Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 279

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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? I haven’t the faintest idea. All I want is to heal. Episode 279

There’s something distinctly different about having nothing to say and losing the words to say it.
It was the first thought that came to me after my mind had stuttered to a halt.

‘Who on earth did he listen to, to come up with something like that?’

The roiling emotions that had been churning inside me began to settle, and reason suddenly thrust its head through.
There’s no way this plan came from Lion’s own mind—he’s far too good-hearted for that.

“You’ve had a lot building up against me, haven’t you?”
“…….”

I couldn’t deny it.
Lion always keeps things from me.
His pain, his realizations.
And he’s always carefully hidden from me the path I must walk forward upon.
The reason is only one.
Because I’m his younger brother.

‘I used to wonder if things would change once I came of age.’

Maybe it was because I was still young.
If I grew a little more mature, a little wiser, perhaps then Lion wouldn’t need to shelter me so.
I’d entertained that thought once, but it didn’t last long.
The conclusion came quickly.
Even if I were to reach adulthood, to age as much as Patrick has, Lion would never let a single hint of it show on his face.
Once that thought took root, everything felt futile.
So, without quite realizing it, I made a rather impulsive decision.

‘I never dreamed Lion would come looking for me.’

This time, I’d used a Warp Scroll to travel somewhere far away, hoping he wouldn’t find me.
I wanted to clear my head, and there was something I needed to investigate.
But I never expected him to show up before I could even properly begin.
And in such a state, no less.

‘Had he been searching for me?’

His clothes and gloves were still impeccably fitted, but his hair was disheveled, and his face was pale.
And in those eyes that were usually playful and forthright, I glimpsed something like anxiety.
The truth was, that expression had already melted away ninety percent of my resolve, but…….

“So why don’t we just be honest and clear the air between us?”
“Do you have something weighing on you, sir?”
“Do I?”
“…….”
“But you’re angry, and this way would be much easier on both of us, wouldn’t it?”

Ricshel exhaled deeply.
Lion conducted himself as though he understood everything about people, yet when it came to family, he was remarkably clumsy.

‘Or rather…….’

Anxious. That was the word for it.
Especially whenever the slightest conflict arose.
Though I couldn’t quite explain why.

‘The fact that he’d so readily believe such an absurd suggestion is proof enough.’

While his mind had cleared a little, Lion decided to think about who had given his brother such cheap advice.

“Was it Jake who said that?”

At the question, cold sweat trickled down the back of Lion’s neck.

‘How did he know?’

He’d expected Ricshel to catch on quickly enough, given his sharp mind, but they’d only been together for a few minutes.

“That man wouldn’t have spoken without compensation. What did you trade him for this information?”

Well, he’d paid quite a steep price for it.
He’d put up Lion’s golden, carefree life as collateral.
But…….

‘There are plenty of ways out.’

He could just warm a seat, live like a figurehead owner, slip away through a smooth succession, and be done with it.

‘It’s all just how people live, after all.’

No matter how noble the title, with a little finesse he’d get through a few years of hardship and return to his old ways.
If he moved quickly, even a year was possible.
All he had to do was behave strangely enough that the nobility would strenuously object!

“Are you listening to what I’m saying?”
“Uh… yes, yes. I’m listening.”

Lion nodded earnestly, as if he’d just come to his senses and was now paying close attention to Ricshel’s prolonged lecture.
If he made a bad impression here, it was finished—fighting or anything else!

“In any case, I have no intention of hurting you through such absurd methods. Violence against you? And besides, your body isn’t even fully healed yet.”
“Then you’re willing to talk it through?”
“No.”

At the blunt reply, Lion let out a long sigh.
It was just as he’d expected.
Despite their meeting, the conversation wasn’t making any real progress.

‘It was what I foresaw, anyway.’

Ricshel was naturally good-natured and gentle, so he would certainly refuse such an offer.
This reasoning was possible because Lion didn’t know what side of himself Ricshel showed during his duties, but either way, he’d been right about the answer.
……In any case, Lion had devised one clever trick in preparation for this kind of situation.
Namely.

“What about a Sparring match?”
“Sigh. No matter what you desire, I…….”

He still had no desire to talk or do anything else.
Part of him hoped his brother would feel some of his own anxiety and a touch of disappointment.
So just as he was about to refuse coldly.

“If you win, I’ll tell you everything.”

“My condition, what I gave Jake in exchange. What happened at the Great Barrier. And everything we need to prepare going forward. What do you say?”

It was far too tempting an offer to refuse.
Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to remove everything that had been needling Ricshel?

‘The problem is…….’

He would have to defeat his brother under the guise of sparring.

‘Of course I’ll win.’

The real question was how to subdue his brother safely.
Moreover, if he was making an offer of that caliber, his brother must have steeled himself for it too.
His brother would surely enter the sparring match with every tactic at his disposal.
In that case…… accepting only that much seemed a waste of a deal.

“There’s another condition.”
“Let me hear it.”
“Share your worries with me in real time.”
“Hmm…….”
“Even the smallest things will do. Like what kind of meal you’ll have this very evening, or what direction you’re thinking of taking with your Alchemy research.”
“…….”

