Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Crunch.

Marquis Petrik Asteri of the Asteri Family was busy reviewing paperwork as usual.

Knock knock—

Just then, a servant entered with a soft rap and handed over a document.

“……”

As the Marquis scanned the parchment line by line, his expression turned glacial.

“This isn’t even worth finishing.”

Fwoosh!

The Marquis used his magic to instantly incinerate the papers.

“Does that brat still refuse to see reason?”

“Yes… Ever since he regained consciousness, he has done nothing except pull weeds.”

“What about other matters?”

“It appears he still cannot sense mana at all,” the servant answered, dabbing at the sweat on his forehead.

The reality that the eldest grandson of the prestigious Asteri family was completely dead to mana was a monumental crisis.

Typically, mages undergo mana shock and awaken around eight years of age, or ten at the latest. Direct descendants of the Asteri lineage, renowned for their exceptional bloodline, frequently awaken as early as age three.

And Marquis Petrik himself? He possessed such staggering innate gifts that urban legends claimed he performed his doljabi using levitation magic.

Yet look at the eldest grandson, ‘Lion.’

He possessed a miserable aptitude, utterly unable to perceive any magical current or flow, even as he stood on the threshold of his twentieth year.

Though recurring mana shock meant awakening remained a remote possibility, it was hardly surprising that Marquis Petrik’s patience was wearing razor-thin.

The Asteri family had no place for those devoid of talent. That principle remained absolute, weathering both peace and war alike. In truth, the sole reason for the leniency shown thus far was Petrik’s hidden fondness for the boy.

Yet this marked the third time…

The servant flinched as the Marquis’s gaze locked onto him. The sheer pressure radiating from an Archmage estimated at the 8th Circle or higher was far too oppressive for an ordinary individual to withstand. A primal terror gripped him, making him yearn for flight.

“Anything else.”

*Anything else…* the thought echoed nervously.

The servant drew a measured breath and exhaled with extreme care.

“His physical health is stable, and there appear to be no complications with his memory.”

The servant replied, anxiously watching for a reaction.

“Tsk. You are dismissed.”

Once the servant scurried out, soaked in cold sweat, Petrik released a heavy sigh.

“…Silvia.”

Swish.

A figure materialized effortlessly from the empty shadows. An elderly woman clad in immaculate attire. Silvia was the person Petrik trusted above all others.

“You called for me. You must be carrying a heavy burden of worry.”

Petrik Asteri offered no reply, though the deeper grooves etched between his brows confirmed her words.

“I am aware he has been studying various remedies to push past the shock…” Petrik muttered, pressing a hand against his forehead. “This time, however, it has gone too far. Gathering weeds… and he only just left his sickbed.”

“Perhaps he feels crushed under the weight of the family’s relentless expectations?”

“Nonsense…”

Or was it?

“You have always maintained such a stern exterior toward him.”

At Silvia’s composed observation, Petrik’s expression hardened further. After a long silence, he spoke.

“Silvia.”

The loyal subordinate dipped her head respectfully.

“Give your command.”

“Find out precisely what that rascal is up to right now.”

It was clear Petrik’s mind was in turmoil.

Silvia studied him for a quiet moment before asking with a gentle smile, “Shall I arrange for him to pay you a visit?”

Despite his outward severity, the Family Head harbored a soft spot for Young Master Lion, likely because he was a frail grandson. Yet for the traditionally indifferent young master to behave this way the moment he stood on his own two feet…

“Tell him that if he drags his feet again, I will personally uproot every blade of grass on the estate!”

“I shall deliver your words precisely.”

Only after Silvia’s form dissolved back into the shadows did Petrik mutter to himself.

“Impertinent brat. If he has recovered, shouldn’t he report to his grandfather first? Why on earth has he spent weeks pulling weeds?”

—

At that exact moment.

Pop!

『Aqua Rosemary acquired.』

Pop!

