Chapter 255

Chapter 255
Chapter 255: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Indeed.”

Lion responded casually to Rikschel’s probing inquiry.

‘I have no desire to deceive a trustworthy individual.’

After all, how else could this whole scenario be interpreted aside from the ‘potion’?

Besides, Rikschel at this moment was distinctly showing…

‘It appears he possesses some awareness.’

The single silver lining was that his knowledge did not seem entirely comprehensive.

“Is that accurate?”

“It is.”

Given that circumstance, discretion was the wiser path.

Neither digging deeper into the motivation nor adopting an overly rigid stance.

Ultimately, Rikschel would draw his own conclusions regardless of the response.

“……”

As anticipated, Rikschel remained quiet for a prolonged moment following the reply.

Lion maintained his posture, waiting patiently by the bedside without disturbing the other’s thoughts.

“……I comprehend.”

“Did that provide a sufficient explanation?”

“Yes. It did.”

Rikschel offered a gentle nod, accompanied by a faint smile.

He appeared to have formed a tentative understanding of what Lord Lion desired.

At the same time, the appropriate course of action for himself became clear.

“That is a relief. Had you failed to regain consciousness today, I intended to reach out directly to the temple.”

“Hahaha…… This marks my first time experiencing such a sudden collapse, and I offer my apologies for causing you distress.”

“Crises invariably arrive without warning, as a general rule.”

Much like myself.

Lion offered a casual shrug before rising from his chair.

Just as he concluded it was time to take his leave now that wakefulness had returned.

“Ah, would you mind sparing a brief moment?”

Rikschel sprang up from the mattress and retrieved a bulky satchel that had been tossed aside in the corner.

“This is intended as a gift. My original plan was to present it upon our initial meeting, though events took an unexpected turn.”

-Holy Water?

Before Lion could voice an inquiry regarding the offering, Tiamatrak peered from the air, catching sight of the bag’s contents.

-Is it even standard practice for priests to distribute and utilize Holy Water so freely these days?

-If memory serves, such actions were strictly restricted previously.

Presumably, current regulations remained unchanged.

“Is this something appropriate for me to accept?”

“Certainly. In truth, my initial intention was to provide a lesser quantity, but the Archbishop instructed me to offer a more generous share.”

“The Archbishop?”

In that case, accepting it posed no issue.

‘Having Holy Water on hand is always advantageous.’

Its utility remained exceptionally high across a variety of situations.

Particularly during the current period, when rumors and evidence of demonic presence were surfacing in every direction.

‘Yet the fact that the Archbishop dispatched it personally.’

Undoubtedly, it signified a deep trust in Rikschel, whom he treated with the affection of a youngest son, though…

‘One cannot help but feel a lingering curiosity on his part.’

Whether divine power lay within my capacity to wield.

Or what underlying mechanics generated the energy radiating from my person.

‘Regardless of how deeply he ponders the matter, no answers will emerge.’

In reality, even Lion held only a vague hypothesis that the phenomenon stemmed from acquiring the traits and capabilities of characters he had cultivated in the past.

Furthermore, acquiring that knowledge would alter nothing.

At present, Lion harbored zero ambition to leverage it for the sake of becoming a legendary hero.

‘If anything, it merely reinforces the impression that such a path is exhausting labor.’

Examining the eventual fate of the protagonist—the designated hero—revealed an outcome that appeared entirely unappealing.

He himself was hardly the sort to burn himself out in pursuit of renown.

Lion resolutely! wished to avoid employment of any kind.

His present investigation into the main character was driven solely by the desire to prevent a massive snowball effect down the line.

‘In any event, one can only hope the Archbishop remains free of bizarre misconceptions.’

……or so he reflected.

Simultaneously, Lion was well aware.

That the misunderstanding the Archbishop was bound to develop soon proved unavoidable.

Consequently, he could only offer a silent plea.

Please, at the very least, spare us any catastrophic misunderstandings!

Well, such concerns belonged to the future.

For the immediate moment.

“My gratitude! I shall put this to good use in my alchemical pursuits.”

The presented gift required acceptance.

Lion gathered the satchel tightly against his chest using both arms.

It possessed a notable heft, presumably because the large container was packed to capacity with Holy Water.

“Now then, since you have recovered, I shall take my leave.”

Carrying the bulky bag, Lion waddled out through the entryway.

Through the narrow opening of the door, which remained partially ajar, a commotion drifted inward.

“Y-Young Master. Allow me to carry that for you!”

“Eh? Negative. There is no need. The distance to the chamber is quite brief.”

