Chapter 252

Chapter 252
Chapter 252: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“…To the Young Master?”

“Yes. There is an urgent matter I must discuss with him.”

Barg glanced toward Rihit, then quickly looked away with a sly expression.

‘He’s onto me…’

The priest had undoubtedly pieced together a significant amount of information.

Naturally, there was no other conclusion to draw.

‘He is far from an ordinary man.’

Barg had witnessed Rihit in action firsthand back at the temple.

More precisely, he had observed the man during moments when Young Master Lion was absent.

‘At his core, he is a good person, but…’

Beyond that virtue, the man was in no way inferior to the Young Master.

Of course, Young Master Rikschel possessed superior practical experience, meaning a direct clash would ultimately favor the Young Master.

Yet the complication remained…

‘I simply lack that kind of capability…!’

Barg still felt clumsy and ill-at-ease around others.

To put it plainly, his social aptitude was severely deficient.

Even so, genuine skirmishes always materialized without warning.

Barg racked his brains frantically, attempting to mimic the demeanor of the Young Masters.

“If you share the specifics of this important matter with me, I can go and inquire on your behalf.”

“Negative. This is something I must communicate in person, so that arrangement will not suffice.”

“Th-then, if you wouldn’t mind waiting here for a moment…”

“It appears you are already within the mansion. I shall accompany you.”

“…”

The strategy had merit, but a mere imitation could never replace the genuine article.

‘What should I do now…?’

Even with Barg’s modest intellect, he recognized the danger of permitting the priest to encounter Young Master Lion at this juncture.

Deep within, Barg emitted a faint, distressed squeak.

At that precise instant.

“Then let us go locate them together.”

“Hm? Oh, it’s you.”

“I am Urheel, currently assigned to guard duty alongside Senior Barg. I just arrived after wrapping up some urgent business.”

Urheel, deliberately emphasizing the title of ‘Senior’, offered a response characterized by surprising and natural politeness.

“However, I cannot pinpoint Young Master Rikschel’s exact whereabouts at the moment, so the search might require a brief moment. Is that acceptable to you?”

“…”

Rihit studied the heavily muscled knight.

‘This individual is likely…’

He figured this must be the person tied to the ‘bear incident’ that had transpired in that settlement.

A bear beastman.

He had heard whispers that Lord Lion had extended mercy to him, but he never imagined they would end up cohabitating.

‘This particular fellow might actually be open to persuasion.’

Nevertheless, the one known as Urheel radiated the aura of someone well-versed in navigating such predicaments.

‘Besides, if he is going to such lengths to obstruct me…’

The notion of departing openly through the main entrance was entirely out of the question.

Rihit opted to retreat a single step for the time being.

“No. It would seem I made an unreasonable demand during an inconvenient hour. I shall remain inside here. Would you be willing to deliver the message for me?”

“Most certainly.”

“I appreciate it.”

Instead of offering a formal bow, Rihit responded with a silent prayer before slowly swinging the door shut.

“Whew. Th-thank you.”

“It is only proper to assist a senior facing difficulties.”

Urheel glanced at Barg, who was expelling a profound breath of relief, and then shifted his gaze back to the securely closed portal.

“Still, I wonder if that priest might attempt an alternate approach.”

“Pardon?”

“Such as slipping out through a window.”

“…Even so, is that feasible for a priest?”

Furthermore, this particular chamber was situated on a relatively elevated floor among the guest quarters.

A fall from that height would spell severe trauma for any ordinary person.

‘Hold on.’

Barg conjured an image of Rihit’s physical frame.

While the priestly vestments tended to obscure his physique, hadn’t the man possessed an unexpectedly solid and athletic build?

Above all else…

‘He shares a close bond with Lord Lion.’

Under those circumstances, the man was fully capable of defying expectations!

Driven by that realization, Barg threw the door wide open without even bothering to knock!

And the sight met his eyes immediately.

A wide-open window accompanied by fluttering drapes.

An entirely vacant chamber.

“Well, well.”

Urheel strolled over to the window frame, surveyed the grounds below, and let out a dry, humorless chuckle.

