Chapter 240

Chapter 240
Chapter 240: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Yaaawn.”

Despite his previous discontent, Lion awakened from a pleasant slumber.

Though he had rested on surfaces no different from the bare earth, his frame felt entirely free of stiffness or aches.

Instead…

‘I feel refreshed?’

Could sleep truly be the ultimate remedy?

His muscles, exhausted from prolonged labor, felt light and at ease.

-How is it? You feel better after sleeping, right?

-When I chose the Lair, I picked a spot where you could sleep so wonderfully!

-I even outbid other Dragons who wanted to yield and was the first to put down a deposit.

The moment he opened his eyes, a chattering voice echoed beside him.

‘So, Dragon Lairs apparently have deposits attached as well…’

It seemed mortals and dragons shared the exact same obsession with securing well-located properties.

As Lion stretched and rose to his feet, Kyle extended something directly toward him.

“You’re awake.”

“Yes. Your Highness, did you manage to get some rest?”

“I rested enough.”

Naturally, he likely struggled to sleep soundly, plagued by uncertainty about what might transpire next.

Yet…

Lion stared at the object Kyle kept holding out.

Contained within an ornate bowl of unknown origin was a hot stew filled with chunks of meat.

“Did Your Highness prepare this?”

“It seemed you do not care for dried meat, so.”

It was not merely a matter of not caring for it; the alternative felt like a royal banquet.

Lion swallowed his retort and accepted the bowl.

Steam curled upward, transferring a gentle warmth to his palms.

-He seemed to be struggling with the leftover rations, and honestly, it looked completely unappetizing.

As expected, Kyle’s culinary talents left much to be desired.

Grease from the dried meat slicked the surface of the broth, while inside floated soggy morsels of beef alongside yesterday’s leftover Spicy Fruit, haphazardly mashed together.

“…I cannot guarantee it will suit your palate. Ingredients were scarce.”

Kyle, clearly aware of his atrocious stew, offered the remark with uncharacteristic embarrassment.

Nonetheless…

Slurp.

Lion drank straight from the bowl without hesitation.

The savory, warmed broth carried subtle notes of garlic and pepper.

While the seasoning leaned bland, it served as a remarkably soothing breakfast.

‘Besides, meals cooked by someone else are always delicious.’

Taste was secondary.

It was the gesture that mattered.

“It is delicious?”

“Thank you for the kind falsehood.”

Ah, but it was the absolute truth.

Resembling a soup more than a stew, the concoction suited Lion’s appetite surprisingly well.

How best to describe it…

‘A beef and radish soup devoid of radishes?’

You know how certain Korean establishments serve a warm, comforting radish broth alongside basic side dishes.

The flavor profile bore a striking resemblance to that.

Regardless, it provided precisely the comfort Lion needed to wash down yesterday’s monotonous diet of dried meat.

Following such a hearty breakfast, Lion returned to his workbench.

‘Viewing the project with rested eyes makes everything feel brand new.’

Though forced, taking a respite before resuming his sculpting proved to be the superior choice.

And not merely for the sake of endurance.

‘Details that remained hidden before suddenly become apparent.’

Human perception is peculiar; once accustomed to an object, the mind struggles to register new elements.

Particularly when engaging in painting or sculpture, taking such intervals is vital for introducing fresh concepts or discovering overlooked flaws.

True master artisans might grasp everything in a single glance…

‘I am still a long way from reaching that tier.’

Furthermore, while he had experience working with timber, this marked his maiden attempt at stone carving.

Lion proceeded to sharpen the claws of the sculpture with meticulous care.

In reality, the claws depicted in the original painting lacked such ferocity, but…

“Ahem, so my claws appeared this valiant, did they?”

The Earthbound Dragon proved incapable of masking his delighted expression.

Additionally, Lion smoothed out the crudely rendered dragon scales to impart a refined, intricate texture.

Finally, he gave the eyes a much sharper, deeper, and more captivating intensity than what the painting originally displayed.

Each adjustment caused the translucent cheeks of the Earthbound Dragon to twitch upward in satisfaction.

He appeared quite fond of these ‘special enhancements’.

