Chapter 118

Chapter 118
## Chapter 118: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Oh my…”

Leah covered her lips, looking genuinely startled by what the two youngsters had just done.

Mudu had spent a substantial fortune acquiring those particular pigments for the pair’s birthdays.

Even as the premier blacksmith across Asteri Territory, he found high-grade colorants exceptionally costly.

Furthermore, these substances had undergone advanced enchantments, ensuring they dried instantly upon contact while leaving zero residue on the skin—a truly prized commodity.

Aware of this, the children had been sparing with them, using only tiny drapes to add final touches to their handmade crafts.

And even with such restraint, how overjoyed they had been!

Yet now, they were eagerly surrendering these very treasures to the Young Master.

*Of course, the Young Master might not particularly care…*

In their own innocent fashion, the kids had put forward the finest possible offering and compromise.

Consequently, Lion’s expression turned intricate and enigmatic, akin to someone guarding an unutterable secret.

“……Can I really use these?”

『Colorful Dyes』

* Special pigments purchased at great expense by a deeply affectionate father for his children.
* Functional like paint, drying instantaneously upon application.
* Applying the enclosed sealant further elevates the finish!

Lion gazed into the youngsters’ eyes and posed the question.

In response, Ipari, whose hair was styled in neat pigtails, muttered as she twirled a lock of her hair.

“It feels a bit wasteful, but…”

She glanced up sideways, then flashed a brilliant grin.

“The Young Master needs his own toys too, doesn’t he!”

“……!”

Lion was momentarily paralyzed by words that seemed to strike right at the heart of the matter.

“That’s right! That’s right!”

“So don’t look so sad just because you can’t carve pretty things yet.”

“Yeah. We’ll bring you materials so we can make lovely items together.”

“……”

Naturally, they had not fully grasped the true source of Lion’s gloomy demeanor.

*They say children understand people’s hearts better than anyone.*

Setting his carving knife and timber aside, Lion gently patted the heads of both children.

“Thank you.”

Their gesture felt profoundly commendable.

These were treasured possessions that most would refuse to part with, even with full understanding.

Yet these little ones had freely handed them over.

*If I had a nephew, would I feel this exact way?*

Only a few months ago, these were kids who peered through windows with soot-stained faces; now they had grown enough to offer him solace.

“Hehe.”

“Is the Young Master touched?”

“Yes. Incredibly touched. Thank you.”

With that, Lion added with a playful tease,

“So, can I use up every bit of this paint?”

“……Ummm!”

“I didn’t think about that part…”

Faced with the question, the children pouted and wavered, looking visibly reluctant.

“It’s a waste, but… still, the Young Master is more important.”

“Th-then use it quickly!”

“Yeah! And since the Young Master is good at everything, we can learn from you!”

“That’s right, hehe! Dad always said watching someone talented is the best kind of study.”

Hearing this, Lion finally broke into laughter.

“Haha! Really?”

With them putting it that way, he had no way to refuse.

*I should buy them some fresh paint to give back later.*

Though he lacked an immediate plan, he desperately wanted to return their kindness.

With those thoughts in mind, Lion picked up the brush they offered and slowly began applying the hues.

*Start with the lighter shades.*

If he applied dark tones first, lighter pigments might lose their vibrancy later on.

At the very least, since these were precious gifts from the kids, he refused to waste them carelessly.

Lion meticulously coated every section with the brush.

For a first-time attempt, his focus was remarkably steady.

And…

*This is much more fun than I expected.*

Lion was normally someone entirely detached from art.

He had never cared for painting, assuming he possessed zero artistic talent whatsoever.

Yet, to his surprise…

He genuinely enjoyed watching colors flow from his fingertips to breathe new life into the object.

Moreover, the simple act of painting induced a strange sense of mental and physical calm.

He carefully filled the gaps between unpainted edges, blowing gently on the wood to prevent smudges.

Yellow, soft green, bright blue, and even crimson!

Gaining confidence with every stroke, Lion became thoroughly absorbed in the task.

“Wow.”

“He’s painting so well…”

Mesmerized, the children watched in pure awe as Lion decorated the blocks.

It looked much like a kindergarten teacher effortlessly capturing a room full of young attention spans.

Once every piece was finished to the last detail…

『Asteri Block Set』

* A toy blending vibrant, charming colors that invite play at a mere glance!
* Though slightly rustic, it is polished smoothly to keep splinters away from tender fingers!
* Fully modular, making it ideal for sparking children’s creativity and holding attention for hours on end.

A remarkably decent result emerged.

Even without literal stars painted on them, phrases like “creativity development” and “endless entertainment” carried significant appeal.

Furthermore, it felt as though the “childhood innocence” Lion assumed had vanished forever was beginning to sprout anew.

The sense of fulfillment was immense.

『Woodworking Proficiency experience increased by 40%.』

『You fill your own deficiencies and discover new talents!』

『New Talent: Painting』

『Painting Proficiency has reached Apprentice Lv.1.』

『Chain Effect activated!』

『You can now create dyes using Alchemy.』

“……”

Lion chuckled quietly, turning the tiny blocks over in his hands—pieces even smaller than his fingers.

*What is it about this?*

Why had he envied block play so deeply?

Why had he felt such crippling anxiety over making a single mistake?

What is it about all this?

Naturally, in a game of stacking, twisting, and fitting, flaws were bound to happen.

