Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 50

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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 Heir Doesn’t Know, But I’m Going to Heal — Episode 50

Ricksher followed quietly behind Lion.

‘It feels strange.’

After more than a month apart, even walking together felt oddly unfamiliar.
So he’d packed his bags especially full, just to be thorough.
He wanted to be useful if anything went wrong.
And what Ricksher had brought was more than just a backpack.

Squeeze.

Ricksher squeezed and released the gift from his brother tucked in his chest.

‘The timing…….’

Well, he could give the gift once they returned.
For now, what mattered was supporting his brother safely.
Something could go wrong at any moment!
But then again…… maybe he was overthinking it.

“How much is this?”
“My, my—looks like you young masters come from fine families. Visiting for pleasure, are we? That’ll run you about 30 Copper.”
“30 Copper for this?”
“Yes, yes. The prices have gotten steep lately…….”

Ricksher watched Lion carefully.
His brother was haggling with a merchant who didn’t recognize him.
The apple, ripe and crimson, gave off such a vivid, fragrant sweetness that anyone would want to bite into it immediately.

‘……But 30 Copper for one apple? Is our territory’s market really that expensive?’

In Ricksher’s knowledge, 30 Copper was the price of a whole chicken.
An apple for that much?
It used to be around 3 Copper, if he remembered right?
In that moment, he resolved to check on the food expenses of the people in his territory when they returned to the Mansion…….
Lion suddenly lifted an apple high into the air and shouted.

“I’ll buy a hundred of them from a shop that sells them cheaper than 30 Copper!”
“W-wait! 10 Copper!”
“You crooks! I’ll give you 5 Copper—no, 5 Copper!!”
“Hey, don’t believe these swindlers! Apples harvested well this season, so even 5 Copper is pricey! I’ll give them to you for 4 Copper!”
“……4 Copper?”
“4 Copper…… ugh, I don’t know! 3 Copper!”
“Fine. 3 Copper. Let’s go.”

Lion handed the 30 Copper apple back to the original merchant and headed toward the vendor who’d offered the lowest price.

“Why did that merchant offer such an absurd price?”
“Because we look like rich young masters who don’t know anything about the world. He was trying to rip us off.”

Ricksher didn’t quite understand what it meant to be ripped off, but it sounded like being cheated somehow.

‘If it were me, I’d have just bought them.’

To Ricksher, 3 Copper and 30 Copper were the same pittance.
But what would happen if more people behaved this way?
This sort of outrageous overpricing—deceiving travelers—would become rampant.
Of course, fewer people would venture out.
As foot traffic to the Market dwindled, the balance between supply and demand naturally collapsed, and the quality of goods began to suffer.

“……!”

Could it be that Lion had deliberately come outside to teach him such a lesson?
He really was something else!

‘I’ll have to inspect things once more later.’

Ricksher made this silent resolution and followed Lion’s footsteps.
Of course, Lion hadn’t been thinking any such thing.

‘Where am I getting cheated.’

He’d simply wanted to buy cheap goods because they were absurdly overpriced.
Lion instructed Ricksher to deliver the apples he’d purchased to the orphanage, then bought a few more food items.
He bought cabbage, green onions, and plump onions from the vegetable shop, and a chicken from the butcher’s across the way.

“T-the chicken really is just thirty Copper. If you buy the whole bird, I’ll clean it for free.”

The butcher, having witnessed the earlier scene, quoted the chicken’s price first.
This time it was a fair price.

“All right. Clean one for me.”

Once he’d established the proper tone, no more problems arose elsewhere.
Or rather, more than that—
Lion’s bargaining prowess was so remarkable that even Ricksher, who had started out cautious and watchful, became wholly absorbed in the shopping.
No further incidents occurred until Lion’s arms grew heavy with food.
Only then did Ricksher relax.
Truly, nothing had happened at all.
What his mind knew and what reality showed were different things.
The tension that had gripped his body drained away.

“See? Really nothing happened?”
“……Yes, it seems so.”
“Well, we’ve bought everything now, so let’s head back. Grandfather said he’d be returning from his business trip today, didn’t he?”
“Ah, yes. The Patriarch said he’d finished his urgent matters. If all goes as planned, he should return before evening…… Is that why you purchased the items yourself?”
“Well, yes. It’s been a while since we ate together.”
“An excellent idea. Allow me to carry the luggage.”
“Ah, just help me with this one thing.”

Lion answered readily enough and hurried back toward the Mansion.

“…….”

Ricksher followed Lion’s steps before coming to a halt.
If it was evening and he was going to cook, shouldn’t he be heading to the kitchen, like yesterday?
He’d thought Lion was hurrying back to make the evening meal on time, but—
This place was……

“Lion. This is the Labyrinth entrance, isn’t it?”

The place where Lion had stopped was none other than the Labyrinth’s entrance.
It sat quiet and unremarkable, until one day it suddenly devoured his brother and released him a month later.
No matter how much Lion had become the Labyrinth’s master, Ricksher’s perception remained unchanged.
He’d steeled himself, comforted the Patriarch, and carried out his duties as Heir, but in Ricksher’s own view, the Labyrinth remained a deeply dangerous entity.
So dangerous he wished it could be sealed away entirely.
Just as his carefully suppressed vigilance began creeping back in.