『You acquired Coriander.』

Mimir Forest, a vast woodland within the Marquis’s territory situated not far from the Asteri Mansion.

A gaunt young man, still bearing the pale complexion of an invalid, crouched low to the ground. With his neatly bound golden hair and amethyst eyes, he cut the striking figure of a young noble scion.

However, his hands were thoroughly caked in dark soil and plant sap, and his unblemished cheeks were streaked with sweat and dust.

Pop!

『You acquired Star Anise Root.』

The youth pulled another weed with trembling fingers.

Baek Yi-hyun—now Lion Asteri—broke into a faint smile.

‘This is paradise! I can harvest herbs simply by pulling them up!’

It had already been a full month since his soul transmigrated into Lion’s body. Naturally, initial panic had overwhelmed him. Finding himself thrust into another reality, set fifty years after the game’s events—though he had played passionately, he hadn’t focused heavily on the main lore, making it feel like an abrupt plunge into freezing water.

‘I should at least be grateful I recognized the Magic Family Asteri and retained the original host’s memories.’

And then there was this strange capability: Expert’s Eye.

While wandering the grounds to assess his situation after waking up, he had spotted a patch of wild herbs glowing softly. When he tugged on one, it came loose with unnatural ease.

『Aqua Rosemary』
-A herb carrying a heavy scent of the ocean, distinct from standard rosemary.
-When ingested raw, it possesses a saltiness akin to swallowing sea water.
『Uses: Food, Potions』
『☞ Click to view recipes.』
『Novice Herbalist (1) Achievement Progress: 1/100』

A notification window had accompanied the harvest, indicating an active achievement. With little else to occupy his time, he naturally followed the prompt and continued gathering.

After pulling around a hundred bundles, a revelation arrived.

『Novice Herbalist (1) Achievement Completed!』
『You have acquired 1,000 Shillings!』

He had unlocked monetary rewards for completing tasks!

『The Shilling Shop will open once a specific threshold of Shillings is accumulated.』

And a dedicated shop system existed as well!

The logic that followed was simple. Achievements yielded cash payouts upon completion. Therefore, shouldn’t he smash through every obstacle and clear milestones utilizing all the knowledge at his disposal?

“Just how much have I saved up?”

Lion opened his inventory interface to verify his current balance.

“Already sitting at 20,000 Shillings.”

Twenty thousand Shillings. Whether that constituted a fortune in the Shilling Shop remained to be seen, but a surge of profound emotion warmed Lion’s chest.

‘My efforts translate directly into tangible rewards!’

Lion clenched his fists tightly.

Think of how miserable his corporate life had been. Pushing through mountains of work, constantly navigating office politics, surrounded by junior colleagues where hard work went unrecognized—and worse, stolen away…!

Reflecting on it now, it was genuinely horrifying. It was a miracle he hadn’t suffered total burnout. In any case, the simple comfort of receiving fair compensation for labor was astonishingly therapeutic.

“Ahem.”

Lion shook off his surging emotions.

Considering the shop format, the storefront likely wouldn’t unlock until he hit at least 100,000 Shillings. Until then, he could steadily grind achievements by leveraging his expertise.

“If I play my cards right… I could probably make a living anywhere.”

Lion understood that expulsion from the Asteri family hovered as a constant threat. The eldest son incapable of sensing mana—what kind of disappointment was that?

“Still, I need to stay put until they show me the door.”

Even if mana awakening occurred later, his latent capacity would remain insufficient for high-level casting. Consequently, pruning him from the magic family was an inevitable outcome.

Which was fine by him.

‘The next Family Head is going to my younger brother anyway.’

“Well, to keep up appearances until then, I had better look busy—huh?”

Muttering to himself, Lion placed his hands on his hips and glanced around vaguely.

Then…

Flash!

‘There it is!’

A herb, gleaming with an intensity far outshining the others, caught his eye. It radiated light so brightly it seemed to cast its own illumination.

His instincts screamed an immediate warning.

