Chapter 149

Chapter 149
## Chapter 149: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

When an online RPG holds a special event, what captures a user’s attention more than anything else?

Naturally, it is the spoils.

Experience points.

Fashionable garments that allow for personalized character styling.

Or perhaps currency that can be traded for prizes to acquire daily survival gear.

Korean RPGs, in particular, rely heavily on ‘cash items’ to streamline progression and reduce grind, driving players into a frenzy whenever event-exclusive items drop.

was no exception to this rule.

Still, not every event could boast extravagant payouts.

In-game inflation played a part, but…

‘When rewards stay identical every single time, the dopamine hit just fades away.’

Consequently, developers balanced high-effort campaigns with more relaxed, casual runs.

Even so.

Whenever the stamp of ‘Hosted by Hotel Easter’ appeared, the event rewards were always top-tier.

‘And among those…’

The Spring Easter Egg event, in particular, held legendary status among players dedicated to combat, lifestyle skills, and aesthetics alike.

At the height of its popularity, meticulous guides detailing how to maximize efficiency circulated everywhere, which spoke volumes about its success.

Lion, back when he actively played the game, had scraped together every last event coin he could find.

‘That was actually the whole reason I started leveling up my alternate character.’

Which, of course, was precisely what the developers intended.

…Naturally, now that he inhabited this reality, he wouldn’t be hunting down any ‘Egg Coins.’

‘Though having them would be nice. Such a shame.’

Even so, the memory brought a fond smile.

Lion handed the letter back to Rikschel and turned his gaze toward the carriage window.

“This feels entirely different from the Lungen Territory.”

Perhaps due to the presence of ‘Hotel Easter,’ the surroundings lacked the isolated feel of a remote outpost.

Dwellings dotted every corner, and where houses ended, employee dormitories and dining establishments began.

“Is this basically an entire village?”

“Indeed it is. The scale is comparable, certainly.”

Naturally, people migrated here specifically to join the Easter workforce.

Surprisingly, Easter offered enough diverse employment to sustain them all comfortably.

Rikschel casually noted that while the labor demands were intense, management heavily prioritized staff training and welfare.

“Ah…”

Even so, maintaining a single hotel at such a prosperous scale required immense effort. It was undeniably impressive.

‘Feels like a dream vacation spot.’

In truth, Lion had witnessed far more ‘nightmare scenarios’ than idyllic sanctuaries like Easter.

‘…Utterly ruthless.’

Places where administrative cutbacks led to mass layoffs of full-time staff, replaced by overworked contractors who were forced to shoulder the tasks of three people, resulting in a disastrous plummet in service quality…

He had seen plenty of that before crossing into this world.

Naturally, patrons who arrived expecting premium service eventually stopped returning.

Many businesses ultimately collapsed trying to shave pennies, yet Easter operated on an entirely different philosophy.

‘Well, if they didn’t, Grandfather would never allow it.’

Though the Family Head projected an icy exterior, he valued the welfare of his territory’s citizens above all else.

Had mismanagement ruined the enterprise, Grandfather would have intervened long ago, likely renaming the establishment ‘Hotel Asteri.’

‘Hmm, perhaps that isn’t far from the truth?’

As if reading his thoughts, Rikschel offered a quiet chuckle and nodded.

“The Family Head… Grandfather regards Hotel Easter with great favor.”

“I see.”

After all, the sheer tax revenue generated by Hotel Easter alone must be staggering.

Furthermore, it enriched the local populace by creating jobs without bringing them hardship.

It was a brilliantly executed venture.

“It is a brilliant mechanism for legally bleeding coin from visiting nobles.”

“…”

Ah, in that sense?

‘Indeed, the profit margins from that angle alone must be immense.’

Heh…

“Then isn’t that ideal?”

“It certainly is.”

Quite right. If wealth was going to be extracted, extracting it from the affluent was the proper course.

