Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 248

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Successor or Not, I Just Want to Heal — Episode 248

“He’s sleeping so soundly, someone could carry him off and he’d never notice.”

Elvia, who had gone to fetch tea, set down a teacup before Lion with a satisfied smile.
Apparently foreseeing how things would unfold, she’d prepared only one cup.

“I’ll take the priest to his quarters separately.”
“Let’s go together. I’ll carry him.”

Lion took the initiative, hoisting the deeply slumbering Licht onto his back.
With Elvia’s help, he’d managed to get Licht draped across his shoulders, but the problem was……

“……”

In Lion Asteri’s body, he couldn’t move even a single step while carrying Licht.
In fact, simply standing was already too much—his thighs were trembling visibly.

‘Wow, this is seriously pathetic stamina…… What do I do about this?’

A grown man tough enough to chew stones couldn’t even carry one person?
He had no idea where the endurance from the crafting process was supposed to come from.

“……Want some help?”

Elvia wore an expression of genuine concern and, releasing her restraint, flicked her fingers lightly.
Instantly, Licht’s body hanging on Lion’s back became light as a feather!
Light enough that Lion could carry him with ease.

“Thanks, Elvia.”
“I shall instruct the kitchens to increase the meat in your diet.”

……I appreciate that too.
Though Elvia, I suspect eating a bit more meat won’t quite solve this problem……
Lion sighed quietly to himself as he arrived at Licht’s room and laid him on the bed.

“Phew!”

At any rate, he’d managed to handle the first problem somehow.
Now it was time to deal with the second one.

“Young Master.”

Just then, Elvia spoke first.

“Hmm?”
“I have a request. Would you hear me out?”
“What is it?”
“I would like to take an extended leave.”
“……Is this because of the priest? There’s no need to worry about that. I’ve already thought of something.”
“Hehe, you mean to use that accessory, yes?”
“Exactly.”

She’d guessed correctly.
While Licht was asleep, he’d meant to give her that bracelet.
That way, being around the priest would be somewhat awkward, but she wouldn’t have to suppress her own power.

—Wait, what about me then?
—Didn’t you want to hide your strength?

……Of course, I’d thought about it.
There were only two Ability-Suppressing Accessories in use—the Pendant I carried, and the Bracelet I’d lent to Tieramatrak.

So my plan had been to give the Bracelet to Elvia, slip into the Labyrinth while she wore it, and find some way to sort things out.
Given time, it was a problem that could certainly be solved.

“I’m grateful for your kindness, Young Master, truly moved by your gentle heart—but it won’t be necessary.”

When had she grown so much that she worried about me now?
Lion felt a warmth bloom in his chest at the sight of how the pup had matured.
It was why he’d insisted on refusal.

I couldn’t rob her of something that should be hers.

Even a witch had her conscience—I wouldn’t grow comfortable on the back of that child’s sacrifice.

“Hmm…….”
“If you’d grant me leave, I thought I might use this time to have some moments to myself.”
“……Very well. If that’s what you wish, so be it.”
“I’m grateful for your understanding.”

Lion exhaled softly at the sight of Elvia, utterly free of regret.

She must have hated it.

That’s why she’d chosen to stay at the Asteri Family Estate, keeping her own power in check all this while.
She’d grown fond of this place whether she liked it or not, living here as she did.
And above all, Elvia despised boredom.

-Huh, this witch is actually pretty kind?
-If it were me, I’d have grabbed that Bracelet and never given it back. There’s no place as fun as your side, after all.
-Though I’m fine with not getting it back anyway.

……Honestly, just this once, I found myself agreeing with Tieramatrak.

“And where will you spend your leave?”
“The head of the family has prepared a Villa for situations such as these.”

With an exit already arranged, there was no further reason to hold her back.

It would feel hollow.

Even when Ricshel or his grandfather had left the Estate, Elvia had always remained to watch over it.
But now she would be away.
And while Elvia couched it as a holiday, wasn’t it rather more like exile?

“Hehe, Young Master.”

Elvia took a step closer to Lion and met his gaze directly.
Her eyes gleamed with fondness and amusement.

“Do you know what the most pointless thing in the world is? Worrying about a witch.”

Elvia reached out and stroked Lion’s head several times.
The gesture was awkward, much as it had been in the past—yet the warmth behind it came through clearly.

“Oh, but I should dispose of this first.”

She moved her stroking hand to the floating Bracelet and pressed it against the air, tracing some spell across its surface.
At the same moment.

[Do you consent to the modification of this item?]
[Additional function: Semi-permanent Invisibility state]
[Will not activate for the item’s owner.]

Lion consented to the modification in his mind.

[The item has been modified.]
[Current status: Invisibility applied]

“Now no one else will be able to see you.”

Of course, since you won’t be completely gone, you’ll need to watch out for collisions.

-Ah, that’s more than enough! I can fly around anyway.
-Tch, if only I could just burn through Mana like that, I could cast Invisibility myself…….

Lion ignored Tieramatrak, who had begun chattering again, delighted at not having to give up the Bracelet.

“Thank you. Are you leaving right away, then?”
“Yes. The shorter the farewell, the better.”

Elvia smiled and straightened her clothes, then offered a formal bow.

“Then I shall take my leave. Young Master.”
“Right. I’ll let you know as soon as Licht goes.”
“Hehe, understood. And…….”

