Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 74

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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 Unknown, Let Me Heal – Chapter 74

Elvia turned her gaze to study the Coachman quietly.

‘He’s not deaf, at any rate.’

He maintained his composure far better than she’d expected.
And besides…….
Those hands gripping the horse’s reins.

‘He’s no mere taciturn servant.’

The scars weren’t from driving a carriage—that much was certain.
His frame was solid, his palms hardened with calluses…….
Scars crisscrossed his hands as though he’d weathered countless blades.

‘That half-elf brought someone more capable than I gave her credit for.’

The Underworld’s higher ranks must have sent someone of real standing.
And the young master himself had approved of him, after all.

‘No need to move prematurely, then.’

The Coachman spoke for the first time as the sun began its descent and the path grew dim.

“The sun’s setting—we should make camp soon.”
“I’ll help. Come now, young master, the nights are growing cold. Back inside the carriage with you.”
“You don’t need my help?”
“Thank you for the thought, but considering the journey ahead, it’s best you conserve your strength. This is a servant’s work, and I’ll bring dinner once it’s ready.”

He even said he’d have the meal prepared before bringing it to him.

‘Fair enough. No point causing unnecessary concern.’

This time Lion took Elvia’s advice and stepped back into the carriage.

“Ah.”

After exerting himself outside, the interior felt incomparably more comfortable.

‘Youth means chasing a bit of romance, even if it means hardship.’

Later in life, such things become impossible.
Lion patted his lower back and sprawled across the carriage sofa. The relief as his stiff spine stretched felt……quite well-made material, actually.
His knotted muscles eased into the cushions, and it was surprisingly pleasant.

“Chirp.”
“You agree, don’t you?”

Lion laughed, stroking Nature, who had been napping lazily in the carriage all along…….

“Hm?”
“Chirp?”

I didn’t mishear that, did I?
Lion tilted his head slightly and looked at Nature. The creature had definitely made a sound—a chirp, or something like it.
It was almost like……a word.

‘Is that even possible?’

A spirit is a being from beyond the dimensional veil.
So no matter how much its form resembles an animal or a person, it cannot express its will through a voice.
In Endairon’s case too, he had never once made a sound like a wolf.
But…….

“This one makes sounds?”

Not bad, really.
Of course, it had yet to grow beyond a chick’s body, and all it managed was a thin chirping noise, but…….
There was something satisfying about it.
The feeling that my child was different from all the other spirits—something like that.
Honestly, if he’d had a smartphone, he would have wanted to snap photos and videos without restraint.
Of course, since he didn’t have one, he couldn’t.

“Want a snack?”
“Chirp!”

Making do, Lion pulled out a bottle of Spirit Water from his bag, poured it into a shallow dish, set it before Nature, and watched him eat.
Time passed as he idled away the hours with Nature like that.

Rumble.

Lion ran a hand across his stomach and glanced absently toward the outside of the carriage.
Because it was night, he could see and hear nothing at all.

‘The camp preparations are taking quite a while.’

About two hours must have passed already.
He wondered if it was taking so long because it was Elvia’s first time.

Knock, knock.

As the saying went, speak of the wolf and she appears—Elvia tapped on the carriage door.

“Young master. May I come in?”
“Yes. Come in.”

Only after Lion gave his permission did Elvia enter the carriage, carrying the food.

“My apologies for the long wait.”
“It’s fine. But…… did something happen?”
“Nothing serious. There were some small wild creatures about, and I had to deal with them, which is why it took longer.”
“Ah.”

That made sense. No matter how frequently this place was used as a camping ground, it wasn’t where people lived.
Wild animals could gather here seeking the food that travelers left behind.

“So it may be inconvenient, but it would be best if you stayed inside the carriage until we depart. There are many beasts carrying filthy diseases around here.”
“Understood.”

The way Elvia said it made Lion suspect she’d caught a field rat or something similar.
But the meal was quite substantial.
It was arranged in a bento box—with five compartments, no less.
Soft bread and meat. Salad and fruit. And even a stew that looked freshly made.
These were things he never would have expected to eat outdoors.

“I wasn’t able to prepare a table.”
“That’s fine.”

No need for a proper dining table. Bento boxes are only meant to taste their best when eaten like this, aren’t they?

‘It’s almost like airline food, in a way?’

It felt like a luxury journey.
And then…….

Pour.

Elvia filled a glass halfway with wine and handed it to Lion.

“Even in a carriage fitted for comfort, sleep won’t come easily. Do have a glass.”

The wine gleamed a brilliant crimson in the glass, swirling with an almost seductive allure.

‘Ah, well.’

I shouldn’t be drinking.
But given the atmosphere, a glass or two seemed harmless enough.

“All right, then—just one glass.”

Lion accepted without hesitation, savoring the wine alongside the bento box.
The wine’s sweetness mingled with a subtle astringency, opening his palate.

‘This is rather nice.’

Lion gazed out the window at the moon while sipping the last of his wine. The moment had a certain charm to it.
After finishing his meal, Lion washed up at his leisure and settled into the prepared bed.
The pleasant warmth of the wine pulled his eyes closed almost of their own accord.
Lion fell asleep earlier than usual, Nature nestled beside him.

Multiple assailants in black masks, identities unknown.
An ambush.

“I would venture they are hired hands working for some noble house, but I cannot say for certain.”

If she used her Witch’s Power here, she could uncover their identities and discover who orchestrated this attack with absolute clarity.
She could even secure irrefutable evidence.
But.

