Chapter 30

Chapter 30
Chapter 30: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“You’re curious about information regarding the clothes, aren’t you?”

“Ah…! I’m so sorry. I was so captivated by the clothes that I forgot to offer my congratulations.”

“Not at all. I completely understand. I was quite excited myself when I first received these clothes. But… are you alright?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I heard that the seamstress who made these clothes incurred the hatred of the nobles.”

“Hatred…?”

Lion didn’t beat around the bush and blurted it out directly.

“They say it’s because he’s an illegitimate child of a noble family and that he sells clothes to commoners.”

“My word, are there people who are so discerning about seamstresses these days?”

As one noblewoman covered her face with a fan and feigned exaggerated surprise, a nobleman next to her whispered nonchalantly.

“Well, you know, the people around the First Prince are quite particular about bloodline and status.”

“Ahem.”

Lion glanced fleetingly towards where the princes were.

Speaking of which, he remembered hearing that the Second Prince was also born out of wedlock.

‘It seems the conflict between the princes was also a reason for Andri’s burial.’

But then again, that wasn’t Lion’s concern.

It was for these people to judge.

“So, while it’s not difficult to introduce him, if you’re concerned about that aspect…”

“No!”

“Not at all. We have no interest in such unfair discrimination… Hoho!”

“It might be a bit embarrassing to say, but we’re people who are very interested in clothes themselves.”

He didn’t know how much of that was true, but they were the people Lion had been hoping for, if they weren’t concerned.

“Is that so. The seamstress who made the clothes for myself and my family is Andri. His atelier is in the southern part of the territory, so if you visit, you should get good results.”

“Ah!”

“I didn’t expect it, but it’s really him.”

“They say his skill was exceptional. He disappeared at some point, and it seems he was under Asteri’s favor.”

The older nobles, who remembered him, nodded at each other.

Those who didn’t know about him were mostly the young masters and young ladies, and they looked quite curious.

“He was a seamstress who was unfairly caught up in the political struggles of the nobles.”

“Yes. The atmosphere at the time was like that.”

He already knew how serious it was from what Andri had told him.

The noble families that caused the problem mobilized all their connections to persecute everything related to Andri.

After that, it was naturally buried.

Towards the nobles who wore expressions of sympathy, Lion decided to drive the point home.

“Actually, he’s become quite busy lately. After I had my clothes made, somehow word got out and reservations have been flooding in. I don’t think he’ll be able to take more than a few people.”

“Yes?”

“Have all the other people already made reservations?”

“Then, is there perhaps any remaining spot…”

“Well, I heard him say today that there were only about three slots left this year, with a big grin. What will you do?”

At that statement, invisible lightning crackled among the nobles.

They had all assumed they could have anything made, but that wasn’t the case!

‘With clothes from Andri, getting attention at a party will be a piece of cake!’

‘That’s not clothes. It’s a masterpiece! I need to book it now!’

The nobles around Lion began to cautiously steal glances at each other.

They were debating whether to leave the banquet hall right now and rush to Andri’s atelier.

It was at that moment.

“Does he take any kind of order?”

A clear, cold voice rang out.

“Gasp…! That person is!”

The nobles who had been chatting with Lion recoiled with ashen faces.

Through the vacated space, a small woman, about Lion’s age, walked in.

‘This person is…’

She was clearly someone who had been in her grandfather’s sight.

In other words, she was the new family head of the swordsmanship renowned family, wasn’t she?

‘I thought she’d be with the Rikschels, of course. Why is she here?’

Before he could ponder, the young duke of the swordsmanship family, Clarentia Bydenntis, spoke first.

“The seamstress named Andri. I asked if he takes any kind of order.”

“If I may be so bold, may I ask what kind of clothes you desire, Marquis Bydenntis?”

At that, everyone’s attention focused.

They seemed to be looking forward to the dress that the beautiful and young marquis, no matter how fearsome, would wear.

‘It will surely be a beautiful dress!’

‘No, it could be a magnificent ceremonial robe like the Asteri family’s.’

‘Since she’s still young, she might want something unconventional.’

However, everyone had to manage their expressions at what Clarentia said.

“It’s for training attire during practice. And I also need comfortable daily wear.”

“…”

To think that such a phenomenal designer would only be tasked with training clothes!

Not a beautiful dress or ceremonial robe?

“Since it is the marquis’s order, I will relay it separately. How much daily wear do you need?”

“I intend to have all new ones made. Because I can no longer wear the old ones.”

“Cough, cough! I suddenly have a cold!”

“Oh dear! Something suddenly came up… I must be going…”

Seemingly aware of the succession struggle that occurred in the swordsmanship family, everyone took a step back, pretending not to have heard.

Because of that, Lion found himself talking to Marquis Bydenntis alone, but he didn’t particularly mind.

After all, she was a customer, wasn’t she?

“You have many clothes, so it might take some time.”

“I understand. It doesn’t matter. Do you require a deposit?”

