Chapter 231

Chapter 231
Chapter 231: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Reside within Asteri for two full decades, and you could easily deceive even a seasoned witch.

Elvia experienced a sensation entirely foreign to her: awkwardness. She gazed at Lion, who appeared completely drained of vitality.

‘I honestly had no idea you would take it this hard.’

Her gaze lingered on the young man as he trudged toward the village, his shoulders slumped and lacking his usual spark.

Naturally, she had encountered similar scenarios on several occasions while serving past generations of the Asteri household.

And this was the Asteri lineage, after all.

While they might not feature eccentrics quite like Lion, they each possessed an unyielding stubbornness all their own.

‘I have literally caused entire mountains to vanish into thin air before.’

Whenever such incidents occurred, rather than leaving flustered servants to fumble blindly, Elvia always stepped forward to brief the reigning family head directly.

The subsequent waves of animosity and bitterness were entirely expected, and as a result, a number of Asteri kin chose to distance themselves from her entirely.

Yet, Elvia remained completely indifferent to such outcomes.

It was a dynamic that would inevitably conclude the moment she was reborn into a new vessel anyway…

‘I simply never cared.’

From a witch’s perspective, they were merely trivial troublemakers, and their petty grievances held zero entertainment value for her.

Bound strictly by contract, she merely managed their affairs.

Nothing more, nothing less.

However…

“Hm. What on earth should I do?”

Even now, while diligently managing the manor’s daily administration and even tutoring the butler, Elvia caught herself muttering aloud.

“Is something troubling you, milady?”

The butler, who had been tirelessly practicing how to make the estate’s exterior window frames gleam ‘somehow’, returned looking rather disheveled and posed the question.

“It turns out that acting as a mediator is an exceptionally difficult task.”

“Mediation? Ah…”

The butler paused for a brief moment, then nodded as though a sudden realization had struck him.

Fortunately, despite his somewhat clumsy technique, he possessed the resilience required to survive the catastrophe that had devastated the Byrdentis household.

“It is indeed a heavy burden… I understand that all too well.”

Jasper cast his mind back to the era before he assumed the role of a butler.

In truth, those recollections resembled a waking nightmare he preferred to keep buried.

The Byrdentis family had been akin to a frozen river covered in fracturing ice.

It was a deep, unforgiving current where a single misstep meant plunging into the freezing depths without uttering a single sound.

Even if you thrashed wildly in a desperate bid to stay afloat, finding the exact break you had fallen through was impossible, leaving you at the mercy of a terrifying descent into absolute darkness.

Peers, subordinates, and trusted superiors alike—all had perished.

Even the previous family head had ultimately slipped beneath those crimson waters.

Honestly, if the current family head had not intervened to halt that tragic spiral, would I not have ended up at the bottom as well?

“It seems I have inadvertently dredged up unpleasant memories for you.”

“Eh? Ah, haha. To be frank, they are hardly fond memories, yet they are not ones I ever wish to erase.”

Though recalling them still sent shivers down his spine, erasing them completely was out of the question.

“And why is that?”

“If those memories fade away, who will remain to bear witness to the family head’s journey of growth?”

“Growth.”

“Indeed. Even now, looking back, the family head commanded a level of profound reverence that was simply inescapable.”

Consider the alternative: how immense must the internal turmoil have been for a young lady accustomed only to comfort to finally take up a sword?

The butler offered a wistful, melancholic smile.

“She could easily have chosen a life of sheltered ease. Even had she walked away entirely, her station was such that not a single soul could cast blame upon her.”

The butler murmured his thoughts aloud as he spoke.

This marked the very first occasion he had ever voiced such sentiments to an outsider.

Officially, the cataclysm within the Byrdentis house was meant to be neatly summarized away as a routine ‘succession dispute’.

Nevertheless, he calculated that sharing this was safe here, especially given that Elvia had visited Bydantis Castle in the past.

‘…Besides, it is highly unlikely that Asteri failed to notice something was amiss.’

Back then, he had occupied a mere servant’s post, rendering him blind to the intricate details.

Whether secret communications transpired with the former head, or whether they simply chose absolute non-interference.

The undeniable reality was that even while the Byrdentis household rocked violently on the brink of collapse, Asteri never moved to devour them.

This restraint held true despite their public status as rival factions.

