Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 280

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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’d rather just heal everyone — Episode 280

“Hmm…….”

At the words of Patrick, the head of House Asteri himself, the kitchen master Alex sank into deep thought.
‘The master himself—cook directly? That can’t be right!’ That wasn’t quite the feeling that gripped him.
Of course, he was rather startled!
Still, Alex had a precedent, didn’t he?
None other than Lion, the eldest son of House Asteri.
His skill was so outstanding that Alex had even been left deeply impressed, learning from him to that degree!
But.

‘The master, though…….’

He was different. Very different.
First of all, the master had a rather peculiar way of seeing things.

‘To be honest, when it came to his taste alone…….’

Alex caught himself mid-thought and quickly shook his head, as if dispelling a rude notion.
In any case, the master’s taste was somewhat…… somewhat questionable, and his skill at actually preparing dishes likely wasn’t particularly strong either.

‘He clearly seems to intend to make a dessert for those two.’

The incident where Ricshel had flown into a rage and run away had already spread like wildfire among the servants.
Only thanks to their discretion had the information not yet leaked beyond the estate.

“There isn’t one?”

As Alex’s deliberation stretched on, Patrick asked again.

“My apologies, master. Upon your question, I was lost in thought about what might be suitable. Desserts span such a broad spectrum compared to main courses. Hmm…….”

Since the master had come in person, Alex needed to offer an answer worthy of the inquiry.
Countless desserts flickered through Alex’s mind before vanishing again.
For the moment, caught off-guard, nothing would crystallize.

‘Damn it. Young Master Lion would surely have thought of something already!’

Desserts that were as clever and ingenious as hotteok—simple, yet so delicious!
Though he’d tasted many special desserts since then, none had left quite such a vivid impression as that one.
Truly……!
Alex was about to launch into praise of the hotteok when he barely managed to rein in his thoughts, collecting himself again.
A dessert so unique, so simple, and so delicious.

‘And on top of that, it had to satisfy both their palates.’

And finally—the master himself had to be able to make it without too much difficulty.
Truth be told, that last part was the hardest.

“Ah!”

Alex struck his palm with his fist, completely forgetting that Patrick was standing right there!
A truly excellent idea had just occurred to him.

“I have one, sir! A truly splendid dessert!”
“But I have to be able to make it—is that possible?”
“Of course, sir. Any…….”
“Any.”
“……There are desserts that are just as fine as any other, and easier to make besides. And especially, I imagine the head of the household would find it quite simple indeed.”

Alex barely restrained himself from saying “something even a complete fool could make,” and broke into a broad smile.

“…….”

Patrick understood the implication well enough, but he couldn’t very well fly into a rage here.
Not that it would’ve been entirely without justification.

‘Hmm. I suppose I’ve been duped as well, after all.’

And beyond that, despite this being an official occasion and Hoffman being present, he’d been rather stern with Ricshel.
Yet Patrick understood his youngest grandson’s heart better than anyone.

“What’s the name of this dessert?”
“A Parfait, sir.”

A Parfait?
Patrick’s brow furrowed.
That luxurious dessert made with cold cream that melted on the tongue and perfectly layered toppings.
Moreover, its taste varied wildly depending on the pastry chef’s skill.

“Of course, not a typical Parfait, sir.”

As Patrick’s expression grew sharper, Alex hastened to elaborate.
Anyone but Lion would have reacted the same way.
That overwhelming presence and charisma of his were truly incomparable.
Alex, for his part, had witnessed enough of Patrick’s human side over the years — if only indirectly — that he could at least attempt an explanation.

“We’ll be making a Parfait where both the cream and toppings can be chosen according to the Young Masters’ preferences.”

Exactly.
The idea Alex had devised was a customizable Parfait!
A Parfait where one could add whatever flavors and toppings one wished!
And to create such a dessert, one would need…….

“Your magic, sir. It’s absolutely essential.”

Ice Magic. Shape Transformation Magic.
And Temperature Maintenance Magic, to help form and stabilize firm cream layers!

“……I see.”

It was logically sound persuasion, and for once — uncharacteristically uncertain — Patrick’s lips twitched into a smile.

‘At least I can show I’m sorry.’

“Then let’s begin at once.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll fetch the ingredients — please wait a moment.”

And so Patrick, whose hands had never carried so much as a dish in all his life, let alone drawn water, took on the challenge of making dessert for his grandsons.
Fortunately, thanks to Alex’s guidance and Patrick’s exceptional command of Magic, the customizable Parfait came together beautifully and successfully!

* * *

And at that same moment.

“…….”

Lion had won.

‘Well. What do I do now?’

The problem was that it had been a narrow victory, marred by destruction.
Lion stared at his half-ruined house and dragged both hands across his face.
His face, already smudged with soot, became an even greater mess, and a few strands of hair that had been cleanly severed by magic went spinning through the air with a faint whistle.
Lion traced backward through his memories, trying to pinpoint where things had gone wrong.

‘So.’

Thanks to Ricshel’s consideration in letting him take the opening move, Lion had cheerfully summoned Nature.
There had been no problem in using Mana, and he’d felt confident that combat Spirit Summoning would work just fine.
But the problem was.

“Cheep, cheep?”

Nature, who had flown up so eagerly, had panicked upon seeing Ricshel.
The expression on her tiny face was one of: Were we really going to fight my actual brother?

“Yes, that’s how it is.”
“Cheep….”
“Since we’re doing this, we should do it with real intent.”
“Cheep, cheep….”
“I know. Fighting isn’t a good thing.”
“Cheep-cheep!”

