Chapter 33

Chapter 33
Chapter 33: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

It was minute, yet something was undeniably rotating in a circle.

‘How bizarre.’

So this constituted the mana circle exclusive to mages.

Lion directed the energy to channel into his vision as intensely as possible.

Naturally, it proved far from simple, but Lion maintained his focus.

It marked a juncture where the concentration he had unintentionally cultivated finally yielded results.

Following a considerable duration.

Lion unsealed his eyes.

Paaat!

His pupils, infused with mana, gleamed like precious gems.

『’Expert’s Eye’ skill is temporarily enhanced.』

『Current duration is 10 minutes and 30 seconds.』

“Good. It’s done.”

Just as Lion anticipated, he could now temporarily boost the ‘Expert’s Eye’ skill utilizing mana.

By doing so, he gained the ability to perceive.

The intricate threads of mana that constituted this environment.

As expected, the majority of the locations where the three flora were cultivated functioned as traps.

Either zero threads existed, or severing them improperly would trigger a fresh incantation.

He could not yet determine what that entailed, though…

There appeared zero necessity to verify it immediately.

Lion shifted with haste.

If he traced the interwoven threads sequentially…

『■Precious ■■■…….』

『’Expert’s Eye’ skill enhanced, exposing a concealed designation!』

『Origin of Illusionary Mana Threads』

Instead of a blossom, a source of sorcery surfaced amidst a crackling noise.

Had he not studied potion brewing,

and had he not frantically harvested herbs within the Asteri Family continuously each day,

and had he not hammered, baked bread, or stitched, he would never have comprehended this outcome throughout his existence.

“It lies beneath the surface.”

Lion extracted a hoe from his inventory and commenced excavating the earth furiously surrounding the vibrant flora.

Thump, thump!

In contrast to the tender turf, the soil felt rugged.

Periodically, abrasive particles scattered off the implement’s edge and grazed his skin, yet he disregarded it entirely.

『’Expert’s Eye’ skill enhancement has 1 minute remaining.』

『Skill enhancement will conclude shortly.』

It was then, as the effect’s lifespan approached its conclusion and a sense of urgency crept in.

Click!

At the tip of the hoe, something metallic, distinct from the dirt, snagged.

“Hmm?”

Lion cleared a broader perimeter around it and hoisted the artifact out.

It constituted a box.

A container draped in mana threads resembling a spider’s web.

Its contour mirrored the reward containers retrieved from dungeons.

『10 seconds until enhancement concludes』

『9』

『8』

…….

Lion promptly sliced through the air utilizing shears.

With a *snip*, the mana threads tethered to the chest parted effortlessly.

Fortunately, as he had presumed, provided one could perceive mana, it appeared every thread could be severed.

Simultaneously.

『’Expert’s Eye’ skill enhancement is concluding.』

Shwoosh!

An unfamiliar resonance echoed, and the reward chest ascended into the atmosphere.

『Do you wish to claim the reward?』

“Yes.”

As Lion responded without hesitation, the airborne chest unlatched of its own accord.

And subsequently…

Faaat!

A brilliant radiance radiated, enveloping Lion’s physique once more.

『Item is soulbound.』

『Item has been stored within your inventory.』

『Items cannot be verified at the present location.』

‘Does this imply I must inspect the item subsequent to my departure?’

All the superior.

He possessed zero physical energy to examine anything presently anyway.

He had depleted the entirety of the mana residing within his mana circle, leaving him utterly exhausted.

Nevertheless…

“I evacuated this swiftly taking the circumstances into account.”

As Lion mustered the resolve within his unsteady limbs and regained his footing, a magic circle materialized before him, identical to the one preceding his abduction into the labyrinth.

Complex equations, as though repeatedly superimposed upon a foundational magic circle, rendering it arduous to decode.

‘I shall manage to escape.’

He would simply exit rapidly and claim he had traded it securely.

As Lion experienced a wave of relief.

『Entering Story Mode.』

『This memory cannot be skipped.』

‘What?’