“Just what manner of background does this young master possess that draws such characters to his doorstep?”

“…Indeed.”

Barg released a heavy sigh before trudging out of the empty room.

Regrettable though the turn of events may be…

“I suppose we have no choice but to track him down.”

“Let us proceed.”

Since the complication had already materialized, they were obligated to resolve it.

Barg and Urheel.

The pair of beastmen resolved to give chase to the elusive priest.

—

While that minor chaos unfolded elsewhere, Lion and Rikschel were indulging in a peaceful respite.

Rikschel had finally achieved his long-awaited desire to play in the sandbox!

“I assure you, I am hardly an infant…”

Despite the elder brother’s diligent protests regarding his mental maturity,

‘He is genuinely enjoying himself.’

Perhaps a portion of his consciousness followed the whims of his current physical vessel, as the elder brother sat down upon the mound of soft sand as if mesmerized, instantly immersing himself in the construction of sandcastles.

Naturally, these were far from the crude structures crafted by typical children.

“Oof.”

He sculpted a solid base, piled fine, dampened sand atop it to fashion soaring spires, and utilized small twigs to carve intricate brick patterns into the walls.

“Ugh…!”

Lion pouted slightly while concentrating intently on commanding his small hands.

Perhaps owing to his temporary childhood form, his motor control lacked its usual precision, frustrating his attempts to shape the sand precisely as intended.

Noticing his elder brother emit a heavy sigh of defeat while struggling against his own limbs, Rikschel interjected with subtle caution.

“Older Brother. Might I perhaps lend a hand?”

“Hm?”

…Gasp!

Lion abruptly woke to the realization that he had become utterly engrossed in the architecture of sandcastles.

He had actually been having fun!

‘Ridiculous, at my age?’

Granted, he naturally harbored an appreciation for crafting and stacking objects.

That specific inclination explained his deep absorption in manufacturing tasks.

Even so, he had never felt such intense enthusiasm for molding sand.

Moreover, his actual dexterity wasn’t even improving!

‘Could this be a side effect of inhabiting a child’s body?’

A thoroughly logical deduction.

Lion, suppressing a profound inward fluster, smoothly passed the twig over to Rikschel.

“Much obliged. Is this the proper method?”

“Ah, yes. Exactly like that.”

“Even with my own hands, such delicate execution proves challenging.”

“…Is that so?”

“Indeed. Apply a fraction too much pressure, and the tool bites too deeply. Yet even in your youth, your touch remains remarkably skilled.”

Rikschel’s observation brought a noticeable softening to Lion’s expression.

Under normal circumstances, such casual flattery would have rolled right off him.

Giggles.

A suppressed chuckle slipped past his lips before he could intercept it.

‘…He is rather adorable.’

Rikschel mused quietly, cataloging every nuance of Lion’s expressions.

Perhaps this viewpoint mirrored the perspective his older brother typically held when looking down at him.

He suspected this very sentiment explained why his older brother constantly hovered, attempting to shield and assist him at every turn.

Because that protective urge was precisely what pulsed through his own veins at this moment.

“It is complete!”

Having finished the intricate details with Rikschel’s assistance and polished the sections that fell short of his standards, Lion stepped back and offered a small cheer.

‘Honestly, why am I taking such genuine pride in this?’

A residual trace of internal dissonance lingered, but the immediate surge of gratification outweighed it entirely.

Besides, there was an undeniable satisfaction in partaking in playful pastimes that his hectic youth had denied him.

“As expected of you, Older Brother.”

Rikschel offered sincere praise, tenderly using a handkerchief to brush stray sand from Lion’s hands and cheeks.

“Shall we transition to indoor pastimes next?”

“Pardon? Play more?”

Was this not already sufficient?

Surely Rikschel had pressing responsibilities waiting for him… Lion began to think, before being cut off.

“Yes. To be frank, I harbored a deep desire to play with building blocks during my early years, but the relentless demands of successor training denied me, leaving a lasting regret…”

“L-let us head inside immediately!”

“Very well. Thank you.”

Rikschel, having successfully mastered the art of managing the youthful Lion, moved to scoop his older brother up once more.

