Chapter 31

Chapter 31
## Chapter 31: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Well, if that strategy fails, I will simply select an arbitrary volume.

“Fetch the parcel for me.”

Moments later, Petrik’s assistant returned carrying the satchel of potions, causing Lion to freeze in astonishment upon inspecting it.

*Could this be…*

Is that not a Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion?

Following my initial present, I had brewed and delivered a few more over time, yet it appeared several vials remained unconsumed.

*You insisted earlier that no extravagant gifts were necessary.*

He must have been worried.

Lion accepted the elixir without the trace of a smile.

*At this stage, I can only hope something beneficial materializes, if solely to safeguard Grandfather’s standing.*

He unquestionably possessed a profound aptitude for alchemy, particularly in potion-making.

“I am departing now.”

“Safe travels, older brother.”

With a carefree mindset, Lion lightly pricked his finger using the needle he had readied.

Prick!

Having endured countless needle pricks by now, it merely produced a mild sting rather than any genuine discomfort.

Lion pressed his blood-smeared digit against the doors of the library.

Whirr!

Just as Lion recalled, a circular magic array manifested beneath his feet, followed by—

Whirrr!

…Several additional magic circles tracing themselves over the first.

Concurrently, intricate geometric designs etched themselves into the library portals, glowing with brilliant intensity.

“Pardon?”

The entrance procedure had not unfolded this way within my memory.

Flash!

“Gah!”

Before he could process the anomaly, both ceiling and floor warped violently like a whirlpool, and an excruciating migraine assaulted Lion.

Instantly, his physical form vanished into nothingness.

The final sounds to reach his ears were the panicked voices of those surrounding him…

『You have unlocked ‘The Labyrinth of Books’ achievement.』

『Intelligence has increased by 10.』

『You have secured authorization to consult all texts housed within the library.』

『Mana has permanently increased by 10!』

『A high-purity Mana Circle has successfully formed.』

*What on earth is transpiring?*

Does the process invariably induce such severe vertigo?

Achievements? A Mana Circle?

Overwhelmed by a cascade of notification chimes, Lion swiftly lost consciousness.

—

The instant Lion was swallowed into the labyrinth by an inexplicable illumination.

A massive tremor reverberated through the Asteri household’s banquet hall.

Rumble!

The grand chandelier oscillated like a pendulum, and the magical tapers that perpetually lit the estate flickered weakly.

“Kyaaak!”

A noblewoman who had been monitoring the ritual via a scrying orb collapsed, letting out a piercing shriek.

The violence of the tremor caused her to stumble, tearing the hem of her gown.

Yet she continued to wail, incapable of regaining her composure.

The violent shaking refused to cease.

“Wh-what is happening?!”

The aristocracy were not the only ones gripped by terror.

A seismic event rivaling a major earthquake threw not merely the household staff but the resident mages of the Asteri family into utter pandemonium.

“War? Is this a declaration of war?”

Elderly scholars and spellcasters unable to observe the ritual firsthand immediately assumed an invasion.

“D-Divine wrath!”

Priests lingering near the exits awaiting the conclusion of the festivities prostrated themselves on the stone flags, frantically calling upon the gods.

Meanwhile, Priest Licht, strolling through the gardens, similarly felt the shockwave.

His sole distinction from the others was his precise comprehension of the seismic disturbance’s origin.

Rather than panicking or fleeing, Licht slowly closed his eyes and intertwined his fingers in prayer.

“May no one come to harm…”

As though he had anticipated the exact catastrophe.

—

Following a brief interval of chaos.

Fortunately, the shockwaves of magical energy radiating from the library soon ebbed.

Petrik had instantly channeled the entirety of his mana to erect a protective barrier enveloping the entire domain, isolating the labyrinth zone.

Thanks to this decisive action, the tremors ceased, ensuring the safety of guests and retainers alike.

“All personnel have successfully evacuated.”

“Staff members stationed elsewhere remain unharmed aside from minor bruises…”

Captain of the Guard Rikson cast a cautious glance toward Petrik’s visage.

Under the current circumstances, the sole individual who had perished—or rather, failed to escape—was a single person.

Lion Asteri.

The eldest grandson of the lineage, whose coming-of-age ceremony had fallen on this very day.

