Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 261

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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 Doesn’t Matter; I Just Want to Heal — Episode 261

“……In any case, be careful out there.”

Lion finished speaking, deliberately ignoring the weight of countless eyes upon him.
Though he’d been called out on something fundamental, he’d managed a rather graceful exit—or so he told himself as he saw Nature off.

“Shall we head out too?”

-I’m fine with it. But Lion, I have a question.

Before stepping through the door, Lion turned to look at Tieramatrak.

“What is it?”

-Why did you send that crybaby ghost away?
-Even if she was scared of me, pairing her with that Spirit King would’ve worked fine, I’d think.

Tieramatrak stroked her chin thoughtfully, then snapped her fingers as if struck by sudden realization.

-You sent her away on purpose, didn’t you?
-There was something you didn’t want that crybaby ghost to see?

Dragons truly did think fast when they set their minds to it.

“That’s right.”

-I knew it!
-……But why? What’s the reason?

Of course, the primary reason had been to avoid hurting the Grand Duke’s feelings unnecessarily—though he wouldn’t call him a crybaby to his face.
But that wasn’t the only reason.

“Something felt off.”

Lion paused before speaking, choosing his words carefully.

“He’s more composed and sharp than children his own age, I’ll grant you that. But I don’t think that alone would be enough to survive fifty years, would it?”

The Grand Duke was certainly sharp-minded.
That’s how he must have endured those fifty years somehow.
But if that were all it took, how many ghosts would walk this world?

‘Of course, there are undead monsters.’

Those were closer to malevolent spirits anyway, so never mind that.

“Take you, for example—it makes sense because you’re a dragon.”

-That’s true.

“And you never said it, but I’d wager you chose to become a ghost yourself.”

-Whaaaat.

Tieramatrak rolled her eyes and played innocent.
Not that Lion particularly wanted to pry into anyone else’s personal affairs.
She didn’t seem like a bad sort, at any rate.
Regardless, what Lion was focused on was this:

“You’re maintaining your ghost form by using your bones and rare essence as anchors, aren’t you?”

-That’s right. I was a great being, so I had the capacity to sustain something of that magnitude… Oh!

Tieramatrak, who had been evasive, drew near Lion again as if realizing something.

-So what you’re saying is, there’s a tether somewhere in this castle that keeps that creature bound?

“Exactly.”

-And there would be other clues left behind there as well?

That would be helpful.

-Hmm, that makes sense!
-The Mana from the Great Barrier might be masking it from my perception.

It probably is.
Otherwise, that chatterbox would’ve been babbling about “there’s something suspicious here!” by now.

‘So then.’

The place I’m looking for has two conditions.
First: somewhere the ghost instinctively avoids or cannot find.
And second: a location where something from the Dragnas Family might still be hidden somewhere in this castle.

-Wait, don’t tell me that’s also why you gave that crybaby free time earlier?

“No, I actually did just give you free time.”

-Really? Hehe. Well, it was nice to get some fresh air anyway. Even if it’s gloomy outside.
-Anyway, let’s go. I don’t know where it is, but I can at least rule out the places it isn’t.

“Alright.”

Lion opened the door and surveyed the corridor only after their conversation ended.
And his small nocturnal expedition was about to set something in motion.

* * *

At the same time.

“Brrr….”

A Mage from the Magic Tower, newly assigned to oversee the Great Barrier, rubbed both arms.

“This place is always so bitterly cold whenever I come here.”

The Mage spoke thus while surveying the surroundings.
By now, she was old enough not to fear ghost stories, yet stepping into this place always brought dread flooding back.
It could be the overwhelming presence of the Great Barrier outside the castle.

‘Or maybe it’s because I know the story of the Grand Duke of Dragnas.’

Gulp.

The Mage swallowed hard and hunched her shoulders.

“Anyway, something about this place is definitely strange….”

He would never have come at all if he couldn’t have assisted the Grand Mage Patrick, if only briefly.

‘Come on, I need to get back to the lodgings. Fast.’

The Mage resolved as much and picked his way toward his quarters, choosing only the brightest passages he could find.
Because of this eerie sensation, he’d even swallowed his pride as a mage and requested quarters as close as possible to the rooms the priests used.
Thanks to that arrangement, nothing had occurred thus far.

Hissssss…….
Thump.

“W-what was that just now?”

The Mage glanced around with trembling eyes.
No—the sound hadn’t come from nearby.
It came from farther away.
From somewhere higher up in the Ancient Castle, in fact—and he’d thought no one was assigned to those upper levels.

‘No. No, it must have been the wind.’

Even a castle built as soundly as this one hadn’t been properly maintained in ages, so wind must have found its way through the cracks and produced some strange noise.
While he was comforting himself with such thoughts.

Whoosh.

Another sound came—something like a brushing whisper.
The wisest course in such situations was usually to keep walking without turning around.
But those who devoted themselves to the study of Magic were cursed with an inquisitive nature they couldn’t suppress.
Before he could stop himself, the Mage’s head turned upward.

“……!”

He saw it.
A shape moving through the darkness.
Or rather, barely visible thanks to the torches hung on the level below.
A foot.
A foot that walked through the darkness without making a sound.
Silent.
Then it vanished into the shadows.
The Mage’s mind assembled the pieces.
Might that footstep belong to the Grand Duke Dragnas?
Could his Vengeful Spirit still be wandering this place?
And if he mistook me for an enemy, what would become of me?
After countless such questions.