“E-even so…… would it not prove arduous for your delicate limbs to negotiate the stairway…?”

“……That is a fair point.”

Barg, whom he had brushed off dismissively a few days prior, wore an expression of clear flustered agitation.

The sound of their minor bickering persisted for another moment before gradually tapering off.

It appeared Barg had emerged victorious.

“……Very well.”

Rikschel closed the door slowly, murmuring under his breath.

Uncertainty remained as to whether concealing this information constituted the correct choice.

He experienced a sense of betrayal toward the Archbishop, who had shown him such profound affection.

A lingering pang of guilt also tugged at him in his capacity as a priest.

While his dreams had yet to fully resume their former pattern, every surrounding circumstance pointed toward a correlation between those precognitive visions and Lord Lion.

Nevertheless, starting from this day forward.

Rikschel resolved to cease any active investigation aimed at confirming those prophetic glimpses.

Because once those suspicions were verified, the duty would inevitably arise to report everything to the wider world, entirely against Lord Lion’s wishes.

—

The Archbishop received Rikschel’s update via the communication apparatus.

In truth, the transmission contained no extraordinary disclosures.

The lingering indicators of a turbulent era still demanded thorough examination, and the decision had already been reached for the temple to manage the imperial family incident independently.

Additionally…….

-That concludes my report.

“You have performed admirably.”

Upon listening to the concise briefing, the Archbishop dismissed the remaining thoughts from his mind.

Dwelling upon the matter further served no purpose under the present circumstances.

“Indeed. Have you maintained your well-being?”

-Affirmative. Trusting that Your Grace is likewise preserving your health?

“Hoho. My schedule has been exceedingly demanding lately, yet I am dutifully following your recommended regimen of self-care, so put your mind at ease.”

The Archbishop’s lips curved upward into a gentle smile in response to the tone of genuine concern.

The impression of warmth and benevolence he projected only deepened.

‘Perhaps a touch of casual dialogue is in order.’

Notwithstanding recent events, Rikschel held a place of particular fondness in the Archbishop’s heart.

First and foremost, he represented the youngest among the youths the Archbishop had taken under his personal care.

Above all else, he possessed an upright nature that bordered on the worrisome.

In a positive sense, compassionate.

In a negative sense, utterly inflexible.

He was the very spitting image of…….

‘He bears a striking resemblance to the former Archbishop.’

For a fleeting second, the Archbishop conjured the memory of that missed face—whose voice he could no longer recall with distinct clarity—before swiftly regaining his composure.

While sentimentality had its merits.

In reality, the primary motivation behind scheduling today’s routine check-in centered entirely on this very instance of ‘casual conversation.’

Every detail that Rikschel ought to remain ignorant of, and had no reason to uncover.

Everything that the young man had stumbled upon unconsciously.

The expression in the Archbishop’s eyes gradually smoothed into serenity.

“Adapting to an environment far from the sanctuary cannot be a simple adjustment… Are you experiencing any physical illness or discomfort?”

-……Everyone extends standard courtesy toward me. No ailments have manifested.

“I see.”

A brief silence followed the response.

Rikschel was decidedly unskilled in the art of deception.

In part, that trait was a direct result of how he had been raised.

“Haha. My only worry is the possibility that you might choose to remain stationed there permanently once your assignment concludes, simply because the atmosphere proves agreeable.”

-H-How could such a course of action cross my mind? My dedication is already pledged entirely to the sanctuary and to him.

“And yet, compared to the tedious confines of the temple, that location offers an abundance of stimulating distractions, does it not? Perchance your affections have fastened upon someone?”

-Th-That is entirely out of the question! Nor should such a thing occur!

“What renders it so impossible?”

The Archbishop adopted a lighthearted tone, continuing the playful banter.

“Provided one avoids detection, the matter is essentially resolved.”

-……

“Would my own situation not be considered identical?”

Rikschel possesses a keen intellect.

He must have pieced together a fraction of my overarching strategy.

Even if the exact particulars elude him.

Consequently, the Archbishop initiated the topic by dropping that deliberate hint.

-Th-That represents an entirely different circumstance.

“In what manner does it differ?”

-The sole objective is the prevention of a chaotic era…… is that not correct?

“Hahaha. A chaotic era. Precisely so.”

The Archbishop stroked the surface of the communication device with the tips of his fingers.

“My word, my desire was to prolong our conversation, yet an urgent matter has apparently arisen, requiring my departure.”

-……! Understood. Pay no heed to affairs on this end.

