Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 67

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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’s Whereabouts Escape Me, So I’ll Focus on Healing — Episode 67

“If you mean income…”
“Yes. I wish to purchase that potion in exchange for fair compensation. I am prepared to offer whatever price you name.”
“…!”

Freyana’s eyes widened to the size of saucers at so bold a proposition.
In a closed nation like the Elf Kingdom, proposing an import contract first was something that happened once every few centuries—if at all.
Or perhaps it had never happened before in recorded history.

“You humans wouldn’t understand, but this is no ordinary matter.”

Embrog chimed in.

“Not to boast, but my homeland contains many items your people would covet. All manner of Magic Stones, Special Wool Fabric. Even plants that Alchemists would kill for.”
“M-Master, I assure you, this is an incredible opportunity.”

Freyana nodded in agreement, confirming his words were true.

“I see.”

Lion assented in turn.
Knowledge gleaned from playing In the World had served him well.
One of the earliest methods to accumulate wealth had been leveraging the Trade System.
And the most generous buyer of all was the Elf Kingdom.
True, breaking in took considerable effort, but once you did, the rewards—both coin and rare items—were substantial.
By that measure, Freyana was right; it was a genuine opportunity… in principle.
But Lion found himself in a situation where coin and items held no appeal.
He was Asterini, after all.

“You want it because the potion seems so useful?”

Lion withdrew a bottle of Spirit Water from his pocket and shook it.

“Yes.”

It wasn’t as though he desperately needed it or would be forced to produce it indefinitely, either.
The Elf Kingdom had Spirit Stones in such abundance they were said to lie thick on the ground.
The reason he wanted it was simply that the effect was marginally better.
In plain terms, it was a luxury item.

“Then I’ll pack a few bottles for you when you leave.”
“That’s not what I’m after—”
“And if you ever need more later, visit my Estate. I’ll make it for you, as long as you bring the materials.”
“…I beg your pardon?”

Refusing payment?
A human?
Tiali’s pupils dilated for an instant, then contracted back to normal.
Practically speaking, this arrangement precluded any stable potion imports, but it did mean receiving small quantities of potion at no cost.
But why?

“I confess I believed this would be a tremendous opportunity for Lion Asterini. Might I ask why you would refuse such fortune?”
“As you know, I’m not in a position where I need money. Alchemy is something I do because it brings me joy—not because I’m chasing some material goal.”

More than anything, he didn’t want to draw attention.
Now was the time to push Ricshel forward with everything he had.

“And if I may be candid about it, just a few months ago I was living on borrowed time, the kind of life you’d call terminal.”
“A l-limited lifespan?”

Embrog, hearing this for the first time, gasped in alarm.
A limited lifespan—when human life was already barely a flicker to begin with!

‘So that’s why his face is so pale.’

“If you wish, you could ask the Lord directly. In any case, that’s why I’d prefer to take things easy with my body for now.”
“…….”

So he couldn’t produce them in bulk.
There was no arguing against that.

“Of course, I’m not saying I won’t make them for you. You offered a good proposal, and Endairon’s condition has improved so much—I’d like to do my very best, at least on a personal level. So I hope you’ll accept this arrangement.”
“……! I see.”

Tiali nodded, seeming to understand at last.
He’d seemed thoughtless at first, but…….

‘His depth of thought runs deeper than I expected.’

Lion Asteria’s desire to become a friend to the elves was genuine.
The greatest gift he could offer—Spirit Water, provided without conditions.
And in his weakened state, no less.
That was the problem.

‘Such goodness……’

The Elf Kingdom carried many long-held traditions.
One of them was to give one’s all to those who came in sincerity.
Elaborate in words, but simple in meaning:
Death-spears for enemies, gifts for friends.
But if this were the situation now…….
Lion himself had asked to become a friend to the ‘nation’ where elves dwelt.
And in earnest!
Doing his absolute best!
Strictly speaking, he should contact the Elder Elf right now and seek permission, but…….

“Should a situation arise where my authority is needed, consider yourself me and act accordingly.”
“You place a heavy burden on a retired servant, my lord.”
“Ha ha. Just this once, I ask your indulgence.”

Tiali possessed that authority, as it happened.

“Very well. The Elf Kingdom shall henceforth be the friend of Lion Asteria.”
“Yes. Please visit often.”
“And.”

Tiali’s gaze fell upon Embrog and Freyana.

“There is a matter I would discuss privately. I ask your discretion in leaving us.”
“Of course.”

Embrog left without protest.
Freyana, however…….

“…….”
“I harbor no improper intentions—you may rest assured.”
“R-really?”
“Yes.”

She extracted several more promises before slipping out of the room at last.
Right up to the end, her eyes had been blazing with silent signals: “If anything happens, scream for me!” and “I’ll do whatever I can!”

Click.

“From this point forward, I’d like to present you with a gift that the Elder Elf sent to me personally.”
“The Elder Elf?”

Lion’s eyes widened at the mention of the Elder Elf.
The Elder Elf—virtually the leader of all elvenkind.
Why on earth would such a figure have sent him a gift?

“I confess I cannot fathom the depth of her intentions, but I assure you it will be no bad thing for you.”
……

Lion hesitated for a moment.
She had clearly called it a personal gift.
Having already let slip the word ‘friend,’ it felt awkward to refuse now.
And besides—what else was a gift but a gift?

