Chapter 246

Chapter 246
Chapter 246: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Lord Lion. It’s been quite a while since our last meeting. I heard word that you were feeling unwell…”

Rikschel gazed at Lion with clear apprehension.

He prepared himself to channel his holy energy without hesitation if the situation called for it.

‘That must not happen under any circumstances.’

Releasing divine radiance right in the presence of a witch!

The mere thought of what might befall Elvia was unthinkable.

‘If it were a standard creature of darkness…’

They would undergo instant purification the very second sacred energy touched them.

Such entities were treated as forms of absolute corruption and would simply dissolve away.

Naturally, a being of Elvia’s immense caliber wouldn’t vanish or sustain critical harm immediately, yet…

‘It would still feel deeply uncomfortable, wouldn’t it?’

One might compare the sensation to having foul water splashed across a human face.

Besides…

-Hm. It is undeniable. That witch is currently dampening her own capabilities.

-Why go through such exhausting lengths to mask her presence? Are we not all merely human in the end?

-Our inherent natures differ somewhat…

Tiamatrak murmured softly to himself, finding the subtle tension in the atmosphere quite amusing.

Because of that internal remark, a single fact became entirely certain to me.

First, Rikschel has not yet uncovered Elvia’s true identity.

Second, Elvia is exerting every ounce of her will to suppress her natural aura.

‘There was never any adversary quite like that before…’

If maintaining such suppression were an effortless task, Elvia would surely have relied on it frequently in the past.

Yet she never did.

That reality implied that the burden of this suppression came at a tremendously steep price.

-Tsk. Even so, your lifespan spans a millennium, yet you neglect your own vessel…

Hearing Tiamatrak’s observation turned my lingering suspicion into absolute certainty.

Concealing her power carries a heavy toll, and that price…

Is exceedingly high.

‘I have to resolve this situation.’

Elvia likely convinced herself that everything was under control.

She might even have judged her course of action to be the most rational choice.

However, Lion could not simply accept that.

‘There are numerous alternative paths available!’

…The very instant the thought crossed my mind to separate Rikschel and Elvia so we could converse privately.

“How fortunate.”

“…”

“Would you be willing to assist me in baking a pie?”

“Ah, if you require a helping hand, I would be glad to aid you.”

Elvia!

What on earth are you attempting to accomplish?

Lion’s face betrayed utter bewilderment.

“…”

Choosing to ignore his intense stare, Elvia averted her gaze entirely as though she remained oblivious.

Only then did a realization dawn upon Lion.

‘Th-this cannot be…’

It appeared that Elvia’s mischievous impulses had been awakened amidst a precarious predicament.

Or perhaps it signaled her intention to navigate the crisis entirely according to her own design.

‘So that is the game you wish to play?’

Lion had no intention of simply rolling along with it.

Yet dismissing Rikschel at this exact juncture did not present a favorable option either.

‘There already exist far too many grounds for suspicion.’

Rikschel held a position akin to the youngest favored charge of the Archbishop.

While such treatment stemmed partly from genuine affection, it also tied directly to his vast reservoir of holy power.

Had Lion not witnessed it with his own eyes?

The astonishing spectacle of him conjuring a rushing stream of consecrated water within a parched, barren sanctuary.

‘…And I still need to question the motive behind his sudden arrival here.’

That left only one course of action.

I would simply have to dance to Elvia’s tune for the moment while extracting information from Rikschel.

The ultimate strategy, however, would remain entirely my own!

“Ah, slicing these apples demands quite a bit of time. Let us proceed.”

Lion took the initiative, striding forward with brisk steps.

His movement was driven half by lingering irritation and half by sheer impatience, though to Elvia, it appeared merely endearing.

“It has been quite some time since I observed the Young Master display such eagerness.”

“Has it really?”

“Indeed. You tend to spend your private moments in solitude, rarely showing a preference for collaborative endeavors.”

“Ah…”

Reflecting on it, even within the confines of the sanctuary, he always seemed far more animated when resolving difficulties entirely by himself.

Rikschel cast his mind back to that specific occasion.

The day cerulean butterflies fluttered through the air and the youth revealed his true nature for the very first time.

The sensation that had sent shivers running down his spine and filled his heart with profound reverence.

