Chapter 279

Chapter 279
Chapter 279: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

There exists a vast chasm between having nothing left to say and being entirely robbed of speech.

That distinction formed the initial thought inside my mind after my racing thoughts came to an abrupt halt.

‘Who on earth fed you what kind of nonsense to make you behave like this?’

The notion felt so absurd that the tempest of emotions within me instantly receded, allowing pure reason to take hold.

Without a doubt, this scheme could never have originated from the mind of my gentle-hearted older brother.

“You’ve been harboring a lot of grievances against me, haven’t you?”

“…….”

I could hardly claim otherwise.

My brother perpetually kept things concealed from me.

The hidden truths behind my illnesses, the realizations I achieved, and even the destiny I was meant to walk—he guarded every bit of it under lock and key.

The motivation behind it was singular.

Because I happened to be his younger sibling.

‘I recall wondering whether circumstances might shift once I reached adulthood.’

Perhaps my youth was the underlying issue.

If I matured slightly and gained age, would my brother find it in himself to rely upon me more often?

Such worries did cross my mind, though they never lingered.

The inevitable conclusion arrived far too quickly.

Even after crossing the threshold into adulthood and stepping into the age where one might assume the role of Family Head, my brother would still refuse to grant me even a glimpse of the truth.

The realization rendered everything utterly meaningless.

Driven by that sudden emptiness, I made an impulsive choice without fully weighing the consequences.

‘Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my brother would actually track me down.’

On this occasion, however, I had activated a Warp Scroll to reach an exceptionally distant locale precisely so my brother would fail to locate me.

The journey served a dual purpose: clearing my troubled mind and investigating a specific mystery.

Yet, anticipation of my brother appearing before my investigation could even commence had never crossed my mind.

Worse still, he arrived in such a condition.

‘Was he actually searching for me?’

His attire remained impeccably neat, down to his gloves, but his hair stood in disarray and his complexion bore a striking pallor.

Within his eyes—ordinarily bright with a playful and straightforward warmth—one could easily spot a lingering trace of anxiety.

In truth, that exact expression had already melted more than eighty percent of my stubborn resolve……

“So, your goal is to lay everything out in the open, is that correct?”

“Do you harbor any hidden complaints concerning me?”

“None whatsoever?”

“…….”

“Yet, since your frustration burns so intensely, wouldn’t this approach prove far more soothing?”

Rikschel emitted a profound sigh.

My brother possessed an uncanny knack for reading others, yet he remained remarkably inept when handling matters involving his own family.

‘No, rather than calling him inept….’

Should one describe him as anxious?

His unease flared up most noticeably whenever minor domestic disputes surfaced.

The underlying cause remained a complete mystery to me.

‘The mere fact that he swallowed such ridiculous advice without hesitation serves as absolute proof.’

With my temper now partially cooled, I turned my thoughts toward identifying the culprit who had fed my brother such wretched counsel.

“Was it Jack?”

At the inquiry, a sheen of cold sweat trickled down Lion’s nape.

‘How on earth did he figure that out?’

Given Rikschel’s keen intellect, I anticipated he might piece it together eventually, but our encounter had begun only a few moments prior.

“He certainly wouldn’t have handed over that information for free. What did you part with to secure it?”

“…….”

Well, the price paid had indeed been substantial.

After all, I practically gambled the life of my golden lion in the process.

Still…….

‘Countless avenues exist for wriggling out of such arrangements.’

Would it not suffice to merely occupy the seat, function as a figurehead president, and then subtly transfer the administrative reins away before departing?

‘Such is simply the nature of human survival.’

Regardless of how lofty your reputation might be, a clever individual could toil for a handful of years and easily revert to a peaceful existence.

With swift maneuvering, even a single year could prove sufficient.

My actions henceforth must be calibrated to spark furious opposition from the nobility!

“Are you even paying attention to my words?”

“Ah… uh-huh. I am listening closely.”

Lion offered a nod, projecting the image of someone entirely engrossed in Rikschel’s protracted reprimand.

If I manage to cultivate his profound dislike right here, this entire confrontation will draw to a close!

“Haa. Regardless, harboring any notion of inflicting harm upon you through such a bizarre method never crossed my mind. Resorting to physical violence against my own brother is unthinkable. Besides, your recovery is far from complete.”

“Does that mean you are willing to settle this through a simple conversation?”

“Certainly not.”