“Hold on, I prefer to walk this time.”

After all, enduring the indignity of being hauled around twice in quick succession felt excessive.

Though his legs ached not at all and the transport was comfortable, being carried in such a manner felt slightly… humiliating.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. Rest assured.”

On the contrary, perhaps due to the boundless vitality of a child’s constitution, his energy reserves felt virtually inexhaustible.

He didn’t even register any notable pangs of hunger.

“Hmm…”

Rikschel pondered briefly before cautiously extending a hand downward.

“In that case, to prevent any accidental stumbles, I shall take your hand. The center of gravity for children differs significantly from adults.”

-Quite right. You nearly took a spill just moments ago, did you not?

-Had I not acted as your cushion, you might have walked away with a bruised forehead.

That argument carried undeniable weight.

Lion raised a small hand and wrapped his fingers securely around Rikschel’s palm.

His skin felt soft and warm against his fingers.

“…”

Rikschel had to exert his utmost willpower to prevent the corners of his mouth from curling upward.

‘If the Family Head were to witness this spectacle, jealousy would surely consume him.’

Feigning a deliberate cough to mask his emotional reaction, Rikschel set off at a measured, unhurried pace.

At that exact moment.

A rapid series of hand signals flashed from the nearby shrubbery.

It was Freya.

The message conveyed through her gestures was clear…

‘He managed to slip away after all.’

Priest Rihit had vanished.

Servants were actively tracking his coordinates, but the man proved remarkably elusive.

‘Just as I anticipated.’

He had foreseen this outcome to a degree, yet he had hoped to shield his older brother from such annoyances for at least one day.

Furthermore, his older brother gave no indication of wanting a reunion with Rihit anyway.

*swish*

Rikschel communicated a silent directive using precise hand and eye gestures toward his older brother.

To the fullest extent possible.

Intercept him.

“…!”

Freya nodded with such violent enthusiasm that her cone-shaped hat nearly dislodged from her head, before vanishing back into the foliage.

In earlier days, she would have tripped over her own feet even within cleared timberlands, but she now moved with genuine elven grace.

She must have polished a multitude of techniques during her prolonged absence from the estate.

‘She has actually evolved into a useful asset.’

Were she assigned directly to his older brother’s retinue, her shortcomings would now be virtually imperceptible.

“Is something amiss?”

“Not at all. Merely a minor itch upon my face brought on by the dust.”

“Let us hasten inside to cleanse your face properly.”

“Yes, Older Brother.”

Setting Rihit’s trivial disappearance aside, Rikschel and his older brother strolled back toward Rikschel’s private quarters within the mansion.

Following that, he indulged his older brother’s whims to the fullest, gently coaxing his sibling—who stubbornly insisted he lacked an appetite—into consuming a proper meal.

At last, as the hour of the evening bath arrived, the two became embroiled in a stubborn tug-of-war.

*Creak*

The entry portal swung wide open.

Rihit appeared on the threshold, panting heavily, bearing the unmistakable marks of utter exhaustion accumulated from enduring all manner of trials out in the elements.

“…So you have finally shown yourself.”

“Lord Rikschel, what madness were you concealing to subject me to such trials…”

Strained to his absolute limits by the day’s tribulations, Rihit’s voice carried an uncharacteristically sharp edge, however—

“…”

As his gaze locked onto the small child before him—who was currently cradling a fox suspected to be Lord Lion’s familiar while staring back with wide, trembling pupils—he was forced to clamp his mouth shut.

Rihit’s cognitive processes raced faster than usual, swiftly guiding him to an inescapable conclusion.

“Lord Lion…?”

Should he regard it as a stroke of unexpected fortune that he had confirmed the identity to be Lion himself rather than some concealed offspring belonging to another party?

“…Hahaha. Greetings, Priest Rihit. I can elucidate this entire situation, so if you might step inside first… hic.”

Lion attempted to address the crisis with outward composure, but—

Because his temporary physical form betrayed him.

The sentence concluded with an undignified, ringing hiccup.

Good grief… today.

Truly a relentless parade of mortifying moments.