Chapter 182

Chapter 182
Chapter 182: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“First, let me check the Shilling Shop.”

I browsed the store, searching for entries that included the keyword “Netherworld.”

“Let’s see… Hmm.”

Contrary to what I had anticipated, fewer than a single page of items featured that specific term.

After filtering out the genuinely useless options and those with dreadful cost efficiency, I was left with a tiny selection that could easily be counted on one hand.

At the very top of the list sat the anticipated 『Netherworld Repair Kit green.

『Netherworld Repair Kit green

-90,000 Shillings ☞ 45,000 Shillings! (Special for target, 50% permanent discount!)

-Anything in the Shilling Shop can be repaired ‘instantly.’

-Absolutely do not open your eyes while repairing.

“Oh.”

I figured the steep markdown would be substantial, but this was remarkably generous.

Granted, I had once spotted a 99% price cut in the past, but this featured a staggering, permanent discount!

In other words, no matter how frequently I made purchases, the reduced price would remain indefinitely.

‘In truth, even this single repair kit alone…’

The advantages were immense.

For instance, the ‘Sharp Scissors’ currently utilized by Lion could be restored to pristine condition for a minimal Shilling fee.

“Shall I examine anything else?”

Lion leisurely scrolled through the inventory with his finger, inspecting the available goods.

『Netherworld Hell Powder green, which guaranteed absolute safety if gently dusted over the body even amidst hellfire, and 『Netherworld Orb green, a previously popular defensive projectile, both caught his attention.

Yet, among them all, one particular entry stood out above the rest…

『Netherworld Origin green

-500,000 Shillings ☞ 250,000 Shillings! (Special for target, 50% permanent discount!)

-Life force gathered at the edge of the Netherworld is collected once per breath and stored inside a glass bead.

-When applied to someone who has passed away, their memories can be witnessed once.

-However, the user remains entirely vulnerable while observing those memories.

It was the item designated as 『Netherworld Origin green.

Even after applying the discount, the hefty price tag of 250,000 Shillings along with the intricate usage requirements presented clear drawbacks, yet its utility was undeniably compelling.

‘If I manage to locate the remains of my primary or secondary characters…’

I might secure vital intelligence even without recovering the physical item itself.

“I have no immediate need for it, but it is far better to possess it and not require it than to require it and go without.”

It certainly qualified as a worthwhile purchase to ponder should the occasion arise later and my Shilling balance permitted.

Lion checked his current financial standing.

『Current amount held: 344,400 Shillings. green

While I had managed to accumulate a fair sum, splurging 250,000 Shillings on an item with no urgent purpose felt a bit too tight.

If I squandered funds carelessly, I might find myself unable to lean on the Shilling Shop when a genuine crisis struck down the line.

‘Indeed. Since I am confined to house arrest anyway, I ought to organize my inventory.’

I possessed quite a stockpile of sellable goods that I had hoarded like an acorn-gathering squirrel, figuring they might come in handy eventually.

Unless the exact amount was strictly necessary, offloading them through the Shilling Shop seemed like a sensible plan.

Making a rough visual estimate…

‘The total should easily clear 350,000 Shillings.’

Lion bookmarked both the repair kit and the origin before exiting the interface.

Then…

“Hmm.”

I cast a glance toward the Fragment of the Spirit Sword resting quietly in a forgotten corner of my storage space.

Back then, I had been far too preoccupied with narrative progression and sudden injuries to inspect it properly, yet something about it felt rather unique.

“Why is only this item permanently bound?”

Normally, when a main character’s possession was retrieved, it simply underwent a standard re-binding process.

However, this specific artifact bore the label ‘permanently bound,’ much like goods acquired straight from the Shilling Shop.

I had double-checked the store right before closing just in case, but not a single listing related to the ‘Fragment of the Spirit Sword’ appeared.

Nor did it provide any function to sell it back to the system.

Perhaps the details might become clear if I advanced my Expert’s Eye skill further.

