Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Chapter 41: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Lion paused for a brief moment before diving into the events of the past.

When consciousness finally returned to him, he found himself standing at the absolute terminus of the labyrinth, having assumed full authority as its master. Naturally, repairing the structural damage took significantly longer than anticipated.

“Are you claiming that you became the master of the labyrinth?”

“Yeah. Honestly, the exact process is a bit hazy.”

Lion deliberately chose to omit any mention of the incidents connected to the ‘Story Mode incident’ as a precaution.

After all, a mere hypothesis remained just that—a hypothesis devoid of concrete proof.

He figured that introducing speculative details would only muddy the waters of the conversation.

“Is there any tangible proof to support your claim?”

In response to Petrick’s direct inquiry, Lion maintained his composure.

“Without my explicit authorization, entry to the library is strictly barred. And…”

Faking the motion of pulling an item from his garment, Lion laid one of the ability-suppressing bracelets onto Petrick’s polished desk.

The accessory, impossible to mistake for a mere counterfeit, caught the light with an eerie, distinctive sheen.

“I managed to recover this.”

Recognition dawned in Rikschel’s eyes, causing them to widen considerably.

“Could this possibly be… the very artifact reputed to be kept under lock and key by the Family Head?”

Petrick exhaled a heavy breath, reaching forward to inspect the bracelet closely.

“Indeed, it is genuine.”

He had laid eyes on it only twice in his lifetime: once when it was handed down by the Hero, and again when he placed it securely inside its storage vault.

Even so, he was far from someone who could be easily fooled by a clever imitation.

“If that one is here, the piece resting around your throat must be its counterpart.”

“Precisely.”

Lion readily confirmed the deduction.

Meanwhile, the other two men in the room found themselves grappling with deep anxiety.

One brother fretted that his older sibling, newly crowned as the labyrinth’s master, would inevitably stumble headfirst into bizarre and dangerous troubles once more.

The other, Petrick, was struggling with a different realization entirely…

He now held concrete confirmation that his grandson, Lion, was inextricably linked to the legendary “Hero.”

He had formulated the “Hero’s Potion,” been guided deep into the maze by the “Hero’s Treasure,” and subsequently chosen by that very artifact.

Could such a precise sequence of events ever be chalked up to mere coincidence?

Unlikely. This was the work of pure destiny.

‘And yet, here Lion stands…’

Channeling his mana, Petrick thoroughly scanned Lion’s physical vessel.

True to expectation, not a shred of active mana could be detected.

“Keep hold of that treasure. The Hero never specified its exact function, but he insisted it would prove vital to someone down the line.”

“Understood.”

Someone would need it.

In his mind’s eye, Lion retraced the echoes of the conversation from ‘Story Mode.’

Just two simple phrases: ‘Someday’ and ‘needed.’

The underlying message remained entirely consistent.

‘That means the trials I endured back then were genuinely real events after all.’

With a grave expression, Rikschel spoke up.

“Family Head. If all of this proves to be true…”

“If this leaks, it spells trouble. We will lock down all related information as tightly as possible.”

“Understood. In that case, my first priority is fabricating a proper alibi to account for the past month. Brother, please excuse me for a moment.”

“Take care. See you at dinner.”

“…!”

Rikschel offered a grateful nod, looking thoroughly moved by those simple words before hurrying out of the room.

That left only Lion and Petrick behind.

“Um, Grandfather.”

“What is it? Are you feeling under the weather after all?”

“No, nothing like that. I actually acquired something else within the labyrinth, aside from the main treasure.”

With that, Lion drew a worn, weathered piece of parchment from his pocket.

“…!”

It was Sylvia’s contract.

Petrick let out a low, weary sigh the moment his eyes landed on the document.

It was the exact outcome he had dreaded, and now it had materialized.

This single piece of parchment served as undeniable proof that Lion had indeed claimed mastery over the labyrinth.

Though the underlying reasons remained murky, and Lion himself seemed largely oblivious to the grander mechanics…

One critical fact remained undeniable.

A swarm of bothersome opportunists would soon be descending upon Lion.

Fully aware of these looming complications, Lion pressed forward without altering his expression in the least.

“I’ve read through the terms written here. It is… a binding agreement between the witch and the former Family Head.”

“That is correct.”

“And that witch happened to be Granny Sylvia.”

“Correct again.”

The moment to finally pull back the curtain on Elvia’s true identity had arrived.

There was no sense in keeping up the charade any longer.

Just as Petrick prepared to voice the truth himself…

Lion calmly beat him to it.

