Chapter 206

Chapter 206
## Chapter 206: Never Mind The Heir, I’ّل Focus On Healing

“Ho ho ho… Exactly. Which signifies that these glazed floral morsels represent the final batch.”

The tradesman, who had forged a bond with Lion through the glazed floral morsels, surrendered the last vial and imparted a few additional tales.

He recounted how the produce piled upon the wagon had completely vanished while he turned away for an instant, and how an eyewitness spotted an exceptionally massive bruin at the forest perimeter mindlessly devouring something.

Although the contexts differed, the essence of the accounts matched.

A bear was consuming all manner of sugary confections.

“Hmm. That constitutes a genuine dilemma indeed.”

“Therefore, Young Master, please exercise caution as well. I understand you frequently venture into the woods.”

“Ha-ha. Indeed, I shall be careful. Farewell then.”

Lion graciously accepted the merchant’s warning and proceeded toward the apothecary.

‘I sniff something, yet…’

Could this bruin possibly be an ordinary beast?

In reality, regardless of a bear’s magnitude, is such a massive quantity consumable by a single creature?

‘I hold a hypothesis…’

Nevertheless, Lion remained powerless to intervene.

He had suffered no direct harm, nor did he possess the authority to meddle in such affairs.

‘Still, upon my return, I ought to at least inform Rikschel regarding this.’

Rikschel, who deeply valued the estate inhabitants, would surely devise a remedy.

Lion concluded his musings and stepped inside the newly established apothecary.

And within a mere ten minutes…

“Ehyuuu…”

He emerged, expelling a profound sigh.

“Indeed. That is simply how circumstances stand.”

Amidst such turmoil, a steady supply of medicinal herbs remained highly unlikely.

Even if rumors suggested the creature targeted solely sweets, few would credit the tale and risk gathering flora.

The same applied to imports.

Because the preceding transport wagon fell victim to an attack, operations naturally faced delays or cancellations despite the absence of casualties.

Above all else, mercenary protection fees would have soared dramatically.

“Nevertheless, I secured a few worthwhile acquisitions for the present…”

Lion unsealed his pouch and inspected the newly acquired botanicals.

While truly rare specimens were absent, he managed to procure varieties native outside the Asteri Territory.

‘The standard is quite respectable as well.’

The roots remained well-preserved, whilst the stems and foliage looked vibrant, resembling plants harvested at their absolute peak.

He envisioned that once normalcy returned, far superior items would become accessible.

For what reason?

“Your comprehension of herbs is vast! As anticipated, educated individuals differ! Supplies are scarce presently, yet this botanical specimen too…! Furthermore, this variety proves difficult to distinguish from fungi, but actually…!”

The shop proprietor displayed a deep affection for his merchandise.

When Lion identified select herbs, the owner proudly retrieved his personal handwritten botanical ledger to offer an enthusiastic explanation.

‘I was outmatched.’

Suffering defeat to someone from an eccentric farm seemed improbable, yet that individual was genuinely authentic.

‘Well, my recent conduct has leaned toward the ordinary.’

Complications would arise if people mistook me for a commoner feigning eccentricity.

Now that my disposition has mellowed, perhaps acquaintances will suggest assigning me menial tasks.

‘Oh dear.’

The path proves challenging.

Must I study personae more extensively?

Harboring these trivial concerns, Lion journeyed homeward.

More accurately, prior to ascending to his chambers, he directed his steps toward Rikschel’s study.

“Ah, Young Master. Good day!”

“Indeed. Have you fared well?”

Jake currently stood watch as a sentinel.

If memory served, he held apprentice status until recently, yet he apparently attained full induction into the Asteri Knights.

“I have developed considerably owing to the Family and the Knight Captain. Though not quite matching Barg.”

“I see. By the way, where is Barg situated?”

“That fellow…”

Jake hesitated briefly before offering an honest confession.

“He is likely still executing laps around the training grounds.”

Still?

That struck him as peculiar. He distinctly recalled Rikschel imposing a grueling penalty—or rather, training session—upon Barg.

Regardless of intent, the punishment stemmed from disrespecting a designated guest of the Asteri Family.

Indeed, utilizing that rudeness as justification allowed him to bypass the contract dispute, rendering the disciplinary action purely nominal.

Yet, despite that, the man continued running the training circuit?

Judging by Jake’s demeanor, a multitude of events transpired on his end.

“Very well. You have exerted yourself.”

“Ha-ha-ha… My efforts serve my household and my companions, which suffices. Protecting the young masters remains an honor, even in a reserve capacity.”

Jake concluded his remarks and unlatched the portal for him.

And within…

“…”

Rikschel, bearing an expression even more hollow than usual, sat submerged beneath a mountain of documentation.

‘Goodness, he truly resembles Grandfather.’

Even that distinct aura remained identical.

Lion stepped into the chamber carrying a sheepish grin.

“You have arrived, Elder Brother.”

“If your schedule proves overly burdensome, shall I return at a later hour?”

“Negative. All matters stem from a singular root cause, so your presence is welcome.”

“Perchance, concerns this bear crisis?”

“It appears the whispers reached you, Elder Brother.”

Rikschel exhaled softly and gave a slight nod.

“The situation is unprecedented, but we shall manage.”

“Indeed?”

“Affirmative. We intend to deploy the Knight Order to hunt the beast down shortly. Delaying further risks driving local merchants to bankruptcy one after another.”

…Does the creature consume to such an extreme degree?

The intelligence provided by Rikschel carried absolute credibility.

“Therefore, Elder Brother, avoiding Mimir Forest for the immediate future would be prudent. Merely as a precaution.”

“Come now, surely the creature would not wander all the way here?”

Unlike alternative tracts of wilderness, Mimir Forest shared an immediate border with the Asteri Estate.