*It’s fine now.*

Gripping the blocks firmly, Lion reaffirmed his inner resolve.

I don’t have to dread breaking things anymore.

If I desire something, I can claim it without surrender.

If I cannot acquire it, I can craft it with my own hands.

If the child I once was still lingers in that cold room, I can rescue him myself.

Leaving him trapped there forever would be far too tragic.

Why harbor such lingering regrets?

“……This is all thanks to you two.”

Looking down at the children, Lion spoke from the bottom of his heart.

“Thank you so much.”

“Hehe…”

Though the youngsters did not fully comprehend the depth of Lion’s emotions, they smiled right back.

After all, the Young Master’s expression had finally returned to normal!

*Did we pull it off?*

*I think so!*

Even if the paint supply had taken a noticeable hit…!

For some reason, Gaji and Ipari felt they had earned something vastly more valuable in return.

—

Right as Lion finished organizing the blocks.

“……Congratulations! You have officially passed the final screening.”

As the presiding priest handed over the paperwork, the couple let out synchronized sighs of relief.

“Thank goodness, truly thank goodness.”

“I was so worried we wouldn’t meet all the strict eligibility criteria…”

The couple—namely, Peter’s prospective adoptive parents—exchanged glances before looking down at Peter, who stood awkwardly shifting his weight between them.

*Such an adorable child!*

Truthfully, the pair had struggled with infertility for years.

If they were individuals who disliked children, it would be different, but these two yearned for a family more than anything.

Yet, they had harbored a quiet hesitation regarding adoption.

They feared that if they ever had biological children down the line, they might inadvertently distance themselves from an adopted child.

“Honey. Instead of adoption, how about we try volunteering? Even if we don’t adopt, the orphans here could always use a caring adult presence.”

“If that is your wish, let us do just that.”

Thus, the couple began visiting various orphanages to lend a hand.

Among them were children as lovely as porcelain dolls, alongside others far more mature than their years.

There were also plenty of kids who seemed primed to grow up smoothly without causing any trouble… but.

That wasn’t what the couple sought.

They wanted a child they could truly nurture as their own flesh and blood.

With that specific wish in mind, they stepped into the temple-affiliated orphanage—their very last stop—and found their answer.

Peter.

A prickly boy who stubbornly refused to show his face.

Though improving, he remained deeply suspicious of adults, a defiant soul who swore that even if adopted, he would never live obediently to please anyone.

Yet, the couple fell for Peter’s fierce demeanor at first sight.

It was not the blind affection reserved for a romantic partner.

It was the sudden realization that they simply had to raise this particular child.

They felt an overwhelming desire to share their lives with him for as long as possible!

From that very first meeting onward, they poured every effort into cracking Peter’s shell, finally earning his consent for the adoption.

Even so, that wasn’t the final hurdle.

On the day the adoption was finalized, the couple sat Peter down and spoke with absolute sincerity.

“It’s completely fine to call us Auntie and Uncle until you feel comfortable.”

“Yes. You don’t have to force smiles or act cute for our benefit. We will love you unconditionally, even if you remain just Peter rather than our son.”

“……”

Peter tried his hardest to disbelieve their words.

Talk was cheap, and history proved that few people honored such promises.

However… on rare occasions, keepers of promises did exist.

The Young Master who had visited the orphanage one day to share bread with him was living proof of that.

Because of such memories…

*Just this once.*

If he got sent back, he could always return to the orphanage.

Clinging to that thought, Peter had agreed to the process.

Tentatively, he reached out and took his new mother’s hand.

Yet what was this?

The legal adoption procedure turned out to be shockingly complex!

Far different from what he had imagined!

“Uh, uh…”

Undeterred by the red tape, his new aunt and uncle pressed forward with unwavering determination.

And now, moments ago, the final screening had successfully concluded!

Could it be… is this actually real?

For the first time, it felt tangible.

“The adoption will be fully completed following a brief ceremony in a few days.”

“That ceremony is…?”

“Ah! Honestly, it’s mostly a formality now.”

The priest explained gently.

Essentially, it was a tradition to present the adopted child before the divine and confirm whether the child belonged to the faith.

In other words, it was a test of latent divine power.

At this explanation, the wife gripped Peter’s hand a bit tighter, her voice laced with sudden anxiety.

“If they happen to belong to the divine…?”

“Ah, yes. They would typically walk the path of priesthood, much like myself. However, you have nothing to fret over. Peter shows no detectable resonance of divine power.”

After checking Peter briefly, the priest nodded reassuringly.

“Is that so? What a relief.”

Peter himself felt a subtle wave of relief wash over him.

*…Huh? Why am I feeling relieved by that?*

It seemed he had unwittingly allowed himself to grow attached to this couple.

“Yes, so there’s no need for concern. Historically, only two individuals have walked the formal priesthood path under such direct scrutiny.”

“Two people, you say?”

“The Saintess, who previously served as Archbishop, and a priest currently designated as an Archbishop Candidate.”

“Ah.”

The couple finally exhaled their built-up tension.

It sounded as though anyone falling short of that legendary standard was completely safe.

“Ah, as luck would have it, that very candidate is staying at our temple for a little while. Perhaps he will oversee your ceremony.”

He has a great fondness for youngsters.

*Wink.*

The priest offered a reassuring wink, instantly melting away the lingering tension in the room.

“So, when should we schedule the date for the ceremony?”

—