Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 294

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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 Can Wait, Let Me Heal — Episode 294

Jack had learned something recently while dealing with nobility: a certain art of navigating difficult situations.
Specifically, how to bring troublesome moments to a close.

“Who was that person again?”
“The merchant who sold stationery to academy students in Asteri Territory.”
“I see. My memory is rather… hazy.”

The classic “I don’t quite remember” gambit.
It was essentially playing dumb, but in the current circumstances, no better strategy existed.

‘At least I can buy some time.’

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
The stationery merchant.
How could he not know that man?
It was the very person Jack had forced out of business as a petty slight against Lion, then proudly listed on the ‘Underworld Return Roster.’

‘The problem is…’

That fellow had launched something of a very particular campaign.
Jack had done his best to maintain his denial,

“Oh, is that so?”

but the moment he heard that tone—dangerous enough to cause trouble right then and there—he had to surrender.

“Hah, now that I think of it. A rather unusual merchant dealing in magical items from Asteri Territory, yes?”
“Yes! Exactly that person! Is he doing well?”
“Of course! Doing splendidly, I assure you. If you wish, I could arrange for you to meet him right now… but.”
“But?”
“Ahem. No, never mind. Let us go and see for ourselves.”

After all, word would get out soon enough as that person skillfully spread tales throughout the Underworld.
Jack tore open another Scroll without a word and shifted locations.
And then—

-Dammit!
-Where the hell are you going now? I finally caught up!

Tiamatrak, having arrived just slightly too late, cried out in anguish with hands wrapped around his head.
Unaware of this fact, Lion arrived in the new location and lifted the hood Jack had handed him, surveying his surroundings.
Unlike the quiet, secretive atmosphere of the black market, this place thrummed with considerable energy.

“Hahahaha! I’m putting my money on the spear this round!”
“What? Hey, you fool! Don’t you have eyes? The shield is obviously the way to go!”

More precisely, it was a fever pitch of frenzy.
People clutched their purses and cheered with desperate fervor.
Some crying out for the spear, others for the shield.
Even when two newcomers suddenly appeared nearby, no one spared them a glance.
Lion surveyed the surroundings and understood where they were.

‘A PvP zone!’

…No, rather, the Underworld’s arena.
Commonly known as the Fight Club.
The very place where Barg—currently dealing with matters at the Imperial Palace alongside Ricshel—had nearly been sold off.

‘So I’m actually here.’

The atmosphere was rough in a way that felt almost alien compared to what he’d seen In the World.
It was the complete opposite of that black market where merchants and customers alike wore hoods so no one would know each other’s identities.
Well, he’d always thought that once he set foot in the Underworld, he’d visit a place like this at least once.

‘But I was looking for the stationery shop owner.’

This place had no real connection to that, did it?
Just as Lion was about to press Jack on whether he’d slyly steered him elsewhere—

“Push harder! How much money did I stake on you!”
“Damn it. I can’t!”

Roars erupted from the crowd watching the match.
Some of them cheered as the fight reached its conclusion.

“It looks like the match just ended, sir.”

Jack smoothly parted the crowd of brutes and guided Lion safely to the front.
Of course, people accustomed to rough living didn’t yield their spots so easily.

“What? If you came in late, watch from the back.”
“Hey. Idiot! Lay down where you belong! You’re clearly not on our level.”

The Underworld had its own way of distinguishing people, and the commotion died down in an instant.
In fact, they even cleared space, taking care not to brush against him.
Yet no one tried to figure out who he was.

‘Survival instinct, I suppose.’

In the Underworld, fists mattered far more than laws.
A human life and a fly’s life were treated the same here.
Only strength and competence determined rank.
Weakness and softness determined the bottom.
That was all there was to it.
Perhaps because he was in his own territory, Jack didn’t bother to suppress his presence.
He wasn’t flaunting it, but the strength he radiated was enough that anyone with real power would recognize and respect it.

‘As for me…’

Living alongside his grandfather had already made him immune to such things.
Had his presence been any weaker, he would have been pressed down by his grandfather’s aura from the moment he woke up and first grazed, forced into recovery.

“Sir, do you see that?”

Jack pointed to the fighting pit, using a form of address different from usual—perhaps worried Lion’s identity might be revealed.
More precisely, he was indicating the “prize” hanging in the middle of the arena.

“Ah.”

Then Lion understood why Jack had brought him here.

“So… the stationery shop owner found a new profession?”
“Ha ha! I see you catch on quickly, sir.”

The writing on the prize wouldn’t be visible to ordinary eyes, but someone with Lion and Jack’s level of vision could read it clearly.

[The person who wins first place in this arena will receive one Magical Tool of their choosing, crafted by the Magical Tool merchant.]

And as proof, there was a comprehensive list of every Magical Tool he’d crafted so far written out in meticulous detail.

—An Invisibility Device just like mine.

The Invisibility Device that Lion had purchased together with Ricshel was included in the list.

“For reference, this wasn’t something I ordered him to do. I was actually planning to place him in a prominent position.”

Jack made a hasty defense.
The Magical Tool merchant had reached that position of his own volition.
And there were few enough rules that even Jack couldn’t easily strip someone else of their livelihood.
Of course, if he really wanted to, it was possible—but the previous Jack’s principle had been never to needlessly torment those beneath him, so he was adhering to it.
Though admittedly, there had been one occasion when Lion got under his skin enough to make an exception.

“You haven’t questioned me about it yet.”
“It seemed like you were about to, so I’m getting ahead of it. Surely you didn’t seek out this merchant’s interest without good reason.”
“…….”

