was putting your name on the Patent Certificate, but if that’s not it, tell me what you desire. I shall grant whatever you ask.”
“Mm….”

Lion himself, the true subject of all this, offered only an awkward smile and said nothing.
In truth, from Lion’s perspective, it had been nothing more than a small gesture of goodwill.
Calculated goodwill, even.
If House Asteri faltered, wouldn’t his own garden wither as well?
He had merely forestalled that by lending a hand.
And he’d even calibrated the Potion’s efficacy to fall slightly short of the Hero’s own formula.

‘The maker makes all the difference, I suppose.’

Since he’d adjusted the formula to be as easy as possible for the alchemists of the Magic Tower to produce, its efficacy fell somewhat short of the original.
Though with long-term use the results would differ, the present reality was what it was.
Perhaps that’s why he’d never imagined goodwill would come back to him like this.

“What I want…….”
“Yes. Tell me freely.”

Hoffmann said so, then thought of something and added to his words.

“Whatever you ask for, I won’t report it to the Master.”
“Not even to my grandfather?”

Even for Hoffmann, this had to be quite a burden.
No — because Hoffmann so admired his grandfather, it would have required an even greater resolve.
In any case, it was clear he’d made up his mind.

‘Then…….’

Lion sifted through the thoughts drifting in his mind.
Setting aside things he couldn’t yet tell anyone, he chose something difficult enough to challenge Hoffmann but still within reach.

‘That’s what I should ask for.’

As Lion grew contemplative, Hoffmann smiled inwardly.

‘This seems to be the right move.’

He already knew that House Asteri fulfilled whatever Lion desired.
Which meant Lion was almost certainly in a state where he lacked nothing material.
But the reverse side of that coin was this: every single thing Lion possessed had been given to him only after receiving the Master’s permission.

‘For someone as free-spirited as him, that might feel rather confining.’

So Hoffmann had devised this scheme.
To help him obtain what he wanted in secret, without any report being filed.
A clandestine gift at such an age might seem almost absurd, but Hoffmann was serious about it.
Hadn’t he watched over Lion’s childhood more closely, more coldly than anyone?
The freedom he’d only now gained would matter far more than any worldly success.
And Hoffmann wanted to give him something through this, whatever it might be.

‘And if I could…….’

He wanted to see how far this youth would soar, what incredible things he would invent and discover along the way.
Not merely because he’d found a genius.
It was…… yes.
Though their natures were quite different, Hoffmann saw in Lion the very figure of the Master whom he so revered.

“Even if I ask for something, you truly won’t report it?”
“That’s right. If you’d like, I can even have the Magic Tower draw up a Contract for you.”

Hoffmann produced a Contract from his breast as if he’d been waiting for this very moment.

“There’s no need. I’m certain you’ll keep the secret.”

Rather than accept the Contract, Lion instead secured from him a fresh promise that he would not breathe a word.

“Very well. What do you want?”
“Do you happen to know the magic shop in front of the Academy?”
“In front of the Academy… ah.”

He’d been briefed on it before.
An unlicensed mage was selling items of unknown origin to Academy students.
At first, the Magic Tower had investigated whether they were dangerous, but the results…

‘They were toys.’

The sort of thing wealthy Academy students would love to tinker with—nothing more, nothing less.
Besides, the prices were quite reasonable, so they’d simply left the matter alone.

“Yes, such a person does exist.”
“They’re selling rather interesting items. So while I’m under confinement, I thought I’d like to examine what they have there.”
“…That’s all you want?”

He goes to all the trouble of keeping secrets, and this is what he wishes for—cheap magical trinkets?

“Yes. Grandfather would want me to rest properly anyway. Haha.”

Hoffmann’s expression crumpled, and he sighed.
Well, perhaps Lion found such things more precious than all the Mana Stones and jewels in the world.

‘…Actually, it works out well.’

Genuine inspiration tends to strike during leisurely rest.
Who knows—perhaps playing with those toys would spark some new, brilliant idea.