“They were all here already.”

Patrick returned from his duties and hurried over without even removing his outer coat.

“Grandfather?”
“You’ve arrived. Grandfather.”
…….

Ricksher couldn’t make sense of what was happening.
True, they’d planned to have dinner together—but wasn’t the location strange?
And yet those two were already acting as though they knew all about it.

“What is going on here?”

Ricksher fixed them both with a stern look and demanded an explanation.

“Well, there’s something I haven’t mentioned yet…… That place is where we’re having dinner tonight.”
“What?! That won’t do. It’s dangerous.”
“There’s no danger. I went back yesterday to check on it myself.”
“When did you manage to go into the Labyrinth alone again? Did you know about this?”
“I permitted it.”
“But how…….”

Permitted it?
Ricksher couldn’t comprehend it.
Well, his mind understood it well enough.
It would be safe.
He’d emerged unscathed after a month and become the place’s master.
And he’d even brought out the Hero’s Treasure.
He had no wounds, and the examination showed he’d grown even stronger.
But…… that didn’t make the Labyrinth a pleasant and comfortable place for a casual dinner!
Ricksher’s expression carried so many objections as his eyes darted between them.
That was it. He should step in right now and put his foot down.
Then it would be settled, he thought—in that very moment.

“Little brother.”

Lion smiled playfully.

“Don’t you want to see what the end of the Labyrinth looks like?”
…….

Ricksher couldn’t answer at once.
It was a remarkably tempting proposition for a mage.

“Listen. Would I take you and Grandfather somewhere dangerous?”

No, no. He mustn’t be swayed.

“Still, I must object…….”
“Ha ha. Let’s just go and see. If you don’t like it, I’ll bring you back.”

Lion cut off Ricksher’s words and suddenly opened the Labyrinth’s door.

“Brother!”

Beneath the feet of the three family members, a Magic Circle wove itself into intricate formulas.
And inevitably…….

[By the authority of the Librarian, I invite guests into this space.]
[Subjects: Patrick Asteri, Ricksher Asteri]
[The current keeper of the Library is Lion Asteri.]

The three of them were pulled into the Labyrinth side by side.

* * *

Blink.

Ricksher lifted his eyelids, uncertain when they had fallen shut.

‘What is this?’

Because within the Labyrinth he’d anticipated being a Library, he felt a cool breeze instead.

“……!”

Ricksher lost his words at the sight unfurling before him.
It was a landscape he could never have imagined from the Library he’d pictured and occasionally visited.
Grass carpeted the ground, and around it bloomed flowers of unknown origin.
In the distance lay a forest, and turning his gaze to one side, a lake—still and deep—traced gentle ripples across its surface in the wind.
A sun setting in scarlet hues and a simple cottage.
And his brother, having gone on ahead, was already kindling the firewood.

“I never imagined it would be like this…….”

Ricksher murmured without thinking.
All his anxiety proved groundless—the place was serene.
Of course, if he had to live here for a month with nothing, he’d endure hardship enough…….

‘It’s not what I expected at all.’

Only now did Ricksher admit that his imagination had run away with him.
This place, for reasons he couldn’t fathom, held no malice toward his brother.
Rather……yes.
It felt precisely like a small retreat.

“You’ve been living well.”

Patrick, feeling the same way, let out a hollow laugh as he spoke.

“That’s right.”

The exchange between grandfather and grandson was brief, yet in that moment they shared the same sentiment.
Still, the first thing either felt was gratitude.
Gratitude that Lion hadn’t suffered greatly here.
Without one waiting for the other, both moved toward where Lion stood.
The firewood burned with colors like the sunset, and its warmth was comforting.

“Rather nice, isn’t it?”
“A fine haul indeed.”
“Ha. Please, this way.”

Lion led them both to the edge of the lake.

“Sit here for a moment.”

Then he brought two rough wooden chairs and set them before them.

“Where did you get the chair from?”
“I made it myself. I thought you might need one if you visited later.”

They both sat without complaint.
Of course, it was cramped and creaky compared to the finest chairs used in the Mansion—uncomfortable by any measure.
Yet thinking of Lion, who had crafted it alone while dwelling on his family, it felt more comfortable than any chair could ever be.

“Here, have some tea. I’ll start on dinner.”

Lion poured hot water into a rough wooden cup and quickly disappeared into the cabin.

“Let me help…….”

Ricksher rose from his seat, only to sit back down awkwardly at Patrick’s gesture.
After that.

…….

There was nothing to do.
He watched the sunset shimmer on the lake’s surface, and once the sun had nearly vanished, the moonlight and starlight. Then the lamp Lion had left behind, glowing softly.
He didn’t want to admit it, but it was rather…….
Peaceful.
Nothing demanded his attention, no need to ration time for work.
And perhaps because he had created this place too…….

‘It’s like the Mimr Forest camp.’

For some reason, it felt familiar.

“So this is what he’s been doing for a month.”

In that quiet, Patrick murmured low to himself.
Patrick too found his thoughts stirring.
Whenever his mind grew crowded with thinking, he grew tired—yet strangely, the thoughts and memories surfacing now brought no fatigue at all.

‘That’s right. It was like this when I traveled with the Hero too.’

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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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