“I will deliver it through a servant after the party concludes.”

Perhaps because she didn’t ask about anything else and only inquired about whether it was possible, Clarentia nodded with satisfaction and immediately returned to her seat.

It was a very short, but intense encounter.

And as a bonus…

“All the reservations are already full. Is there anyone who would accept a waiting list spot?”

Only then did the customers… no, the nobles who had fled return and state their names and families.

After accepting a few more additional waiting list members, Lion was finally released from the party hall.

—

And so, the eventful party ended.

The highlight of the long-awaited Asteri family’s coming-of-age ceremony.

The labyrinth trial began.

“Let’s move.”

“Yes.”

Not everyone could witness this trial directly.

For safety reasons, only a select few were allowed to watch in person.

Either because they themselves were strong, or because their accompanying guards were strong.

‘It means only people of high status can see it.’

Those who went were the two princes and their guards, Rikschel, who was a direct descendant of the Asteri family. Petrick, who presided over the ceremony.

And finally, the young family head of the swordsmanship family, Clarentia Bydenntis, who had left an order earlier.

“Brother. You may leave first after the ceremony concludes. I will handle the rest.”

“Hmm, shall I? Won’t you be tired?”

“Of course. I won’t be tired by something like this.”

Of course, Rikschel and Lion had no particular thoughts.

It was that inconsequential an event.

“Haha, as expected of the eldest grandson of a renowned family famous for its magic. You don’t seem nervous at all.”

The First Prince, seeing that, slyly spoke to him, but.

“What is there for my brother to be nervous about?”

Rikschel cut him off completely.

It was vastly different from how he usually spoke to Lion.

It was cold, and frankly, a little… rude.

But it resembled their grandfather’s tone so much that it was hard for others to criticize.

‘…It should be fine, right?’

The First Prince’s behavior was already well-known, and he was a noble-centric person who indulged in luxury and revelry, so Rikschel couldn’t help but dislike him.

‘He was also deceitful.’

To bring up the ‘eldest grandson of a renowned family famous for its magic’ in front of someone who couldn’t use magic.

And in front of his grandfather, no less.

‘Is he bold, or thoughtless?’

If Rikschel hadn’t cut him off so coldly, his grandfather, who valued honor, might have done something to the prince.

Good job, Rikschel…!

In any case, the First Prince, whose words were blocked by his younger brother, didn’t try to speak to them again.

Time passed, and the ceremony began.

Lion naturally walked towards the labyrinth.

Even from outside the door, a musty smell of paper wafted out.

‘Wow, the smell of books.’

Lion covered his nose with the back of his hand and twitched his eyebrows.

The Asteri family’s library.

There were no guards.

It was an invincible library that couldn’t be plundered even if one tried.

“You know how to enter, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Lion had frequented this library since he was young.

It was like a sanctuary given to Lion, who couldn’t awaken any talent.

It was also a refuge where he could avoid the gazes of others.

“Yes. As you already know, I will explain it again. The labyrinth in this library is a fortress-type dimensional dungeon created by the first Asteri family head, Lord Lloyd Asteri…”

Petrick began to explain the labyrinth ritual in more detail.

Specifically, it was about the origin of the place and the process of the ritual.

Skipping the origin, the ritual process was roughly as follows:

1. Open the library door by infusing it with blood or magic power and enter.
2. There’s no need to worry about getting lost. Simply follow the given path, and you’ll find an altar at the end.
3. Exchange the item you brought with the item on the altar and take it with you.
4. If you covet high-level knowledge that you haven’t been granted permission to access and touch the books on the shelves, you will be sent back to the library entrance.

In any case, if you perform the ritual successfully and return, your accumulated skill will be revealed, and you will become a true adult recognized by the Asteri family.

‘Speaking of which, I’m curious.’

It was about the treasure that Petrick Asteri enshrined after the war with the demon race.

The treasure, whose identity wasn’t revealed even to Rikschel, was said to be at the end of the labyrinth, a family secret.

‘If a magic renowned family considers it a treasure, it must have considerable value even in games.’

It was probably comparable to the items on my main character in my past life.

Well, that’s irrelevant now anyway.

“And if you try to pioneer the labyrinth…”

Petrick was now explaining the precautions.

Pioneering the labyrinth.

In other words, it was about ‘clearing the dungeon.’

He said that one could enter the library labyrinth only if it wasn’t damaged.

If the library were intentionally damaged, the labyrinth would transform into a dungeon, resulting in expulsion and permanent entry ban.

For this reason, he said, no one had ever completed pioneering the labyrinth.

“…That’s all. Any questions?”

“No.”

Well, although the words are grand, it’s just a matter of leaving an item and taking the one in front of it.

It was still amazing that they could assess a person’s skill with just that.

‘But what will come out for me?’

Since it’s a potion, will a book related to alchemy come out?

He couldn’t know because everyone who had entered before was a mage.