With the visage completed, only a single task remained.

Namely, embedding the magic stone.

‘The location is already decided.’

Lion’s sculpture was flawless, save for one specific area.

A gaping cavity sat just beneath the neck.

A scale-shaped recess.

Curiously, unlike the surrounding textured scales, this indentation was formed in reverse.

The Reverse Scale.

By convention, this reverse scale represented a dragon’s ultimate vulnerability.

Yet, such a weakness hardly needed replication in a mere statue, did it?

‘It is crafted from stone anyway, rendering the entire vessel fragile.’

Even a Dwarf as robust as Mudu could pulverize the material with a single hammer blow.

Regardless.

There was no functional need to preserve a weakness within the artwork.

If enhancements were underway, executing them thoroughly was the only sensible choice.

“Are you planning to insert that now?”

Kyle inquired, wearing an expression of bewilderment.

He understood the objective was to embed the magic stone.

However…

‘Does the geometry not match?’

The magic stone was notably smaller than the reverse scale socket Lion had carved.

Packing the gap with stone debris would only cause the surrounding area to crumble and fracture under pressure.

“Hoohoo…”

As if sensing his skepticism, Lion flashed a grin and retrieved an item from his pocket.

It was Elvia’s brush.

“Ah, this happens to be a remarkably decent artifact as well.”

“I am equipped with proper tools, so put your worries to rest.”

Lion instantly channeled his mana, gathering the energy directly into the brush.

The bristles saturated with mana, eagerly absorbing the power as though drinking ink or pigment.

Even without prior mastery, the sheer utility was palpable.

‘I merely need to paint the solution into existence.’

Responding to Lion’s mana, the magic stone itself lifted gracefully into mid-air.

It created the ideal angle for precise crafting.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lion grasped the brush and commenced his strokes.

An auxiliary mechanism capable of supporting the magic stone.

Simultaneously, expanding its scale to fit the socket seamlessly.

These two requirements constituted the entirety of the task.

First, he established a foundational framework matching the required dimensions.

Threads of mana unfurled from the brush tip, weaving delicately according to the artisan’s intent.

The mana wrapped securely around the framework, swirling to generate a solid surface and form.

Yet, the texture remained rough.

Lion smoothed the uneven mana using rhythmic brushstrokes, imparting a realistic grain.

Within moments, the auxiliary device manifested into its intended shape.

The crystallized mana hardened to match the characteristics of the embedded material.

“…That is a genuinely wondrous artifact.”

“Isn’t it?”

Kyle refrained from asking where such an item was procured.

He knew transparency on that front was unlikely.

“This is not hazardous, is it?”

“Hmm? Naturally. Its output falls well below that of a standard Golem, so no concern is necessary.”

Kyle had intended to ask whether the brush exerted any detrimental toll on Lion Asteri himself, but the nuance missed its mark.

“…I see.”

Kyle offered a simple nod and shifted closer to observe.

If Lion Asteri’s calculations proved accurate, the moment the magic stone found its home, his exile would conclude.

“Three days?”

Escaping a Dragon’s Lair within seventy-two hours of capture.

Even heroic epics or children’s fairy tales would dismiss such a feat as absurd hyperbole.

It was an event of staggering magnitude.

“Though that is hardly my concern.”

Lion Asteri had simply driven his capabilities to their absolute limit.

Undoubtedly, he exerted maximum effort to secure a swift return to his point of origin.

Kyle kept these reflections to himself.

The man would undoubtedly scoff and claim he did nothing special.

Instead, Kyle noted:

“Upon our return, we must align our excuses first.”

“Agreed.”

Lion lifted the reinforced magic stone.

With the stone secured in place and the masterpiece finalized, he would surely be pulled back to the treasure vault where he rightfully belonged.

Escaping unharmed felt like nothing short of a miracle.

“…Still, I failed to uncover the underlying truth.”

While the Second Prince scoured the perimeter for remnants of treasure, Lion had thoroughly searched the domain for any clues regarding his summoning.

He assumed a profound purpose must tie him to this place, much like the protagonist of a legendary saga.

Yet, tangible answers remained absent.

