Chapter 244

Chapter 244
## Chapter 244: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Elvia felt a wave of anxiety wash over her concerning Freya, her expression turning as unyielding as flint.

“Hoo.”

Priest Rihit reached the Asteri Mansion carrying very few belongings.

‘This marks my inaugural direct visit to the estate….’

He had never anticipated that the Archbishop personally would dispatch him here.

Furthermore, the assignment given was one that any standard priest could manage without difficulty.

Rihit reflected on his recent dialogue with the Archbishop from a few days prior.

“Rihit. I am assigning you a new duty.”

“Understood, Archbishop.”

With the sanctuary resting in a peaceful state, he had expected a fresh assignment shortly.

And, if he allowed his ambitions to surface slightly, he also hoped to handle some hidden, confidential task for the Archbishop.

Yet, the instruction was…

“Travel to the Asteri Mansion.”

“The Asteri Mansion…?”

Rihit tensed up for a brief second.

Was not the Righteous Person… no, Lord Lion, residing at the Asteri Mansion?

Could his purpose be to persuade Lord Lion to join the temple?

It would certainly be more advantageous for the institution to dispatch someone familiar rather than an unknown face.

‘Naturally, should Lord Lion choose to come…’

From the viewpoint of the temple, it would undoubtedly be a favorable turn of events.

It would signify that the Messenger of God and the Righteous Person had arrived to personally oversee them.

Moreover, for Rihit, who held a genuine fondness for Lion, it would be a welcome development.

However.

‘Lord Lion prefers remaining with his kin…’

What if his primary objective truly involved recruiting Lord Lion, exactly as he feared?

Such worries naturally surfaced in his mind.

And frankly… he did not wish to push for that.

The Archbishop, perceiving Rihit’s inner conflict, offered a gentle, silent smile.

“You appear troubled.”

“My apologies. I should not harbor such reservations when the temple’s interests are at stake…”

“Haha. Rihit.”

The Archbishop reached forward and patted Rihit’s shoulder reassuringly.

“It is truly commendable that you harbor such thoughts already. Still, you need not carry such a heavy burden just yet.”

Complex and arduous trials would inevitably arrive as he grew older.

The Archbishop continued speaking, gazing at the hesitant young priest with a warm expression.

“Of course, I cannot deny that such duties will fall upon you in time, but that day is not today.”

“But…”

“Haha. Aside from that, do you perhaps desire to bring Lord Lion back with you?”

Rihit’s face flushed a brilliant crimson at the playful inquiry.

As a man of the cloth, viewing Lord Lion’s return as natural ought to be his primary instinct, yet…

…truthfully, he preferred not to.

The Archbishop, who had been observing Rihit’s subtle reactions while pretending not to notice, suppressed a wry smile and shifted to the core topic with a composed tone.

“Regrettably, this mission is quite different.”

His voice carried an official weight, blending the dignity of an Archbishop rather than the affectionate warmth he usually reserved for his own charges.

“Signs of an impending turbulent era are manifesting, prompting me to establish a cooperative alliance with Marquis Asteri.”

“……! A turbulent era?”

“It has not yet broken out, so there is no immediate cause for alarm. Nevertheless, the situation demands rapid and precise communication. That is precisely why I am sending you.”

“So, my function is to serve as the liaison.”

The moment the concept of a chaotic age was introduced, Rihit quickly recovered his composure.

Having lived as a priest, had he not been trained thoroughly regarding the perils and consequences of such eras until the lessons were ingrained deep within his bones?

The fundamental duty of a priest is to shield the faithful.

Along with one additional responsibility.

To eradicate the very omens of an unstable epoch.

‘If this involves a partnership with Marquis Asteri…’

Perhaps these turbulent portents were connected to the Great Barrier or malevolent demons.

“Consequently, you are instructed to proceed straight to the Asteri Mansion, compile the Marquis’s intelligence, and transmit it directly to me.”

Having concluded the main subject, the Archbishop resumed his benevolent demeanor and added.

“You are welcome to spend your remaining free time catching up with acquaintances.”

“A-Archbishop…!”

