Chapter 199

Chapter 199
Chapter 199: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Furthermore, under these specific circumstances, Barg proves to be quite valuable.

After all, the Asteri Household currently houses a certain unique visitor, does it not?

‘Namely, the individual Barg detests above all else.’

A figure hailing from the criminal underworld.

And quite literally, their highest-ranking leader.

Barg, usually so docile that he borders on simple-minded, undergoes a subtle shift in demeanor upon encountering someone connected to that shadowy sphere.

His gentle, naive disposition vanishes entirely, replaced by the acute sensitivity and sharp, predatory instincts inherent to his beastman heritage.

Although the merchant named Jade was never explicitly outed as the underworld boss, merely sharing ties with that faction is enough to provoke Barg’s immediate suspicion.

‘Understandably so.’

Though the encounter was brief, Barg was once nearly abducted and sold off by human traffickers from those very syndicates.

‘Should any unusual occurrence take place, he is by far the most likely to detect it instantly.’

Relying purely on his primal, beastly instincts.

Naturally, knowing Kyle’s temperament, it seems doubtful he would dare challenge his Older Brother directly within the confines of the Asteri Estate.

In fact, the opposite is far more probable.

He would undoubtedly hover close to his Older Brother, keeping entirely silent—much like a submissive hound flattened against the floorboards, desperately angling for favor.

Remaining that way until the message reading ‘I pose no threat to you’ becomes firmly planted in his consciousness.

‘There is simply no way my Older Brother would fall for such a ploy…….’

My Older Brother has never before crossed paths with someone possessing a tongue as silver and deceptive as Jack’s.

Should that man set his intentions, manipulation could occur before my brother even realizes he is being played.

And Jack is precisely the sort of person who would seize that fleeting opportunity to strike a damaging blow against my Older Brother.

However.

What if Barg is present?

No matter how effectively a wild creature attempts to weave its way in through performative, absolute loyalty…….

‘The fundamental divide simply cannot be bridged.’

It is likely for the best that my Older Brother and Barg remain in close proximity for the foreseeable future.

As a devoted Younger Sibling, I determined that offering this level of backing was entirely justified.

—

Just as Rikschel had feared and Lion had anticipated, Jade continued to hover around Lion persistently in the days that followed.

Naturally, this did not involve direct confrontation.

Instead, he merely watched from afar wherever Lion’s line of sight could reach, or offered a polite nod should their eyes happen to cross.

His demeanor remained far more guarded than it had been within the reception parlor.

One might even describe his posture as somewhat dejected.

‘He is observing me.’

Lion pierced through Jack’s facade instantly.

It mirrored the exact behavior of a apex hunter tracking its quarry from a distance before making a move.

It defies belief that someone nurtured entirely within the underworld could undergo a sudden, moral reformation.

‘Very well, I shall leave him to his devices.’

Lion needs only to maintain his steady, unwavering indifference.

Offer a greeting if their gazes lock, and render him entirely invisible when he lingers afar.

He would extend the basic courtesies due a visitor, while making it glaringly obvious that he harbored zero personal interest.

Others might frame this silent standoff as a tense battle of nerves, but to Lion…….

‘It is remarkably comfortable.’

Should Jack surrender and depart without breaching his defenses, it counts as a victory; should he require a firm lesson to curb any ambitions of climbing over me, that outcome serves Lion’s desires just as well.

There existed no reason to conceal his daily routines.

Had they not already thoroughly investigated every facet of his life?

‘Do your worst.’

In truth, maintaining such prolonged aloofness did not align with his usual preferences, and eventually, he would need to acquire the Main Character artifact currently in that man’s possession.

‘Since he took the initiative with a reckless overture to mend our relationship.’

Lion likewise found himself obliged to respond in kind.

In his own distinctive manner, of course.

‘And furthermore…….’

Lion pulled his gaze away from Jack, who continued to watch from a distant bough, and turned his attention forward.

For an entity far more perplexing than that visitor stood directly before him at this very moment.