“…….”

Crumple.
Thud.

He lost consciousness right there.
And from that day forward, the rumor that the Vengeful Spirit of Grand Duke Dragnas wandered the Ancient Castle spread as though it were absolute truth.
And the unconscious Mage, when he came to, cried out:

“W-we must appease the resentment of the Grand Duke’s house!”

Or so he claimed.

* * *

Lion crouched behind the castle’s railing, surveying the space around him.

‘No guards.’

Then again, this was the Great Barrier itself.
A place only the most trustworthy would visit.
Besides, no matter how suspicious someone appeared, they couldn’t slip past the Archbishop and Grandfather’s notice.

‘Still, it feels like somewhere I shouldn’t be.’

If things went wrong here, the job hunt would be waiting for him again. The thought made his stomach churn.
Yet there was work to be done, and things he needed to know—so Lion moved forward as calmly as he could manage.
Even maintained with minimal care, the Ancient Castle bore the glory of a Grand Duke’s residence, and most of the estate was carpeted throughout.
At least he didn’t have to worry about his footsteps giving him away.
And…

‘Besides, I’m not taking the usual paths anyway.’

The visible rooms were already serving as quarters for those who’d arrived at the Great Barrier.
Fifty years was a long time—it was almost certain every room visible from the main halls had been used at least once.
That meant the public rooms weren’t what he was looking for.
Which meant…

“This is the only way.”

-Oh, you’ll be okay in the dark?

Lion headed down a passage where servants must have once walked, torch unlit.
It was narrow, with a few cobwebs sagging in empty corners, but nothing that would impede him.

-Lion, looks like you made the right call coming this way.
-A Mage just passed by outside after finishing the night shift… wait, did you sleep?

Fear didn’t touch him.
For one, Tieramatrak wouldn’t stop chattering from beside him, and Pus—whom he’d stuffed into his bag out of worry about leaving her alone—kept sniffing the air eagerly.

“Does something smell familiar?”

Pus’s nose had been working overtime since they’d gotten close to the Great Barrier.
He’d almost decided to run through some Nose Work with her when—

Rustle. Rustle!

“Hm? Pus, what’s wrong?”

Pus began squirming, trying to wriggle free from the bag.

[Pus wants to help you!]

Help him?

‘Wait. This…’

Lion recalled the conversation he’d had with Pus on the way to the Great Barrier.

‘I definitely asked her to bring me anything strange she found.’

He’d promised her treats in exchange.
Which meant Pus’s keen nose might have detected something.

‘It might be connected to the corruption.’

Ever since arriving here, Pus had taken an interest in corrupted things because of the magical energy.

“Easy. Just wait a moment.”

If this had been the Asteri Family Estate, I would have let Pus roam freely, but this Ancient Castle sat right at the edge of the Great Barrier.
With barely anyone passing through, I couldn’t simply release him.
If he got injured, that would be a disaster.

“There we are. Pus. I’ve brought something wonderful.”

Lion pulled from his Inventory an elegant fabric harness and leash.

[Companion Beast Walking Set (★★★)]
-With this leash and harness, you can exercise complete control over your companion beast!
-Moreover, you can also protect your companion beast!
-Essential for beasts prone to running away.
-However, adaptation time may vary depending on the beast.

The adjustment period didn’t concern me.
I’d been training Pus during our playtime anyway.
Barg’s help had been invaluable.
Though his treatment as a person had certainly plummeted because of it.

“There now. That’s right.”

Fortunately, despite being quite excited, Pus docilely accepted the harness and leash.

“Squeee!”
“Yes. Want to go where you want to go?”

The moment my words finished, Pus’s body shot forward like an arrow.
The leash caught him short, preventing him from going further, but his body tilted anxiously as if impatient to confirm his destination.

‘Before the possession, I always wondered why dogs’ bodies lean that way…’

It wasn’t because the leash was uncomfortable—he just wanted to go faster.
Realizing this truth, I followed Pus through the winding dark corridors and alleys.
From what I remembered, we’d even climbed and descended stairs.

-Don’t worry about getting lost.
-I remember it all.

Fortunately, thanks to my smart navigator—or rather, Tieramatrak—I didn’t need to look back.
After walking briskly for quite some time in this fashion, we arrived.

“Pant, pant! Pant!”

Pus stopped and clawed urgently at the door in front of him.

‘Where is this?’

It looked less like a room and more like a storage warehouse where supplies were kept.

-Oh! Indeed. I wouldn’t have sensed this place.
-And that crybaby ghost wouldn’t have found it either.
-It’s the closest point to the Great Barrier in this castle.
-But…

Tieramatrak stared at the storage warehouse door, his brow furrowed deep in concentration.

“What’s wrong?”

-Hmm, there’s something really familiar about this place.
-That’s strange. I’ve never met these creatures before?

“We’ll know once we go inside.”

Truth be told, there was something else he’d been suspecting all along.
But he’d know everything the moment he stepped through that door.
Lion pushed open the old warehouse door.

Creak—

The rusted hinges shrieked a bone-chilling sound, and through the darkness he could feel decades of musty dust settling and shifting in the air.
And inside it.

“As expected.”

There lay the belongings of the Grand Duke of House Dragnas—things they couldn’t bring themselves to burn.
And.

-Wha—what?

Tieramatrak understood too.
The source of that familiar feeling.

-……That’s my magical energy??

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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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