Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 42

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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 an Heir, But I’ll Settle for Healing—Episode 42

“Oh…….”

Lyon stood before the Magic Tower and felt the full weight of its presence.
A towering structure that pierced the clouds, reminiscent of Babel itself.
Each brick shone with a subtle protective enchantment that spoke to its grandeur.
A place that could rightly be called the dream of every mage!
And yet, inside it…….

Flap! Flutter!

Documents folded into bird shapes soared to their owners, while mages on each floor carried on with their own urgent tasks.

“Yes. I’m Shelte, a mage with the Magic Tower Administrative Division.”
“Could I trouble you to look into that matter by today?”
“Ah, the handling mage is away from his desk at the moment.”
“Ah, then would it be all right if I looked into it myself and called you back?”
“…….”

A place of dreams?
That didn’t seem right at all.
Lyon felt a dull throb in his head as the familiar scene settled over him.
Wasn’t this just like the ordinary days he’d spent at his old company before the possession?

‘Strictly speaking, you could call the Magic Tower a company for mages alone.’

But did it really have to mirror it so perfectly?
Memories he’d tried hard to bury came flooding back.
Exhausted from business trips, he’d return drained of even his emotions, fielding endless phone calls and emails without respite.

‘Ugh. I never want to do that again.’

But at least he wouldn’t have to. He’d find Hoffmann quickly and be on his way.
Besides, there wouldn’t be many people in the Magic Tower paying attention to Lyon anyway.
At most, he’d be seen as the older brother of Rikshel, the future Tower Master—a “sickly child who came in often for checkups,” nothing more.
In truth, nobody around here gave him a second glance.
Everyone was too caught up in their own busy present.
Regardless.
There were two things he needed to accomplish here.

‘To firmly establish that Rikshel remains the next patriarch of the Asteri Family, while simultaneously demonstrating that I’m no longer ill.’

Whatever else happened, these two things had to be achieved.
Since he wouldn’t be coming to the Magic Tower frequently after this, it made sense to complete everything in one visit.
And to do that…….

Whoosh.

Lyon glanced at the countless glass bottles tucked inside his bag.

[Training Assistance Beverage]

‘I brought these along for that.’
If he showed up empty-handed saying “Please take good care of my son!” would office workers—no, mages—do anything but nod politely and forget?
They’d just give a surface-level “Of course, absolutely,” and let it slip from their minds.
But if you brought food?
Office workers were simpler than you’d think.
Give them something to eat, and suddenly you’re a good person in their eyes!
Of course, anyone who received beef would suspect the giver first, but these small gifts were accepted freely and without hesitation by all.

“So, shall we get started?”

Lyon clenched his fist and grabbed a passing mage.

“Um…….”
“Ahhh! I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll get you the materials by today, just that method…… Huh?”

The mage, whose hair had fallen so far that it covered not just his eyes but even the bridge of his nose, let out a cry before his expression turned vacant as he stared at Lyon.

‘He must be a rookie.’

Young, scatterbrained, worn down by the organization—it was unmistakable.
But his expression was exactly like…….

‘A new office worker who hasn’t even clocked out in days.’

The memory surfaced unbidden, and Lyon felt a pang of discomfort—but he endured it.
Actually, the more exhausted the other person looked, the better the opportunity.
Lyon opened his mouth in the kindest, most courteous tone he could muster.

“Forgive the intrusion, but which floor is Hoffmann Asteri on?”
“Pardon? Ah, Hoffmann usually stays on the Top Floor.”
“I see! Thank you so much. Oh, and do take this.”

Lyon seized the moment and drew a beverage from his chest.

“This is…….”
“A drink I made. It’s excellent for recovering from fatigue. Do try it when you have a moment.”
“Oh.”

At the mention of fatigue recovery, the mage’s—rather, the office worker’s—eyes gleamed.
……What on earth did the Magic Tower make its mages do?
Then again, major corporations were known to encourage voluntary overtime, so it might be that sort of place.

“I’ll enjoy it gratefully. Well then…….”

The Rookie Mage bowed to Lyon and moved to pass by.
Or rather, he tried to.

‘But how could he not know where Hoffmann is?’

If he had not paused with this question.
Hoffmann Asteri.
His teacher was one of the Magic Tower’s highest authorities.
In the field of Healing Magic, no one in the empire could match him, and despite being a collateral branch, he belonged to the Asteri Family.
Moreover, wasn’t he the personal physician of Lyon Asteri himself?

‘Ah! Could he be a rookie? Finally, a mage I can hand things over to…….’

The moment such hopeful thoughts crossed his mind.

“Huh?”

Forgotten information surfaced in the rookie’s mind.
What is the symbol of the Asteri Family?
Purple eyes.
And the young man who had just passed by?
Purple eyes.
Hoffmann is Lyon’s personal physician.
Then who is that man?

“Hurrgh!”

The Rookie Mage spun around and bolted.

“Wait! Could it be—”
“Hmm?”

Just as he was wondering why the man had come running back, the Rookie Mage let out a thunderously loud shout.

“Could you possibly be Lyon Asteri?!”

At a volume that seemed to shake the entire Magic Tower, every mage within earshot froze mid-task and looked down from the upper levels.

“Haven’t seen you in a while—looks like you came by this time?”
“I heard you were ill, but you’re looking rather well actually.”

