Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 65

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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 Reluctant Heir: Healing Over Everything – Episode 65

She had a point.
But when Embrogue hesitated, unable to shake his doubts, Freyana’s voice cut sharp and clear.

“Honestly, why are elves so suspicious?”
“You little pest! Is that how you speak to Lord Embrogue?”
“Hmph! Just drink it already! You won’t regret it!”

The way she fired back with such confidence said volumes.

‘She believes in what she’s made,’ Embrogue thought.

As he reached to examine the potion bottle in his hand, a Lower Spirit of wind summoned a cloud that obscured it from view.

“So I’m just to drink it, then?”
“There’s no poison in it.”
“…Lord Embrogue. What should we do?”
“If we waste time here, we may be too late.”

The elves, having tasted Lion’s Spirit Affinity, reached consensus: drink it quickly and move on to solve the real problem.

“Hmm.”

Something felt off, but his subordinates had made their decision, and he had no objection to raise.

Gulp—!

Embrogue drained the Digestive Acceleration Potion in one go.

“—!”

The first sensation was a sharp, tingling bite.
Like drinking fermented spirits, the carbonation fizzed and danced across his tongue.
Then came a sweet, refreshing aroma that filled his nose, and a thin, syrupy sweetness bloomed across his palate.
The flavor and scent were unusual, yet not unpleasant—so much so that he found himself swallowing deeply without thinking.

“Ahhh…!”

He emptied the entire bottle in moments, letting out an odd, satisfied sound.
The other elves reacted the same way.
Those who’d needed digestive aid hastily reached for their water cups, and soon their expressions shifted to something almost serene—
and there I shall end this account.
In any case, the potion’s efficacy was beyond doubt.

“That went down well.”
“The digestive effect is remarkable! The heaviness is completely gone!”
“Thank you.”

He’d wanted to offer more elaborate thanks, but now there was real work to be done.
Just as Embrogue began to excuse himself—

“…Eh?”

One elf pointed beyond the door.
The clouds that had been billowing in from outside were slowly beginning to dissipate.

“How is this possible?”

It was absurd.
The damage was severe enough that natural recovery would take an eternity.
That was why Embrogue had taken the extraordinary measure of dismissing Sylph and Undine’s summons.
And yet.

“You’re wondering how it healed on its own, aren’t you?”

Freyana stood with a triumphant expression and posture, posing the question.

“……Surely not.”

Only then did he look down at the potion bottle he’d drunk from.
Inside it, nestled in the center of the glass, was a stone—apparently what had once been a Water Spirit Stone.
Embrogue lifted his head again, meeting Lion’s gaze.

“You should see it yourself.”

Lion stepped aside to clear the path toward the doorway and opened the door courteously.
The interior of the manor, which ought to have been thick with billowing clouds of mist, was…….
Remarkably, it was clean.
Though it was still somewhat damp—the damage hadn’t entirely resolved—there was nothing visibly alarming like there had been before.

“Oh! Thank goodness!”
“The moisture is drying much faster than usual!”

The servants embraced one another, heaving sighs of relief.
And most surprisingly of all…….
The spirits were each consuming something!

“……!”

Spirits could consume things, certainly.
A Water Spirit might drink water, or a Fire Spirit might eat wood or oil—that sort of thing.
But this was different.
No, it was very different.

‘Aren’t those the potions we drank?’

They were the same bottles Embrogue had been holding!

“What in the world did you do?”
“The spirits looked bloated, so I made a digestive aid for them.”
“We just drank it ourselves…… and spirits can take it too?”
“I didn’t think it would work either, but Freyana told me about Spirit Stones.”

He gave a brief explanation—that he’d been inspired and created the potion from that insight.

‘Can something like that be done just from inspiration?’

Even with profound mastery of Alchemy, if such a thing could be made so effortlessly, the Elf Nation would have invented it long ago.
Yet he had never seen or even heard of such a potion in his life.
If that was the case, then this was truly Lion Asteri.
This exceptional prodigy who had created it.

“Brother! Are you here?”
“Ah, Ricshel.”
“How are you feeling? Is your body alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”

Ricshel appeared just then, examined Lion’s condition carefully, and took his place before Embrogue.

“I heard there was some commotion.”

As he said it, that smirk—it made clear he knew exactly how things had unfolded and whose hands had resolved it all.
A victor’s smile.
No better word for it existed.

“……There was quite a bit of disturbance, yes.”
“But you needn’t worry. My brother handled it for us. Guests like yourselves can simply enjoy your exchanges in peace.”
“……Thank you.”
“Oh, one more thing.”

Ricshel offered a light bow and turned to leave, then added casually:

“Now you see? My brother possesses ‘quite’ profound knowledge of Alchemy.”

A pointed reminder: he’d received help through Alchemy during his studies abroad, so there was to be no more griping about it.

“Then, I wish you a good evening.”
“…….”

Utterly defeated.

“Brother, you should retire as well. Elvia has prepared the bedroom for you.”
“Right. Well done.”
“Shall I see you there? The corridors are still slippery.”

Lion chuckled and declined, then drew several more Potions from his pocket and handed them to Embrogue.

