Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 72

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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, So Let’s Just Heal — Episode 72

“Ahem, that’s getting a bit carried away.”

Lion folded away his flights of fancy.
The business with Sylvia had taught him one thing.
If he got his hopes up too high, only Lion would feel the disappointment.
Anyway.

“But I have every reason to go.”

On the surface, it was to offer proper thanks, and to return a lost necklace.
Besides, he should deliver the outfit that the House of Swordsmanship’s patriarch had commissioned from Andrea soon enough.
Lion stacked his plans carefully in his mind.
If the mood went well, surely good results would follow!
Lion grinned widely.
And.

—……

The ancient spirit, Nature, alone watched her master’s grin with a dull expression.

***

A few days after the elves departed.

“A fair point.”

Patrick listened to Lion’s words with his brow furrowed.
There was nothing in what his grandson was saying that he could fault.
The House of Swordsmanship’s patriarch had helped him unconditionally during the Labyrinth incident, so he was going to offer his thanks in person.
And to bring along the tailored outfit as well.

“But you cannot.”

Patrick shook his head firmly.

“Of course, if you’ve received help, you must repay that debt of gratitude. But you’re still in a situation where you must be careful with your health. That’s why I went to the House of Swordsmanship myself the last time.”

In other words, his grandfather the patriarch had paid Lion’s thanks for him.

“I compensated them generously, so there’s no need to postpone the matter.”
…….

He hadn’t expected such a firm refusal.

‘Did the Kophi incident shake him that badly?’

But thanks to Nature, aside from some body aches afterward, he’d been perfectly fine.
For having obtained an ancient spirit, it had been quite a safe passage… or so.

‘But it is reasonable for him to worry.’

The target in question was none other than his sickly eldest grandson.
And the House of Swordsmanship wasn’t even in the Asterey estate.
Within his domain, any problem could be resolved, but outside… it took time.
Of course, if anything happened outside, it wasn’t as if Patrick couldn’t save Lion.
Patrick was an Archmage, after all.
But.
The problem is that it takes time.
Lion understood his grandfather’s anxiety well enough, so he simply smiled without answering and looked at Patrick.

“……Don’t look at me like that. Ricshel isn’t coming along this time because of his training, is he?”
“…….”
“What, you?”

For a long while, Patrick stared at him with a gaze full of sincerity.

“Sigh…….”

Patrick eventually exhaled a deep breath and pressed his brow even more firmly.

‘Nothing gets through to this boy.’

He wasn’t listening at all.
In fact, the way Lion had announced he was leaving seemed less like a genuine request and more like he was telling Patrick beforehand so he wouldn’t worry.
The truth was, Patrick had no legitimate reason to stop him.
Lion was an adult, after all.
Even the Great Mage Patrick Asteria couldn’t very well coddle a fully grown man.
And his clever grandson had already figured all of this out, which was why he stood there smiling.
Patrick couldn’t very well strike him, and as for this boy…….
What else could he do? In the end, he had no choice but to consent.

“Fine. I understand.”
“Thank you!”
“However. There are conditions.”
“Yes. I’m listening, Grandfather.”

Patrick’s conditions numbered three in total.
First.

“Take Elvia with you.”

This was what he’d expected to hear.
Lion hadn’t planned to go alone anyway.
Though he wasn’t averse to wandering freely through the world of In the World by himself, he felt it was premature at this point.

“Second. Wear that cheap hairpin you bought from that shabby shop until you enter Marquis Bydentis’s Residence.”
“……You knew about that?”

It was something he’d never mentioned, yet his grandfather knew about it?
Lion’s eyes widened, and Patrick snorted dismissively.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know what happens in my own territory?”

He meant that he was simply turning a blind eye to it.
It seemed his grandfather was overlooking more things than Lion had realized.

“And finally.”
“Yes.”

Considering that the final condition was typically the hardest to grant from a practical standpoint, Lion sensed this was the crux of the matter.

“If there’s someone trying to cling to you there.”

He’d have to proceed as quietly as possible, without letting any problems arise…….

“Act as unpleasant as you possibly can.”
“……Pardon?”
“Sigh. Honestly, this is what worries me most, Lion.”

Patrick rose from his seat with a sigh—how many times had he sighed now?—and approached Lion.
He pressed down on both shoulders and spoke without bothering to hide his distress.

“You’re far too kind.”
“…….”

Lion’s mouth fell slightly open.
Kind?

‘No…….’

To be honest, he’d simply never shown his temperament because no one had gotten under his skin yet.
Before anything could scratch him, his family, Elvia, and even the servants took care of things themselves.
There had been nothing to anger him.
But…….

‘I’m not particularly kind, am I.’

It was strange to say such a thing about himself, but Lion was not a naturally kind person.

“Grandfather.”
“Yes?”
“I think you’re misunderstanding. I’m not kind.”

He’d simply kept quiet because there was nothing to anger him.
Lion recalled the time before he’d taken possession of this body.
In his fury, hadn’t he once torn his entire company apart?
And even here…….
It didn’t seem like he’d ever been taken advantage of, did it?

“…….”

Patrick had run out of words in the face of Lion’s confident assertion.
The witch, who had revealed herself from the moment Patrick uttered the command to “bring Elvia along,” was equally speechless.