“Haha. The reports will arrive instantly regardless. Since my own prior fatigue prevented me from properly enjoying leisure time, seize this chance to amuse yourself to the fullest. Be sure to recount those tales when you submit your report.”

The Archbishop patted his shoulder a few more times, remarking that he was just as eager to hear those personal stories as he was to receive the intelligence regarding the chaotic times, and then departed first.

“…He still views me as a mere child.”

Rihit finished his recollections and smoothed his expression, which had begun to flush once more.

Even though the Archbishop had spoken with leniency, his actual mandate remained the serious task of gathering and delivering information concerning the coming storm without alteration.

Furthermore…

Rihit stared up at the imposing main entrance of the Asteri Mansion.

Beyond this point lay a domain where the influence of the temple held no sway whatsoever.

‘This is quite unlike the situation during Lord Lion’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony.’

Back then, at least a few fellow priests accompanied him, but moving forward, he had to navigate this environment entirely on his own.

Although warm-hearted individuals like Lord Lion were present…

‘This is hardly a place where one relies solely on warmth.’

In truth, even children knew that Mages and Priests shared a long-standing antagonism.

“……”

Actually, those particular concerns… were manageable.

If he happened to be disliked, nothing could be done to alter it.

However, he hoped such friction would not obstruct his responsibilities, though that outcome remained outside his control.

‘Let me step inside first.’

Rihit steeled his resolve and walked slowly into the estate.

Perhaps because advance notice had been given to the guards, no one intercepted him.

Instead.

*Clack.*

They offered a synchronized nod and greeting as if welcoming an expected guest.

“May His divine grace accompany you.”

Rihit returned the greeting to fulfill his obligations as a priest.

“We have been anticipating your arrival, Priest Rihit.”

*Jolted.*

Rihit experienced a brief start at the unexpected voice echoing from behind him.

The surprise did not stem from an unfamiliar tone.

‘…Who was standing there?’

Though he disliked boasting, Rihit possessed exceptionally sharp senses.

Indeed, those capabilities had once allowed him to train alongside the Temple Knights.

If even he failed to detect an approach, then… must not this person possess considerable skill?

Maintaining his composure, Rihit slowly pivoted around.

The figure standing before his eyes turned out to be…

“……”

A maid far more ordinary in appearance than he had anticipated.

No, she could hardly be called ordinary when considering her striking features.

Her ink-black hair and ruby-red eyes possessed a captivating quality for any observer, while her curved lips appeared wonderfully gentle.

Yet, why?

Why… did it feel as though something fundamental was missing from her presence?

“I am Elvia, and I will be assisting Priest Rihit.”

“…Ah. A pleasure to meet you. I am Priest Rihit. I shall be residing at the Asteri Mansion starting today.”

Rihit belatedly offered a formal blessing.

“Indeed. I have heard a great deal concerning Young Master Lion.”

“Concerning Lord Lion?”

“Attending to him forms a portion of my regular duties.”

“Ah.”

Rihit nodded in understanding.

She evidently served as Lord Lion’s personal attendant.

As a maid entrusted with the eldest son of the Asteri household, she undoubtedly possessed high proficiency.

Perhaps she had mastered specialized magical arts or physical conditioning.

Brushing aside his lingering doubts, Rihit offered another polite smile.

“Is Lord Lion faring well?”

“Hmm.”

Elvia displayed a peculiar, cryptic smile.

“He remains entirely himself in numerous regards. At present, he is recuperating within the recovery chamber. You will likely require approximately a week before an audience becomes possible.”

“He remains entirely himself.”

The brief description made the situation clear without requiring further elaboration.

Some incident comparable to the disruption at the sanctuary had undoubtedly occurred again.

Although worry gnawed at him, Lord Lion was continually shielded by divine providence, ensuring he faced no mortal peril.

“Indeed. Please follow me this way.”

Elvia guided Rihit toward living quarters situated at the furthest possible distance from the recovery chamber, offering several precautionary guidelines along the route.

1. If you venture outdoors after nightfall, disregard any strange sounds or objects you might encounter.
2. It remains wisest to ignore any unusual fluctuations of energy sensed within the mansion grounds.
3. Even should you occasionally hear echoing roars originating from the estate, evacuation is entirely unnecessary unless a servant provides explicit instructions. The guest chambers offer optimal safety.

