Chapter 150

Chapter 150
## Chapter 150: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“A treasure hunt.”

It was a brilliant concept.

This would likely serve as a wonderful diversion for Rikschel, who had likely never partaken in an activity quite like a treasure hunt before.

Lion forced himself to swallow hard and gave a nod.

At all costs, he needed to maintain a composed expression in front of his younger brother’s business associate.

“If Rikschel Asteri has a moment to spare, would you care to join us?”

“Me?”

“Indeed. Families and romantic partners typically visit during Easter…”

“I understand.”

Rikschel quickly grasped Willy’s underlying motive.

It appeared the manager was feeling protective of his older brother.

Hotel Easter was designed primarily as a retreat for families, couples, or close companions.

Almost no patrons arrived entirely by themselves.

Under such circumstances, if the eldest heir of the Asteri household were spotted wandering the grounds by his lonesome, what would happen?

Favorable gossip was hardly guaranteed.

‘Not a chance.’

Should a direct scion of the Asteri lineage be observed keeping to himself after traveling all this distance to reach the resort, undesirable rumors would surely take root.

The astute manager seemed well aware of this dynamic and correctly assumed Rikschel would prefer to avoid such chatter.

While having one’s internal thoughts analyzed by a stranger was slightly awkward, if it stemmed from genuine solicitude toward his older brother…

‘It is not unwelcome.’

Rikschel mentally awarded Willy a favorable mark and answered aloud.

“I was curious about the mindset of those who frequent this establishment anyway, so this aligns well with my own thoughts. I will gladly join.”

“Very well. I shall assist you with the remainder of the check-in formalities.”

Willy exhaled a quiet breath of relief, efficiently ran through the standard explanations regarding registration and amenities, and bowed politely.

“I wish you both an exceptionally pleasant stay at Easter.”

—

Once the registration was finalized, a seasoned staff member escorted them toward their quarters.

“Here we are.”

“Right here?”

Lion parted his lips slightly, staring blankly at the designated hotel suite.

To be fair, while the sheer magnitude of the main lobby had startled him upon arrival, the physical layout of the hallways had seemed fairly ordinary.

He was, after all, quite familiar with hotels from his life prior to taking over this body.

He had experienced everything from modest business lodgings utilized during routine work trips to luxurious five-star suites sampled on a whim.

Typically, the process involved checking in, boarding an elevator, and walking down a conventional corridor to one’s assigned door.

This location, however…

‘Remarkable.’

Ascending a single flight of stairs from the lobby had seemed simple enough.

Yet the moment they crossed that threshold.

*Swish.*

The surroundings shifted instantly, behaving precisely like a spatial magic apparatus.

The physical distance covered was negligible, yet they had effectively teleported.

“Are you holding up alright, big brother?”

Noticing the subtle motion sickness brought on by the spatial transition, Rikschel inquired in a muted tone.

“Yes. I am quite fine.”

Perhaps because the actual span of the teleportation was brief, it left no lasting strain on his constitution.

Or perhaps Nature had shielded him through some unseen grace.

Regardless, following that instantaneous transit, they found themselves standing directly outside their designated door.

Oddly enough, however…

Aside from the specific room designation Lion had been given, the surrounding hallway appeared completely blank.

He could clearly tell a door was present, but even the numerals painted upon it shimmered with a blurred, indistinct quality.

“Hotel Easter goes to great lengths to safeguard our patrons’ privacy. Should you desire it, we also provide an appearance-alteration service whenever you venture outside, so please feel free to request it.”

The veteran attendant delivered the speech with practiced ease before offering a respectful bow.

This signaled that they were free to enter.

Lion nodded in acknowledgment and inserted the provided key into the ornate latch.

The key slid home effortlessly, a mechanical click echoed through the frame, and the handle turned of its own accord, swinging the portal wide.

Beyond lay an interior lavish enough to satisfy the most demanding aristocrat.

Furthermore, the suite consisted of far more than a single enclosure.

‘Is this a full sitting room?’

