Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 4

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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 Know, But I’ll Just Heal — Episode 4

The first thought that struck him was: ‘This is insane.’
He could tell even with the prices obscured. This Shilling Shop.
The prices had gone absolutely mad.

“Wait, the key is ancient, so why is it alone going for hundreds of thousands?”

Shouldn’t old things be cheap?
It felt like discovering that a shirt torn to shreds was actually worth hundreds of thousands of won.
But did that disappoint him?
Not at all.
Lion switched from the Life tab to the Food tab.

[Magical Seasoning A]
-■ ten thousand Shillings
[Magical Seasoning B]
-■ ten thousand Shillings (Editor’s Pick!)

The situation was identical.
Seasoning of all things, and it cost in the tens of thousands of Shillings.
It should have been a moment to rage, yet somehow Lion’s face bore a smile.

“This is…….”

He was certain.
It resembled the cash shop system from the early days of ‘In the World’!
To be precise, it was the concept of a cash shop as NPCs would understand it.
The mysterious shop called the ‘Suspicious Store’ sold strange items at exorbitant prices.
But the player—that is, the Hero—would know how to select miraculous items suited to any situation.
This setting was forgotten as updates rolled out, but the concept alone remained, and perhaps that’s why it manifests this way.
In any case.

“Which means each of those items has its own proper function.”

Lion smirked and closed the Shilling Shop window.
For now, he couldn’t know exactly what each item did.
But he’d confirmed that the shop didn’t sell useless items—that was enough.

“Good.”

He’d gather money slowly and then buy them all out.
Lion basked in the sunlight filtering through the curtains, savoring the moment.
It was a peaceful noon.

“Though something feels like I forgot…….”

Oh right—Grandfather.

* * *

And from that morning onward…….
Patrick, the head of the Astray Family and Lion’s grandfather, had been…….

…….

waiting for Lion, having postponed even his luncheon with the Emperor.
A visit from his eldest grandson, more precious than life itself.
What did the Emperor matter to him?
Seeing his grandson’s face right now was far more important than anything else.
The boy was so sluggish, so unpredictable in his thinking, that Patrick hadn’t even dared hope he’d come today.
And yet……

“He’s late.”

Patrick’s voice was cool and measured, but Sylvia, who attended to him, knew better.
He was anxious—wondering if something had happened to his grandson, if that was why he hadn’t come.

‘How completely he’s changed,’ Sylvia thought to herself.

She watched him in silence, turning the thought over in her mind.
The man who once stood at the vanguard alongside the Hero, ruling the continent with judgment sharper than anyone’s and magic prowess beyond measure—that man was nowhere to be found.
Even now, she was certain, beneath the surface he was wrestling with pointless worries: Should I scold him for not visiting more often? Should I praise him as the firstborn of the Astray Family for his perseverance? No—I must think of the house’s honor……

“His health has been satisfactory,” Sylvia offered.
“Then why hasn’t he come, blast it……!”

Patrick finally lost his composure, his irritation boiling over into anger.

“What’s so special about some Potion?”
“He’s making an effort to try something, at least.”
“With that fragile body of his, what could he possibly accomplish? Tsk—he’d be better off simply resting……”

This grandfather would make sure the boy had everything he needed to survive!

“No money, no power—as if that matters!”

Patrick Astray was the architect of victory in the war against the Demons, standing at the very fore alongside the Hero.
Even before that, the Astray Family had been so formidable that the Royal House itself dared not touch them.
Had he wished it, he could have elevated himself to Duchy and beyond, even carved out his own independent kingdom.
The only reason he remained as he was, rather than Duke or Grand Duke, was his simple refusal to entangle himself deeply in politics.
Yet his eldest grandson—the boy insisted on doing the strangest things, all on his own, as if something weighed on him.

‘This is giving me a headache.’

He almost wished he were back in the grip of the second Mana Shock.
At least then, barricaded in his chambers reading books, he hadn’t worried about the boy getting hurt.
But after the third one struck, something had possessed the boy—now he was out pulling up weeds, for all things.
This wouldn’t do.
No matter how he looked at it, his grandson simply didn’t have the stamina or health to be wandering about outside.

“It’s only natural that you should be concerned, Marquis.”
“……Concerned? Nonsense.”

But she’d struck a nerve, and he knew it.
Patrick was more worried about his grandson than anyone could know.