“She goes by Elvia these days, doesn’t she?”

“…You knew?”

“Not right from the beginning, of course.”

In reality, a faint suspicion had lingered since the very first day he laid eyes on Elvia, though Lion carefully massaged the timeline to sound plausible.

“…So when you originally came asking for a higher-tier potion, I genuinely thought you were just embarking on a youthful romance…”

“Not quite.”

“Right. Exactly.”

Frankly, this was slightly regrettable; he had sincerely hoped his grandfather might enjoy a peaceful, happy twilight of his life.

‘Though, when you’ve known someone since infancy, things get complicated.’

At that age, forging a deep friendship first might naturally blur the lines of romance, wouldn’t it?

“Anyway, my suspicions were only a guess back then, but seeing this contract confirmed it beyond a doubt.”

“I see. But why bring this specific document to me?”

“Grandfather. No… I am asking for the Family Head’s official permission.”

Family Head.

The formal title slipped deliberately past Lion’s lips.

Narrowing his eyes, Petrick fixed a sharp gaze upon his grandson.

“Go on. Speak.”

Pausing for a heartbeat, Lion steadily voiced his intentions.

“I intend to alter the conditions set within this contract.”

“And your reasoning?”

Had he been speaking strictly to his grandfather on a personal level, an emotional appeal might have worked.

He could have argued that serving the family faithfully for centuries was more than enough payment.

However.

‘Right now, I am addressing the Family Head.’

Because of that distinction, personal sentiment would hold zero weight.

To Petrick Asteri, the reigning ‘Duke,’ Sylvia was fundamentally a witch.

She was a living “monster” possessing the terrifying capacity to reduce an entire village to ash with a single breath or a single incantation.

A being born from the forbidden union of a demon and a human.

In the eyes of the realm, she represented a clear danger to the Asteri Dukedom and the Empire at large.

Perhaps that very reality was why his grandfather, as an individual, could never openly assist Sylvia, no matter how much he might have wished to.

‘Of course, the primary hurdle was likely that he simply couldn’t locate the contract in the first place.’

Therefore, this tool had to be utilized.

It was what Lion had successfully secured from the depths.

Only by taking this route could he offer Sylvia genuine help.

“Because as the master of the labyrinth, this contract has officially become my personal property.”

“…”

A faint, knowing smile touched the corners of Petrick’s mouth.

‘Just whose blood runs through this child to make him so remarkably soft-hearted?’

Claiming mastery over the labyrinth granted immense power, but it also carried crushing responsibilities.

From a purely practical standpoint, keeping Sylvia’s contract locked down tightly was unequivocally the advantageous move.

It meant holding absolute command over a terrifying force of subordinates.

Yet his own flesh and blood, Lion, was entirely preoccupied with finding a way to rescue Sylvia from her predicament.

‘He surely arrived at this conclusion only after securing the document.’

He must have recognized that the situation demanded official administrative handling, and that he would need to tackle it head-on in his capacity as the Family Head.

‘Impressive.’

To possess such sharp operational awareness was one thing.

Still, yielding too easily would not do.

Lion undoubtedly understood that dynamic as well.

‘Very well. I will grant it.’

Acting as both a doting grandfather and the head of the house.

“Even though you have claimed dominion over the labyrinth, that contract fundamentally belongs to Sylvia and the previous Family Head. Furthermore, you remain a subject of this household.”

“That is true. I am a member of the family. Which is precisely why I am laying claim to it.”

“Oh?”

Despite Petrick’s sharp, testing tone, Lion didn’t flinch or hesitate for a second.

Naturally, he had solid grounds to stand on!

“Because I acquired the contract through the proper ritual.”

Any artifacts or possessions claimed via a formal ritual remain the eternal property of the individual who completed the coming-of-age ceremony.

Such was the unyielding tradition of the Asteri lineage.

And what about Lion, who had successfully won the contract through these exact means?

Naturally, he held full executive authority to do as he pleased with the document.

Blessed with the status of labyrinth master and rooted firmly as an Asteri family member.

“…That argument holds water. Very well. Since the ownership is legally yours, you may dispose of it however you see fit. However, understand that you will shoulder the full weight of the consequences.”

“Thank you.”

Though the phrasing remained clipped and stern, the official permission had been granted.

And Lion was far too pragmatic to use such a powerful instrument recklessly.

“That aside…”

“Is there another issue, Grandfather?”

Could another hurdle be waiting?