‘To attempt that right now, however…’

My physical condition was far from optimal.

I was already serving a severe week-long sentence of house arrest.

I was not even permitted to utilize the facilities within the estate.

It was an uncompromising mandate for complete recovery.

“Ppippi!”

Sensing that Lion was hatching some risky scheme, Nature darted toward him like a flying arrow, chirping a steady stream of nags.

Faced with a fiercely determined bird ready to peck at his earlobe should he try anything reckless, Lion had no choice but to shut his inventory away.

Well, bound or permanently bound, I would be the one wielding it regardless, so it shouldn’t pose any major complications.

Naturally, avoiding dangerous situations altogether remained the ideal path.

“Fine. For today, I shall simply call it a day and rest.”

Lion flopped onto the mattress and stared blankly upward.

Gazing at the ceiling adorned with the luxurious finish typical of the Asteri household, I felt my lingering tension steadily dissolve.

No matter how magnificent Easter’s accommodations might have been, home truly was unmatched.

The ideal room temperature, my preferred pillows and blankets, and the familiar scent of the estate.

“Indeed, there is no place quite like home.”

Honestly, I could easily spend an entire week just rolling around in this bed.

‘There is still ample time before Hoffman arrives…’

Lion slowly drifted his eyes closed.

This wave of pleasant languor washed over him.

It happened precisely during these peaceful moments of dozing off and drifting back awake.

—

“Good grief, has the Young Master actually been placed under house arrest?”

“Not only that! He’s been barred from accessing both the kitchen and the knight order!”

“Wait, why all of a sudden? Didn’t he just travel to Easter on official business?”

The mansion staff whispered among themselves regarding Lion’s sudden confinement.

What on earth could he possibly have done to prompt the Family Head to hand down such a harsh penalty to the First Young Master!

In earlier days, the automatic assumption would have been that the eccentric young master had stirred up some kind of trouble…

“…No. Given that the Young Master is no longer who he used to be, there must be more to the story.”

“Like what?”

“Hmm, well… Exactly! Perhaps the Young Master’s striking appearance caused those young ladies who journeyed to Easter to fall for him instantly?”

“Oh my goodness!”

A maid who thoroughly relished local gossip clutched her mop handle and bounced on her heels.

“Wait, isn’t the Young Master still completely indifferent to romance?”

“That precisely explains why the Family Head ordered the house arrest!”

“Ah~!”

The servants all nodded in unison.

Young Master Lion was currently recovering from his affliction while rediscovering all the wonders the world had to offer.

Naturally, romantic entanglements were completely off the table!

If anything, he would likely find them rather burdensome!

“It must be because those young ladies were about to swarm the territory just to catch a glimpse of the Young Master!”

So, perhaps the Family Head had deliberately chosen this unique protective measure?

“That has to be it. Exactly.”

“Then we must do our utmost to guard the Young Master as well!”

“Indeed. So no bizarre rumors can take root. Framing it as a genuine illness might even be safer!”

“Agreed!”

The servants resumed their respective posts with solemn expressions.

Even though they had entirely fabricated the narrative themselves, what could possibly rival the sheer entertainment of other people’s romance gossip?

Grinning broadly, the staff members dove back into their chores with renewed enthusiasm.

Little did any of them realize that they had accidentally stumbled into several underlying truths.

“……”

Meanwhile, Rikschel, who happened to overhear the entire exchange while passing by, had to exert every ounce of his willpower to keep a straight face.

—

While a small, endearing commotion played out outside his quarters…

“Young Master. I apologize for interrupting your deep slumber, but Lord Hoffman has arrived.”

Elvia woke Lion with a soft, gentle touch.

“…Is it already that late?”

“Yes. It appears your body was deeply fatigued.”

“Well, just a bit tired…”

Oh no.

Midway through his sleepy murmur, Lion clamped his mouth shut and snapped his eyes open.

“…But I am quite fine. After all, home remains far more comfortable than any inn.”

As he slowly sat upright, Elvia offered a silent, wordless smile.