“This is the third time, isn’t it.”

The air in the room grew heavy all at once.
Mana Shock.
The fortunate few who endured it awakened as mages and were born into new lives.
The unlucky ones—those who failed to awaken through the Shock—did not survive.
For Lion to have survived three of them was genuinely extraordinary, a remarkable case.
So of course the entire household could not help but worry for him.
And beyond that……

“It hasn’t been long since the second Shock occurred.”

For ordinary humans, it was something that would never happen once in a lifetime.
Yet Lion had experienced the Mana Shock three times, and the intervals were growing shorter.
There was no precedent for it, and likely there never would be again.
Usually, one occurrence settled the matter.

“Still, you seemed to be enjoying yourself.”
“What good is joy in the face of death… Sigh.”

I know it. This is my own selfishness.
The selfish desire to see Lion living in a healthier, more sound condition.
I couldn’t stop my grandchild from finding joy as a pretext for that desire.
Moreover, it was clear that if I pressured him, he would only become frightened.
I didn’t want to add more stress to a grandson who was already frail and sickly.
That’s why I’ve been holding back even the impulse to visit him directly, only summoning the boy from time to time… and yet!

“Sigh. So, he said he was going to make Potions. When did that boy learn Alchemy?”
“It’s just overshadowed by young Master Ricksael, but he does have excellent learning ability. Alchemy itself requires no Mana, so it’s certainly worth considering.”
“Mm.”

Patrick exhaled slowly, dissatisfied.

‘Dangerous.’

What if he happened to handle poisonous herbs by mistake?

“Looking at the gathered medicinal herbs, there’s nothing that would be harmful to his health. He hasn’t ordered any special herbs either, so you needn’t worry.”
“Then that’s a relief.”

As they were speaking thus,

Knock, knock.

A servant gently rapped on the door.

“Master Patrick. Your eldest son has arrived.”
“…….”

At that news, Patrick sprang to his feet and met Sylvia’s gaze.

“Do sit down.”

Sylvia whispered in a soft voice and straightened Patrick’s rumpled clothes.

“Ahem. Let him in.”

Patrick gave his permission in a deliberately composed voice.

“Did you call for me?”

Lion entered the room with casual ease.

‘Certainly.’

His expression was brighter than before. His complexion seemed better too—he looked quite healthy.
And…….

“Hmm?”

Patrick gazed at Lion with a slight frown.
Something felt different.
His demeanor had shifted subtly since before the third Mana Shock.
There was no nervous glancing about, no attempt to laugh things away awkwardly.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

At Patrick’s curt remark, Sylvia let out a quiet sigh within herself.

‘He’s about to do something he’ll regret again.’

Patrick Astray had one troublesome habit.
He could never express himself honestly.
Which meant he always spoke like this—twisted, off-kilter—at the most crucial moments.
And with the aura of an 8th Circle Grand Mage about him, ordinary people tended to wilt in his presence.
The young master was no different…….

“I had something to attend to, Grandfather. My apologies for the delay.”
“……!”

Normally, the appropriate response would come tinged with intimidation.
But this time was different.
Not an act of feigned composure, but a genuinely serene reply.
Something about the air between them had shifted.

“I realized you were worried about me while I was unconscious.”

His expression? His posture?
No—something more fundamental than that had changed.

“Since experiencing this Mana Shock, I’ve had much on my mind. As you know, it’s the third one.”
“……!”

Patrick’s eyes widened noticeably.
And with reason—Mana Shock was a subject Lion had done everything in his power to avoid.
It was a sore point, nearly his Achilles’ heel.
Everyone who knew of it held their tongue in his presence.

‘Bringing it up himself…….’

As if the mere mention of Mana Shock had become a trigger, the two of them found themselves drawn into Lion’s words.

“I have no talent for Magic.”
“Young master…….”
“It’s all right, Sylvia. It’s the truth, after all.”

Lion’s speech was brief for someone speaking of his own life—yet longer than usual.

“But I hated the thought of being useless. I couldn’t accept it. So I’ve studied, I’ve thought things through. And today.”

Lion withdrew a small vial from his pocket and placed it before Patrick.

“Did you make this, young master?”
“Yes. That’s why I asked to delay things by just one more day. Grandfather seemed to have been quite exhausted lately.”