“……Oh.”

Lion could not suppress a soft murmur of admiration.

Reclining quietly right in front of Lion was a massive wolf covered in vibrant red fur.

Despite appearances that might suggest otherwise, this creature was unmistakably Barg.

‘Is this the reason he requested a change of scenery?’

Upon reaching the designated meeting spot, Barg had proposed relocating their gathering to the Mimir Forest.

At the time, the assumption was that Jack’s presence prompted the move, but observing this sight now recontextualized that decision entirely.

Yet…….

“Whatever possessed you to take this form?”

In reply to Lion’s query, Barg—retaining his lupine shape—gently gripped a prepared envelope in his jaws, trotted right up to Lion, and began wagging a massive tail easily comparable to the torso of Pus.

Though his anatomy was entirely that of a wolf, his behavior mirrored that of an impeccably trained hound.

Furthermore, his coat possessed a fluffiness surpassing even Endairon, the high-ranking water spirit encountered previously, stirring an immediate urge to reach out and touch him…….

‘No, pull yourself together.’

Regardless of his current shape, this remains Barg.

Beastfolk, at their core, maintain a closer affinity to humanity.

Treating him casually, even in this state, would cross the line into discourtesy.

Lion deliberately lowered his extended hand and instead retrieved the letter to inspect its contents.

The message read as follows.

“For instructional value, maintaining this shape is optimal, and Rikschel gave his approval as well?”

The logic was undeniable.

In truth, Lion himself had previously contemplated broaching the subject gently at some point.

However, the reason he had held back until now was simple.

Instructing a beastman to revert to an alternate form carries a heavy implication of disrespect.

It equates roughly to carelessly pawing at an elf’s ears or interrogating a dwarf regarding their precise alcohol tolerance.

Thus, his intention had been to inquire about it organically at a later date…….

Thump.

Barg refused to stop there, pressing his forehead directly against Lion’s knee.

He then gazed upward, fixing Lion with bright, expressive eyes utterly unsuited for a wild wolf.

“Pant, pant.”

……Is this truly a wolf?

Or is he simply a large dog?

Regardless……. since it was evident he held explicit permission, Lion hesitated briefly before raising a hand to stroke the thick fur a few times in an awkward motion.

As expected, the texture was remarkably soft.

Because he was not appearing in his human guise, the visual impact felt entirely distinct.

“You have certainly recovered your health.”

Recalling the period when Barg consumed every scrap of barley intended for his meals, the condition of his coat back then had been abysmal.

Dry, split, and brittle, it served as a clear indicator of poor physical well-being.

Yet viewing him now…….

“It is a genuine relief.”

Evidently, the evening primrose honey yielded considerable results.

Lion tousled Barg’s head with the affectionate familiarity one might show a younger sibling, offering a firm nod.

“Very well, I grant you permission to remain in this form.”

With those words, Lion unlatched the carrying pouch at his side.

Pus, eager for release, scratched eagerly at the fabric before freezing mid-movement.

He then lifted his head, swiveling it back and forth as he processed an entirely unfamiliar scent.

And pinpointed the source.

The colossal Barg……!

Gulp.

Lion swallowed hard, bracing himself.

Uncertain how Pus might react, or whether sheer scale would terrify the little creature.

Pus emerged fully from the pouch……!

“Kiying!”

Radiating excitement, the small fox bounded into the air, tracing wide circles around Barg.

He clearly sensed a deep kinship with a being sharing his unique status—neither fully human nor avian.

“Phew.”

Exchanging a mutual sigh of relief, Lion and Barg locked eyes and nodded in unison.

“Pus, go play with your older brother. Understood?”

As Pus darted ahead with boundless energy, Barg cast one final, lingering glance toward Lion.

The hesitation was undoubtedly tied to Jack, who had tracked them all the way to this location.

“Pay him no mind.”

Lion offered a reassuring wave of his hand, chuckled softly, and watched Barg trot away before settling comfortably onto a raised, sturdy root of a nearby tree.