My dear puppy had gathered the courage to set out on this venture.
There was no need to create unnecessary complications.
Moreover, Elvia had to keep her true nature as a Witch hidden.
There were only two ways to do that.

Either don’t get caught at all, or arrange things so that discovery doesn’t matter.
She generally preferred the method of leaving no trace… but.

‘That way, I’d lose a useful Coachman.’

That wouldn’t do.
Elvia recalled the moments just past.
The way the Coachman had subdued the mob of attackers in a single stroke and knocked them unconscious.
He’d even bound them thoroughly at angles where neither Andrie nor the young master would notice.
His work methods pleased her considerably.
With that level of combat ability…

‘The Underworld seems to have sent me quite the heavyweight.’

He might well be as promising as Freia herself.

“Shall I clean this up?”
“No need. I already have my suspicions about who’s behind this.”

Elvia shook her head at the Coachman’s question, then conjured a Magical Carrier Bird with Magic and sent it skyward.
She had a rough idea, at least.

‘Not nobility.’

Of course, many noble houses envied and resented House Asteri.
But they would never dare employ such methods.
How could they possibly manage the aftermath?
That left two remaining forces.
The Divine Temple, which stood in opposition to Magic.
And.

‘The Imperial Family.’

Since she felt no Divine Power, the latter seemed more likely.
Given how sloppy this whole affair was, it didn’t seem like the Emperor’s handiwork.
She suspected the Imperial Princes or their followers were attempting something.

‘Well, that’s for the household head to sort out.’

Patrick hadn’t overlooked any of this when he sent Lion out either.
On the surface, Lion was the weakest member of House Asteri.
The moment he stepped beyond the Territory, he would obviously become the first target.
But one couldn’t keep him locked away forever, either.

“This should prove quite an entertaining journey.”

Elvia smiled darkly as she watched the Magical Carrier Bird recede into the distance.

* * *

The next morning.
By the time Lion woke, the carriage was already prepared to depart.

“Young master, did you sleep well?”
“Did I oversleep terribly?”
“Not at all. In fact, breakfast is just ready. Was your rest satisfactory?”
“Yeah. It was good.”

Whether it was the wine’s influence or simply a change of scenery, he’d slept soundly despite the unfamiliar bed.
The temperature had been just right, too.
Lion stretched lightly and stepped out of the carriage.
But……

‘Something feels off.’

There was an inexplicable sense of discord that he couldn’t quite place.

“Elvia.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did anything happen last night?”
“Nothing but catching a wild beast, sir.”
“……Is that so?”

Yet there wasn’t a single trace of the beast to be found.
In fact, there were no traces of anything at all.

“…….”

It seemed like a matter best left alone.

“Oh, good morning, sir! What a fine day!”

Breaking the awkward moment, Andrie sprang up from her meal and offered a greeting.

“Ah, Andrie. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes! Even the cargo compartment is quite cozy. And with the fresh air, my inspiration flows wonderfully—it’s marvelous. Besides, we’re nearly at the Gate now, aren’t we?”

Andrie clasped her hands together, practically trembling with excitement.

“To be honest, I’m a bit embarrassed, but this is my first time riding a Teleportation Gate! My heart’s been racing something fierce.”
“For ordinary commoners, the cost is quite prohibitive.”

Lion nodded at Elvia’s clarification.
In exchange for transporting goods across vast distances in an instant, the price rivaled what an ordinary commoner might spend in an entire year.
And since the cost scaled with weight, Gates were rarely used for standard deliveries.
Of course, they were occasionally employed for extraordinarily expensive goods or when the buyer was sufficiently wealthy.

“That I’d actually be making deliveries through a Gate……!”

For Andrie, who’d been on the verge of closing her shop, this was a remarkable stroke of fortune.

“Some people get dizzy from it, I’ve heard.”
“Oh, getting nauseous on a Gate ride is a lifetime bragging right!”

Andrie, oblivious to Lion’s concern, chattered on about Gates throughout the rest of his meal.

“Goodness, I’ve been talking your ear off.”

The moment she saw Lion finish eating, Andrie bolted upright.

“Still quite a ways to the Lungen Territory Teleportation Gate. You can rest easy until then, sir.”
“Right. Understood.”

As Lion moved to board the carriage again.

Rustle.

“…….”

A sound came from behind the trees.
Lion paused mid-step, staring in that direction for a moment before turning back toward the carriage.

‘Well, what am I to do.’

No matter how he tried not to notice, he couldn’t help it.

“Elvia.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Behind that tree just now—”

Elvia’s expression grew uncertain as she looked at Lion.
An unpleasant premonition had washed over her.

‘Surely he’s not ordering me to let them go?’

No matter how kind the young master was, these men had attacked him.
Truth be told, he would be justified in killing them outright.
They had come at him with genuine intent to end his life.
Moreover, their skill was equal to that of any respectable knighthood.
These were likely agents of the Imperial Family.
If they served in the Imperial Knights, then—

‘Even if the young master granted them mercy, the Count would have them eliminated.’

Her only concern was whether this kind-hearted young master might be hurt by it all.
It was while Elvia’s worries continued that—

“No, I must have heard wrong.”
“Sir?”
“Now that I think of it, I heard Count Lungen has been having trouble with bandits in his territory lately.”

When confusion crossed Elvia’s face, Lion broke into a playful smile.

“The Count must have a lot on his mind these days.”

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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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