Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 76

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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, I Don’t Know About That — Let Me Just Heal, Chapter 76

“Ahhhh.”

Lion’s body trembled at the sharp, tingling sensation.
Fortunately, the Potion worked—apparently nausea counted as a type of digestive ailment.

[The Potion’s effect has cured the Status Ailment: Digestive Upset.]

And as a result.
The last faint queasiness that lingered seemed to vanish entirely.

“……!!”

Nature looked genuinely shocked.
The spirit had clearly intended it for itself, but this feeble master of theirs had simply drunk the whole thing down!

“There’s an order to these things.”

[As a first-time consumption effect, your Spirit Affinity has permanently increased by a small amount.]

A refreshing energy suffused Lion’s body.
It hadn’t accumulated anywhere in particular, yet he could sense Nature’s presence far more clearly now.
He suspected he’d also be able to perceive other spirits’ presences more distinctly.
And with his affinity increased, Nature’s recovery speed would accelerate as well.
Lion withdrew a fresh bottle of Special Spirit Water and set it down before Nature, who still stood frozen in shock.

“This one’s yours.”

Nature’s expression shifted to exactly what it should have been all along, and it hurriedly snatched up the bottle, absorbing it into its form.
The spirit seemed convinced that if it delayed even a moment, its feeble master would consume all the Spirit Water as well.
And the result…….

“Squeak!”

Nature gulped it down with such fervor that the Spirit Water plastered its entire body, dripping everywhere.
The display was so aggressive that Lion found himself speechless, simply watching.

‘No, I’m not going to steal it.’

Did an ancient spirit really have such a hearty appetite?
Lion tilted his head in puzzlement, then carefully dried Nature’s damp and matted fur with a handkerchief.

[As the Spirit Summoner’s affinity rises, the Companion Spirit’s natural recovery rate accelerates.]
[The Companion Spirit’s vitality has recovered significantly!]
[Nature’s power is now at full strength!]

Nature patted its round belly with a wing and waddled its way straight into Lion’s shirt pocket.
Then…….
it fell asleep, snoring softly.

“I guess it pushed itself a little too hard.”

Lion draped the handkerchief over Nature and rose to his feet.

“I’m heading out for a bit. Won’t be long.”
“Understood. I shall await your return.”

Lion stepped out of the Inn, accompanied by Elvia’s farewell.

‘Ah.’

The atmosphere here was strikingly different from the Asteri Estate.
It wasn’t just the houses built of stone, but something more fundamental.
The people themselves.
Their faces were hardened, and nearly every one of them wore a sword at their hip.
The unmistakable aura of a renowned swordmaster’s domain hung thick in the air, yet to an uninformed observer, the mood would have felt oppressive.
Most notably.

A glance.

Eyes that kept stealing looks in their direction.

“M-My lord… it seems public safety here is not very… robust.”

Andrie, who had come out with Lion, whispered nervously.

“Mm.”

An ordinary young nobleman might have grown offended and angry at such a reception.
The expressions and gazes of the passersby were, objectively speaking, far from welcoming.
But.

“It’s fine.”

Lion found himself strangely at ease.
Didn’t he recognize this atmosphere? Hadn’t he seen it countless times before?

‘Before the Possession, it was always like this.’

A city grinding through hardship. During rush hours especially, the air was thick with exactly this strain.
Lion understood it well.
Hadn’t he worn that same expression himself when he was exhausted by corporate life?
Everyone was too worn down by the struggle to survive to have energy left for courtesy toward strangers.

‘And the swords…’

They were surely a necessity for these people.
Lion gazed out toward the jagged mountain range that rose beyond the estate’s boundaries.
An endless expanse of snow-capped peaks encircled the territory.
This was the chief reason why traveling to House Bydentis required a Warp Gate.
Not just the distance, but the treacherous mountain range within which the estate was nestled.
He had heard that remnants of monsters and Demons still lurked in these passes.
Of course they would carry swords.
Harsh. Unforgiving.
Above all.

‘These people know well enough.’

The bloody succession struggle that had wracked House Bydentis.
With leadership consumed by internal strife, the territorial residents would have been neglected, their suffering inevitable.
The common folk’s circumstances would have deteriorated rapidly.
Even with the current Lord, Clarentia, having stabilized much, survival remained precarious.

A glance.

Lion peered down the narrow alleyways.
Children with caps pulled low watched the street intently, as if waiting for their chance.
Children without homes.
They must have turned to petty theft.

‘I can’t afford to worry about others, it seems.’

Even neighbors couldn’t trust one another—opening one’s heart to a stranger wouldn’t come easily.

‘Still, I had the sense to bring a blade beforehand, so I suppose I’m faring better than Andrie.’

Yet even in this barren Bydentis Territory, one common thread ran through everything.
Everyone carried a sword.
Steel was their means of survival.
The garrison did what it could to keep the peace, though…
Fundamentally, people’s greatest trust lay in the weapons they bore.

‘Still, Asteri Estate is unusually prosperous, so the contrast is simply more striking here.’

Lion wore the Short Sword Mudu had provided earlier, belted at his thigh.
Because of it…
as he moved through the settlement, he noticed the gazes of the locals softening.
Some even passed by with blank faces, their words barely audible.

“A fine blade you have there.”

It sounded almost like muttering.
It was probably the highest compliment a stranger could expect here.
Lion seized the moment and spoke.

“Much obliged. Do you know where the largest Weapon Shop in the area is?”
“Oh? Ah… if you head that way, you’ll find it.”

Taken aback by the question—apparently he hadn’t expected to be addressed—the man recovered and readily gave directions to the shop.