A towering bookshelf stood against one wall alongside a cozy, glowing fireplace.

Atop the marble coffee table rested an assortment of welcome beverages and delicate canapés.

Even the decorative fruit bowl overflowed with rare, exotic produce rarely seen in ordinary markets.

“It appears the sleeping quarters are separate.”

Rikschel’s face betrayed a flicker of genuine appreciation.

“Indeed. Both of those doors lead to bedrooms.”

With sleeping chambers situated on either side of the central lounge, even guests who disliked sleeping entirely alone could enjoy undisturbed rest.

And the bedding looked impossibly plush…

‘Argh, I cannot gaze upon it any longer.’

If he lingered on the sight for another second, he might be tempted to dive straight onto the mattress and slumber until afternoon.

Had he been traveling alone, he might have yielded to the impulse, but Lion checked himself.

The entire purpose of this excursion was to afford Rikschel a genuine taste of relaxation.

‘I wonder what entertaining diversions are available around here.’

Lion stepped away from the doorway and moved toward the terrace.

Whether due to being assigned an elevated floor or through some lingering spatial enchantment, the panoramic vista of the resort grounds lay spread out below, offering a clear view to help them plot their itinerary.

‘Let us see…’

Resting his forearms on the stone balustrade, Lion scanned the scenery.

First caught his eye was a meticulously landscaped garden. In the distance, various amenities belonging to Hotel Easter came into view.

Structures matched the architectural blueprints he had previously reviewed, including fully equipped hunting grounds.

He could even spot miniature amusement park attractions operating on a smaller scale.

The layout boasted every imaginable element designed to please the eye.

“It is hazardous, big brother.”

His observation was cut short.

Rikschel, having trailed closely behind him, offered a mild reprimand regarding his proximity to the railing.

“It is perfectly secure. Just how solidly do you suppose these places are constructed?”

This was a luxury establishment catering exclusively to the wealthy and nobility, after all.

Substandard engineering was completely out of the question.

“Would you care to step out here?”

At Lion’s prompting, Rikschel reluctantly approached the terrace.

Then, remaining visibly skeptical, he gripped the railing and gave it several firm shakes to test its structural integrity before finally dismissing his doubts and taking in the view beside his older brother.

“Truly, the perspective from up here makes the layout much clearer.”

“Have you never frequented luxury hotels before?”

“I have visited establishments of this caliber, but always strictly for business, making this my first time appreciating the view from this angle.”

“Is it not wonderful?”

“…Yes. It is.”

Rikschel offered a soft smile.

While he certainly did not despise his demanding daily routine, sharing moments of leisure with his older brother invariably lifted his spirits.

To an outside observer, such idleness might look like a waste of time, but he knew better.

‘If anything, I am learning a great deal.’

Given that his existence had long been defined by an unceasing race against time, his brother’s unique perspective and offhand remarks provided him with profound insights.

The ability to absorb valuable lessons while simultaneously resting—what a marvelous combination!

“Shall we venture out and explore a bit, then?”

Before Rikschel could even voice a formal agreement, Lion added:

“It will serve as excellent practical research for your commercial endeavors as well. There is no substitute for firsthand experience.”

Rikschel offered a solemn nod.

This happened to be one of the core principles his older brother had previously instilled in him.

Until recently, Rikschel had suffered from notable blind spots regarding practical execution.

Because he rarely paused to observe and feel things directly, he often missed addressing the most critical pain points.

This shortcoming had surfaced during his very first independent outing and again when he attempted to bake bread for the orphanage youths.

His underlying strategies were sound, but he consistently lacked the depth to execute them fully.

Without his brother’s guidance, that limitation might have persisted indefinitely.

“Perhaps Willy redesigned the Egg Coin specifically so that staying as a guest would grant us broader operational insight…”

“My brother is entirely correct.”

“Pardon?”

“Throughout our stay at this resort, I intend to follow every suggestion my older brother offers.”

“…”

Well, such compliance was certainly welcome.

Yet, wasn’t the boy supposed to be swamped with responsibilities?