“…It would appear that the Young Master holds you in high regard, Rikschel. Please ensure that your friendship continues to flourish.”

Elvia directed those words toward Rikschel before following closely behind Lion.

Before long, the trio stepped inside the culinary chamber.

The kitchen remained as immaculate as ever, devoid of even a speck of dust, with the cooking utensils polished to a mirror-like shine.

Thump.

Lion set Elvia’s basket of fruit down firmly on the counter.

‘An apple pie, of all things…’

Apple pastry.

When a wedge of steaming pie is sliced open, a crisp crust yields to reveal sweet, stewed fruit infused with a rich fragrance of cinnamon.

And the flavor profile?

Taking a generous bite allows the savory notes of butter to harmonize exquisitely with the profound sweetness and tartness of the fully ripened fruit.

‘It is undeniably exquisite.’

Furthermore, judging from the baking session with cookies previously, Elvia’s culinary expertise was truly extraordinary.

Particularly when it came to confectioneries and sweet pastries.

Should one attribute this to a literal witch’s touch?

Had those been ordinary orchard fruits, my instincts would already have been driving me to salivation…

『Witch’s Apple (★★)』

-A specialized fruit cultivated exclusively by a witch.

-Possesses an appearance so enticing that the observer feels an immediate urge to sink their teeth into it.

-Consuming small portions induces a deeply pleasant slumber.

-Exercise caution to avoid choking upon the fruit!

The complication lay in the fact that these alluring fruits were a mutated strain engineered entirely by Elvia.

‘I was entirely unaware such a variety existed within the confines of the estate.’

Elvia likely intended to drift into a profound sleep simply to minimize direct interaction with the visiting priest.

‘Keeping in mind the projected departure time of Rikschel.’

Yet could those fruits genuinely serve no purpose beyond inducing sleep?

Verbal explanations carried inherent boundaries.

Crunch.

-You intend to consume that substance directly?

Without hesitation, Lion picked up one of the fruits and bit deeply into the flesh.

Instantly, Elvia’s eyes narrowed with a subtle sharpness.

“Ugh!”

The firm skin split open, releasing a rush of intensely sweet and tangy juice.

Because the harvest was intended for baking, the acidity surpassed that of standard table fruit, yet the depth of flavor compensated completely.

As for the expected drowsiness…

『Status Effect: Resistance to slumber activated.』

‘Hm, the effects appear manageable?’

It seemed the resulting lethargy was relatively mild, exactly as the item description had indicated.

-…You remain awake? Lion, are you far more resilient than I previously estimated?

Lion chose to ignore Tiamatrak’s running commentary entirely.

“This fruit possesses an exceptional flavor. Honorable priest, would you care for a taste?”

“Ah, I shall partake once the preparation reaches completion. Please satisfy your own hunger without hesitation.”

“Is that certain?”

“Indeed.”

His reaction was entirely logical, given Rikschel’s perspective on the current situation.

‘Your appearance is rather disheveled…’

Traces of dust and debris from the earlier detonation still clung to Lion’s attire.

Hovering nearby…

Bob.

An unidentifiable accessory drifted aimlessly through the air, moving as though guided by an independent will.

While presumed to be a simple bracelet, its erratic trajectories made certainty impossible.

The concussive blast from moments prior was undoubtedly linked to this anomalous trinket.

The youth had clearly been absorbed in some complex endeavor, perhaps even neglecting his meals entirely.

‘Making him feel uneasy would be impolite, so I shall feign ignorance.’

Besides, even if it is merely a piece of fruit, allowing him to quell his hunger first seemed wisest.

Rikschel reached this internal conclusion and deliberately forced his line of sight toward Elvia.

In truth, she was the sole other presence upon which he could focus.

Elvia smoothed away her momentarily piercing expression and adopted a gentle, welcoming smile once more.

“In that case, Rikschel, would you be so kind as to slice these fruits into thin, uniform pieces?”

“Understood. The core and seeds should be discarded first, correct?”

“Yes. Please proceed accordingly.”

Rikschel stationed himself before a cutting board set slightly to the side and began his task.

Though his initial movements were somewhat hesitant, he quickly produced fruit slices neat enough to rival professional displays.