“Mm…….”

She seemed to have much to say.

“So what the Patriarch is saying is, perhaps, that I should behave like a rude and unpleasant rich young master. That way, no riffraff going about causing trouble will approach.”
“Ah-ha!”

So that was it—don’t be swayed even if strange people try to speak with you.
For instance, something like this.
Lion called to mind the past.

“Excuse me, do you happen to know how to get there?”
“Yes. If you go this way…….”
“Oh my, thank you so much. By the way, you have such a handsome face.”
“……Yes?”
“Do you perhaps believe in the Way?”

He wanted to be prepared for such misfortunes.

‘Well, that makes sense.’

Lion nodded as if he had finally understood.

“Understood. I’ll be as unpleasant as possible.”
“You understand correctly, then?”
“Yes, of course.”
“……Well. If things go south, Elvia will back you up.”
“Don’t worry yourself, sir.”
“I trust you.”

The two men exchanged a look and nodded firmly in unison.

“So, when do you plan to depart?”
“I’d like to leave sometime this week.”

Andrea would need time to pack her clothes and prepare, so that timing seemed about right.

“Fine. I’ll handle the travel preparations myself—don’t worry about what the tailor needs.”
“Thank you, sir.”

Lion bowed briefly and left the room.
Not suspecting for a moment what kind of preparations those might entail.

* * *

With his grandfather’s approval secured, Lion made straight for Andrea’s shop.
Before he could even broach the subject of heading together to where House Bydentis was located……

“I’ve received a full account from the lord. I’m ready to depart this very moment.”

Her tone had taken on an oddly solemn edge.
What exactly had he told her?

“Andrea here swears she will do her utmost to ensure you execute this covert mission flawlessly, sir.”
“……A covert mission?”

To be fair, the necklace was something like a family heirloom of the House of Swordsmanship, and since he planned to return it quietly, it was technically a secret. Plus there was the disguise to consider.
A disguise was definitely involved.

“There’s no need to be so tense about it.”
“Yes! I’ll conduct myself as normal!”
“Anyway, I wanted to check if you need more time before we leave sometime this week.”
“Everything’s prepared! And……”

Andrea dragged over a mannequin that had been standing to one side.

“Young master, would you try this on?”
“This is……?”

Lion examined the garment.
It was clearly made from narisarang fabric…….

[Master Tailor’s Elegant Travel Outfit (★★★)]
-A travel outfit commissioned by someone who wished for safety, wherever and whenever you might go.
-At a glance, it exudes sophistication. Surely no one would dare treat its wearer disrespectfully!
-It provides mitigation against impacts of a certain magnitude.

“The lord requested that I craft a set for you in advance, in case such circumstances ever arose.”
“I see.”

He truly was worried about this.

‘Still, it’s nice to have such fine clothes.’

It wasn’t as formal as a suit, nor was it the common garb of ordinary travelers.
If I had to describe it… it was like the perfectly pampered attire of a well-beloved young gentleman.

“Heh. The design took quite a long time to perfect, you see.”
“…….”

I’d nearly made a fool of myself wandering about in a clown’s costume.

“I really can’t thank you enough.”

Andrea smiled—the smile of someone who’d had her hands full.

“Try it on, won’t you?”
“Of course.”

After all that care, the least I could do was wear it properly.
I went to the changing room and put on the travel outfit.
Light as expected, without a single point of discomfort—remarkably comfortable.

“Perfect! It suits you wonderfully!”
“That’s what you get when the finest artisan makes it for you.”
“You’re too kind! Ah, but now that I think of it, Lea asked me to make sure you’d visit the Blacksmith Shop when you came down to the village!”
“The Blacksmith Shop?”
“Yes! Since you’re here in town, I thought it would be nice for you to stop by.”

She kept insisting I shouldn’t worry about travel expenses, even throwing up a thumbs-up for emphasis.

“All right. Understood. As for the cost of the clothes…”
“Please, there’s no need! This fabric, the shop, even the customers—they’re all thanks to you!”
“Then I’ll wear them gratefully.”

Andrea said that was enough and saw me out with warmth. She looked far more vibrant than when I’d first arrived.
It was good to see.
Following Andrea’s suggestion, I headed straight to the Blacksmith Shop.
There, I found…….

“About time you showed up!”

Mudu, the blacksmith, stood with his short, sturdy arms crossed, fixing me with a disgruntled stare.

“Mudu! How have you been?”
“How’ve I been? Those pointy-eared nuisances came stomping through my forge like they owned the place. Nearly drove me mad!”
“Ha ha.”

They must have come to see the lesser fire spirit that dwelt here.

“The flame’s all right, though?”
“Fine! After those pointy-ears left, the heat got even better, if you ask me.”

For a dwarf, he certainly disliked elves, but he seemed to have benefited enough that he didn’t complain further.

“But why did you want me to come by?”
“Hrm. Follow me and see!”

I followed Mudu deeper in, and there…….

“What is this?”
“Seems he’s picked up several new hobbies recently. So I made this for him.”

Mudu’s Tool Set (★★★)
—Everything you could possibly think of is inside.
—It fits perfectly in my hand, and it’s so light! It seems you used some special technique.

All manner of tools were nestled within.
Lion had even crafted a box to make it easy for him to carry everything along.

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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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