Chapter 196

Chapter 196
## Chapter 196: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Petrick continued speaking regardless of Rikschel’s reaction.

“Yes. Even the family head should not escape punishment. Perhaps now you should cancel all your schedules, go to the dungeon, and repent for your mistakes… Cough, repent.”

Well, it was because his second grandson’s reaction was so cute and funny.

It felt like he was looking at his own awkward self from back then.

The only slight problem might be that he couldn’t hold back his laughter due to being too absorbed.

“……Family Head.”

“Cough.”

Unfortunately, Rikschel wasn’t so foolish as to not notice that.

“Now that I know there’s no problem, I will take my leave.”

“Now, now, as the heir, shouldn’t you personally witness my punishment?”

“Furthermore, I will receive reports from the Emperor’s birthday until future dates through someone else.”

“……Huh?”

“Then.”

He replied with a decidedly sullen tone and quickly turned, leaving the Family Head’s Room.

“Hmph.”

Petrick let out a low sigh, as if he hadn’t expected Rikschel to react this way.

‘I teased him too much.’

Still, he was a clever boy, so he must have understood the meaning of my words properly.

He meant that he shouldn’t be crushed by the weight of the words “Family Head” and “responsibility,” but rather observe and judge the process and results with his own eyes.

‘I could have taught him this way.’

Petrick replayed what he had just done in his mind.

It was a lighthearted joke, not quite a conversation one would expect between the Asteri family head and heir.

However, it was also the kind of conversation that could reasonably happen between a grandfather and grandson.

Does that mean there was no teaching?

No, that wasn’t the case either.

Within those joking words, there clearly existed both teaching and learning.

‘…It was the first time.’

He had never chosen this method before.

Though it was a bit of a bitter thought, their relationship hadn’t been like that until now.

The relationship of family head and heir was stronger than that of a grandfather and his youngest grandson.

‘If Lion hadn’t changed the family atmosphere…’

He probably wouldn’t have been able to do it until now.

And…

‘Neither that child nor I would have noticed.’

The anxiety lurking in Rikschel’s heart.

Of course, the price for that was losing his one-on-one time with his youngest grandson.

As Petrick thought with a hint of regret that he should loosen the atmosphere like this more often.

“……I will see you in the training grounds tomorrow morning. Grandfather.”

Rikschel re-entered, said a single sentence, and vanished like a streak of lightning.

“Hmph……”

Petrick made a strange sound that was neither a laugh nor a sigh.

It was because he saw a faint smile on Rikschel’s face as he disappeared through the door.

This is truly…

‘Both he and I have been influenced a lot by Lion.’

Petrick chuckled to himself.

Though it was a very brief moment, it was a smile that perfectly blended Rikschel’s and Lion’s smiles.

—

Two days passed quickly, and as scheduled, Lion’s guest arrived at the Asteri family.

“My word……”

A man dressed in clothes that were more opulent than extravagant stepped out of the carriage and stretched his neck from side to side.

“You certainly welcome me grandly.”

The leader of the underworld, who had arrived in the guise of a merchant guild leader, quickly scanned the welcoming party and put on a good-natured smile.

They were all knights and servants, the elite of the elite.

And leading them was…

“Oh dear, it’s been a while!”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

It wasn’t Lion Asteri, but Rikschel.

‘I expected this much.’

He was the kind of person who doted on his older brother immensely.

‘I have no regrets about this person.’

He was outstanding in both military and civil arts, and aside from the exceptional individual Lion, he was not lacking in warmth, making him a good presence by Kyle’s side.

Jack. No, Merchant Guild Leader Jade answered with a genial smile and a sly tone.

“Hahaha. If you feel that way, it means we’ve become that close, doesn’t it? By the way, where is our client, Young Master Lion…?”

“First, I will escort you to the reception room.”

Rikschel didn’t answer Jade’s question and walked ahead.

‘Did a problem arise?’

Or perhaps he came to welcome him on his own accord.

Well, either way, it didn’t matter.

Since he had been so graciously invited, Jack had no intention of leaving until he got what he wanted.

Wasn’t that why he had caused a bit of trouble here and there?

“To be guided by the current Asteri Duke! This is more honor than I deserve.”

Rikschel glanced at Jack, who was deliberately acting more wildly than a clown, with a look of annoyance and then walked on.

Although the Family Head had permitted it and his brother wished for it, he felt like he was doing something he shouldn’t.

He felt as if that leader of the underworld would stain his brother, who was like a white drawing paper as pure as jade.

‘…Of course, if it’s my brother.’

He had no doubt that his brother would cleverly avoid it.

‘That’s why I have to apply external pressure like this.’

It was an unspoken pressure, conveying that the Asteri family was watching him, and if anything were to happen to his brother, they wouldn’t stand by idly.

Arriving in front of the reception room, Rikschel stopped and turned to face Jade.

“I will give you one warning.”

“Anything.”

“Always keep in mind that this is the Asteri family, and act accordingly.”

At those words, Jade simply gazed at Rikschel with a relaxed smile.

‘Has he grown a bit since then?’

Rikschel Asteri’s intensity had become a bit sharper than when he was in Easter.