The young master whom the Family Head secretly treasured beneath a facade of indifference.

Yet Petrik Asteri’s expression remained utterly immutable.

“Verify the status once more against the banquet attendance register.”

“Understood, Family Head.”

Without offering superfluous commentary, Rikson hurried away to alleviate Petrik’s burden.

“Rikschel.”

“…Speak, Family Head.”

“Instruct the restoration mages to treat the wounded and arrange quarters for the remaining visitors. I leave the administrative follow-up in your hands.”

“What are your intentions, Family Head?”

“I shall maintain vigil before the labyrinth.”

“…Marquis Petrik, that is exceedingly perilous. We possess zero visibility regarding the labyrinth’s internal state.”

The Second Prince, silent until this juncture, interjected.

Though his tone carried a sharp, chilly edge, his words spoke the objective truth.

An incident of this magnitude had no precedent.

“Perilous?”

Yet Petrik responded merely with a low chuckle.

The gazes of the two princes and Clarentia converged upon him.

“Are you implying that this minor obstacle poses a hazard to me?”

Astonishingly, Petrik retained complete composure.

“My initial concern was merely that our visitors might be disturbed by a minor domestic disturbance, though I hardly anticipated our esteemed guests losing their composure as well.”

He wore an expression of mild reproach, as though questioning why they were so easily rattled.

“Rikschel.”

“…Yes, Family Head.”

Rikschel bit his lower lip and forced his gaze upward.

His eyes shone bloodshot, as though forcibly suppressing tears.

Petrik rested a palm upon Rikschel’s shoulder in silence.

Bearing the heavy weight and subtle tremor, Rikschel caught his breath.

“Nothing of consequence has occurred, so attend to your duties.”

The gesture carried profound gravity.

It felt as though a fraction of the Family Head’s monumental burden had been transferred to him.

Simultaneously, comprehension dawned.

He finally grasped the emotional turmoil churning within his grandfather.

“I understand.”

Rikschel instantly steeled his resolve.

“I shall assist as well.”

Paleness clinging to his features, the Second Prince immediately stepped beside Rikschel.

The First Prince, who had done little besides tremble up to this point, followed suit, unwilling to be marginalized.

As the assembly dispersed to execute their respective duties, a voice interrupted:

“Family Head Asteri.”

“Family Head Byrdantis. Do you have further inquiries?”

“Is there any realistic probability he survived?”

“…”

“You believe he did. Understood. I will lend my assistance.”

“For what reason?”

“Pardon?”

“From the perspective of the Byrdantis house, remaining neutral offers far greater advantages than aiding our lineage.”

“I placed an advance order for a bespoke gown, and I harbor a strong aversion to ruined itineraries. Now, move along.”

Watching the young Family Head vanish into the distance, Petrik resumed his stride.

“My, what remarkable political intuition,” Elvia remarked, emerging from the shadows.

“He is not an adversary to be dismissed lightly.”

“Shall I construct a ward surrounding the perimeter of the labyrinth?”

“Proceed. Absolutely no intelligence must escape these grounds.”

Standing before the ruined framework of the labyrinth, Petrik produced an antique pocket watch.

This particular timepiece was bound to one of the myriad enchantments classified under ‘Archmage’s Benevolent Love’.

Specifically, a spatial tracking spell.

He had configured it strictly as a precaution against unforeseen contingencies…

“So this was the intended application.”

Whether this fell under the umbrella of Lion’s foresight.

Petrik offered a wry smile, fixing his gaze upon the labyrinth structure.

Without a doubt, his grandson drew breath within those walls.

“We commence exterior restoration of the labyrinth immediately.”

Though the interior remained an enigma, the outer structure required immediate stabilization.

Only then would a pathway manifest for his grandson to eventually emerge.

—

Meanwhile, deep within the interior of the labyrinth.

“Hmmmm.”

Lion, the focal point of universal anxiety, remained entirely unscathed, exactly as Petrik had projected.

Indeed, the scene resembled an idyllic picnic to any outside observer lacking context.

An expansive meadow blanketed in blossoming flora.

A blond youth reclining lazily with his arms folded beneath his head, utilizing a manuscript as a makeshift cushion.