“Knowing your tendencies, you’ll undoubtedly attempt a direct dialogue with Sylvia to hammer out the new terms.”

“Naturally. Isn’t that the most sensible approach?”

He figured that if the contract was going to be rewritten for the better, sitting down for a face-to-face negotiation was the most direct path forward.

“Hmm.”

Petrick’s expression twisted into something curiously complex for a fleeting second.

Merely months prior, Elvia—no, Sylvia—had been desperate to flee the family estate entirely if not for the binding shackles of that very contract.

She had grown profoundly exhausted by the endless, repeating cycle of her existence.

And yet.

“Lately, I find myself having quite a bit of fun.”

Elvia was notoriously incapable of falsehoods.

Therefore, that sentiment had to be entirely genuine.

Her monotonous life had finally found color and amusement, entirely thanks to her interactions with his grandson.

Of course, had she been an ordinary mortal, she would have bolted the moment the ink dried on a rewritten contract…

Yet her opponent was anything but ordinary; she was an ancient witch.

‘Not to mention, Sylvia possesses a rather eccentric temperament.’

“No, pay me no mind. Go ahead and discuss it directly, then report back to me with the outcome.”

“…Understood.”

Is he deliberately hiding something from me?

Lion offered a puzzled tilt of his head.

“Right then, you’ve earned your rest.”

While his prickly nature prevented him from actually saying “Sleep well,” Lion easily read between the lines.

“I plan to catch up on sleep, wake up ridiculously late, and lounge around completely unproductive for a good while.”

“Do as you like.”

The sheer honesty of the remark brought a sudden, uncontainable chuckle from Petrick.

At long last, the grueling month of sleepless tension had drawn to a close.

—

Time marched forward, and several days slipped by since their triumphant return from the labyrinth’s depths.

True to his word, Lion dedicated his days to sprawling out comfortably, gorging on exquisite meals, and catching up on deep, uninterrupted sleep.

The entire household had practically ordered him to take it easy.

Naturally, Lion saw no reason to argue.

After all, spending an entire month away from the comforts of home had taken a toll.

“Ah, nothing beats this level of comfort.”

No one nagging him, and flawless meals magically appearing without him lifting a finger!

He had come to appreciate just how sweet ordinary daily life truly was during his time away.

‘Still, it’s suspiciously quiet.’

Even if whispers of his exploits had leaked out, not a single outsider had come knocking at his door.

Rikschel must have moved with incredible speed to lock things down.

‘Or perhaps any stray inquiries are being intercepted and handled long before they ever reach my doorstep.’

Regardless of the mechanics, zero active threats currently troubled Lion’s peace.

Well, aside from one minor annoyance.

“Elvia.”

Lion called out into the open air, but the witch failed to materialize.

He mentally flashed back to the moment he tried summoning Elvia using the newly secured contract right after finishing his debriefing with Petrick a few days prior.

“Young Master. My sincere congratulations on your safe return.”

“Thanks. But there’s something I need to discuss regarding the labyrinth…”

“I’ve gone ahead and reserved a luxury suite at Hotel Easter to help you decompress. Wouldn’t it be far wiser to head over there and rest first?”

“I appreciate the thought, but about the contract…”

“Ah. Before we touch on that, you really ought to schedule a comprehensive physical evaluation with Mr. Hoffman.”

“No, listen, the con—”

“I’ll instruct the head chef to whip up something exceptionally nourishing for you.”

“…”

She had skillfully sidestepped the topic entirely, and now she actively avoided showing her face when called.

“Haaa.”

Could it be that she wasn’t mentally prepared to face the changes yet, and his eagerness had come across as pushy and inconsiderate?

Even so, the adjustments being made to the contract were overwhelmingly positive.

It felt unlikely that someone as sharp as Elvia wouldn’t realize that fact.

“Guess I have no choice. I’ll just have to wait her out.”

After all, the legal ownership of the contract now rested firmly in his hands, and he had zero intention of handing it over or letting anyone else tamper with it.

“I’ll deal with it when the time is right.”

Bounding off the mattress with renewed energy, Lion shrugged on a fresh jacket.

He decided that today marked the official end of his house arrest.

Naturally, his family would likely attempt a half-hearted effort to keep him indoors, but he had pressing matters to attend to.

He needed to let his circle of acquaintances know he was alive and well, and a visit to Hoffman’s Magic Tower was long overdue.

‘They always say the unemployed are the ones with the tightest schedules.’

Plus, while he was out and about, he planned to engineer a foolproof excuse to draw Elvia out of hiding.