In the end, persuaded by Lion’s argument, Nature had worn a reluctant expression but generated a strong wind as her master demanded, attacking Ricshel.
It wasn’t terribly threatening, but it was certainly more than what could be dismissed as a halfhearted opening strike.
And naturally.

“….”

Ricshel didn’t so much as blink, and simply took the attack head-on.

‘As expected.’

And then a single insight struck him.

‘My brother doesn’t simply want to settle things with a sparring match.’

No matter how urgent the mood, he was not the sort to take Jack’s words at face value.
Then what was his true reason for wanting this sparring match?
Throughout his conversation with Lion, Ricshel had thought continuously about this.
And two conclusions had emerged.
The first was that he wanted to see with his own eyes just how much he had grown!

‘Whether I’ve grown enough to share the burden of his heavy responsibilities.’

It was truly a decision worthy of an Alchemist and the eldest son of a celebrated magical house.
And the second.

‘My brother also wants to test his own power.’

Yet his power was something that should not be publicly known.
If news of it spread, many insects drawn to the scent would swarm, and someday they might bring plague with them.

‘Which is why he couldn’t easily verify it any other way.’

He couldn’t have asked the Second Imperial Prince or Clarentia either.
Though they maintained a cordial relationship, they were ultimately outsiders beyond the walls of House Asteri.
But the moment had arrived.
The moment when I, Ricshel Asteri, was about to take root by burning my own pathetic shame as kindling.
My brother, perhaps.

“You foresaw all of this, didn’t you?”
……
“Truly impressive, as always.”

A small spark ignited in Ricshel’s eyes.

‘This isn’t about winning or losing!’

The harsh condition, forcing him to obsess over victory or defeat—that had been his brother’s trap all along.
Because it would make him come forward stronger still.

‘Which is why I must honor that condition.’

Even if it meant his brother might suffer a few injuries.

“Then I, too, shall give this my full commitment.”

Lion sensed instinctively that something had shifted—a mood utterly unlike the sullenness from moments before.

‘Wait?’

Why, exactly?
The blow hadn’t even landed cleanly.
Where had this misunderstanding come from?
Lion’s confusion didn’t last long.

“I shall bring my full strength to bear.”

A colossal tempest of Mana began to swirl around Ricshel, warping the space itself.
The violent force made the air seem to ripple and distort.
Multiple currents collided, scattering the earthen elements, coalescing into fierce lightning.
And then.

Whoosh!

It shot toward Lion in an instant.
The entire cascade unfolded in the single blink of an eye.

Snap!

Something tore across his cheek.
When he raised his hand to check, vivid blood stained his fingers.

‘You’ve got to be—this bastard?’

A flood of emotions surged through him.
This wasn’t the kind of fight he’d wanted at all.
I provoked him, yes, but wasn’t this excessive?
Even Lion, for all his inexperience in real combat, could recognize it.
This wasn’t ordinary Magic.
And it wasn’t for Sparring, either.
Ricshel’s words proved accurate. Full strength.
In other words, lethal.
Even Lion, who had tasted death once in Story Mode, felt his blood run cold.

“You evaded my attack—so you’ve accumulated quite a bit during our time apart, it seems!”

He dodged?
Lion’s gaze flicked toward Nature.
The little spirit must have shifted the flow of mana with impressive speed.
Though the lightning was made of Mana, it was still part of nature itself.

‘……But did Nature always shine like that?’

As Lion stared at the little chick unblinking……
the spirit’s expression twisted savagely, and an immense surge of natural power bloomed forth.

[Your Familiar Spirit Nature enters a state of fury.]

Nature’s form began to shift.
It had clearly felt the killing intent directed at its master and was now burning with rage.
All the more so because that master was Ricshel—the one Lion trusted and cherished above all.
A spirit was bound by contract to protect its summoner at all costs.
And Nature……

‘had failed to protect the Druid.’

Both the weight of ancient memory and the spirit’s own primal instinct ignited within it.
Moreover.
Before this moment, Lion’s Mana had never been sufficient.

[A portion of Nature’s true form manifests.]
[Manifestation: Wings]
[Upon consuming all remaining Mana, it will return to its sealed state.]

For now, only a fraction could take shape.
The cute, mascot-like appearance vanished utterly; in its place towered vast wings and flames that burned with an alien, unknowable fury.
Fire was clearly consuming them, yet the element at work seemed to transcend any of the ordinary four.
In that instant, Lion understood.
This battle—Lion would emerge victorious.
No, as long as Ricshel didn’t get hurt, that was all that mattered!

“We’ve exchanged one move each, so I’m no longer bound by turn order, older brother.”
“Wait—……”

Before Lion could even say “Hold on a moment!”
an enormous torrent of flame roared forth from Nature’s titanic wings.
And then.

Roooaarrr!

A colossal fireball hurtled toward Ricshel.
Simultaneously, dozens of razor-sharp ice daggers came pouring down like a driving rain from the opposite side.

‘Wait, w-what—?’

This was no longer a situation that could be resolved by merely restraining Nature!
If one side unleashed their full power, there was no telling what catastrophe might unfold.

‘There’s no choice……’

At this point, there was only one way through—swift action!
……or so the events had unfolded until just moments ago.

[Spirit Summoning has reached proficiency Level 4.]

A notification flashed before Lion’s eyes without fanfare—his proficiency had leveled up.
Nature had returned to her usual form and was now pecking Ricshel’s head repeatedly while he lay sprawled on the ground, drained of Mana.

“That was quite the impact you delivered…….”

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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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