Retrieving his sketching pad and graphite pencil, he began to draw while keeping a watchful eye on Pus playing alongside Barg.

“……”

Meanwhile, Jack observed the entire scene from a distant branch overhead.

“Well now. This complicates matters.”

He attempted a lighthearted chuckle, yet found himself cornered by Lion’s impenetrable—yet paradoxically porous—defense.

Scarcely a day had passed, and yet Jack already comprehended the formidable thickness of Lion’s walls.

Lion Asteri responds with absolute, stony indifference toward anything failing to capture his personal interest.

Put differently, he masters the art of treating any circumstance as though it never transpired, regardless of outside actions.

“I may very well be forced to camp out here for a considerable duration……”

Having already committed to the disguise of a merchant guild leader, turning back now was no longer an option.

Jack was never one to yield to minor obstacles.

Even the sturdiest timber requires more than a single blow to fall.

If one strike fails, does one not simply deliver ten, or a hundred?

‘No.’

If a tree withstands a direct application of Jack’s unique skills without yielding, its inherent value becomes self-evident.

The only viable path involves patiently, meticulously engineering a method to unearth that very tree and transplant it to the desired destination.

Executed with supreme delicacy, ensuring the timber suffers no damage and retains its full worth.

He possesses the capacity to sustain his indifference for a week, or perhaps a month.

What of a year, or an entire decade?

Regardless of Lion Asteri’s fortitude, persistent pressure applied over such an expanse of time guarantees a reaction—if for no other reason than the sake of his Younger Sibling.

Therefore, should Lion Asteri persist in his cold detachment, Jack resolve to grit his teeth and cling to him like a stubborn cicada!

“Hmm?”

Abruptly sensing an observant gaze fixed upon him, Jack shifted his head.

There sat the massive wolf, currently engaged in a game with the multi-tailed fox.

Or more accurately, the beast called Barg—a safeguard arranged by Rikschel Asteri.

Even amidst his play with the small fox, the beastman maintained a constant, wary vigilance directed straight toward this perch.

‘He has effectively transitioned into a loyal guard dog.’

Memories surfaced of their encounter amidst the underworld slave caravans… back when his ferocity was absolute.

“Does mastery over spirit arts inherently grant such talent for taming beasts?”

Regardless, the outcome works in my favor.

After all, that hound is occupied with his own assignment, leaving Lion Asteri entirely unattended at present.

Does that not grant an opening to draw closer once more?

Jack slipped down from the bough with his characteristic soundless grace, walked over to Lion, and settled onto the ground directly beside him.

“May I occupy this seat?”

“Do as you wish.”

Lion offered the response without so much as turning his head toward Jack.

‘As anticipated, he displays no surprise.’

He appeared to have been aware of my presence all along.

Even so, Jack harbored no intention of forcing an immediate breakthrough.

Groveling at this juncture would yield zero leverage or genuine interest from Lion, would it not?

Instead…….

“……”

Jack resolved simply to trace Lion’s line of vision from his seated position beside him.

To achieve any progress, comprehending the world through the perspective of this eccentric youth was an absolute prerequisite.

Jack shared the bench of earth at an appropriate distance, gazing out at the surrounding landscape alongside him.

The initial sensation washing over him was unmistakable.

‘……It is profoundly tranquil.’

The immediate reality felt astonishingly serene and comfortable.

The canopy filtering the harsh sunlight, the beasts frolicking in the distance, and Lion Asteri rendering the scene onto paper with steady strokes.

Accompanied only by the scratching rasp of graphite against textured paper and the gentle whisper of a passing breeze.

Does it not rival the quiet perfection of a dream?

To inhabit such a reality continuously.

‘Naturally, I remain the sole impurity.’

Simultaneously, a foreign realization bloomed within his mind.

If Lion Asteri possesses the strength to safeguard this peaceful realm…….

Would it not benefit Kyle to dwell in this place as well?

It was a gentle, uncharacteristic sentiment—one he had never once entertained prior to this day.