Lion felt slightly taken aback by his younger brother’s uncharacteristic enthusiasm.

In truth, all his earlier musings about business research had merely been a polite excuse!

His primary objective in bringing them here was simply to let his younger brother unwind properly.

And perhaps to test his preferences.

Since they were paying top dollar for a luxury resort, they intended to extract every ounce of value from the experience!

… Such had been his casual train of thought, yet Rikschel suddenly looked remarkably determined.

‘It-it will turn out fine, surely?’

A younger sibling showing extra initiative was hardly a drawback.

And considering that his brother naturally prioritized efficiency, framing the trip with clear objectives might prove mutually beneficial.

“Where shall we initiate our tour, then?”

“Let me consider…”

Rikschel sank into a deeper contemplation than usual.

To him, this essentially constituted a formal assignment issued by his older brother.

The designated time frame spanned roughly four nights and five days.

Within that window, they were expected to sample the resort’s premier attractions at least once.

And furthermore…

‘It is tedious, but those individuals must be addressed as well.’

The available window was actually even tighter than it appeared.

Consequently, they needed to maximize efficiency while minimizing unnecessary foot travel.

Especially given his older brother’s delicate stamina…

Rikschel’s gaze swept across the panoramic landscape with analytical precision.

‘To begin with, I shall rule out the hunting grounds.’

While the private hunting reserves constituted one of Hotel Easter’s primary commercial draws for visiting nobility, his older brother held no passion for the sport.

On the contrary, Lion possessed a genuine fondness for animals, rendering a blood sport venue entirely inappropriate.

That left…

“…!”

Ah. That specific location.

The protected woodland situated adjacent to the hunting preserves.

“Reports indicate that Hotel Easter maintains a sanctuary dedicated to endangered wildlife.”

A sanctuary for rare beasts…

“A zoological park?”

“You could categorize it as such. Yes. A zoo.”

Rikschel supplied the clarification.

During the devastating conflict against the demonic forces, humankind suffered the heaviest tolls, yet the damage inflicted upon local flora and fauna had also been catastrophic.

In response, Hotel Easter took proactive measures.

They carved out a dedicated ecosystem designed to shelter individual species vulnerable to demonic corruption, assuming direct oversight of their care.

“Naturally, following the conclusion of the war, a large portion of the specimens was repatriated to the Lion Beastman Kingdom at their formal request, but a select few remain here for symbolic purposes.”

“I see.”

That arrangement made sense, as beastmen naturally understood animal behavior far better than anyone else.

“Thus, local lore suggests that fortunate visitors might catch a glimpse of exceptionally rare fauna…”

Rikschel trailed off, shifting his gaze toward Lion.

“Would you care to visit?”

“Indeed. Let us head over immediately.”

Lion turned away from the terrace railing, strode toward the entry, and wore a look of quiet satisfaction.

‘Such an earnest fellow. He clearly wanted to visit the zoo all along.’

Out of all the sprawling facilities available, he had gravitated straight toward the animal park.

Regardless of how mature he attempted to present himself, he remained a youth at heart.

Besides, how often did busy young nobles get the chance to observe living wildlife up close?

For Rikschel, whose days and nights were consumed by heir training, such opportunities were practically nonexistent.

‘Now that I reflect on it, Nature seems rather inquisitive as well…’

Had the boy not stared intently at the demonic beast egg retrieved from the temple earlier?

He clearly harbored a deep fondness for animals, even if he tried to mask it behind a stoic facade.

At some point when their schedules cleared, securing a proper companion animal for him might be worth considering.

After all, caring for a creature worked wonders for emotional well-being.

‘Still… how on earth have they hidden an Egg Coin inside a zoo?’

Since it counted as one of the resort’s official attractions, management would undoubtedly have secreted a token somewhere within the grounds.

Lion mentally dismissed his idle speculations.

They would simply uncover the secret as they enjoyed the outing.

—

**Follow-up Question:** Would you like to explore the wildlife sanctuary’s layout next, or focus on how Rikschel plans to tackle his hidden objectives during the visit?