Every word was true, which somehow made it all the more irritating.
Jack had read him perfectly.
Lion hadn’t sought out this Magical Tool merchant just to poke and tease Jack for amusement.

‘I need quite a lot of his merchandise if I’m going to venture into the Southern Region.’

Specifically, he needed Deception Items whose origins couldn’t be traced.
After all, finding Mermaid Island meant necessarily passing through the Southern Region.
The problem was that the Southern Region was famous for having many noble Villas.
With its mild weather and calm emerald sea, it was hardly surprising.

‘Even if the Lepicent Family disappears…….’

After this Emperor’s Birthday, the Lepicent Family would likely face annihilation or something close to it.
The nobles who had followed and trusted Marquis Lepicent would scramble to survive by any means necessary.
And in this situation, who looked like the easiest target?

‘Me.’

The eccentric Lion.
The eldest son of House Asteri—whose temperament was peculiar, but whose heart was rumored to be quite gentle.
The kind of image that suggested an uncanny stability, as if you could strip him down to the bone and still find nothing of real substance.
Of course, Grandfather would lend his hand, but you could never be too careful—unexpected situations always arose—so he intended to do everything in his power to keep his identity hidden.
Well, then.

“I’d like to meet with you and commission some items.”
“That’s impossible.”

Jack delivered the answer he’d prepared in advance.

“Even in a place like this, where lawlessness holds sway, there are still minimum rules.”

For instance, something like this.
The rule at the Fight Club was “the prize.”
The special nature of the prize had to be protected in any circumstance.
Only the final survivor could claim it.
After that, whether the victor sold it or used it was entirely up to them.
And additionally, the absence of conditions regarding “participants” was also a rule.

“So it is possible. It means you can participate even if your identity is unclear.”
“Hah. Surely you’re not thinking of participating there?”
“Me? No, surely not.”
“Ha ha. That’s right, isn’t it?”
“I couldn’t possibly.”

What power did I have, after all?
Lion studied Jack with playful eyes.
Very intently.

“…Damn it.”

And Jack understood what that look meant.
That the head of the Underworld himself was being asked to step into the Fight Club as a competitor.
He wanted to blame Lion, but Jack knew better.
This was the price for the spite he’d inflicted.

‘At this point….’

This was why you had to listen to what your elders told you.
He could almost hear the old Jack laughing from underground, cackling with glee.

‘Damn it. No way around it.’

Jack ground his teeth and laughed.
He could have sent Brick, his right hand, who was keeping watch from a distance—

‘But that’s not what he’s after.’

Lion Asteri clearly wanted him to fight himself, to stumble into the ring.
Probably exacting some petty revenge for what happened before.
Well, he understood.
He’d have done the same if their positions were reversed.
And having him settle it directly, quick and clean, was faster anyway.

“In exchange, you stay right here. You don’t do anything—just stay put.”
“….”
“Understood?”
“Of course. You know how well-behaved I am.”

The moment Lion answered, Jack vanished to enter himself on the participant list under an assumed name.
In his place, at Lion’s side, sat the groom who had accompanied them to Bydentis Territory—
No, rather, Brick, Jack’s right hand, took his position.
Events moved swiftly.
Jack’s turn came soon, and he stepped into the iron cage of the Fight Club.
Lion watched the rapid conclusion unfold with a murmur.

“…But why does he go himself?”
“Because the master’s temperament is rather vindictive.”

Brick, viewing the situation with the clarity of a third party, answered matter-of-factly.
The head of the Underworld’s nature was far more crooked than Lion Asteri’s heart truly was.

“You must be working hard.”
“….”

Brick didn’t answer, but Lion felt it deeply.
A temperamental superior was a bit trying.

‘I seem to have gotten lucky.’

In any case, Jack’s opponent fell like a leaf in the wind, and the Fight Club’s match ended in the shortest possible time.
And so Lion simply waited.

“…….”

He managed to meet a Magical Tool merchant without lifting a finger.
And at the same time.

-Yes! Finally caught up with you!
-But what on earth is happening? Give me an explanation!
-I had some fun without you knowing. Didn’t I?

“……It was fun, I’ll admit.”

VIP all the way.

* * *

While Lion was enjoying his little amusement, the Imperial Palace was in utter upheaval.
As expected, Marquis Lepicent and the Empress were thrown into a cold dungeon, charged with treason.

“……Therefore, in recognition of this merit, I hereby name Kyle Sol Aionis, the Second Imperial Prince, as Crown Prince.”

Naturally, he ascended to the position of successor Crown Prince, acknowledged for his service in thwarting the rebellion.
The appointment ceremony was conducted informally, without traditional rites, yet no one dared object.

“I shall endeavor to guide the Empire toward the righteous path.”

With a simple bow to conclude matters, Kyle made his way directly to the chambers where the First Imperial Prince was confined.
Terus, who had been recognized for his “minimal contribution” and was waiting in his room for his sentence, greeted Kyle with surprising warmth.
But Kyle was in no mood for such courtesy.

‘It’s incomplete.’

Ordinarily, those who commit treason should face beheading, yet if Marquis Lepicent abandons the Empress, there remains a chance he could slip away unscathed.

“There is still an unresolved matter I must ask about.”
“W-what is it?”
“Where did you learn Curse Magic?”

And to that question, the First Imperial Prince, already trembling with fear, immediately broke.

“I am innocent of any crime! My grandfather taught it to me at the Estate, saying he might need it someday!”

……Thanks to the First Imperial Prince, who betrayed his grandfather without drawing a single breath, Kyle and House Asteri gained permission to search the Lepicent Mansion.

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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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