Chapter 221

Chapter 221
Chapter 221: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Lion cast a glance in Buck’s direction.

For no apparent reason, Buck reached out to stroke the newly finished oak barrel before softly parting his lips.

“…Honestly, I never imagined you would come this far. We had only ever communicated through letters.”

Perhaps touched by his father’s unexpected new venture, Buck’s voice began to tremble slightly.

“Ahem! I suppose I got a bit too emotional. The pomegranate wine is kept over here.”

Realizing his son’s feelings almost instantly, the father let out a loud, self-conscious cough and hurried further into the dim interior of the storehouse.

“This is the one right here. It’s the very first fruit wine I’ve ever attempted.”

He eagerly explained that brewing it had involved plenty of trial and error since his previous experience was strictly limited to beer and wine, all while pouring a sample into a wide glass nearby.

Despite the dim lighting of the storage room, the brilliant crimson tone of the pomegranate wine stood out vividly.

“It certainly boasts a much richer shade than standard grape wine, doesn’t it?”

As he tilted the glass slightly, the color seemed to grow even more striking.

Accustomed as he was to the usual purple hues of conventional wine, the distinct red of the pomegranate variety carried a unique charm.

And Lion could recognize its quality immediately.

‘This is far from ordinary wine.’

It was certainly not something brewed casually on a whim.

The liquid was clear and crimson, releasing a wonderful, distinct fragrance of pomegranate.

At the same time, it possessed a deep, mature scent, likely brought out by a lengthy aging process.

Catching a closer whiff would undoubtedly reveal entirely different aromatic layers.

“Here, please go ahead and taste it.”

“Thank you.”

Lion accepted the glass without hesitation.

Giving it a gentle swirl, he brought it up toward his face, and just as anticipated, a fresh wave of fragrance drifted upward.

A crisp, lively tartness emerged first, followed closely by the sweet, refreshing perfume of pomegranate blossoms.

“It carries a floral note.”

“Ho! You noticed! I actually tossed in a handful of flower petals while brewing the batch. They’ve likely settled down at the bottom of the oak cask.”

Lion offered an understanding nod as he listened.

‘Just as I thought.’

He could tell its caliber without even taking a single sip.

It was an exceptionally fine vintage.

It looked like it would serve as a more than adequate ingredient.

Convinced of its worth, Lion raised the glass and took a careful taste.

“Splendid.”

“Haha. Right? It’s odd, but I feel like the flavor turns out much better when I brew without any pressure or thoughts of turning a profit.”

The brewer offered a hurried explanation, as if worried Lion might think poorly of his usual commercial beer and wine.

“I completely understand that sentiment.”

Lion offered his sincere empathy.

Long before his transmigration, hadn’t life followed a thoroughly monotonous rhythm?

Every single day consisted of the exact same routine.

Heading to work, handling responsibilities, and occasionally exchanging pleasantries with acquaintances.

It was an existence spanning from before the sun crested the horizon until the evening streetlights flickered on.

Most of the time, that routine felt entirely numb and unremarkable, yet every now and then, a heavy question would surface.

Does spending decades living an identical life like this hold any true meaning?

Naturally, it was always a fleeting thought.

Even if every day appeared identical, he recognized that he was picking up new lessons and steadily growing, however slowly.

Still, certain days tested one’s endurance.

Days when a person felt entirely drained and hollow inside.

‘Perhaps the creator experienced something similar.’

And then, stumbling upon a hobby purely by chance.

Especially one sparked by a child’s words of appreciation toward their parent.

It would feel like a soothing rainfall over cracked, parched earth.

This very batch of pomegranate wine served as tangible proof of that feeling.

Sweet, refreshingly tart, and pleasantly bitter all at once.

Bright, transparent, and visually captivating.

After taking such a peaceful pause, a person would eventually return to the demands of everyday life, wouldn’t they?

For their own sake. For the people standing beside them.

‘I am definitely using this wine.’

He had arrived with a straightforward intention, but this vintage exceeded his initial expectations.

It appealed to him far more than any elite artisan product the Asteri Family could possibly source.

‘And the quality is top-tier as well.’

『 Pomegranate Wine at Sunset (★★★)』

-Nothing burns as red as the setting sun. The maker, the pomegranate, and their passion created the crimson hue.

-The aroma is very good!

-This is a high-proof wine. Excessive drinking is harmful to your health.

Lion finished the transparent, impurity-free pomegranate wine and let out a hearty laugh.

“Would you be willing to sell this entire batch to me?”

“A-all of it?”

Buck’s father stared back in genuine astonishment.

Even so, a single barrel of this size would easily produce dozens of individual bottles.

Even if it had started as a casual hobby, it held clear commercial potential.

Yet…

‘…Is it right to exchange this for money?’

Such a thought crossed his mind.

Wasn’t this young man the catalyst who helped him rediscover his passion?

Even if he had initially viewed it as a passing distraction, those few words had propelled him into a fresh chapter of his life.

It felt almost as though he had been granted a second chance at living.

Exaggeration aside, it was a surge of vitality he hadn’t felt since his only son, whom he raised independently, moved away to the capital.

Even so.

“I am well aware that this is a precious masterpiece. The decision can’t possibly be easy.”

“No. I want you to have it.”

“Is that so? Then I will offer a generous price…”

“No, Young Master.”

Buck’s father replied with a warm chuckle.

“I’ll simply gift it to you.”

“Even though you could easily fetch a high price for it?”

“Hahaha… No need. I have already received my payment.”