At Lion’s words, Sylvia’s lips parted slightly.

‘Though he’s been studying Alchemy…….’

He had never once successfully crafted a Potion before.
But that wasn’t all. The young master had said he made this while thinking of the family head.

‘How does she possess such a gentle heart?’

She was burdened enough with her own trials—suffering beneath the constant shadow of uncertainty.
Not knowing when the next Mana Shock might strike, as though her very life hung suspended.
And yet, for the sake of others. For family……!
Sylvia pulled herself swiftly from her reverie.

“Remarkable, young master. To have crafted a Potion for the patriarch.”
“…….”
“He will surely be pleased.”

Patrick’s eyes lingered on the vial before him.

‘For me…….’

He understood Lion’s intentions well enough, and was grateful for them.
The boy’s devotion was admirable. Yet……
There was something awkward about it, truth be told.
Patrick had transcended the ordinary for a very long time now.
Though still human in classification, his body had grown so fortified that he could drink deadly venom as casually as water without effect.
By that logic, a Potion would be equally useless to him.

‘But his heart came through clearly enough.’

Patrick would gain no physical benefit from this.
He would simply have to ensure the boy’s feelings were not wounded.

“Is that all, then?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. You may go.”
“……I made it thinking of grandfather. Please drink it when you have the time.”

Lion departed with a bright expression, shutting the door behind him.
Barely five minutes. No, not even three minutes had passed.

Click.

The moment the door closed, Sylvia and Patrick examined the Potion before them.

“By the color, it resembles a Mana Potion.”
“Yet I sense no Mana aura about it.”
“I feel as though I’ve seen something like this before.”

Slosh—

When Patrick tilted the vial, no sediment appeared; only a clear, transparent blue liquid sloshed gently within.

‘Quite refined work.’

No matter how excellent one’s equipment, a Potion cannot be perfected overnight without deep knowledge of both pharmaceutics and Alchemy.
Sylvia glanced sidelong at Patrick for a moment, then ventured carefully.

“Shall we analyze it, just to be safe?”
“……No. I can assure myself it is harmless. I would like to feel my grandson’s sincerity in full.”

As expected.
Sylvia suppressed her smile, set down the Potion, and bowed her head lightly.

“Then I shall excuse myself for a time.”

Click.

“Ahem.”

Only after Sylvia had gone did genuine joy bloom across Patrick’s face.
Though it was merely the softening of his habitually furrowed scowl—a small mercy.

“I can’t remember the last time Lion gave me a gift.”

Long ago.
Back when Lion Astray had just begun to run and speak—that was the last time, when the boy pressed a wildflower plucked from the garden into his palm.

‘We were all together then.’

There was something about this potion that reminded him of that brilliant azure sky.

“I’ve grown old, haven’t I.”

Growing sentimental over memories—how pathetic.
Patrick let out a soft chuckle and uncorked the bottle.
It seemed a shame to drink something with so little effect, and yet he couldn’t let his grandson’s gift spoil.
He brought the vial to his lips and drank the blue draught slowly.
A refreshing scent wafted up—cool enough to be invigorating—and then……
his mind grew still.
And he drifted into a brief, shallow sleep.
And there, he dreamed.
A short dream. A sweet one.

…….

A dream of days long yearned for.
Yet it left no bittersweet ache, no sorrow—only a clarity that banished the dull throb that had plagued him for so long.
Patrick gazed out the window and murmured to himself.

“He takes after you—so willful, so headstrong. Yes, that’s how it was.”

For a long while, Patrick stood watching the blue sky, then spoke again, softly.

“Yes. I can’t keep him caged just because he’s in pain.”

The boy must be allowed to do as he wishes.
And……

“I’ll find a way to prevent Mana Shock.”

Patrick resolved this alone.
Unaware that his grandson’s body had already undergone a transformation—that Lion could now sense Mana itself.
In any case, the grandfather’s approval had been secured.
The only complication was that the household servants hadn’t the faintest notion of Patrick’s change of heart, nor of Lion’s true condition.
Lion Astray had collapsed and then risen again—visibly sickly!
And then he’d gone and harvested herbs and brewed a Potion!
He’d gifted it to the patriarch himself!
……Why?
……Was it a parting gift?!
Strange rumors inevitably began to circulate through the estate.

“They say Lion Astray is dying soon!”

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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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