Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 270

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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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I Don’t Know About Being a Successor, But I Can Certainly Heal — Chapter 270

“Mmm…….”

Lion opened his eyes again several days later.
He could remember going into his room to stop the nosebleed…….

‘Everything after that is blank.’

It seemed he’d simply passed out cold.
His body certainly bore that out.
In truth, he should have been resting quietly rather than confronting the Archbishop—his condition had been that poor.

‘But he started it first…….’

The Archbishop had picked a fight with him.
Lion himself might’ve let it slide, but the Archbishop had laid hands on his grandfather.
The bastard.
Since when did a man of the cloth get to act that way?
Lion was still seething because he hadn’t properly vented his anger.
Cursing the Archbishop silently, Lion tried to sit up——

‘Aaaagh!’

A sickening wave of pain sent him flopping back onto the bed.
Then the tube-like things connected to his body came tumbling loose one by one.

‘Tubes?’

Now that he thought about it, this wasn’t Dragnas Castle.
Nor was it a carriage, nor the Asteri Family Estate.
This was…….

“Sensation is returning now, so you’ll be in considerable pain. Don’t move.”
“……Ha. You’ve been well, I hope.”
“…….”

Hoffmann, who had been reattaching the Magical Medical Device to Lion’s body, froze. His gaze fixed on Lion with an expression of sheer bewilderment.
That look said something like ‘You’re worried about courtesy now?’ — which only made Lion laugh harder despite himself.

“Stop laughing. I’m not Patrick.”
“Understood.”

Lion wiped the grin from his face and stared blankly up at the ceiling.

“In all my years, this is only the fourth time I’ve seen the lord of the house lost in thought like that.”

Hoffmann finished the connections and checked Lion’s body temperature.
And then…….

“And every single cause was you alone.”

Pinch!

“Ow, ow, ow!”

Hoffmann pinched Lion’s cheek hard.
The hands of the Magic Tower Master, who always carried a staff and pen, had a surprisingly fierce grip.

“I thought once the Mana Shock ended, I’d never have to see that face again—and yet you go and pull something like this!”
“I, that is…….”

Lion’s cheeks sagged as he fumbled for an excuse, his words emerging slurred and clumsy.

“Whatever the reason, you shouldn’t be doing things like that.”

Hoffmann’s voice cut through like a blade.

“I know what’s in your heart. You want to protect something. You might think sacrificing yourself is enough.”

In truth, thanks to Lion’s talent, everything had somehow been manageable until now.
Not a single resource from House Asteri had been spent, and neither the direct line nor the collateral branches had lifted a finger.

…….
“Your grandfather couldn’t say these things to you. To him, you’re a particularly tender wound.”

It was true.
There were reasons his grandfather hadn’t come down harder on him.
And Lion knew those reasons, even as he pretended not to.
In a way, he’d exploited his grandfather’s heart.

“Of course, you’re a tender wound to me as well. Every time you’ve died, I’ve been the one to bring you back.”

Lion nodded quietly.
If someone else had said it, perhaps he could dismiss it. But Hoffmann was different.
Three Mana Shocks.
And beyond that, hadn’t he handled all the minor examinations and treatments as well?
Moreover…….

“You may think of him as your grandfather, but to me he is an idol.”

Grandfather.
Or rather, the legendary Patrick Asteri, the man he had admired and grown up dreaming of becoming.
An 8th Circle mage, the patriarch of House Asteri, and the one who had ended the war with the Demons.
For such a man to be swayed and tormented by concern for Lion alone—how much must it wound him inside?

‘I’d want to punch myself too.’

There were certainly explanations he could offer, but since this time he had indeed used a particularly dangerous method, Lion simply kept his mouth shut.
As he was being scolded at length,

“That’s enough.”
“……Master.”

The lift from the Magic Tower opened, and Patrick stepped into the room.

“Is Lion’s body stable?”
“It appears he’s recovered his sense of pain, but he absolutely requires several weeks of complete rest. And…….”

Hoffmann’s gaze fell upon Lion’s forearm.

“The Contamination isn’t spreading any further, but it would be best to remove it as soon as possible.”
“I see. You’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all. Only…….”

Hoffmann looked toward Patrick.
While Lion slept, hadn’t he been watching from the closest position to see what hardships the Master had endured?

“Hmm?”

At that look, Patrick let out a soft chuckle, lifted one corner of his mouth into a smile, and gave Hoffmann’s shoulder a light pat.

“All that time staring up at the sky must have made you quite the sentimental fellow.”
“My apologies. I harbored no such intention. Then——”

Hoffmann hastily bowed his head and stepped aside.

“Tender-hearted, aren’t you.”

Well, it was worth praising that he’d at least spoken his true feelings on his grandson’s behalf.

“Sounds like you’ve been thoroughly chastened. That’s right—you were always especially afraid of Hoffmann when you were young.”

Perhaps because of that lingering impression, Lion was watching Patrick with obvious wariness.

“Lion.”
“Yes, Grandfather——”
“Why do you shrink away like that? You’ll likely cause me even more trouble down the road.”
“——I beg your pardon?”

Patrick sighed lightly and settled into the chair beside the bed.

“I mean don’t dwell on what’s already happened. Though I’ll admit, every time you collapse, I feel ten years of my life slip away.”
“I—I’m so sorry, Grandfather.”
“There. That much will do nicely. Don’t torture yourself further over it. And——”

Ahem. Patrick cleared his throat and opened the pouch he had fastened inside his robe.
From it came——

“Squeal! Squeal!”