“Very well. I’ll schedule a follow-up examination a few days hence and have them brought then.”
“Thank you! Oh, and do you happen to know when Grandfather will be away on business? Some excellent wine has arrived, and I’m wondering when to open it.”
“Wine isn’t good for your health, but…”

The Master would be pleased, at least.

“Ahem, I’ll be traveling a few days from now, so best to open it after that.”
“I see. Thank you.”

Lion smiled, concealing his true thoughts.
Of course, he genuinely coveted those magical tools.
How many times hadn’t he benefited from his clever son’s deceptions?

‘If the Second Imperial Prince has learned my identity…’

It was wise to gather as many Disguise Tools as possible.
And beyond that.

‘There were quite a few good items hidden among them.’

Perhaps if he gathered various things, he’d get lucky enough to find something decent.

‘Of course, the truly necessary items are elsewhere…’

He could acquire them through Hoffmann, but the price would likely be steep, so he’d ruled them out.

“Now go rest. I’ll report to the Master.”

Hoffmann watched Lion leave, shaking his head slightly as the boy thanked him.
For now, since he claimed to want toys, he’d provide them…

‘But it’s time he learned something about how the world truly works.’

Hoffmann made his way to the Master’s Quarters with that thought in mind.

* * *

Several days later.
While Lion passed the monotonous hours under confinement,
Ricshel moved in stealth through the deep night and arrived at a particular location.
It was none other than the entrance to the Master’s Quarters.
Patrick was currently away in the Northern Region on business, so the chamber was, quite literally, empty.

“…….”

Ricshel swallowed dryly.
It was a natural reaction born from the knowledge that what he was about to do was wrong.
No matter how many heir-training lessons Ricshel attended, no matter how much he trained in magic, he had never tried to steal from anyone like this before—in secret, under cover of darkness.
Especially not when it was a Potion that his brother had crafted and gifted to his grandfather.
There was a small part of him that wondered whether he should simply wait until his brother chose to reveal the truth someday.

‘No.’

Ricshel steadied his wavering resolve.
If he merely settled for things as they were, he would end up unable to protect his brother or offer him aid—he would only become a liability.
That was not what he wanted.
Ricshel had always wanted to be the one who gave help, not received it.
To do that, he had to uncover the truth, no matter what.
And the first step was to analyze that Potion that his grandfather kept in his possession.

“Exhale.”

Ricshel steeled himself and grasped the door handle.
Then slowly, very quietly, he slipped inside.

Click.

The door closed with a faint sound, and the dark interior of the Master’s Quarters was revealed.
Ricshel waited in place for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Using magic carelessly would likely draw his grandfather’s attention.
Even though he was away in the Northern Region, he was the caliber of mage who could easily sense even the faintest traces of Mana emanating from his own chamber.
As he stood there waiting,

Rustle.

He detected a presence.
It was the smallest of sounds, but to Ricshel’s heightened senses, it was more than audible.

‘An intruder?’

In the chamber of Patrick Asteri, the greatest mage alive?
This was serious indeed.
To penetrate House Asteri’s vigilant defenses and reach the chamber itself meant the intruder was no ordinary swordsman.

‘Wait.’

Would such a person typically make noise?
Another thought crossed Ricshel’s mind.
There was one person who came to mind.
A person who could enter Patrick Asteri’s chamber as they pleased.
Someone who could even commit such an act and face nothing worse than a scolding.
Ricshel strode toward the source of the sound and glanced down.
And there, as expected,

“Brother?”
“Shh!”

Lion raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence, then crouched awkwardly beneath the desk and began rummaging through something.

‘Could he have read my thoughts and tried to manipulate the information?’

…… Well, no. He wouldn’t have done that.
Ricshel abandoned his original purpose and settled down beside Lion, squatting low as well.

“What are you doing here?”
“Bored out of my mind. I’m confined to the estate and forbidden from the kitchens.”

But he never said anything about the Master’s Quarters, did he?

……

He wouldn’t have. Who in their right mind would sneak in here?
But he couldn’t say that aloud.
He’d snuck in himself, after all.

“Anyway, look at this.”

Lion spoke casually, thrusting something suddenly into Ricshel’s hands.
It was……

“This is……”
“Grandfather’s diary.”

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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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