A rather chilling one at that.

‘Indeed…’

While Elvia hadn’t openly thrown a tantrum when I sustained my injuries, she had clearly despised the outcome.

If it had been mere ordinary concern, I might have appeased her slightly, but in her case…

“How fortunate. I almost… Heh heh. Never mind. I will escort Lord Hoffman in.”

“Please do so.”

Knowing Elvia’s temperament, she might relentlessly dismantle anyone responsible for self-inflicted harm, using her ‘contractual’ bounds as a flimsy justification.

Even if that person happened to be the Second Prince of the Empire.

To a witch’s perspective, after all, mortals were all essentially cut from the same cloth.

‘Phew, I nearly walked straight into disaster while half-asleep.’

Lion let out a silent sigh of relief.

Regardless of how much the Second Prince had managed to deduce, there was zero reason to unleash Elvia over this pretext, was there?

Furthermore…

‘Thankfully, the correspondence contained nothing suspicious.’

I was referring to potential curses or hidden illusions.

“First, I need to undergo my evaluation.”

Lion stood up and made his way toward the guest parlor where Hoffman was currently waiting.

A scheduled medical check-up was set to take place there.

One of the guest chambers had been thoroughly ‘magic-tower-ified’ using an array of arcane apparatuses hauled straight from the Magic Tower itself.

“It has been quite some time.”

“Truthfully, I would have preferred never seeing you under these circumstances.”

“Hahaha…”

Though the remark sounded pointed, Lion understood Hoffman’s sentiments perfectly.

From Hoffman’s point of view, Lion was both a patient and a nephew-like figure he had watched over since childhood.

Then, suddenly, the young man’s body had miraculously recovered, rendering routine checkups unnecessary.

Only for word to break out that he had fallen ill once more!

“…Ahem, forgive me. I spoke out of lingering anxiety.”

“It’s quite alright. Besides, my physical state is vastly improved compared to before.”

“We shall see about that.”

With those words, Hoffman commenced his examination, deploying various diagnostic magical tools across Lion’s frame.

Finally, he channeled his own mana directly into the youth to verify whether the mana circuits remained undisturbed, before pausing…

“…Did you happen to attempt casting magic? These aren’t deep internal wounds, but your mana circuits have suffered minor strain.”

Hoffman clarified that this type of wear was typical among novice spellcasters and nothing to panic over.

“That is…”

“Ah, the Family Head already provided a suitable summary, so speak freely. I am your personal physician, after all.”

Hoffman seemingly deduced that Lion wished to conceal his unauthorized use of magic.

He fixed Lion with a steadfast gaze, silently reassuring him that confidentiality was guaranteed.

Yet within those very eyes…

‘Wh-what is the meaning of this look?’

There burned a profound, boundless wave of faith and trust, the origins of which completely eluded me!

This felt vastly different from the demeanor he had displayed during their last encounter.

Back then, his gaze had evaluated Lion as a promising candidate for the Magic Tower, but now it radiated something entirely different—

‘No. Best to ignore it.’

Deliberately steering clear of that intense stare, Lion offered a vague reply.

“Yes. I attempted to experiment with casting spellwork out of curiosity, but I have yet to master proper control.”

“As expected. It isn’t a critical issue, but much like the Family Head advised initially, taking a full week of uninterrupted rest is strongly recommended.”

Regrettably, the week-long house arrest sentence remained firmly in place.

On the bright side, however, the internal trauma had largely mended.

The restorative potions appeared to have functioned with exceptional efficiency.

Or perhaps the recovery owed itself entirely to Nature’s lingering presence.

“And… ahem.”

Hoffman rummaged through his coat pocket, eventually pulling out a small object.

It turned out to be none other than…

“The formulation I’ve been researching over these past weeks is finally complete.”

It was a successful replication of the legendary Hero’s Potion.

“I intend to register your name as the co-holder of this potion’s patent.”

—

What would you like to explore next regarding Lion’s journey or the Asteri Family?