Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 216

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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’m just here to heal. Episode 216

If fabric dyed with that dye could change color to suit the time and circumstances, it would truly be invaluable.
Especially…….

‘It would be useful in combat.’

House Bydentis saw frequent conflict due to its geographical nature.
The vast mountain range encircling the territory served as an impeccable defensive barrier against external invasion, yet paradoxically posed a threat to the domain’s inhabitants.
The reason was the monsters that dwelt in the mountains.

Monsters inhabiting the mountain range were generally skittish.
The moment a strong presence capable of threatening them appeared, they would burrow deep into hiding rather than show themselves.
This meant the Bydentis Knight Order often found themselves lying in wait for days, trembling in the cold.
But.

‘With that dye alone.’

One could blend into nature far more perfectly.
That would surely shorten the time needed to dispose of the monsters.

‘And the number of Demons is increasing.’

Currently, only lower-tier Demons with weak power and low intellect were appearing, so it wasn’t yet a serious problem—but this was unmistakably a bad sign.

‘The Grand Barrier shows no irregularities, they say…….’

The Grand Barrier that Patrick Asteri and the previous Archbishop had created together stood firm.
Granted, fifty years had caused the sealing power to weaken in places, but that didn’t mean Demons could shatter the barrier and pour through.

“Still, it’s strange. The barrier shows no anomalies, yet Demon numbers are rising. We’ll need further investigation.”
“House Bydentis will handle that.”
“You’ve been exerting yourself for House Asteri. Is it because you dislike seeing things go wrong, like last time?”
“…….”
“In any case, I’m grateful for the cooperation.”

The conversation was brief.
Certainly, at first, helping Lion and House Asteri stemmed purely from the judgment that he would have “survived.”
Because it was profitable.
But, to be honest, now…….

‘I’m not calculating profit alone anymore.’

Hadn’t she said it?
That Clarentia was filling in what had been empty all this time.
As long as there was no loss to the domain, he intended to indulge himself a little.

‘And if it’s a matter of helping Lion Asteri…….’

Thus far, the gains had vastly outweighed the losses.
He couldn’t grasp exactly what that man did or would do, but there was clearly a return that came from it.

‘A peculiar one.’

So honestly, he wanted to bind Bydentis Territory to him.

‘But he refused, so.’

All that was left was to maintain the connection however possible.
In any case, Patrick Asteri also deemed this an extraordinary situation and launched a more thorough investigation.
This was the reason Patrick Asteri had been frantically busy of late.
The Bydentis Territory grew equally occupied.
After all, it was Bydentis’s snow-capped peaks that offered the fastest surveillance of Demon movements.
In truth, Clarentia’s journey to this place under the pretense of birthday preparations owed no small part to that very situation.

‘If the territory’s people are to live in comfort, the knight order’s equipment must be adjusted as well.’

House Bydentis was a renowned Swordsmanship family.
Consequently, an atmosphere had developed that rejected Magic more than necessary.
In her days as an unwed heir, Clarentia had harbored similar thoughts.
With a strong body and Swordsmanship honed through self-discipline, along with weapons and armor forged by Dwarves, there was nothing to fear.
Even now, she conceded a degree of truth to that philosophy.

‘We must advance.’

Magic or Swordsmanship—it mattered little which excelled.
What mattered was balance.
One must embrace as much as possible without compromising tradition, and simultaneously strengthen one’s foundations so as not to be consumed by change.
This was her atonement on behalf of her brother, who had fallen prey to Demon deception and transformed Bydentis into a sea of blood, rendering the territory’s people’s lives barren.
Such was the current philosophy of Clarentia Bydentis.
There was no bitterness in atoning for wrongs she had not committed.

‘That is what it means to hold the Marquess’s seat.’

A position stained with Bydentis’s blood and sin.
It was not a comfortable burden, yet Clarentia could bear it.
Her hardened body and fortified spirit made it endurable.
In any case, to accomplish that……!

‘I need only gather as much of use as I can.’

Clarentia clenched her small fist—too delicate to be called a sword-wielder’s hand—with burning determination.

……

Lion glanced at her display before turning his attention back to the Dye.

‘Is it really that coveted?’

For some reason, she’d been staring at this Dye bottle with such intensity since earlier, burning with zeal despite its incompleteness.
Despite being an unfinished product at that!

‘I suppose it could be.’

Unfinished as it was, once completed it would become a remarkably useful substance with applications in many domains.
Simply put, as Andrie had mentioned, it could be incorporated into the garments of nobles who favored bold aesthetics.

“Then I’ll take one bottle and conduct some research on it.”
“If you would, I cannot thank you enough! You’re welcome to take all of it, not just one bottle!”
“Haha. One bottle will suffice. I also need to stop by the Blacksmith, you see.”
“The Blacksmith? In that case, I shall deliver the clothes you commissioned directly to your estate! Along with those that the Marquess Bydentis wore previously!”
“Would you do that?”

Truth be told, he would have preferred to carry them himself, but a customer had appeared at an opportune moment.
And not just any customer—one determined to make a purchase, the sort one would regret losing.
No matter how much Lion might indulge in an idle life at his estate, he was not one to turn away a customer who had essentially fallen into his lap.