“Very well. My thanks.”

With those words, the Archbishop severed the connection.

“Hmm.”

Unquestionably, an incident of some nature had transpired within the Asteri Estate.

More specifically, involving Lion Asteri.

The reasoning behind that deduction remained transparent.

Rikschel had purposefully omitted any reference to Lion Asteri while subtly implying that the current affair stood separate from his own directives.

“The situations are indeed distinct.”

Aimed at averting a chaotic age.

The foundational premise itself was flawed, naturally.

Even so, grasping this much sufficed for the present stage.

Both he and Rikschel.

Alternative, more tangible proof could be pursued from this end.

‘Young Lion operates with greater agility than I anticipated.’

Therefore, direct pressure must be minimized as far as possible.

“Regardless, the appointed hour approaches swiftly.”

When turbulent times arrive, heroes emerge.

Should that scenario materialize…….

“Ah, at this rate, punctuality shall elude me.”

Even if the individual in question constituted a discarded piece on the board, keeping the First Prince waiting was an inadvisable course of action.

The Archbishop stood up.

—

Several days had elapsed since Lion’s reversion to youth.

Having returned to his adult form, Lion inspected his physical condition, confirming that his complete suite of capabilities had successfully reverted to their standard baseline.

Access to the Mimir Forest and the Labyrinth—both subjected to temporary prohibitions—was likewise restored to his discretion.

Consequently, Lion dedicated his hours to leisurely pursuits, tending to the banana sweet potato crops within Mimir Forest as was his custom and watering the moonflower beds nestled inside the Labyrinth.

He neglected neither the routine exercise walks for Nature and Pus nor his guidance of Freya in the intricacies of alchemy.

In short, this represented the tranquil daily routine Lion had consistently desired.

A serene existence where mornings began at a late hour much like today, passing the time according to his own whims before drifting into a deep, uninterrupted slumber…….

Neigh!

Clatter.

Rumble!

……Is that truly the case?

A horse?

“Eh?”

Lion’s eyelids snapped open at the sound of unfamiliar clatter and vibration.

What meaning lay behind this disturbance?

Before the surrounding context could be fully processed.

“Awake at last?”

“……Grandfather?”

“The neighing of the steed served as your alarm. Hmm. Our destination still lies some distance away.”

……Our destination?

Lion bolted upright in haste, casting his gaze about the interior.

As anticipated, his surroundings were enclosed within the walls of a carriage, while Petrick occupied the forward bench, engrossed in a stack of documents.

Blink. Blink.

Struggling to assemble the pieces of the situation, Lion recalled a single prior exchange.

-An upcoming business trip will require your attendance.

“Hold on, if an excursion of that nature was planned, common courtesy dictated waking me beforehand……”

“What necessity was there for such a measure? Transporting both your person and your bedding simultaneously proved quite efficient.”

“……”

The method by which they managed to fit his standard bed inside the carriage remained a complete mystery.

Magic had undoubtedly been employed to modify the space.

While the underlying sentiment was understandable, still…….

“Ha, haha…… The execution was rather abrupt.”

At that remark.

Petrick lowered his paperwork and fixed his gaze upon Lion.

The expression in his eyes seemed to question whether Lion, of all individuals, possessed the standing to accuse anyone of acting ‘abruptly.’

‘……A fair assessment.’

In truth, viewed from his grandfather’s perspective, Lion’s existence was a continuous chain of unexpected developments, was it not?

The recent transformation into a child stood as prime evidence.

His grandfather must have experienced a substantial degree of shock.

The absence of a severe reprimand was itself…….

Lion dredged up a vague memory originating from the second day of that incident.

He had genuinely… deployed every conceivable display of charm to alleviate his grandfather’s underlying anxiety.

Given that it was his grandfather, the ensuing sense of anticlimax remained relatively muted.

“Hahaha. Spontaneous journeys possess a charm of their own! This marks my inaugural journey traveling alone with you, Grandfather?”

Lion pivoted the conversation smoothly, offering a bright smile.

“Hehe. It brings me gladness to witness your high spirits, Young Master. Here is your morning meal.”

“Indeed. My gratitude, Elvia.”

……Elvia?

Lion stared at Elvia as she extended a sandwich toward him with a beaming expression.

“Considering your miniature stature previously, proper nourishment was likely lacking, so I must insist you consume a generous portion.”

“……”

Ah.

Instinct provided Lion with immediate clarity.

This journey.

Or more accurately, accompanying his grandfather on a professional excursion, carried implications far beyond a simple trip.