It was only natural that talk of other matters would begin to drift through the Magic Tower, which moments before had been filled with nothing but work-related voices.
Several senior-ranking mages even looked ready to dash downstairs at once.
Not that they did—Lyon had raised a hand to stop them.
……Yes. That was the extent of the Asteri name’s influence.
If anything, it was peculiar that this mage hadn’t recognized him until now.

“…….”

Well. Perhaps it worked out for the best.
Lyon beamed and lifted the bag.

“Have some of this beverage and get back to work!”

* * *

Just as Lyon had anticipated, the special beverage garnered an excellent response.
Those who had come drawn by the name Lyon Asteri each took a taste, their eyes went wide, and word spread from there.

“Come drink some!”
“If you wait too long, there might not be any left!”
“This works better than coffee or tea!”

Indeed, the mages found that their work efficiency shot up exactly as Lyon Asteri had promised.
And most importantly…….

‘The one who was always sick……’
‘The rumors about him getting healthy must be true.’

The mages who had been at the Magic Tower for years knew well just how frail Lyon Asteri had been.
They’d never had a proper conversation with him, but the sickly boy who used to collapse so often had grown up and was now going around distributing beverages—a sight that struck them as quite touching.

‘In any case, it’s fortunate.’

They might have been wary of someone from a privileged background, but he seemed quite approachable.
After distributing the beverage to everyone without exception, Lyon moved on to the next floor.
But then…….

‘Why is he following me?’

The Rookie Mage who had shouted so loudly before was now trailing behind him, beads of cold sweat dripping down his face.

“Is there something you’d like to say?”

The moment Lyon opened his mouth.

“I’m so terribly sorry! So very sorry! I’m not usually the sort to make mistakes like this!”

The Rookie Mage bowed at a ninety-degree angle from the waist, apologizing profusely.
He hadn’t meant for it to happen—but it had.

“It’s quite all right.”

One way or another, it would have come to light—sooner or later, it was inevitable.
The Asteri Family and the Magic Tower were inseparable, bound so tightly together they might as well be a single entity.

‘The Asteri Family’s talent incubator.’

The Magic Tower.
Its official name was the First Magic Tower of the Asteri Marquisate.
To understand that, one had to look back at the deeds of the founder, the first Asteri.
He had built the Magic Tower and recruited talented individuals regardless of birth, nationality, or race.
The most skilled among them he employed directly for the Asteri Family, while the rest he placed in magical institutions throughout the realm, ensuring none went without livelihood.
The Tower of Opportunity.
That was the Magic Tower’s epithet.
Naturally, the Asteri Family came to occupy a position of such esteem among mages that their praise was inevitable.
In such a place, hiding one’s identity with these violet eyes was little more than playing peek-a-boo.
There was no real reason to take issue with it.
If anything… hadn’t it worked out better?

‘An approachable image is always preferable.’

It was something the wealthy elite could rarely manufacture, no matter how hard they tried—genuine accessibility.
Surprising as it had been, this mage had nonetheless played a crucial part in how things had unfolded.
Though he doubted anyone would believe him if he said so.
Lyon cleared his throat and spoke.

“If you insist on making amends, might I trouble you for a tour?”
“Y-yes? Of course?”
“My health has kept me away from much of the Magic Tower. There are many places I haven’t yet seen.”
“Ah! Yes, of course! Leave it to me!”

The implication that he was being let off easy made the mage exhale with relief and set about giving the tour with genuine earnestness.
Lyon had worried he might be a mere Rookie Mage, but the young man actually possessed an impressive grasp of the Tower’s layout.

“Let’s start from this way!”

The Magic Tower’s interior was outfitted with an impressive array of facilities.
It resembled the headquarters of some multinational corporation.
First, there were medical facilities.
Lyon had come to the Magic Tower for examination himself, so there was little need to elaborate on that point.
Second came the recreational areas.
There were spaces designed for picnicking in sunny spots, and areas with enchanted trees that bore fruit of five colors, furnished with swings to lift one’s spirits.
And that wasn’t all.
There was even a place where mages could board their familiars, and a nursery for the children of Magic Tower mages!

‘Circumstances may be what they are, but…’

It was genuinely the sort of place any mage would dream of.
As Lyon toured the Magic Tower, he distributed the Training Assistance Beverage to those who hadn’t yet received any.
By the time the generously prepared drinks had run dry….

“Only the Top Floor remains now. That’s where Hoffmann is. I’ve only been there a few times myself, so I’m a bit nervous.”

Lyon noticed the newly arrived mage, now visibly more relaxed, murmur with tension creeping back in.
At last—the very pinnacle.

‘Of course, it would be treated like the chairman’s office or the board room.’

No wonder the rookie mage felt nervous about it.

“S-shall we go?”
“Yes. Let’s.”

Lyon stepped onto the lift that led to the Top Floor.

Whoosh!

The lift began ascending at a brisk pace.

“The lift uses Levitation Magic combined with Acceleration Magic, so…… whew. Looking down is rather frightening.”
“I see.”

Unlike a modern elevator, the ornate iron lattice on all sides left everything below fully visible—vertiginous, to say the least.
This must be what riding one of those early elevators felt like.
And yet…….

Whoosh!

The lift—no, the platform—climbed endlessly upward.
By now the people below had shrunk to mere dots.
It really was truly high.
Anyone with a fear of heights wouldn’t dare come up here.
The lift continued rising for some time longer before it finally halted.
And when it did, what greeted Lyon was a vast expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows and clouds.
The sky spread out before him in such an endless sweep that it deserved to be called the Sea of Clouds itself.

“Th-this way, please.”

The mage now spoke in barely a whisper.

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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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