‘Especially if it’s the Marquess Bydentis.’

The person himself is quite neat, isn’t he. Favorable too.
That’s why he and Ricshel get along so well.
Lion suppressed the thought that had suddenly surfaced, tucked the bottle of dye into his bag, and left Boutique Andrie.

“Has the sweat cooled a bit?”
“Much better now.”

Lion couldn’t say why a Swordmaster would be sweating in the first place, but the Marquess Bydentis was a man with circumstances.
Enough that one could accept whatever emotional shifts arose without much surprise.

“Then next is…….”
“The dye.”
“Pardon?”
“Once you’ve finished it, sell it to me. I’ll pay a fair price for it.”
“…….”

Lion found himself at a loss for words.
The Marquess Bydentis was certain of one thing.
That Lion would complete the dye.

‘And before I even leave at that…….’

It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it, of course.

‘Did he not have this kind of faith in me before?’

If anything, it seemed he was generous in his assessment of the inner qualities rather than outer appearance.
Even so.

‘He must have heard rumors.’

No matter how surrounded by mountains the territory was, or how much the family had faltered once, it was worthy of its name—a marquessate and a house famous for swordsmanship.

“Marquess, if I may be so bold.”
“Speak freely.”
“How much do you know about me?”
“Hmm.”

The Marquess Bydentis gazed into the distance rather than answering Lion’s question.

“What is that place over there?”
“Just an ordinary shop. Don’t dodge the question.”
“…….”

The Marquess clearly had no intention of answering this inquiry.

“Then how much do ordinary nobles know about me?”
“Nothing. Even if they did know something, their information would pale compared to the Archbishop and the Second Imperial Prince.”
“…….”

Which meant that rumors hadn’t yet spread among the general nobility, and the two people the Marquess had mentioned possessed some degree of knowledge.

‘Considering what the Second Imperial Prince knows…….’

Well, they knew most of it—everything except the most critical part.
And the Marquess Bydentis also knew that these two were gathering information about him.
That much he had anticipated.
But one unexpected figure had surfaced.
The Archbishop, of all people.

‘I really shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.’

For all his gentle, compassionate looks, he digs for information just as relentlessly as the Second Imperial Prince.

“A man this capable—I should have pinned him down to Bydentis Territory years ago, money be damned.”

The Marquess let out a theatrical sigh and shook his head.
It was clear he’d recovered well enough to manage that kind of expression, but the gleam in his eye suggested he still harbored thoughts of dragging Lion away with him then and there.

“How fortunate he’s in his family’s care. Ha ha. Well then, shall we go?”
“Where to next?”
“The Blacksmith. I have a friend from Bydentis there.”
“The one who forged that short sword.”
“That’s right.”

Thanks to the Marquess’s backhanded consideration and Lion’s desperate deflection, the conversation ended mercifully fast.

“What is that magical device?”
“A contraption that automatically generates a canopy when it rains.”
“Does it work in snow as well?”
“I’m told it was built sturdy enough to bear the weight. If you need it, I can contact the Magic Tower.”

From there, the conversation drifted through smaller talk.
The Marquess asked about things he thought would integrate well with Bydentis Territory according to his original plan, and Lion answered steadily, chalking up accomplishments without officially doing anything at all.
After circling the village and walking a bit further, the destination came into view naturally ahead.
Billowing smoke and the clang! clang! of metal being hammered.
Just approaching it brought a wave of oppressive heat.

“Young Master! Is that you?”

A man organizing finished farm tools spotted Lion and came running over in a single breath.

“Oh, and the person beside you…”

He glanced sideways at the Bydentis Marquess standing near Lion, quickly gauging the situation.
Even at a glance, something about him radiated nobility—too composed for a commoner.
An expressionless face whose thoughts were impossible to read, and posture rigid as a soldier’s.
And that black sword sheath at his waist, judging by the hilt alone, housed a legendary blade.
More than anything…

‘If the Young Master brought him…’

From all his past experience, the Young Master never traveled with ordinary people.
Just days ago, hadn’t he shown up with a bear-man?
And that one had been monstrously strong.

‘Better play it safe.’

The man reached his conclusion quickly and offered a respectful bow.

“Where’s Mudu?”
“Ah, he’ll probably be running late today.”
“Something come up?”
“Well, you see… the two little rascals stole his hammer to keep him from going to work.”
“What? Ha ha ha.”

As Namu and Ipari grew up, their antics grew bolder by the day.
It was natural enough for children to become troublemakers like that…
But today I had good news to share, so I’d have to intrude on their family time a little.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but could you call him for me? There’s something important I need to discuss.”
“Yes! I’ll go fetch him right away!”
“In the meantime, I’ll take a look around. Since this gentleman has such a keen eye for blades.”
“Yes!”

Just as Son was about to dash off at Lion’s request.

“Wait, hold on! No need for that!”

Mudu came bounding over from a distance, his short legs pumping furiously, gasping for breath.
Fortunately, he’d managed to reclaim the hammer that Namu and Ipari had stolen—he held it firmly in one hand.
……Though judging by the dust covering him everywhere, he’d clearly paid the price for their rough play.

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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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