“You need not fear any trouble will come from this gift. I stake my own spirit on that promise.”
“Then I shall accept it gratefully.”

Only then did Tiali’s face light up.

‘I was worried he might refuse even this.’

A relief.
Before Lion could change his mind, Tiali swiftly produced the gift.
It was…….

……!

[High-Grade Spirit Stone Set (★★★)]
-Possesses far superior effects compared to ordinary Spirit Stones.
-Even a Spirit languishing in sickness will regain its vigor with just a single one of these!
-Can be used as food for newly hatched Spirits.
-Selling Price: 5,000 Shillings

A collection of premium-grade Spirit Stones.

‘They’re almost like jewels in appearance.’

Unlike the mid-grade Spirit Stones, which never transcended their crude, rocky form, the high-grade varieties boasted a subtle luminescence and remarkable transparency.
And that wasn’t all—their effects were exceptional too.
Even mid-grade Spirit Stones were noted as beneficial for ailing Spirits, but these surpassed that description entirely.
What’s more, they could be sold at the Shilling shop…….
‘If I just sold one of each element, that’d be five thousand Shillings, wouldn’t it?’

An extraordinary windfall.

“These are Spirit Stones. Since our own country possesses many of fine quality, please think nothing of it.”

That was almost certainly untrue.
Of course the Elf Kingdom must have possessed superior Spirit Stones compared to what humans held in these lands, but they were high-grade, after all.

‘These likely come from high-grade Spirits themselves.’

The fact that only Embrog and Tiali among the Elite Team carried high-grade Spirits spoke volumes—this was no ordinary gift by any measure.
Of course, he had no intention of refusing.

“Is that so? Thank you.”

Lion accepted the gift readily, pretending not to doubt Tiali’s explanation.
Had it come from an ordinary elf, he would have refused without hesitation.
But the giver was an Elder Elf.
In human terms, an emperor.
He didn’t think it improper to accept such a gift from an emperor.

“I’m the one who should be grateful for your gracious acceptance. And…”

And?

“Is there another gift?”
“Yes. Though it may be sudden, would you not attempt to summon a Spirit?”
“A Spirit? But I…”

Lion was taken aback by the sudden proposal.
He was grateful that Tiali thought well enough of him to suggest it, but…

‘It’s not something that can be done so easily.’

Lion knew from experience—he had raised Druids in his past life.
Spirit Summoning rituals consumed far more time and mental energy than one might think.
And that wasn’t all.
The location mattered greatly.
The ritual had to be performed where nature’s essence was most abundant if one hoped to summon a quality Spirit.

‘At minimum, somewhere like Mimir Forest or better.’

He did have access to such a place.
The depths of the Library Labyrinth.
One might ask: why not simply summon there?
In fact, Lion satisfied all three requirements.
He had ample time, and his mental fortitude was unparalleled.
But the real problem was…

‘I need a Spirit Summoner to guide the ritual.’

Yes. That was the crux of it.
Even if summoning a Spirit was possible, he couldn’t bring outsiders into the Labyrinth—not those outside his family.
Sensing Lion’s hesitation, Tiali smiled.

‘He must be deeply troubled. A virtuous soul, truly.’

Tiali was mistaken—once again!
Spirits were beings from another dimension, where time moved infinitely.
Even elves could walk alongside their Companion Spirits for long spans of years, but for other mortals, those moments were nothing but fleeting instants in a Spirit’s reckoning.
The trouble was that Spirits grew attached more easily than one might expect.
Once a Spirit lost its master, it rarely entered into a new contract.
It would wait in infinite time for that master—perhaps one day their paths might cross again—and slowly disperse into nature, only to coalesce anew in the distant future.

“I understand. Your health being fragile, you worry about the Spirits that would linger should misfortune befall you. But in such a case, one need only dissolve the contracts and release them. That is the natural order.”

Tiali smiled warmly and withdrew a small vial from his robes.

“I will not press you to contract immediately. But please accept this—it is Fairy Dust, used when binding a Spirit.”

[Fairy Dust (Immeasurable)]
A most exceptional Fairy Dust, created only by very special fairies under very special circumstances. It serves as a medium, allowing you to commune with spirits from other dimensions and to contract with them directly.
The finer and more radiant the powder, the higher-ranking the spirit you may contract with.
It is an item that can no longer be obtained.

“This is…….”

Lion gazed at the Fairy Dust that had been pressed upon him almost by force.
Was this not precisely the thing to resolve the problem of auxiliary spirit summoners that had troubled him just moments before?
As far as he knew, it was not something one could easily procure.

“If possible, I would prefer that you summon a spirit while I remain here, but should you find resolution in your heart at any time hereafter, use that powder. Then a spirit well-suited to you shall surely answer your call.”

Would it be merely an answer?
Something extraordinary might appear.
The Elder had surely bestowed the Fairy Dust precisely because he believed Lion capable of summoning spirits of the highest rank or beyond.

‘If that is so…….’

Tiali pondered for a moment before adding one more word.

“If it is possible, I would hope that you might have a guardian…… present.”
“A guardian, you say?”
“Yes. Ordinarily it would be of no concern, but given that your affinity with spirits is quite remarkable…… it is possible that a rather wild spirit might emerge.”

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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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