Amidst their light banter, the carriage glided to a halt before the primary gates bearing the insignia ‘Hotel Easter.’

Guards in crisp uniforms performed a swift inspection before lining the entryway and bowing deeply.

Moments later, the massive iron gates, previously locked tight, swung smoothly inward.

“Shouldn’t ordinary visitors disembark out here?”

“For typical guests, yes.”

Meaning, elite exceptions applied to them.

After all, who would dare challenge a carriage bearing the prominent seal of the Asteri household?

‘As expected, inherited privilege is unmatched.’

With that thought, Lion mused that Rikschel, seated right across from him, ought to lean fully into the perks of his birthright.

‘Instead, he just shoulders endless responsibilities.’

‘Such an earnest soul.’

Rolling forward, the carriage stopped directly before the grand hotel entrance.

The door swung wide. As Lion and Rikschel emerged, they were greeted by an immaculate figure.

“It is an absolute privilege to welcome the esteemed representatives of the Asteri lineage. I am Willy, the manager of this establishment.”

The manager bowed low, offering a polished escort inside.

The interior lobby was breathtakingly opulent.

Intricate gold-threaded carpets cushioned the floor, while overhead, a colossal chandelier composed of rare crystals and gems cast a soft, magical radiance reminiscent of a starry night sky.

‘The ambient illumination is subdued, yet it feels this luminous?’

Lion surveyed his surroundings with genuine curiosity before pinpointing the source.

Discreet magical light fixtures were embedded along the wall cornices, indirectly flooding the hall with a warm, eye-friendly glow.

They had clearly engineered the lighting to prevent guest fatigue.

‘Quite meticulous!’

And the architectural amenities were staggering.

An indoor artificial waterfall cascaded gracefully down one flank, accented by master-crafted sculptures strategically positioned to delight the eye.

Beyond that stood plush velvet sofas paired with carved marble tables.

Exquisite tea sets and aromatic leaves stood ready for guests to enjoy at their leisure.

Even veteran travelers passing through openly marveled at the lavish execution.

It was, in every sense, a terrestrial paradise.

“Are you enjoying the atmosphere, Brother?”

“The dedication put into this space is obvious. It is magnificent.”

“I am deeply humbled by your kind assessment.”

Willy let out an inward sigh of profound relief at Lion’s words.

‘I must perform impeccably.’

According to thoroughly vetted intelligence, the true shadow authority among the young masters present was none other than Lion Asteri.

For reasons unknown, the official successor, Rikschel Asteri, held a profound fondness for his eccentric older sibling.

Frankly, Willy had initially doubted the reports.

Other visiting nobles routinely treated the non-successor eldest son as an afterthought.

Yet, why would someone holding the supreme seat of ‘Asteri,’ far above common nobility, show such deference?

…Or so he had assumed.

That mindset lasted right up until five minutes prior to this greeting.

Because.

Rikschel Asteri had been personally and meticulously attending to Lion Asteri’s every comfort!

Such devotion wasn’t impossible.

Perhaps the successor simply possessed an uncommonly generous disposition.

However!

“Thanks to you, I get to experience a proper holiday.”

“Not at all. The Family Head himself remarked that should Brother ever find the leisure, he wished to reserve the entire hotel exclusively for you.”

“Grandfather really needn’t go to such extremes…”

Gulp.

Willy swallowed hard.

From that casual exchange alone, the truth became blindingly clear.

The rumors labeling Lion Asteri as a cast-off eccentric were entirely fabricated!

Did he not just hear it with his own ears?

‘He referred to Marquis Petrick Asteri as simply ‘Grandfather’!’

And with such casual ease!

Technically, the title was accurate.

Yet who on the continent possessed the audacity to address Marquis Petrick Asteri with such casual familiarity?

Willy exerted strict control over his expression to prevent sweat from beading on his meticulously groomed forehead.

‘Though recent whispers suggested his reputation was shifting…’

Managing the hotel kept him isolated from rapid intelligence updates, leaving the outdated image of an unpredictable recluse trapped in Willy’s mind.

