Chapter 207

Chapter 207
Chapter 207: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“By the way….”

Elvia murmured quietly before slipping away into the shadows.

“You need to explain how you plan to capture him, so Young Master Rikschel will be fully convinced. He has numerous reservations.”

“I shall capture him utilizing what he desires most.”

Hahaha… Lion let out a brief laugh, brushed the dust from his attire, and rose to his feet.

“I will formulate an irresistible trap that he cannot possibly refuse, so instruct the Knight Order to assemble in advance.”

“Understood.”

Elvia instantly vanished into the gloom, and Lion likewise began walking forward.

He was entirely aware of what the Bear Beastman favored above all else.

Honey, naturally.

And Evening Primrose Honey at that!

—

Meanwhile, Barg was currently rolling about the training grounds.

“Ehyuwoooo!”

He collapsed flat in the middle of the training area, drenched in sweat.

Following his recovery, he typically experienced a sense of invigoration after such an intense workout, but today…

Pout.

Barg’s snout—or rather, his mouth—jutted outward.

This stemmed neither from the rigorous scolding regarding his contract nor from any disciplinary action by Young Master Rikschel.

‘It is simply not enough…’

A deep thirst plagued him.

The memory of that specific sparring match flashed vividly before his eyes.

Specifically, the session where he had managed to cast aside his hesitation about attacking another person to some degree.

Though he suffered defeat after defeat and each exchange was surprisingly brief, Barg found himself drawing closer to fresh realizations with every bout.

He learned how to properly utilize his physical form and how to bring out his innate traits.

Above all else…

“You did not intentionally aim for the throat.”

That voice echoed within his mind.

In truth, it was a detail he had attempted to push aside.

After all, Barg’s claws possessed a terrifying sharpness.

They were keen enough to slice through flesh with merely a feather-light touch.

Had he not inadvertently left a wound on Jack during their previous engagement?

‘The others must have realized as well.’

At the very least, Young Master Rikschel and the Captain would certainly have been cognizant of it.

Yet, neither of them offered Barg any such critique.

He understood the underlying reason perfectly.

Barg was still viewed by everyone here as someone who required protection.

He did not harbor any resentment toward that fact.

Indeed, he felt deep gratitude that they embraced him as a member of this collective regardless of circumstances.

Nevertheless.

*Squeeze*.

Barg curled his fingers into a tight fist and gazed upward at the firmament.

He yearned to become an individual capable of safeguarding others, rather than one who perpetually needed to be guarded.

Indeed. To summarize Barg’s current mental state in a single word.

It was nothing less than growing pains.

Yet to Barg, who failed to properly diagnose his own condition, the sensation merely registered as a subtly irritating and aggravating frustration.

‘If other beastmen were present, could I have sought their counsel?’

Barg unconsciously let out a low whimper before abruptly striking both cheeks with his palms.

“No. I am capable of managing on my own.”

One must not surrender to discouragement!

Barg muttered under his breath and attempted to push himself back up.

“What is it that you believe you can manage?”

If only a familiar visage had not suddenly entered his field of vision.

“Hiiik!”

He had been so lost in introspection that he failed to notice anyone approaching.

Barg scrambled to his feet, darting away from the figure while frantically calming his racing pulse.

“Y-Young Master!”

“Why are you so startled? You frightened me as well.”

Despite that claim, Lion did not appear particularly startled.

He could appraise Barg’s emotional state with a single glance.

That is to say… whether this comparison was entirely accurate or not, Lion had witnessed numerous parallel instances in the past.

‘…A novice who is approaching the completion of their initial year.’

Is it not typical for everyone to experience such introspection around that phase?

They are no longer absolute greenhorns; they have acquired knowledge yet remain incapable of acting independently.

It represents a period when their self-worth plummets because they suspect they might be reprimarded should they dare ask a guard for guidance.

To Lion’s discerning eyes, Barg bore an uncanny resemblance to precisely that type of beginner.

‘It stands to reason that he would harbor comparable thoughts.’

The situation was entirely comprehensible.

In Barg’s specific circumstance, he had endured severe hardship followed by an explosive surge in both his physical capabilities and combat prowess.

His psychological maturity had simply failed to keep pace with those gains, and in the absence of any mature beastmen to guide him, the disparity naturally felt far more pronounced.