Furthermore, Lion frequented the grounds as though it were his personal domain, ensuring strict security measures and, more importantly, Elvia’s vigilant personal oversight.

Besides.

“You mentioned that bruin fancies sweets? No such items exist within that enclave. At best, wild fruits grow, yet the volume remains negligible.”

“…”

At that assertion, Rikschel could only manage a remarkably faint smile.

Lion felt a shiver trace down his spine in response to Rikschel’s subtle reaction.

‘Wh-what does this signify?’

Lion’s cognitive faculties accelerated beyond their usual pace.

Surely Rikschel would not wear such an expression merely over a few sprouting fruits.

Moreover, under normal circumstances, Rikschel would have launched into a reprimand upon hearing such a casual observation.

‘Wait… hold an instant.’

Abruptly, a critical piece of information surfaced within Lion’s memory.

Namely…

“Insanity.”

They exist!

An abundance of sweet and delectable treats resides there!

“My sweet potatoes!!”

Lion bounded upward as though struck by a thunderbolt and bolted straight out of Rikschel’s office.

“Whew.”

Rikschel, having anticipated this exact outcome, expelled a gentle sigh.

The discovery would have surfaced shortly in any case.

Additionally, with Elvia keeping watch, Rikschel harbored zero apprehension regarding the bear.

Above all else…

“The matter is already concluded.”

Rikschel extracted a parchment he had casually concealed amidst the paperwork.

The document detailed the precise extent of the devastation inflicted upon Mimir Forest.

—

“Keeeeeuhk!”

Reaching Mimir Forest, Lion clutched his temples and groaned at the desolate landscape.

A dark foreboding had plagued him, yet the reality proved entirely ravaged.

Across the soil, clearly churned up by formidable claws, merely mangled and scattered sweet potato vines remained, let alone the prized banana sweet potatoes.

“My, my sweet potatoes…!”

Lion dropped to his hands and knees, patting the barren earth in vain.

Naturally, nothing survived.

He had even provisioned supplies in advance and transplanted batches into the labyrinth.

“This location represents the true origin!”

Although kept confidential, the crop served as one of Lion’s quietly promoted specialty yields.

Most importantly, his household members adored them, prompting him to utilize the harvest across various projects ever since!

Tears welled within Lion’s eyes.

The wave of emptiness surpassed even the sensation experienced when in-game characters vanished upon logging out.

Understandably so, given that the game had languished unattended for ages, making these specific banana sweet potatoes a project of dedicated cultivation!

“Grr… Grrr!”

Sorrow swiftly transitioned into fierce fury.

This marked his inaugural experience of such intense wrath since transmigrating into this reality.

It constituted pure, primal hostility!

Yet, since the adversary happened to be a wild bear, demanding restitution appeared unlikely…

“…Hold.”

Lion raised his lowered head, his gaze igniting as he scoured the surroundings.

Specifically, he focused upon the ursine tracks and the surrounding disturbances.

『Ursine Tracks』

-These markings appear to be bear footprints.

-Astonishing! Their scale is immense!

『Devastated Banana Sweet Potatoes』

-Whoever perpetrated this meticulously selected and consumed exclusively the finest banana sweet potatoes before departing!

-They discarded the stalks entirely, deeming them inedible!

The system description reignited his inner rage, yet he forced himself to maintain composure.

Clues awaited discovery right here.

Lion, subduing his churning emotions, systematically gathered evidence.

And ultimately… he located the breakthrough.

Nestled amidst the heavy footprints lay a remarkably subtle trace.

『Faint Footprints』

-These clearly represent human tracks.

-As though a bear transformed into human form, manifesting a secondary set of prints?

Once an initial indicator surfaced, explicit evidence began to accumulate rapidly.

『Beastman Pelt (★★)』

-Caution advised! This constitutes ‘Bear Beastman’ fur!

-Remarkably lustrous from excessive dietary intake!

『Utility – Pigment, Alchemy』

“Ha-ha…”

Covered in grime, Lion chuckled, his shoulders vibrating.

His eyes, glinting through the layer of dust, shone brightly.

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Just as hypothesized! A Bear Beastman was the culprit.

How a Bear Beastman—typically native solely to distant beastman realms—migrated all the way to this region remained a mystery.

Regardless, details mattered little.

The vital factor was…

“Holding them accountable is entirely feasible…”

For consuming the sweet provisions of the villagers, and more critically, for devouring his precious banana sweet potatoes!

Meanwhile.

“…”

Elvia gazed toward her endearing canine companion, who lay half-sprawled upon the ground with gleaming eyes and a wide grin.

‘Such a reaction exceeded expectations.’

Her decision to permit the massive Bear Beastman to breach Mimir Forest and plunder the banana sweet potatoes stemmed entirely from an anticipation of ensuing amusement.

The intruder posed zero immediate threat to her companion, and properly managed, the incident might even forge a fitting reputation for him.

‘…Well, the outcome should prove satisfactory.’

Realistically, she allowed the event to transpire simply because it promised maximum entertainment.

‘With that Half-Elf Youth absent, monotony prevails.’

She distinctly witnessed the Young Master stockpiling banana sweet potatoes and overheard tales regarding his subterranean cultivation plots.

Furthermore, the entire crop of banana sweet potatoes remained unconsumed.

That creature… despite its voracious appetite, possessed discerning gourmet standards, ignoring any vegetation lacking optimal flavor.

“Elvia.”

“Ahem, indeed. Did the Young Master summon me?”

Elvia adjusted her tone and composure, feigning total innocence as she stepped up beside Lion.

“Inform Rikschel that I shall personally capture this bear.”

Thus commenced Lion’s expedition to apprehend the Bear Beastman.