Poos, crying out as though he’d been absolutely devastated at not seeing his master all this while.

“Chirp! Chirp-chirp!”

And Nature, who would certainly be muttering curses and complaints if she’d been human.

“Since they’ll need to convalesce here for a time, I’ve brought them along.”

The moment Patrick set the pouch down——

“Squeeee!”

Poos leaped high in a single bound and dove straight onto Lion’s belly!

Thump!

Those sturdy little claws pressed firmly into flesh.

“Gnnnngh——!!”

Excruciating muscle pain shot through Lion like lightning. The sensation was so vivid he nearly wept, tears welling up at the corners of his eyes, but they vanished the instant Poos began licking his face enthusiastically, replaced instead by drool.

“The Archbishop has been quiet as a mouse ever since you put him in his place.”
“Cough.”
“I’m sure you blackmailed him over ‘that problem.’ Excellent work. He’s the type who only listens when you come at him hard.”
“Haha. Ahahaha…….”

Grandfather would probably forgive him this time too.
Or perhaps he understands the circumstances best of all and is simply letting it slide.

“And I told Ricshel that you’d gone into the Magic Tower to research the Poisonous Plant you discovered at the Great Barrier.”
“Ah.”
“If that boy figures it out, there’ll be hell to pay, so keep your story straight.”
“Thank you.”

Lion trembled slightly as he imagined the fallout if Ricshel ever learned the truth.

‘First…… I need to deal with Licht.’

Why should the innocent Licht take the heat?
Ricshel was nothing if not ruthlessly pragmatic.
If he knew the full situation and Lion touched Licht, both he and the Temple would come after Lion of their own accord.

‘It’s like an emergency button.’

It was a relief Ricshel didn’t know.

“And that Contamination…… I’m afraid you’ll have to carry it a while longer.”
“I understand.”

Lion grasped it at once.
It would’ve been strange to pressure the Archbishop like that days ago and then turn around asking him to treat the Contamination now.
It was also giving the Archbishop room to breathe.

‘Though I could always use Licht.’

Lion examined his hands carefully.
They’d turned a sickly black, but they weren’t rotting or melting away.
It might be fatal if left long enough, but for now it seemed manageable.

“Do you have some plan in mind?”
“I do. When the time comes, I’ll have it treated, so don’t worry.”
“Yes. Haha. At least this gives me a chance to make more gloves.”

Lion joked lightly as he eased himself up a bit.
Even this small movement was the most he could manage—he’d need weeks of rest.

“Rest quietly until the Emperor’s Birthday.”

He added that doing some research at the Magic Tower wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Likely Grandfather was worried Lion would bolt the moment he was well enough.

‘Ah…….’

Hoffmann had already scolded him, so at least this time Lion would rest quietly without complaint.
Though this was unexpected.

“You’re going to let me attend the Emperor’s Birthday?”
“Even if I forbid it, you’ll go anyway.”
“…….”

He understands far too much.

“Now then, I’d like to hear what information you’ve gathered as well.”
“Ah, yes.”

Lion stroked Poos as he reported what he’d learned from within that contamination.
That he’d met Dragnas Duke, and he was guarding the Hero’s Belongings.
And…….

“……Inside the barrier, he said.”
“Yes. I heard he headed inside the Great Barrier.”

Patrick’s expression grew infinitely grave.

“I hadn’t considered investigating inside there at all.”

There was no helping it.
Even if someone had entered, the Great Barrier was one Patrick and the Holy Maiden had created.
Any intrusion would have reached Patrick’s awareness.
Normally, anyway. Yes, it would have.

“Perhaps the Previous Archbishop’s assistance played a role?”
“……Yes.”

What was he hiding that would lead to such a choice?

“Understood. I’ll gather information on my end as well.”
“Yes. Thank you for that.”
“My thanks to you.”
…….

Lion’s eyes widened at Patrick’s words.

‘All I did was cause trouble…….’

Patrick, reading that expression, gazed at his occasionally obtuse grandson with affectionate eyes.
The boy seemed unaware that having learned all these facts was itself an enormous gain.

‘Hoffmann has done something considerable.’

Doubtless the scolding from earlier had played no small part.

“No matter.”

His grandson would surely squirrel away these facts again if he heard Patrick mention them, so he’d best leave it alone.

“Then rest well while you’re at the Magic Tower. It seems several people have been wanting to see you.”
“Yes. Those who want to taste that drink you made have been lining up.”
“Ah.”

For mages absorbed in their research, it was doubtless nothing short of a divine elixir.

‘Once my body’s recovered, I should make some more.’

And he’d need to take a cup to Hoffmann as well.
As Lion leisurely made his plans, Patrick rose from his seat.
It was time to head back.
He had other things to prepare, not the Great Barrier itself.

“Are you leaving?”
“Yes. Don’t get up.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”

Lion sat on the bed, watching Patrick off.
The lift rose, and the doors were just opening.

“Oh.”

Patrick spoke casually, as though he’d just remembered something.

“By the way, Elvia is also quite upset at the moment, so you’ll need to smooth things over with her on your own.”
“……Pardon?”
“She’s wondering why you didn’t call on her. Ahem…… Well then, that’s all.”

Patrick immediately descended in the lift.
The lift, which boasted the Magic Tower’s engineering prowess, descended in an instant…….

-Oh.
-This is bad. She’s terrifying when she’s angry.

“……Yeah, well.”

What now?
Lion broke into a cold sweat.

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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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