True to his competence, however, Willy instantly discarded the obsolete data.

And reached a decisive conclusion.

Naturally, impeccable service was owed to both guests, but…

Extra vigilance must be directed toward the individual known as Lion Asteri.

This precise instinct was what had propelled Hotel Easter to unprecedented heights!

“If you will follow me, I shall personally escort you to your accommodations.”

Displaying no outward hesitation, Willy guided them forward with absolute composure.

While direct passage to their rooms was an option, he understood Lion Asteri wished to evaluate the establishment from the perspective of an authentic guest.

Adhering to proper procedure was therefore vital.

Executed, of course, with absolute perfection!

“Oh…”

VIP Suite.

Lion let out a soft exclamation upon stepping into the designated chambers.

Having never inhabited such luxury prior to or after his arrival in this world, the suite felt far more novel than the grand lobby itself.

Lion sank into the deep, yielding cushions of the sofa.

The upholstery matched the finest furnishings found within the main Asteri estate.

‘Well, hosting me in a VIP suite makes sense since Rikschel is here on official business.’

Lion leisurely took in the interior architecture while sipping a cup of the distinctively aromatic tea provided by the staff.

Pure curiosity drove his inspection, but…

*Twitch.*

Willy’s cheek tightened in a momentary micro-expression.

‘That gaze…!’

It was undeniably the critical eye of an expert inspecting structural integrity.

Those distinct purple eyes drifted slowly across the room, cataloging every detail under the guise of casual observation.

‘Gods above, no. There can be no flaws found here!’

Willy fought to steady his nerves.

The hotel was pristine.

Upon learning a direct bloodline of the Asteri household was arriving, the staff had scrubbed every surface for days straight!

Sanitation was immaculate, and legacy furnishings had been completely swapped out.

He had no reason to panic.

…Besides, he possessed a definitive trump card!

“Allow me to assist with your formal check-in. It is a mandatory protocol, and I ask for your kind understanding.”

“Of course. Naturally.”

Some high-born guests took offense even at standard procedures.

Lion, however, offered an accommodating smile to the visibly tense manager.

“…”

Naturally, Willy interpreted that smile through a lens of profound anxiety.

Rikschel, observing the dynamic in silence, elected to let the misunderstanding play out.

He found genuine amusement in witnessing how respectfully the seasoned manager treated his elder brother.

…As a result, Willy inadvertently accumulated massive goodwill through sheer misinterpretation.

Which only heightened Willy’s internal urgency.

‘I have no choice. It is time to deploy it.’

After walking them through the check-in logistics and suite amenities, Willy reached smoothly into his pocket.

“What is that?”

Lion immediately recognized the object, his eyes widening slightly.

“This is a commemorative token prepared by Easter to enhance the leisure experience of our esteemed guests.”

I’m well aware!

Was this not the exact item he had lamented missing mere moments ago?

“An Egg Coin? Weren’t those discontinued following the border conflicts?”

Rikschel chimed in with genuine astonishment.

“Indeed. It was a decree by Easter the Second. However, we have revived the tradition to commemorate this new commercial venture.”

Precisely. Willy’s trump card was none other than the Egg Coin.

The oval-shaped token bore a striking resemblance to an avian egg, hence its moniker.

What better item to instantly captivate the Asteri scions currently seated before him?

It promised engagement for the enterprise and elevated entertainment for the guests!

The thrill of uncovering hidden treasures scattered across the grounds!

“As you tour the facilities during your stay, you may acquire these tokens by chance. Accumulate a sufficient quantity, and Easter shall present a bespoke reward upon your departure.”

“Oh…”

Lion instinctively moistened his lips with his tongue.

Just as Willy had calculated, Lion’s interest was thoroughly hooked.

‘Is this triggering a dopamine response?’

The only issue was…

Was he perhaps reacting a bit too strongly?