“These are for Endairon and the others here.”

Endairon, who had stood quietly behind Embrogue throughout the turmoil, approached with an elegant stride and sniffed at the Potions in Lion’s hand.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Lion pressed the Potions into the bewildered Embrogue’s hands, offered his farewell, and returned to his own room.

“Truly a kind man…….”

Embrogue watched Lion depart, then gave the Potion to Endairon.
Though Endairon had suffered no real harm, there was something pleasant about sharing the same nourishment together.
What might have been a harrowing day now seemed destined to become a rather warm memory, all because of one man’s kindness.
That was what Embrogue thought.
……Or so he believed it to be finished.
But the true merit of the Potion revealed itself far more clearly the following day.
The first to notice the Potion’s effects was none other than Embrogue himself.
And for good reason…….
Endairon’s coat was gleaming with a lustrous sheen!

“What on earth……is the true nature of this Potion……!”

* * *

As Embrogue stood aghast, an Elf had arrived at the Main Gate of House Asteri.

“Will you open the gate? I have come at the behest of an Elder Elf.”

The Elf carried a reward meant for House Asteri.
The gatekeeper studied the Elf before him.

‘Who on earth is this?’

Every elf she’d encountered so far carried an uncommon presence about them.
Striking beauty and silken hair that transcended gender. Pointed ears, and despite their youthful appearance, an aura that spoke of centuries lived.
Yet this elf… felt like a being of an entirely different order.
Even Embrogue, their leader, didn’t radiate such an aura.
The gatekeeper, who had served House Asteri for long years, sensed at once that this was no ordinary being.

“I, well…”
“Is something amiss?”
“Oh, no! You truly came only to deliver the reward gift, yes?”

The gatekeeper asked as gently and inoffensively as he could manage.
At that, a faint smile crossed the elf’s expressionless face.

‘A gatekeeper with keen judgment, then.’

Though she couldn’t be certain, this one had grasped at least something of her strength.
Perhaps it came from guarding a Great Mage’s residence—the keeper’s discernment was sharp indeed.

‘A place where I can leave the children.’

The children—meaning the elves already here.
After all, the conflict was only temporary.
If that was the case, it was better to have a place where the elf children could remain safe.
The elf drew one leg back and performed a respectful bow to introduce herself.

“Yes. I am Tiali, a High Elf who once led the Guard Unit of an Elder. My kin staying here departed with the reward gift, and as I have the fastest feet among us, I came ahead.”
“My, what an honor! Please forgive my rudeness.”

The gatekeeper’s jaw fell open, and he quickly ordered someone to come and attend to the guest.
He wasn’t sure of the exact hierarchy among elves, but one who had served as guard commander to an Elder Elf was certainly of considerable rank—or rather, station among her kind.

“My apologies for the poor reception. I shall escort you from here on.”

Fortunately, a servant arrived promptly.
Having received word from the gatekeeper beforehand, the servant bowed respectfully and led Tiali deeper into the estate.
The interior matched what she’d heard and seen.
Human-dwelt spaces were cramped, musty, and starved of Natural Energy.

‘Hm?’

Yet something felt different here.
On the journey here, she had passed through countless human villages and fiefdoms.
Though she kept mainly to forest paths, the woods near human settlements had depleted Natural Energy, leaving little means to restore her spirits’ strength along the way.
The elves endured, but the spirits found the journey quite arduous.
Even Silairon, perched on her shoulder, hadn’t his wings unruffled.

‘And yet here…’

Even the Lower Spirits shone with vitality, let alone the Middle-rank ones.
The wind bird on Tiali’s shoulder had spread its wings, evidently pleased with this place’s environment.
But that wasn’t all.

‘What is this?’

Some of them were in better condition than they’d been in the Elf Nation itself.
Such a thing should have been impossible.
Could this place harbor a concentration of Natural Energy somewhere?

‘I need to investigate this.’

It was not mere speed that had brought her—a High Elf and captain of the Elder Elf’s Guard Unit—to this place.
Embrogue had no doubt handled most of the practical matters.
But there was an Elder’s decree that had not been shared with the other elves.
To the outside world, of course, she was simply an elf bearing a gift.

“This is the room where Embrogue resides.”
“Thank you.”

The moment Tiali stepped through Embrogue’s door, she asked.

“Embrogue. What happened here while I was away?”
“……….”

Embrogue did not answer.
Instead, he was touching various parts of Endairon, his face clouded with concern.

‘Could Endairon have done something?’

If an Upper-rank Spirit had exerted its power, there was a chance the energy here had been purified by Endairon.
But Endairon’s destructive force would be considerable.
Yet she sensed no trace of combat.

“Embrogue?”
“What in the world is this……?”

Embrogue continued muttering in disbelief, his gaze fixed only on Endairon.
She had made her presence known and even spoken, yet he had not acknowledged her at all.
It was that annoying habit of his that emerged when he became absorbed in thought.
I had always taught him not to do that.

“Sigh.”

Tiali exhaled and released the wind bird perched on her shoulder.
Silairon spread its wings gracefully and drifted slowly forward…….

Peck!

It gave the back of Embrogue’s head a light tap.

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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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