Lion let out a heavy sigh in response to the uncompromising declaration.

The outcome matched his expectations.

Even after orchestrating a meeting like this, the dialogue refused to flow smoothly.

‘This was entirely predictable.’

Rikschel possessed a naturally kind and gentle disposition, meaning he would inevitably reject such an overture.

That assumption could only arise because Lion remained blissfully unaware of the ruthless demeanor Rikschel adopted during official duties, though the resulting refusal proved accurate nonetheless.

…At any rate, anticipating such a hurdle, Lion had devised an alternate scheme.

Namely:

“How about settling this with a sparring match instead?”

“Haa. Even if my brother desires it, I remain disinclined…”

Engaging in idle conversation or entertaining alternative proposals held zero appeal for me.

Part of my motivation stemmed from a desire to make my brother feel the full weight of my impatience, alongside a minor fraction of my displeasure.

Consequently, just as the words to issue a harsh refusal formed on my tongue:

“If you emerge victorious, every single answer will be yours.”

“…….”

“My current condition, the exact payment I gave Jack, the events that transpired within the Great Barrier, and everything required to prepare for the days ahead. How does that sound?”

The proposition proved far too enticing to wave away.

Such a moment represented the ultimate chance to sweep away every single worry weighing on Rikschel’s shoulders, did it not?

‘The real complication lies elsewhere….’

Victory in the sparring match had to be secured by my own hand.

‘Naturally, triumph will be mine.’

The true dilemma centered on subduing my brother without causing him harm.

Furthermore, issuing such a challenge implied that my brother had likewise steeled his own resolve.

He would undoubtedly unleash his full strength throughout the bout.

Under those circumstances… the bargain felt almost too advantageous to accept without hesitation.

“Additional conditions apply.”

“Name them.”

“You must voice your internal thoughts aloud in real-time.”

“Very well…….”

“The subject matter matters not. Even trivial thoughts, such as your anticipated menu for dinner tonight or the specific trajectory of your ongoing alchemy research, will suffice.”

“…….”

That particular stipulation… carried a formidable degree of difficulty.

Lion crossed his arms, sinking into deep contemplation.

Had he ever, across the entirety of his existence, chattered idly about insignificant matters to another soul?

Not once.

His nature demanded that he rectify his own missteps independently.

Growing up in solitude since early childhood certainly contributed to that trait.

When no guiding hand existed to offer assistance, reliance on others was never an option.

“If the terms displease you, abandoning the spar remains an option.”

“…Very well, accepted.”

The concession slipped past his lips just like that?

“However.”

“Please state your terms.”

“Should victory fall to me, your departure must occur without a single word of complaint. Furthermore, you will exercise patience until the whole truth is revealed by my hand.”

“…….”

Rikschel’s temperament was precisely configured to ignite a towering rage upon hearing such a demand.

Every facet of that reaction was anticipated, yet the condition was deliberately introduced nonetheless.

Without such stakes, that stubborn individual would refuse to fight with genuine intent.

“Agreed.”

Rikschel averted his gaze, turning to look out toward the darkened exterior.

The thought of engaging in combat at this late hour had never crossed his mind.

Worse still, his opponent happened to be the very brother who occupied his thoughts with worry and deep admiration.

“Let us change locations. An outdoor training ground awaits us.”

“Lead the way.”

Yet, what kind of secluded location possessed a built-in training facility?

Lion cast his gaze about as he trailed closely behind Rikschel.

The outdoor expanse was cloaked in heavy shadows, offering only the vague outlines of rolling mountain ranges stretching as far as the eye could see like petrified waves.

‘A mountain retreat?’

True, the Asteri lineage owned numerous properties acquired across various regions, making the existence of a villa deep within this mountain range plausible… but.

‘The architecture appears rather ancient, does it not?’

Though signs of consistent upkeep were visible, the carpets and interior furnishings all bore the unmistakable patina of age.

The overall atmosphere suggested a deliberate effort to preserve a bygone era in absolute amber.

‘Could this location possibly be… that specific place?’

The very villa where my great-grandmother fled alongside my youthful grandfather.

‘Hm, the ambiance lacks that extreme degree of antiquity, however.’

At any rate, the historical details held no immediate importance, allowing the thought to slip from my mind.

Despite initiating the challenge himself, Lion harbored zero intention of accepting defeat.

‘…Though the statistical likelihood of losing remains rather high.’