“My thanks.”

Lion led Andrie toward the Weapon Shop.

“M-Master? Why are we coming here…?”

Andrie’s voice trembled with unease.

“You see how everyone here carries a sword?”
“Yes? Oh, yes, I see. That’s why it’s so…”

Before she could finish saying “frightening,” the shopkeeper spoke.

“You’re a seamstress, aren’t you?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes. How did you know?”
“Well, it’s obvious at a glance.”

Indeed, Andrie’s clothing practically announced “I’m a seamstress!” with every stitch.
The shopkeeper wiped a blade with a cloth and spoke matter-of-factly.

“The people here can’t help it. The land’s too harsh. Just a few years back, villagers were divided into factions, fighting each other—it was madness. They’re not guarding against strangers; they’re protecting themselves and their kin. It’s simply… fashion, if you will, seamstress.”
“…!”

Andrie’s eyes widened at his words.
Now that he mentioned it…
Andrie turned her head, studying the surroundings anew.

“I see!”

Andrie drew a small sketchbook from her bag as if she’d realized something.
She sketched a few quick designs, as though inspiration had struck her……

Thud.

Her pen clattered to the floor.

“What’s wrong?”

Lion asked as he examined a blade that might suit Andrie and Elvia, but Andrie answered with a pale face.

“If that’s the fashion here…… I need to add additional designs to the clothing!”
“Additional designs?”
“Yes, exactly. A section where a sword can be hung!”

A village where people carried swords no matter the circumstance.
And its Lord.

“Ah, I was truly a frog in a well. To make such an oversight……!”

[You have broadened the Master Seamstress’s perspective!]
[Sewing Proficiency experience increases by 40 percent!]
[Sewing Proficiency Apprentice Lv.5 has been achieved.]

Oh.
He hadn’t expected this when he spoke.

“Did inspiration strike you?”
“Yes, it did.”

Andrie’s eyes sparkled far more brightly than usual.
The sight resembled that of an apprentice seamstress.
That throb of encountering something new!
That vague excitement and joy.
Lion had no intention of stopping her.

“Then don’t worry about me and head back.”

Andrie’s eyes said she couldn’t do that, but Lion was firm.

“The whole reason we came was to get you proper clothes.”

Officially, anyway.

“Oh dear…… Master!”

Muttering about being unworthy of the craftsman’s title, Andrie picked up her pen and gratefully accepted the blade Lion handed her before departing ahead.

“……”

And Lion remained, studying the blades.

“Hmm.”
“Looking for something in particular?”

The Weapon Shop owner took interest in Lion.
More precisely, his gaze fixed on the Short Sword hanging at Lion’s thigh.

“There are plenty of fine blades. Take your time and look around.”
“Right…….”

Lion didn’t answer directly, instead moving slowly through the shop to examine it properly.
And sure enough.

‘Nothing.’

This was the largest weapon shop in all of House Bydentis territory, famous for its swordsmanship, yet there wasn’t a single Dwarf-made weapon in sight.
And that wasn’t all.
Even walking around the town earlier, he’d seen no Dwarf-crafted weapons.

‘That doesn’t make any sense.’

This was Mudu’s hometown, and hadn’t he mentioned that his family still lived here?
Moreover, they’d called him the village elder.
So there was a Dwarf Village.
Or at least a community established there.
Something felt wrong.

“I’ve heard that House Bydentis territory has many skilled blacksmiths.”
“It did.”
“Did? So it doesn’t anymore?”
“That’s right. And frankly, it’s been a real headache because of it.”
“Why’s that?”
“Sigh. Don’t even get me started.”

The weapon merchant waved his hand dismissively and gave a brief explanation.
To sum it up…….

“A conflict…… within the family?”

There was a village where Dwarves all related by blood lived, and a quarrel had thrown the whole place into chaos.

“Those blasted Dwarves—stubborn as they come and stuffed to bursting with their precious craftsman spirit. They won’t even say what they fought about, just declared that none of them will deliver a single weapon until they’ve made the finest one possible. Sealed the whole village off to boot. It’s maddening, frankly. So that’s why there are no Dwarf-made weapons here now.”
“…….”

Lion’s mouth hung open.
So…… what was he supposed to do about the Ring?

‘At least everyone seems healthy, so there’s that.’

Lion let out a long, heavy sigh.

‘So it’s not in the village either.’

Dwarf-crafted blades were a kind of luxury good.
But with the Dwarves collectively refusing to make weapons, their value would naturally have skyrocketed.
It was probably too risky to carry them around casually outside.
Moreover, wealthy merchants would have gone blind with desire for rarity, scrambling to collect Dwarf-made weapons.

‘Hmm…… this Ring might actually be a harder commission than the Necklace?’

Originally, he’d planned to hand over the Ring quickly before even entering the Bydentis mansion.
It would’ve been cleaner that way.
But if things were like this…….

‘I might have to ask for the Duchess Clarentia’s help after all.’

Lion scratched his cheek.

“So I can’t go to the Dwarf Village either?”
“That’s correct.”

He hadn’t known that.
Who would’ve guessed they’d already fought?

“Well, I understand now. This should cover the cost of the sword.”

Lion paid the weapon merchant a modest sum on top of the purchase price — information currency, as it were.

“Ha! I hardly told you anything worth compensating for. Thank you!”

His demeanor shifted entirely.
Pleased with himself, the merchant added another tidbit.

“Still, they do show their faces at the Tavern from time to time. Dwarves do love their drink, you know.”
“Hmm.”

That was better information than he’d expected.
He’d need to revise his plans considerably.

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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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