That was quite a demanding condition.
Lion folded his arms and considered it.
Had he ever, not once in his life, prattled on about trivial matters to anyone?
Never.
It was his nature to clean up his own messes—ones he’d made or would make.
It stemmed from having been alone since childhood.
How could he lean on others when there was no one to help him?

“If you find it distasteful, there’s no need to spar.”
“……Well, fine.”

He’s actually accepting this?

“In exchange.”
“Name it.”
“If I win, you leave without another word. And you wait until I choose to tell you the truth.”
“…….”

It was precisely the sort of condition to drive someone with Ricshel’s temperament to frustration.
He knew it full well, yet he’d deliberately laid out these terms.
Otherwise, that fool would never fight with genuine intent.

“Agreed.”

Ricshel turned his head and gazed out into the darkness.
He’d never imagined he would be fighting at this hour of the night.
And against his brother—the man he worried over and revered.

“Let’s move to a different location. There’s a Training Ground outside.”
“All right.”

But where exactly was this place that it had its own training ground?
Lion followed Ricshel’s lead, studying his surroundings.
The night was dark, and all he could barely make out were mountains upon mountains, as numerous as waves.

‘A mountain lodge?’

Then again, House Asteri had purchased estates in various places, so it stood to reason they’d own a villa even in terrain as remote and mountainous as this…… though.

‘This place feels quite old.’

It seemed to be maintained regularly, yet the carpets and furnishings were all worn with age.
It felt as though someone had deliberately preserved it in its original state.

‘Could this be the place?’

The villa where his great-grandmother had run away with his young grandfather.

‘Hmm, though the furnishings don’t quite feel that ancient.’

Well, that wasn’t important right now anyway.
Though he’d been the one to suggest they spar, Lion had no intention of losing.

‘……Though honestly, the odds of losing are pretty high.’

Still, he meant to give it his all.

‘It’s about time I tested myself anyway.’

He’d discovered that the Hero had entered inside the Great Barrier.
Lion would eventually have to go inside that Great Barrier too.
Which meant he had to reach a level where he could protect himself.

‘My current level is…….’

To be honest, even after acquiring Spirit Summoning and Magic, he’d never fought a proper battle.
And Alchemy, his highest achievement, either.

‘In principle, it can be used for combat too.’

Like throwing a Poison Potion and using a Combustion Potion to trigger an explosion, in that sense.

‘Of course, finding a way to move safely inside the Great Barrier should be the first priority…….’

But that wasn’t possible right now.
Lion followed behind Ricshel, looking down at his own hands.
Actually…….
There was one more thing he’d been avoiding all this time.
It was because of the item that had been ‘rebound’ after the conversation with Grand Duke Dragnas…….

[Sword of ■■]
-Current item information unavailable.
Reason: Insufficient Qualifications

It had definitely been the sword his original self had used until the very end.
It had even been rebound to his Inventory.
When he’d tried to check it after his body recovered somewhat, it showed him nothing but that message about insufficient qualifications.
The reason was painfully clear.

‘It must be the Contamination.’

Until he resolved the Contamination, he had to find an alternative.
And that meant gaining combat ability.

“Here we are.”

Lion’s thoughts halted as they arrived at the Training Ground.
A solemn atmosphere settled between them, but Lion opened his mouth with a lighter tone, trying to ease the mood a little.

“I never knew there was a villa out here in the mountains.”
“Yes, sir. It’s not in use anymore.”

Ah, so Ricshel knew what this place was.
But then again…….

‘There’s something more to this, I think.’

Unfortunately, Ricshel offered nothing further.
Apparently he didn’t want the tension to dissipate through conversation.

‘Well, fair enough. It’s not what matters right now anyway.’

The fact that they’d even eased the mood at all felt like decent progress, so Lion didn’t press further.

“We stop when one side admits defeat or becomes unable to continue.”
“I shall send out a challenger, then.”
“Very well.”

Lion didn’t pass up the opportunity.
And given Ricshel’s temperament, he likely wouldn’t strike first.

“Come on, Nature. Let’s give this a try.”
“Cheep!”

Nature shot out from his arms with supreme confidence, and Lion released his mana while recalling the days when he’d raised a Druid in In the World.

And so the two began their sparring, though Lion would come to deeply regret it afterward.
The first regret stemmed from the atmosphere after the match.
The second came from discovering that this unused villa…….
Well.
Was actually Mother and Father’s secret love nest.

* * *

And at that very moment, Patrick was.

“Ahem…….”

Walking with an extremely stiff gait toward a certain location.
Which was none other than.

“Oh, no! How could the head of house possibly be here……!”

The Kitchen of the Asteri Family Estate — a place Lion frequented nearly as often as his own chambers.

“It’s just that…….”

Patrick harbored no small amount of remorse toward his youngest grandchild, and so had come here hoping to give a gift born of genuine sentiment.
After all, the youngest grandchild seemed quite fond of sweet treats.

“Ahem. Is there perhaps a dessert that even a beginner could manage?”

Thus he had set aside all dignity befitting a head of house and personally ventured to this place.
All the while oblivious to what sort of impropriety his beloved daughter and her husband were committing at that very villa……!

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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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