The instructions carried enough gravity to send a shiver down anyone’s spine and inspire a deep sense of peril, yet Rihit merely nodded calmly.

Such eccentricities seemed plausible enough for a prominent magical lineage like the Asteri family.

……Then again, from the initial warning down to the final caution, the entire list likely revolved around Lord Lion’s typical behavior.

‘During daylight hours, the remaining staff manage matters adequately enough.’

“You appear to have your hands quite full.”

“My hands full…”

Elvia, who had finished settling him into his quarters, let out a soft chuckle.

“On the contrary, I find life quite entertaining.”

Her demeanor resembled that of an elderly grandparent whose twilight years were enlivened by the mischievous antics of a grandchild.

“I have spoken at too great a length. Please rest comfortably until the Family Head requests your presence.”

Elvia departed the room after reiterating the crucial nature of the safety guidelines.

Left by himself, Rihit seated himself upon the mattress and reviewed the written warnings once more.

In truth, his purpose here did not involve extracting secrets from the Asteri Mansion, leaving him with little cause for anxiety.

Furthermore, this was the very same Asteri Mansion that had sustained zero casualties during the Labyrinth crisis.

Consequently, the third warning in particular appeared entirely superfluous.

True to expectations, daily existence within the Asteri Mansion proceeded in a completely ordinary fashion.

No disruptive noises echoed through the halls, and no strange energy signatures disturbed the air.

Strolling outside even during the late hours proved entirely safe.

In fact, numerous corridors remained illuminated throughout the night, lending the estate a distinct and charming atmosphere.

Precisely three days later.

BOOM!

A colossal crash reverberated through the air, followed in mere minutes by a secondary event.

KWOOOOOSH!!

An even more tremendous roar erupted, impossible for anyone to ignore.

Simultaneously.

“P-Priest.”

A servant burst into the room, addressing Rihit in a tone of desperate urgency.

“My apologies, but an immediate evacuation is required.”

“……Pardon?”

—

As everyone had anticipated, the catalyst for this massive disturbance was none other than Lion.

To offer a brief explanation, this uproar had been signaled beforehand to a certain degree.

The reason stemmed from a specific circumstance…

* *Hiss*. You find this troublesome?

Ever since a particular day, Tiamatrak’s presence had refused to quiet down in the slightest.

The situation seemed peculiar upon closer reflection.

Lion consistently wore an Ability Blocking Pendant, so why did the dormant power continue to leak outward?

Attributing the phenomenon purely to Draconic energy felt somewhat insufficient.

If that were the case, shouldn’t such power have vented itself when he originally received divine attention?

Following that realization, Lion initiated a series of experimental trials and quickly arrived at a definitive deduction.

‘The root cause lies within Tiamatrak’s soul.’

To put it more accurately, the Ability Blocking Accessory failed to reach Tiamatrak’s spiritual essence.

In short, the malfunction originated from the soul itself rather than the mana circles!

Once this truth became clear, Tiamatrak and Lion commenced specialized training aimed at dampening the soul’s active signature.

“Let us attempt the sequence once more.”

* *Groan*…

The initial phase required modifying Tiamatrak’s manifestation into a more compact form.

Shifting back into a youthful human appearance or reverting entirely to a hatchling stage proved necessary.

The difficulty, however, lay elsewhere…

BOOM!

-Aargh!

Perhaps because the entity had inhabited a human vessel for an extended duration, voluntary polymorphing refused to come easily.

Furthermore, despite existing purely as a soul, the physical backlash manifested directly upon the surrounding environment…

“Cough.”

The process escalated to the point of shattering masonry amidst thunderous roars, mirroring the current scene.

Naturally, a substantial portion of Lion’s personal mana reserves was likewise exhausted.

Covered in a layer of fine dust, Lion folded his arms across his chest and stared down at Tiamatrak.

“Is this approach still inadequate?”

He clearly required a more suitable instrument to properly assist the creature with its transformation.

—

**Question:** What specific item does Rihit wear or carry with him when he arrives at the Asteri Mansion?