Furthermore, no competing houses dared to stretch their predatory influence over Byrdentis territory.

That fact alone stood as proof that Asteri had exercised the utmost discretion regarding Byrdentis.

“At any rate, I chose to anchor myself firmly by the family head’s side by whatever means necessary. I step forward to apologize whenever troubles arise, and whenever the family head achieves a milestone, I offer praise—even if it occasionally crosses the line of propriety.”

“…Praise.”

“Indeed. Granted, my approach might stray rather far from the textbook definition of an ideal servant. Hahaha.”

Shedding his heavy melancholy, Jasper chuckled heartily and adjusted his monocle with a touch of sheepishness.

“I see. That proved to be remarkably insightful.”

“R-really? Was I genuinely of assistance?”

“Extremely. Invaluable assistance, in fact.”

Indeed, through this exact exchange, a profound realization had dawned upon Elvia.

True, as a mere servant, her execution was flawless.

Yet, was Elvia truly bound to the narrow definition of a servant any longer?

If anything…

‘Perhaps my role is closer to that of a guardian.’

And our little puppy clearly views me as a member of his household.

If that assumption held true, should she not express her internal sentiments far more overtly?

Rather than merely filing cold hazard reports to Petrick, offering genuine comfort and commendation was clearly in order.

The corners of Elvia’s lips curved upward into a satisfied, pleasing arc.

“My thanks to you.”

“Pardon? Ah, haha! Think nothing of it, milady!”

“I have certain matters requiring my attention, so I must take my leave. Pray oversee the remaining estate duties.”

“At once! Leave everything to me!”

With his self-worth visibly boosted, the butler readily accepted Elvia’s directive and vanished deeper into the interior of the Asteri manor, a layout he was rapidly growing accustomed to.

Watching him depart, Elvia dissolved silently into the shadows.

Her objective was clear: lift the young master’s drooping spirits and lavishly bestow upon him the ‘praise’ he deserved.

The sole minor complication lay in the fact that the butler’s standards and Elvia’s personal standards diverged quite significantly…

Well, Lion would surely appreciate the sentiment, so things would undoubtedly work out fine, right?

—

Maintaining a convincing facade of depleted stamina, Lion quickly departed the estate grounds and broke into a brisk, purposeful jog heading directly for the village.

In truth, had recent circumstances not dictated otherwise, he would have sprinted the entire distance at maximum velocity from the moment he left the mansion.

After all, it was finally finished.

The ultimate accessory!

Just what magnificent form had it taken?

One thing remained an absolute certainty: the final product would shatter all initial expectations!

“Ah, Young Master Lion, you have arrived!”

“Your timing is utterly impeccable!”

Several dwarves loitering near the exterior of the forge immediately called out upon spotting him.

“The accessory is ready?”

“Well, Sonkkeut explicitly declared she would grant no one a glimpse until Young Master Lion stepped through those doors.”

“Precisely. That is the exact reason we were locked out as well.”

The dwarves exchanged grins, their voices vibrating with barely contained excitement.

“Understood, understood. Let us head inside.”

“Much obliged. Right this way.”

Forsaking his usual casual demeanor, Lion skipped the small talk and strode directly into the innermost depths of the workshop.

With every stride he took, advanced machinery—apparatuses completely absent even within Mudu’s famed forge—came into view.

And above all else…

Sparkle. Sparkle.

Fine gold powder and glittering fragments dusted the stone floor, reflecting a breathtaking brilliance.

Venture further inside, and a partially assembled ornament caught his eye.

‘Wait, is even this discarded piece already a masterpiece?’

It bore the subtle hallmarks of a failed experiment, yet this very scrap alone would have prompted nobles to form a desperate queue.

Clearly, Sonkkeut’s obsessive artisan standards meant anything short of absolute perfection fell into her ‘rejected’ pile.

Navigating carefully to avoid disturbing the golden debris, Lion reached the inner sanctum…

“Hoo.”

There stood Sonkkeut, palms pressed tightly together as she released a slow, measured exhale.

The muscles in her heavily strained arms stood out in sharp definition, and her shoulders, forged through countless sleepless nights of intense labor, bulged like rugged peaks.

She radiated a dense, oppressive aura reminiscent of a grandmaster of the ancient martial realms.

It felt as though an invisible vortex was churning fiercely inside the quiet forge, defying the absolute stillness of the outside air.