‘Hmm.’

Observing Barg, Lion entertained a sudden notion before pushing it aside for the moment.

The concept that had just crossed his mind presented numerous variables that required verification, so it was best set aside for now.

Regardless.

“Tell me, have you concluded your assigned penance for today?”

“Yes! I finished just a brief while ago. Is there some manner in which I might assist you…!”

His demeanor instantly transformed into one of bubbling enthusiasm—a stark contrast to the sullen pout he had worn moments prior.

Lion suppressed a chuckle and offered a nod.

“Indeed. There is a task for which I require your assistance.”

“What sort of task?”

“Vengeance.”

“I shall aid you in any capacity conceivable… Wait, what?!”

Barg froze completely, staring at Lion as his joints produced a stiff, creaking sound.

The word uttered was one he never anticipated hearing from the kind and benevolent Young Master he thought he knew so well.

As Barg wore an expression that screamed, “Did my ears deceive me?”, Lion responded with a radiant smile.

“Vengeance.”

C-Come to think of it, his eyes appear even more luminous than usual today, Young Master.

Ordinarily he possesses a streak of eccentricity, but today he seems magnified by a factor of two…

‘What manner of heinous villain could have crossed him!’

The Young Master was certainly not a man to invoke the word vengeance without valid provocation.

That implied the opposing party must have committed a truly egregious offense.

Precisely what transgression that might be… sparked his curiosity, yet the Young Master evidently preferred not to elaborate.

“At any rate, I genuinely require your participation in this endeavor.”

“I am entirely at your service!”

From Barg’s perspective, however, demanding a detailed explanation was entirely unnecessary.

In truth, he felt a surge of exhilaration.

After all, this granted him the privilege of participating in his ultimate benefactor’s act of retribution!

“Very well then, let us depart.”

“Understood!”

Barg answered with high spirits and trailed closely behind Lion.

There was zero necessity to inquire about their destination.

It was the kitchen, naturally.

Perhaps the domestic staff had been instructed to vacate the premises beforehand, as the culinary chamber remained entirely empty.

Save for a single occupant.

Save for Nature, who sat perched there with a proud expression.

“Nature, ensure that the aroma does not drift beyond these walls while I prepare the mixture.”

“Ppippi.”

Declaring this, Lion proceeded to seal every window within the kitchen tightly shut.

The task perhaps belonged elsewhere, but since it would conclude swiftly, the location posed no real issue.

“Barg.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“First, station yourself here and monitor whether any scent leaks outward. Absolutely zero aroma must escape.”

“Understood….”

“I shall be utilizing this.”

Lion retrieved a small vial from his pocket and gave it a gentle shake.

A viscous, golden fluid!

Contained within the glass container, the coloration and density appeared all the more intense.

Barg instantly recognized the substance.

Evening Primrose Honey!

It constituted the exact medicinal component utilized to combat Eclipse symptoms, as well as the key ingredient in the candied confections crafted by the Young Master.

Yet he intended to employ such a treasure for the sake of vengeance…?

‘Ah, could it be…?’

Despite undergoing disciplinary tasks, Barg’s primary function remained that of Rikschel’s personal guard.

Naturally, he possessed full awareness of the recent trouble caused by the marauding bear.

‘Could you possibly mean to capture that bear… using this?’

Evening Primrose Honey undoubtedly possessed a delectable sweetness, but utilizing it to snare a wild bear beastman whose precise whereabouts remained entirely unknown struck him as somewhat implausible.

“Hahaha… Do not concern yourself with such details. Merely verify whether any scent manages to slip past. I am counting on you!”

As if effortlessly reading his inner skepticism, Lion flashed a sly grin and guided Barg just outside the threshold of the kitchen.

Then, *click*.

He firmly latched the heavy door shut as well.

“……”

Barg remained utterly bewildered.

“Splendid. Preparation is complete.”

“Ppii.”

“Shall we commence, then?”

Lion uncapped the vial of Evening Primrose Honey he had readied earlier, wearing an expression of absolute determination.

*Pop!*

The instant the seal was broken, an intensely potent fragrance flooded the kitchen interior.