A voice reverberated inside his mind, and Lion’s consciousness was swept far away.

—

The primary portal of the Asteri Family estate remained firmly bolted accompanied by a creaking resonance.

Amidst the ornate metallic bars, a security fixture of such potency that even a blade imbued with aura failed to sever was fastened.

Alongside a plaque bearing the inscription ‘Temporary Seal.’

It represented an exceptionally atypical decree, yet not a single individual voiced an objection.

It constituted Patrick’s mandate.

Consequently, the Asteri Family, in an unprecedented gesture, bolted its entrances and convened a ‘Family Meeting.’

“…….”

The atmosphere felt stifling.

It proved entirely logical, given the event that had shaken the ‘Library Labyrinth,’ the ultimate pride of the Asteri Family, and arguably the most impregnable and secure sanctuary globally.

‘……serves as the official pretext, nonetheless.’

Hoffman Asteri, a collateral branch of the Asteri Family alongside the inaugural Tower Master, cast a sideways glance toward Patrick Asteri.

The Family Head’s expression appeared more severe than the biting gales of the distant north.

“The rationale behind convening everyone here today entails…….”

Every gaze within the chamber converged upon a solitary focal point.

“You are all aware, are you not?”

“Affirmative.”

“Affirmative, Family Head.”

The incident that transpired within the Asteri Family residence,

or more precisely, the event wherein Lion Asteri was ingested by the labyrinth.

“How was the aftermath managed?”

“It was addressed as confusion instigated by a seismic tremor. Zero supplementary repercussions have been documented.”

“And the princes?”

“Both princes have consented to collaborate. The leader of the Byrdantis Family, a swordsman, has likewise pledged to preempt any fabricated gossip.”

In truth, the patriarch of the Swordsmanship Family backed the Asteri Family unconditionally.

Thanks to this, zero additional casualties occurred, restricted merely to minor injuries.

Furthermore, with the head of the Swordsmanship Family stepping forward to corroborate stories before fellow nobility, zero substantial backlash materialized.

Thus, the rumors were suppressed instantly prior to their dissemination.

It represented the authority of the Asteri Family.

“What does the Emperor proclaim?”

“I presume the First Prince delivered a report to him, but there is zero cause for concern on your part.”

“His incompetence proves beneficial during moments such as this.”

Had anyone else addressed the Emperor with such disrespect, they would have incurred severe retribution, yet because it was Patrick Asteri, everyone maintained composure.

“Intelligence has purportedly failed to reach the Temple or the Underworld. At the minimum, they remain ignorant regarding my sibling’s whereabouts.”

“Commendable execution.”

Regardless of alternative locales, details must be withheld from those two entities.

‘The Temple and the Underworld.’

The Archbishop, who grew obsessed regarding anything pertaining to heroes, alongside the Underworld, which was established as a faction by the hero’s companion.

Those two categories differ.

They maintained the intelligence apparatus to penetrate the core of the crisis.

They might even discern that Lion, that child, commands a distinct capability.

And indeed, the hero and Lion share a connection… a specific bond.

Two coincidences had already transpired.

The Hero’s Potion.

And when Lion breached the labyrinth housing the hero’s consecrated artifact, a complication arose.

Patrick, nobody else.

Not even Lion himself comprehended its nature.

Information strictly required suppression until that mystery was unraveled.

Patrick, preserving his composure, parted his lips.

“Furthermore?”

Additionally, unresolved matters remained for deliberation.

Specifically, Lion’s extraction mission.

“…….”

A distinct silence compared to beforehand blanketed the chamber.

“The labyrinth currently denies all entry. Nevertheless, dispatching supplies inward remains viable, hence we currently transmit satchels containing provisions and hydration, though they get rejected shortly thereafter. Perhaps extraction proves…”

It might border on impossibility.

Hoffman, who delivered the briefing, lapsed into silence.

Further discourse proved unnecessary.

The pivotal factor dictated that Lion’s survival remained unverified to date.