It appeared even the Earthbound Dragon remained oblivious to any connection linking them to the hero.

Even had he known, inquiring further would prove…

“A complete landmine.”

Resolving a single mystery only to remain trapped for eternity held zero appeal.

“Indeed. Let us simply move forward.”

Lion chose to view the situation with pragmatic indifference.

After all, if exhaustive searching yielded nothing, scouring the domain again later would change nothing.

Besides, surviving the Dragon’s Lair with wits intact remained the top priority.

Furthermore, artifacts left behind by the hero appeared scattered widely across the cavern.

Whether intentional or accidental, the reasoning eluded him.

“First, I shall retrieve Jack’s belongings, then proceed at my leisure.”

Regardless, his current physical state demanded rest.

“I suspect a new mana circle will be required shortly.”

Upon returning home, that matter would demand serious deliberation.

Thoughts settled, Lion carefully guided the magic stone toward the socket of the reverse scale.

Click.

The meticulously crafted stone slid into alignment with absolute precision, exhibiting a natural harmony as though it belonged there from the very beginning.

Instantly—

『Dragon Sculpture (★★★)』

* A dragon effigy constructed from diverse recycled components.
* Sculpted with greater aesthetic fidelity than the original artifact. Was this deliberate?
* We commend your artistic ingenuity in breathing new life into discarded materials!

The sculpture achieved completion.

Simultaneously, a subtle resonance of mana radiated outward from the stone effigy in every direction.

The rhythmic pulsing hummed with the cadence of a living heartbeat.

* Ah, what a profound pity!
* I had hoped to keep you longer because you make for such an entertaining human…

The Earthbound Dragon grumbled in disappointment, though his tone betrayed no intent to revoke the release.

Perhaps Lion’s failure to recognize his true identity influenced the decision.

* Oh well, forget it. I would starve to death remaining here anyway.

Ah, it appeared the dragon’s eccentricity was somewhat overwhelmed by Lion’s own brand of peculiarity.

At any rate, the outcome favored Lion.

『A craft utilizing diverse materials has been successfully forged!』

『The ‘Woodworking’ talent has evolved into ‘Sculpture’ talent!』

『Sculpture proficiency has advanced to Skilled Lv.1!』

『Painting proficiency has advanced to Apprentice Lv.7!』

“Oh.”

Presumably, experimenting with unconventional media triggered the breakthrough.

『Will you dedicate the sculpture to the lair’s master, ‘Tiamatrak’?』

“I offer this sculpture to the dragon who slumbers here.”

Following Lion’s declaration, a deep rumble resonated.

Kugoogoogoo…

Violent tremors shook the subterranean domain.

Kyle gripped the hilt of his blade, yet Lion remained entirely composed.

Before them, the Earthbound Dragon—

No, the entity known as Tiamatrak—inspected the sculpture with unconcealed delight.

With the ‘proof’ officially validated, a brilliant magic portal materialized along the cavern wall.

“You go first.”

“Understood.”

Kyle released his sword and stepped steadily toward the threshold of the portal.

Once Kyle vanished safely back to his starting point, Lion turned his gaze toward the dragon.

Swish.

Lion tilted his head and offered a parting remark.

“I fitted it with a proper magic stone, so the structure should endure for several centuries.”

-……!

Startled, Tiamatrak dropped his jaw and pointed an accusatory claw at the mortal.

-You, you wretched creature! You heard every word I said! Didn’t you?

-And yet you simply ignored it all?

“I had a schedule to keep.”

Smirking, Lion waved farewell and leaped directly into the portal.

Whoosh!

“Ugh.”

True to form, spatial transit delivered a brutal wave of motion sickness.

Confirming their return to the familiar treasure vault, he slumped heavily against the floor.

“At least we made it back in one piece.”

“Indeed. Rest is priority one.”

“Hahaha… I sincerely hope never to visit a dragon’s treasure vault again.”

Lion muttered the complaint while eyeing the dragon painting suspended on the wall.

“Huh?”

Huh?

An instant later, a cold bead of sweat traced down his spine.

The dragon depicted within the painting… had vanished.