Thump. The rhythmic tapping of the blade mingled with the fresh, crisp aroma filling the room.

While Rikschel diligently attended to the ingredients.

“Now then, shall we commence with the pastry dough?”

Lion consciously avoided meeting Elvia’s eyes as he sifted the heavy flour through a fine mesh.

The subsequent step involved incorporating cold butter and working it lightly into the dry mixture to form the foundation.

In truth, mastering the dough preparation had become second nature by now, requiring no guidance from Elvia.

“Young Master.”

“Yes? What is the matter?”

“It would be wisest to refrain from engaging in any reckless experiments, would it not?”

Elvia murmured quietly, pitched just low enough to remain inaudible to Rikschel.

She was clearly referencing his casual consumption of the modified fruit just moments prior.

“What if my intentions had involved preparing a poisoned offering?”

“As if Elvia would do such a thing?”

“Divine energies do not appeal to my preferences.”

“Oh, come now, that is hardly plausible.”

Lion responded with an air of absolute nonchalance.

Quite right. Elvia operated as a practitioner of witchcraft.

It remained an undisputed truth that her nature recoiled from direct contact with sacred forces.

Did this aversion stem from the threat of personal harm?

Negative; rather, it arose from the potential disruption she might inflict upon the priest himself.

She might have anticipated that such an encounter would trigger ‘unwelcome complications,’ though that detail held little significance.

The truly vital consideration was…

“You need not drive yourself to such extremes, Elvia.”

Lion sprinkled fine salt evenly across the fluffy flour mixture before pouring in chilled water to bind the consistency.

The flour clinging to the partially solidified butter absorbed the liquid, gradually transforming into a familiar, pliable pastry texture.

“Hah. Young Master, this level of effort hardly qualifies as a strain…”

“To outside observers, however, it might easily be perceived as such, correct?”

“…”

Elvia emitted a soft, resigned sigh.

My young charge possesses an overly acute perception; therein lies the core difficulty.

What significance did a mere handful of years hold against a witch’s millennium-long span of existence?

“Regardless, set your worries aside. I possess a sound strategy.”

“…”

A sound strategy?

Did that implication suggest the existence of a more rational approach than the one Elvia currently employed?

‘Could he possibly be alluding to that mechanism?’

Elvia cast a speculative glance toward the floating bracelet orbiting around Lion.

“Very well! What steps shall we tackle next?”

Having completed the dough, Lion deliberately turned the question back to Elvia.

“…Good grief.”

Elvia let out another gentle sigh in response to Lion’s unabashed demeanor.

‘So circumstances inevitably unfold in this manner.’

In reality, an ulterior motive had accompanied her decision to shadow the young priest.

A genuine curiosity had taken root within her, wondering whether those crossing paths with Lion would continuously fall under his sway each time he sparked an incident.

‘I genuinely believed I would prove immune…’

That confidence had felt absolute.

She already recognized the purity residing within Lion’s spirit, his innate consideration for others, and the unique potency of his abilities.

Consequently, to phrase it more accurately, she had assumed falling under his influence twice was an impossibility.

Yet…

‘To find oneself charmed by him a second time.’

And utilizing virtually identical methods, no less.

Had any contemporaries familiar with Elvia’s authentic temperament survived to witness this, they would undoubtedly have erupted into hearty laughter.

Naturally, she had not entirely surrendered to Lion’s schemes just yet, though that milestone would likely arrive shortly.

Elvia harbored no inclination to obstruct the adorable plotting of her young companion.

“Initially, the mixture requires a period of rest in a chilled environment.”

During the interim period, the preparation of the sweet filling could proceed.

“Shall I retrieve a fresh batch of fruit?”

Since the underlying plan had already been exposed, persisting with the specialized harvest served little purpose.

Discarding the carefully cultivated produce felt regrettable, yet such was life. New yields could always be cultivated.

Lion, however, held a different view…

“Hm? Negative. I shall utilize these exact ones.”

He showed no intention of altering the ingredients.

His objective remained steadfast: incorporating the sleep-inducing pastry into the plan as well!

Lion fully intended to nudge Rikschel into a deep slumber using Elvia’s special harvest.

‘Operation: In Progress!’