‘Kuhh…!’

Instinctively, Lion raised a forearm to shield himself from the invisible pressure wave.

At least for the present moment, this localized aura rivaled the terrifying presence of his own grandfather.

Atop Sonkkeut’s central workbench rested an ornate, magnificent case, radiating the solemn weight of containing an invaluable artifact.

Without a doubt, the treasure fashioned from the Cosmic Crystal rested within.

Gulp.

Lion swallowed hard, his throat dry with anticipation.

“Oh my! Young Master, you are finally here!”

Noticing his arrival, Sonkkeut broke into her signature, affectionate greeting.

The martial grandmaster aura evaporated instantly into thin air, prompting Lion to sheepishly lower his defensive arm.

“It appears the work is complete.”

“Oh my, oh my. Your affinity with this crystal is truly profound. Indeed, it was finished mere moments ago.”

Uttering these words, Sonkkeut reverently picked up the case and presented it to Lion with both hands, treating the gesture as though she were delivering the rarest relic in existence.

“Please, inspect it with your own eyes. For what it is worth, in my professional estimation…”

An ecstatic flush overtook Sonkkeut’s features as she mentally relived the creation process.

“This much I can state with absolute conviction: I have never crafted anything superior to this piece in my entire life, nor shall I ever duplicate its equal.”

Following this declaration, Sonkkeut bowed deeply, conveying a profound, unfeigned respect.

“I offer you my deepest gratitude. Providing me this opportunity has created a debt I can never hope to repay across a lifetime, Young Master.”

Given Sonkkeut’s uncompromising disposition, her statement was entirely devoid of hyperbole.

That single fact could only mean one thing… something truly unfathomable had been born.

“…I shall open it now.”

Palpitating with excitement, Lion carefully unlatched the lid.

Within the velvet lining…

Flash!!

Two distinct accessories blazed with a dazzling, blinding brilliance from their respective slots.

『Arcanum Ear Cuff – Sword (★★★★★)』

『Arcanum Cuffs – World Tree (★★★★★)』

-The gemstones embedded within these earrings carry the profound illusion of capturing every constellation in the night sky. Their refined elegance transcends simple description.

-An impervious jewel styled with a delicate, intricate setting that would instantly provoke envy even among dragons.

-To state that a legendary master craftsman brought this to life is an understatement.

『Upon equipping, the set effect ‘Arcanum’ activates.』

-Set Effect 1: Significantly amplifies the presence of individuals linked by shared items.

-Set Effect 2: The creator accumulates experience points proportional to the number of onlookers captivated by this masterpiece.

『Blacksmithing Proficiency has advanced to Lv.2.』

“!”

Lion clenched his fists tightly.

It worked!

Five stars!

While the thrill of finally shattering the four-star bottleneck brought immense satisfaction, an even greater joy stemmed from the realization that these pieces were tailor-made for their intended recipients.

‘They are absolute perfection for both of them!’

Naturally, the sleek cuffs were designated for his younger brother, Rikschel.

Rikschel detested any form of apparel or accessory that felt even slightly cumbersome or restrictive.

Consequently, Lion had meticulously engineered a piece that balanced absolute practicality with striking visual flair.

The ultimate result was this clever cuff design, capable of securely fastening along a sleeve edge with minimal fuss.

‘Because one must command every eye in the room during their coming-of-age celebration!’

He needed to showcase that handsome visage to absolute perfection!

Suppressing a broad, triumphant grin, Lion shifted his gaze to inspect the adjacent ear cuff.

This piece was, of course, intended for the Marquis of Byrdentis.

Even more so than Rikschel, the Marquis harbored an aversion toward any external distraction that might impede swordsmanship.

Therefore, dangling earrings or dangling ornaments were entirely out of the question.

That precise logical deduction had led him directly to craft this discreet, sophisticated ear cuff.

“Splendid. Exquisite.”

With an expression of deep contentment, Lion closed the accessory case and tucked it safely against his chest.

At that exact instant.

“You never cease to amaze, Young Master.”

“Indeed, my thanks for the kind words—”

A voice drifted to his ears—one that was simultaneously familiar and yet completely out of place in this setting.

It belonged to someone he conversed with frequently, though never within the confines of a bustling blacksmith shop.

The voice murmured…

“Elvia?”