With those words, he turned his gaze toward his son’s face.

His one and child, laboring diligently far from home.

A precious treasure for whom he wished only the absolute best, and someone for whom he would gladly sacrifice anything.

Far more valuable than the energy found in a new hobby.

Far more precious than rare jewels plundered from a dragon’s hoard.

Seeing his son’s face just once more outweighed them all.

And the Young Master had made that possible.

“I have no lingering regrets left.”

“Father…!”

Buck’s eyes, fixed firmly on the older man, turned noticeably red.

“…Understood. Then I will gratefully accept your offer.”

“Splendid. It brings me joy to think you’d take my small token.”

“There is one more thing, however.”

Lion shifted his gaze toward Buck.

“Buck. You are granted a paid leave of absence for the upcoming week.”

“Y-yes?”

“The stated reason will be your vital contribution to Lion Asteri’s ongoing alchemical research.”

Lion gave Buck a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

‘This is the least I can manage for him.’

In a sense, wasn’t Lion essentially acting like a corporate chairman toward Buck?

‘Strictly speaking, he serves the chairman’s grandson, but…’

Regardless, even if Buck were to visit his father, could he truly act spoiled right in front of the chairman’s grandson?

‘I ought to make a clean and proper exit here.’

He might as well lean into his status as the chairman’s grandson to the fullest.

In truth, it wasn’t overly complicated for Lion.

The Asteri Estate employed plenty of domestic staff.

A brief absence by a couple of individuals wouldn’t overload the remaining workforce.

“So make sure you rest properly and enjoy some quality time with your father.”

Lion pulled out a coin pouch and pressed it firmly into Buck’s hand.

He had intended to pass this along to Buck ever since setting out to find him.

“Consider this a special performance bonus.”

“Y-Young Master…!”

“I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Partings always went best when they were swift and decisive.

Lion tore open a warp scroll right beside the massive barrel of pomegranate wine.

A familiar magical glow washed over the area, and intricate magic circles bloomed across both the floor and the air before Lion and the heavy oak cask vanished completely without a trace.

It all transpired in a single breath.

“He really went and left.”

“Sniffle.”

“What on earth are you crying for, you fool?”

His father roughly clapped Buck on the back with an amused smile.

“I-I just didn’t do anything particularly remarkable…”

“Then you can simply work harder once you return to your post.”

Buck’s father turned his eyes toward the now-vacant corner of the storage room.

He should have felt a hollow emptiness where the large, carefully crafted barrel once stood, yet strangely enough, his chest felt warmer and fuller than ever before.

—

True to his word, Lion arrived back at the estate alongside Buck, towing the oak barrel behind him.

“Welcome back, Young Master.”

As if anticipating his arrival, Elvia stepped forward to greet him.

She held a damp towel ready in her hand, evidently expecting him to have gotten tracked up with dirt once again.

However…

‘His expression looks unusually cheerful?’

Why would that be the case when there was no obvious reason for it?

A flicker of curiosity crossed his mind, but seeing Elvia in such high spirits was a relief nonetheless.

“Uhm, Lady Elvia, what task should I tackle next?”

From a distance, a rather rumpled and exhausted-looking servant staggered into view.

Wait a second.

That wasn’t just some ordinary, disheveled servant.

That was… the personal butler of Marquis Byedantis!

“Hmm…”

Lion darted his eyes back and forth between Elvia and the marquis’s attendant, quickly piecing together cause and effect before arriving at a firm conclusion.

This was undoubtedly one of Elvia’s handiwork pranks!

“Heh heh. No need to fret yourself over minor details. Right?”

“Yes? Ah, absolutely! I am merely fulfilling my duties entirely of my own free will.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, the butler offered a bright, compliant nod!

“Haha. Ha…”

Lion let out an awkward, strained laugh before leaning in to whisper softly where only Elvia could hear.

“Did you end up casting some sort of mental compulsion?”

“I was actually debating whether to wipe his memory entirely afterward.”

“…”

“Turns out it won’t even be necessary. He’s a surprisingly diligent young man, a rare find these days.”

R-right.

Lion made the swift executive choice to drop the subject entirely.

It seemed to be one of Elvia’s passing hobbies.

He had no desire to meddle where he wasn’t wanted…!

“Shall I have this wine barrel transported directly to your bedchamber, Young Master?”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

“Understood.”

Elvia gave a polite nod before fixing her gaze entirely on the butler.

“…! This is the dedication I must learn from! Yes. Right away!”

The butler hurried off to fetch a hauling cart, and with a strained grunt, hoisted the heavy oak cask onto the platform.

He looked thin enough to snap, yet he was somehow managing that weight… No, best not to dwell on it.

“Try not to work him quite to the bone.”

“Heh heh. I’ll keep that under advisement.”

It looked like Freya needed to hurry back and resume her duties soon.

“Ah, by the way, two visitors are currently waiting for you in the dining hall.”

“Hmm? Has the hour really gotten that late already?”

A formal dinner meeting with the Marquis of Byedantis had been scheduled for this evening.

It was meant to serve as an open strategy session regarding their upcoming moves within the Imperial Palace and the necessary preparations.

That explained why time had slipped away so quickly.

“I had better hurry before they are left waiting any longer.”

Lion attempted to quicken his pace down the corridor…

‘No, on second thought, those two probably appreciate some private time together.’

He decided to slow back down to his normal strolling speed.

He had almost rushed ahead without thinking!

As long as he arrived before the food turned cold, everything would be fine.

Hahaha!