‘This one’s a big deal.’

Gulp.

Swallowing hard, Lion dropped to his knees before the plant and began meticulously clearing away the surrounding dirt with his bare hands. His already filthy fingers grew grimier, yet he felt no hesitation. In Lion’s eyes, that herb was pure gold!

Gripping the base where the roots met the earth, he gave a steady pull—!

Swoosh!

With a satisfying resistance, a specimen unlike anything he had encountered slipped free from the soil. Even detached, it continued to shimmer like precious metal!

『Red Sun Fern (★)』
-Features a crimson tip and curls like a miniature sun. Unlike ordinary ferns, it is safe for raw consumption.
-Rumors suggest consuming it through specialized methods clears mental fog and stray thoughts.
『Uses: Food, Potions』
『☞ You must reach Alchemy Apprentice LV. 4 to view recipes.』
『’Three Stars!’ Achievement Progress: 1/3』

“Got it!”

“Young Master.”

Right on cue.

Within the game system, this specific achievement triggered upon successfully harvesting three distinct varieties of rare-grade herbs.

‘Three Stars!’

Because it demanded much more nuance than standard gathering, the Shilling payout would undoubtedly surpass anything he had seen previously. Furthermore…

Whether due to lingering game mechanics or innate intuition, he knew processing this into a potion would yield remarkable results.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

Expecting the usual servant, Lion turned to find an entirely different visitor standing before him.

This person was undoubtedly…

“Silvia?”

Indeed. Silvia, the Head Maid, who had dedicated decades of service to the Asteri household. To Lion, she felt like a comforting grandmother figure.

『Lv. ?? Silvia』

Well, did her level even matter?

“Do you see this?”

Lion proudly held up the still-glowing fern.

“My, my…”

Silvia examined the plant with a benevolent, indulgent smile.

‘An exceptionally refined herb.’

The mana structure remained pristine, and the root system was completely intact, implying it had been unearthed with extraordinary care. Using those fern-like hands of his…

“It is a remarkably clean specimen.”

“Look closer! It’s glowing.”

Silvia felt a sharp pang of sympathy for Lion. Could he genuinely be happy over this? He must be suffering from deep psychological distress to talk to plants like this.

Gently, Silvia produced a handkerchief and began wiping the dirt from Lion’s face and hands as if he were still a young child.

‘Still, it is a relief to see him smiling.’

True, what did a lack of mana matter? If the Young Master found contentment here, that was enough. But why did watching him twist her heart into knots? Even with the Family Head and herself keeping watch over him, how vast must the emptiness left by his late parents truly be?

“You really don’t see the light?”

“I am afraid not, Young Master.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Haha, I suppose it’s a spectacle meant only for my eyes.”

“…”

He was clearly making excuses. He likely couldn’t bear to face the Family Head. Silvia was certain of it.

Meanwhile, Lion thought:

‘If Silvia can’t see it, then it really is an exclusive interface feature.’

He had simply been testing whether the glow was visible to others.

“The Family Head is deeply concerned. Please return with me now. If you present this level of dedication, the Family Head is bound to acknowledge your efforts.”

At the mention of the Family Head, Lion finally pulled his gaze away from the radiant fern.

‘No, he won’t.’

Both from his inherited memories and his lingering game knowledge, Petrik was a merciless meritocrat. The exceptional gained everything. It was an unbreakable creed, even for blood relatives.

The sugar daddy—no, the Family Head, Petrik Asteri.

Target number one for affection farming.

‘I do need to meet him soon, but I’m not quite prepared yet.’

Not until I finish processing this herb.

‘The ingredients are almost gathered. Time to start racking up points, don’t you think?’

What was he planning to do with the harvest?

Naturally, brew potions. At present, crafting potions stood as the absolute best and most efficient path forward.

“Granny Silvia.”

“Please speak, Young Master.”

“Tell Grandfather I will visit him around lunchtime tomorrow. And… could you do me a small favor?”