“I shall attempt dispatching maximum quantities. A solitary bag might penetrate successfully.”

While Hoffman appended supplementary commentary.

*Creeaak!*

The conference chamber portal flew wide, and a mage burst inward, yelling.

“A missive, a missive has been ejected!”

“……!”

Everyone, inclusive of Patrick, vaulted from their seating.

Favorable intelligence had arrived!

—

At the exact instant a vital assembly reached its peak.

Lion was…

‘Where resides this location?’

If his final recollection proved accurate, Lion had indeed lost consciousness subsequently entering a domain designated ‘Story Mode.’

And this presumably constituted someone’s recollection.

‘Stems it from the reward?’

While Lion deliberated, the monochrome realm commenced motion.

‘I have penetrated someone else’s physical vessel.’

Perhaps because it lacked his native physique, he failed to readily identify the individual confronting him.

Just as Lion exhaled inwardly, stifled by the muffled static, someone addressed him.

“…proves no longer requisite… Patrick, you manage it…”

Patrick? Does the proprietor of this physical form represent my grandfather?

Presuming that scenario, this visualization likely mirrors the ‘Hero’ transferring a treasure to his grandfather, Patrick.

“It lacks even reaching the juncture where… concludes entirely, why presently…”

Lion concentrated his focus to the maximum extent.

‘Damn it. I fail to perceive audibly whatsoever.’

It proved marginally simpler to catch his grandfather’s utterances given it transpired within Patrick’s memory, yet proved insufficient to extract actionable intelligence.

“Someday… will prove requisite…”

“Understood. I shall preserve it securely.”

The youthful Patrick accepted the treasure chest from the hero, and the visual field blurred once more.

He imagined catching the hero’s laughter at the absolute culmination, yet extracted zero insight from it.

Consequently, Lion was forcibly ejected from his slumber, regaining awareness.

“…….”

Awakening left him plagued by unease.

It felt as though a significant sequence had been displayed, yet ultimately, he acquired virtually zero data.

“It will prove requisite someday, and the juncture where this was bestowed upon my grandfather…”

It appeared situated during the conflict alongside the demon faction within ‘In the World.’

“Thus, the scenario wherein this artifact loses necessity, correct? Though it constitutes an indispensable item.”

Lion fumbled with the recognizable pendant and bracelet, his voice trailing off.

The hero’s treasure enshrined within the labyrinth represented precisely this ‘Ability Nullification Accessory Set.’

『Ability Nullification Accessory Set (Unmeasurable)』

* Obscures the user’s data.

These ensembles represented commodities retailed via the ‘Cash Shop’ accompanied by the ‘Information Concealment’ attribute integrated.

They commanded modest pricing, and subsequently, throughout promotional windows, they were even distributed gratis, prompting individuals wishing to mask their parameters to occasionally employ them.

‘Based on my understanding, this attribute extends beyond mere concealment.’

Information masking constituted the foundational item configuration; throughout the game’s apex, merely retaining it conferred supplementary combat experience, a delightful amenity which Lion similarly preserved for each character… nevertheless.

Those attributes appeared absent presently.

“Thus, the owner of this artifact defies identification.”

Regardless, a solitary truth remained absolute: zero further requirement existed to mask supplemental experience or combat prowess.

It likely signaled the concluding phase of the conflict against the demon faction.

“……Regardless, it proves acceptable.”

It resided entirely within historical precedent, did it not?

Furthermore, strictly speaking, these constituted artifacts I had furnished initially.

‘I remain ignorant regarding why this memory is displayed… nonetheless I shall treat it as a product warranty.’

It proved equally fortunate that the capability functioned effectively.

‘Zero detriment arises from its possession.’

It felt rather advantageous.

“Because it successfully conceals mana.”

Lion closed his vision and inspected the mana circle encircling his myocardium.

Undeniably, a solitary circle harbored mana and revolved around his chest.

However.

『Current residual mana within the mana circle remains critically deficient.』