At his current level, a sparring match with Kyle might even create an interesting situation.

‘Of course, Kyle would win.’

In his eyes, their raw skills were on par.

However, there was a decisive difference.

‘He’s a young master who hasn’t experienced real combat.’

No. Is it the Asteri family’s policy of not throwing the talented Rikschel into real combat that is the problem?

‘Those nobles.’

A flicker of disdain momentarily appeared and disappeared in Jack’s eyes.

In any case, it was natural for Kyle, who had fought for his own life, to win.

And to threaten someone superior to Kyle’s skill…

He was still just a baby hedgehog.

“Thank you for the advice. Then.”

Jade replied, albeit late, opened the reception room door, and entered.

Fortunately, as much as Rikschel Asteri was a ‘brother-obsessed’ person, he didn’t follow Jade into the reception room.

“Hmm.”

Jade instinctively surveyed the room.

There were no hidden weapons or magic tools in sight, and it didn’t seem like any special barriers were set up.

It seemed only magic for convenience of daily life was used here and there.

Jade shrugged and comfortably sat on the plush sofa, waiting for Lion.

Fortunately, as expected of a great noble like Asteri, the hospitality was quite satisfactory.

Precious tea, traded at high prices even in the underworld, and cookies in perfect shape without any flaws.

Furthermore, considering the guest’s safety, skilled knights were guarding outside the reception room.

It was the same outside the window, where a cool breeze gently flowed in.

It was likely that this excessive guard was Rikschel Asteri’s doing.

It seemed both the older brother and the younger brother were equally overprotective.

As he was thinking this.

“Hahaha. I’m late.”

With an impudent voice, the door opened.

And Lion Asteri, dressed in lighter attire than usual, strode in.

“Oh my, it’s I who arrived early.”

Jade, without revealing his true nature, stood up and greeted Lion with a smile.

No, he even showed a slightly more friendly demeanor.

“……”

Lion was momentarily bewildered by the unexpected treatment.

‘Why is he acting like this?’

It wasn’t intentional, but before coming to the reception room, he had met Rikschel and heard about Jack’s state.

Rikschel’s eyes seemed to be full of intense anger.

In fact, other people’s testimonies were similar.

They said he seemed like someone who didn’t show hostility, but was far from friendly.

And wasn’t that how his actions had been so far?

The owner of a magic item shop disappeared, and Freya, who was steadily building her alchemy skills, was forcibly taken away under the pretense of a regular report.

“Since you might be curious, I’ll tell you: I’m perfectly fine, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Is that so.”

Lion wanted to ask, “Then why are you acting like this?” but he held back.

There must be a reason for the other party’s sudden change in attitude.

Lion thought deeply, but…

‘Hmm, there isn’t?’

If anything, he might have touched a sensitive spot once more.

Specifically, concerning the ‘rules of the underworld.’

Seeing that Lion’s guard hadn’t lowered, Jack let out a hearty laugh.

“You don’t need to be so wary. This time, there won’t be any unpleasant atmosphere like last time!”

It was rare for someone who said such things to not have unpleasant incidents occur.

“Rather, I would like to apologize for the incident last time. Wasn’t I very disrespectful? Hahaha.”

Jade answered his own question, attributing it to the chaotic situation at the time.

“I thought Lion might have a bad influence on the second prince!”

“A bad influence, you say.”

“Yes. I misunderstood. I foolishly held the prejudice that you were merely a weak and soft-hearted person, and acted accordingly. As an apology, I will give you the item you requested regardless of ‘rules’.”

As Jack finished speaking, he snapped his fingers, and an underworld subordinate who had been waiting outside entered and carefully placed a large pot next to Lion.

However, the face looked familiar.

‘Isn’t that the coachman who drove the carriage when we went to Baidantis Territory?’

He had thought there might be some connection since Rikschel had carefully selected him, but he seemed to be a closer subordinate than expected.

The man who made eye contact with Lion gave a slight nod and stepped back.

“Please take a look.”

The Hidden Kiln Master’s Jangdok (★★★)

* This is the latest masterpiece from a reclusive potter who has been exclusively making earthenware somewhere for decades.
* He is very eager to meet the person who brought him this idea.
* If you were to ferment soy sauce in this, it would age wonderfully, wouldn’t it?

Lion nodded as soon as he saw the pot.

He didn’t know how he managed to fire a jangdok in just a few weeks, but it was excellent.

“Thank you for the gift, but… if you do that, you won’t be able to find out what you’re curious about?”

Jack would surely be curious.

How does Lion know about the relationship between the second prince and Jack?

Isn’t Jack pathologically obsessed with the second prince’s whereabouts?

“Yes. Please accept it without feeling burdened.”

“……”

On the contrary, Lion felt uneasy with such an approach.

He wasn’t the type to do that.

This was only the second time he had met Jack, but he had accumulated considerable data from dealing with people.

Usually, guys like that… wouldn’t back down so easily.

“May I ask why?”

“Hahaha. The reason? It’s very, very simple! I’m flattering you right now.”

Jack continued lightly, still smiling.

“To the new hero who will appear after Kyle becomes emperor.”

…That was not a light matter.