Should any trouble arise, I do hope you will call upon me at any time.
I can appear from anywhere.
With those words, Elvia melted into the shadows and vanished.
The room fell quiet in an instant…….

-Well then, we can open that drawer now.
-Why do you look like that? We’ll only be apart a few months at most.
-If your heart’s not settled, should I chase that priestess away for you?

No time to dwell on anything.
Lion let out a hollow laugh and moved forward.
Right, the second task had been resolved somehow.
This meant he could finally proceed to the last task.
Just as Tieramatrak had said—opening the drawer and checking the Map.
Only then could he leave the Recovery Room behind, and finally reunite with Nature and Pus, whom he’d left behind for their own safety.

“Let’s go.”

After confirming that Licht was sleeping soundly, Lion stepped quietly out of the room.
Fortunately, Licht did not wake……but.
There was one thing Lion had overlooked.
Priests rarely dreamed.
But every now and then, they experienced dreams by the name of Premonition Dreams.

* * *

-The moment your hand touches it, the Magic will unravel on its own.

Before Lion could even ask, Tieramatrak quickly explained the method.
It seemed he was quite curious about what would unfold once this drawer was opened.

‘You probably won’t be able to see this.’

No matter how much they were bound by the guarantee of a Mana Circle, Tieramatrak seemed unable to read his unconscious mind or dreams, so perhaps Story Mode wouldn’t be visible either.

‘Well, there’s no need to tell him anyway.’

Story Mode time didn’t correspond to real time, after all.
Last time too, it had amounted to nothing more than a brief stumble.

‘And besides, now that I have a Mana Circle…….’

The incident where he coughed up blood wouldn’t happen again.
Or so he wanted to believe.
In truth, the fact that he’d coughed up blood had been quite a shock to Lion as well.

“Hah.”

Lion took a light breath and slowly brought his hand toward the drawer.
The drawer sealed with a golden Mana lock vanished the moment Lion’s fingers touched it.

Click.

As he opened the drawer with a slight resistance, inside lay a single rolled Map.
Just as expected, soon enough——

[Entering Story Mode.]
[This memory cannot be skipped.]

Lion’s consciousness sank away gently.

…….
…….
…….

Having experienced it several times now, this sensation had become quite familiar.
Lion opened his eyes.
The world through another’s vision. A different landscape.
The view trembles with ragged breathing.
The arm muscles twitch finely, as if the battle had raged for quite a long time.
The sword gripped in his hand feels heavy.
A familiar sword. A familiar setting.
The Dragon Lair—a place he had been in mere days ago.
In that place, this body was locked in combat.
Far across the battlefield, someone with a gentle face comes into view.
And they unleashed Holy Power toward this position.

Crash!

Something collapsed behind him with a deafening roar.
If not for that Holy Power, he would have been dead.
Chills should have run through him, but having grown accustomed even to such moments, his body remained unmoved.

“Don’t let your guard slip.”

Someone. No—the Saintess came rushing over quickly to cover his rear.
A sharp warning came with it.
The battle continued after that.
His body moved of its own accord, and on instinct he struck at the Golem’s core.
The movements, stripped of all unnecessary motion, were smooth and relentless.
On the other side, Magic sent the gargoyle’s torso flying.
A sharp Dagger lodged itself into the Dragon Lair’s wall.

Crash!

The Saintess called out through the sound of shattering and crumbling.

“You.”
“Is something wrong?”

The body that had seemed composed until now began to tremble.
Perhaps lying didn’t come naturally.

“As I thought, your ■ has reached its limit…….”

The world tilted and swam sideways across her vision.
Something was being said, but for some reason she couldn’t hear the voice.
The Saintess’s kind face hardened in an instant.
A face bearing anger or guilt—she couldn’t tell which.

“Don’t worry. I’ll find ■■ myself.”

I’ll interpret the Map you found as quickly as possible.
So the Map really did belong to the Hero.
But a Map, of all things…….
The moment that thought crossed her mind, the Hero’s body swayed violently.
No—this wasn’t the Hero’s body.

‘Is it already over?’

That nauseating sensation was what came when Story Mode was ending.

‘No real information came out.’

It wasn’t as if Lion didn’t already know that the Hero had some hidden agenda, and that the Saintess had sensed it.

‘I need to learn more.’

For the first time, Lion resisted being ejected from Story Mode.
He had to extract more information.
Concentrating his will, he managed to avoid being forced out of Story Mode.
It was likely thanks to the new Circle that Tieramatrak had given him.

‘Just a bit longer.’

Fortunately, the Hero’s sight and hearing were sharp.
Lion was able to catch the Saintess’s muttered words.

“As expected, to resolve ■■, I must find that island quickly…….”

And that was the end of it.
His vision went red and dark all at once.
Ceiling and floor became indistinguishable, and only the arc of a blade would gleam red now and then.
And…….

…….
…….
…….

A ragged gasp tore from his throat.

Reality rushed back in.

“Hey! Lion! Are you alright?”
“There’s a strange flow forming around you. What in the world is—”

Lion’s eyes snapped open.
Cold sweat beaded down his cheeks.
Fortunately, his stomach hadn’t turned so violently this time—no blood came up like before—but a dull ache bloomed behind his eyes.
Likely a backlash from forcing himself to endure Story Mode.
But because of it.

‘An island.’

He had gained one crucial clue.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————