Even so, executing a performance worthy of my maximum effort was the only acceptable path.

‘The timing is ideal for a practical test.’

Recent intelligence confirmed that the hero had successfully breached the Great Barrier.

An inevitable future dictated that Lion, too, must step inside that very Great Barrier.

Survival within demanded a baseline capability sufficient for self-preservation.

‘My current standing can be summarized as….’

To be entirely frank, despite acquiring both Spirit Arts and advanced magic, a genuine combat encounter had never truly tested my limits.

Even alchemy, the field where my mastery reached its absolute peak—

‘In theory, its applications extend directly into warfare.’

For instance, hurling volatile poison concoctions while utilizing flame potions to trigger massive chain explosions.

‘Naturally, discovering a method to navigate the interior of the Great Barrier safely remains the paramount objective….’

Yet achieving that feat remained impossible given my present physical constraints.

Lion continued following Rikschel while dropping his gaze to study his own palms.

In reality…

A singular loose thread was still being intentionally ignored.

That oversight stemmed from the item that underwent a ‘re-binding’ process following the dialogue with Great Duke Dragnas……

『 Sword of ■■』

-Item status currently unverified.

Reason: Required Qualifications Lacked

The armament in question was unequivocally the blade wielded by my protagonist right up to the final confrontation.

It had even transferred directly into my personal inventory through the re-binding ritual.

Once my physical condition showed slight improvement, an attempt to inspect the item yielded only that cryptic explanation alongside a denial of access due to insufficient qualifications.

The underlying cause was transparent beyond a doubt.

‘The corruption must be the root of the issue.’

Until that taint is completely purged, selecting a viable substitute remains mandatory.

That alternative required elevating my direct combat capabilities.

“We have arrived.”

Lion’s inner monologue snapped to a halt as they stepped onto the grounds of the training facility.

Departing from the heavy, solemn tension that previously filled the air, Lion consciously adopted a lighter tone to soften the ambient pressure.

“The presence of a private villa tucked away deep within these mountains comes as quite a surprise.”

“Indeed. This property is no longer actively utilized.”

Ah, Rikschel clearly possessed full awareness of their current whereabouts.

However…

‘Is there a deeper layer to this location?’

Regrettably, Rikschel offered no elaboration beyond that brief statement.

Easing the social climate further through idle banter appeared to be outside his list of priorities at the moment.

‘No matter, current priorities lie elsewhere.’

Opting against further interrogation, Lion let the matter drop, recognizing that steering the atmosphere even this far constituted notable progress.

“The match concludes the moment one party concedes defeat or loses the capacity to continue fighting.”

“The opening move belongs to you.”

“Very well.”

Lion refused to let the opening slip away.

Moreover, given Rikschel’s innate code of conduct, launching the initial strike was simply not in his nature.

“All right, Nature. Time to step up.”

“Beeeeep.”

Nature surged upward with an air of majestic grace from the safety of my embrace, while Lion summoned his mana reserves, drawing upon distant memories of cultivating a Druid class from days gone by.

Thus commenced the sparring match between the two brothers—an event that would leave Lion drowning in profound regret once the dust settled.

The primary catalyst for that remorse involved the peculiar atmosphere that lingered long after the blows ceased;

The secondary factor centered on the realization that this abandoned villa belonged to……

Lara.

It was none other than the secret sanctuary where the star-crossed lovers once hid from their disapproving parents.

—

Meanwhile, across the estate, Petrick was currently engaged in a unique endeavor.

“Kuh-heum…….”

His footsteps echoed with extraordinary stiffness as he advanced toward a specific destination.

That location proved to be:

“Good heavens, no! How did the Family Head manage to find his way into this area…!”

The kitchens of the Asteri Mansion—a domain Lion frequented almost as often as his personal quarters.

“The reason for my presence here is simple.”

A deep sense of guilt weighed heavily on Petrick’s conscience regarding his youngest grandson, prompting him to visit this space in search of a heartfelt culinary offering.

As luck would have it, the youngest member of the household appeared to hold a distinct fondness for sweet confections.

“Kuh-heum. Tell me, are there any elementary desserts a complete novice might manage to assemble?”

Driven by pure familial affection, he had cast aside his immense dignity as the Family Head to stand within the kitchen walls.

Completely oblivious to the thoroughly unfilial activities those two individuals were carrying out at his cherished daughter’s secluded villa…!