He projected the exact image of a book-loving young aristocrat enjoying a leisurely afternoon.

“This situation is utterly absurd.”

Naturally, reality painted a vastly different picture, yet the visual remained deceiving.

Lion ran a hand through his unkempt locks.

His meticulously brushed hair was, true to form, thoroughly disheveled.

“Securing an achievement of this tier implies I have successfully cleared the labyrinth.”

He remained entirely clueless as to what actions had triggered the dungeon’s clearance.

Regardless, within the framework of ‘In the World’, labyrinths functioned strictly as skill-acquisition checkpoints.

In practical terms, they operated as dungeons—albeit dungeons deliberately avoided by the general populace.

Yet the moment Lion crossed the threshold, the dungeon-clear notification had fired, depositing him directly into this realm.

“Furthermore, this environment is explicitly a reward map.”

Having devoured ‘In the World’ obsessively in his past life, Lion recognized the location instantly.

It designated a special reward zone unlocked exclusively upon clearing a dungeon instance.

While individual dungeon aesthetics differed, the vast grassland configuration remained an immutable constant.

Upon collecting rewards in this space, a prompt would typically trigger:

『Do you wish to shatter the dungeon’s illusion?』

Followed by an affirmative option:

『Yes.』

Activating it would seamlessly transport the party back to the surface.

“…At the very least, safety is assured.”

Failing to claim rewards meant forfeiting any chance of departure, yet it simultaneously guaranteed a secure sanctuary to collect one’s thoughts.

Though he felt the sensation of a vertical drop, the passive enchantments woven into his ceremonial attire had cushioned the impact entirely.

That fact alone warranted relief.

Accordingly, he needed to calmly reconstruct the sequence of events.

How he had managed to trigger this descent.

“Normally, Lion traversed this region effortlessly. Therefore…”

What variable had changed?

“The primary factor logically points to mana.”

He had netted a meager gain of 1.

Accumulating a solitary point of mana scarcely warranted instantaneous teleportation to a high-tier reward zone.

Besides, hadn’t the proper Mana Circle only crystallized subsequent to his entry into the labyrinth?

If Lion possessed innate magical genetics of that caliber, collateral branches of the family would have treated the labyrinth like their family parlor.

His grandfather would hardly have sequestered priceless artifacts within its depths.

“Mana is not the root cause.”

Reverting to the initial premise.

*What occupied my thoughts prior to crossing the labyrinth threshold?*

I had been preoccupied with acquiring treasures and lamenting the absence of my protagonist’s signature gear.

“…Hold a moment.”

Is something amiss?

Lion’s thoughts accelerated.

The ultimate protagonist of this reality, the Warrior.

Specifically, the legendary figure who terminated the protracted conflict with the demon race half a century ago before vanishing without a trace.

*Grandfather served as the Warrior’s closest confidant. Could the heirlooms concealed by such a figure originate from the Warrior himself?*

Coupled with his sudden transmigration into the persona of Petrik’s grandson—a direct associate of the historical Warrior.

And the bizarre circumstance of the labyrinth clearing itself upon entry without manual triggers.

*Reflecting upon it, the moment of my transmigration coincided precisely with my coming-of-age ceremony.*

It required a stretch of logic, yet did the pieces not align with uncanny precision?

If that hypothesis held true…

“Could this space house my personal inventory?”

The equipment utilized by my primary character consisted of custom-crafted items I had personally assembled.

What if metaphysical possession had imbued those creations with anomalous properties?

That hypothesis tied up loose ends.

While the ‘library’ functioned as a physical repository for literature, the labyrinth itself was engineered as a fortified installation capable of storing material assets.

Consequently, if items belonging to his former character roster resided here…

“They might simply be registering as reclaimed property rather than foreign intrusion.”

Which immediately birthed a secondary contradiction.

If so, what fate befell the remaining members of the roster?

Subconsciously, Lion continued to regard the Warrior as his personal avatar.

A natural deduction, given that the character had vanished and he had inherited the vessel in that exact state.

Yet, upon rigorous analysis, the various companions from ‘Baek Yi-hyun’s roster’ remained entirely absent from the status selection window.

Not a single trace of those numerous entities existed.