The scent was so overwhelmingly rich that it caused even Lion’s nostrils to sting.

‘Did I perhaps over-concentrate the batch?’

Lion casually shielded his nose with the back of his hand, gazing down at the thick, deep orange syrup.

In reality, immediately upon his return from the Mimir Forest, he had concentrated and refined the reserve stock of Evening Primrose Honey to its absolute limits.

It had transformed into a sticky, intoxicating extract possessing a netherworldly density—multiple times more potent than standard honey.

Naturally, this alone might prove insufficient to entice that particular bear beastman.

While the fragrance and flavor profile were phenomenal, the sheer volume remained somewhat restricted.

Hence why he had conceived the idea of incorporating gangjeong.

His plan involved blending various assorted nuts and dried fruits directly into this potent extract.

Through this method, nutty and refreshing undertones would merge seamlessly, forging a magnificent trap that a bear beastman would find physically impossible to resist.

“Very well. Let us secure a swift victory.”

Lion immediately transitioned his strategy into action.

First, he tossed the savory nuts into a dry skillet, toasting them until all residual raw odors vanished entirely.

As the walnuts, almonds, and peanuts roasted over the dry heat, their distinct, earthy aromas billowed outward.

The natural oils released by the walnuts, in particular, served to accentuate the properties of the remaining ingredients.

Once the nuts achieved a deep, toasted coloration, he removed them from the pan, melted a generous quantity of butter, and poured the Evening Primrose Honey directly into the mixture.

A golden fluid poured forth with a resonant gurgling sound, appearing as though it were boiling from within.

Normally, such a recipe would call for an additive like corn syrup to secure additional viscosity and sweetness.

‘Negative.’

The Evening Primrose Honey alone provided more than enough properties.

Nevertheless, he needed to properly calibrate the consistency.

*Swoosh!*

He fine-tuned the texture utilizing thermal spring water harvested straight from the Mimir Forest.

Lion adjusted the burner flame, waiting patiently for the butter and honey to meld into a cohesive, bubbling emulsion.

Just as fine, microscopic bubbles began to surface.

Lion tipped the prepared roasted nuts into the skillet, tossing them vigorously with a wooden spatula.

Instantly, the thick, caramel-like honey and the crunchy nuts intertwined and bound together into a uniform mass.

The result already looked passable at this stage, yet Lion harbored no intentions of stopping there.

‘A primitive beast might fall for this much.’

However, their adversary happened to be a fully realized bear beastman.

People often fell victim to a common misconception regarding creatures of that lineage, falsely assuming bear beastmen were sluggish and dim-witted.

That represented a grievous error in judgment.

Bears possessed a far greater intellect than their outward appearance suggested.

Which meant they were unquestionably capable of exercising suspicion.

A bear that had undergone beastman transformation would prove no exception to this rule.

‘Therefore, I am engineering a culinary creation that even an elite bear beastman cannot possibly turn away from.’

Lion withdrew a second, smaller vial from his vest pocket.

Unlike the standard alchemy flasks, this container appeared exceptionally ornate and luxurious, perfectly suited for housing a precious gift.

Furthermore, the stopper bore the distinct insignia of Hotel Easter.

It constituted one of the many parting tokens gifted by Willy, the manager of Easter, which Lion had thoroughly inventoried during his period of house arrest…!

『 Dried Mushberry (★) 』

-Resembles dried poisonous fungi.

-Offers a fantastic flavor and aroma, though the visual aesthetic remains utterly unappetizing.

-Consuming excessive quantities may induce dental decay.

It was none other than Dried Mushberry.

Having initially puzzled over how best to utilize the item due to its repulsive appearance, he now realized the timing for its deployment was absolute perfection.

“Hahaha.”

Lion scooped up a handful of the dried mushberries from the vessel, scattered them liberally across the sticky gangjeong mass, mixed them thoroughly throughout, and finally pressed the entire batch flat onto an oiled baking sheet.

Had the intended consumer been human, the components would have required fine chopping. Yet their target happened to measure significantly larger than an ogre.

“Nature, dehydrate this thoroughly.”

“Ppippi!”

And thus, forged directly through Lion’s hands, a masterclass bait crafted with immense effort and premium ingredients… designed exclusively to ensnare a bear, reached completion!