Chapter 61

Chapter 61
## Chapter 61: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Hmm.”

Rikschel paused for a brief moment, his gaze shifting toward Freyaña.

While the boy was certainly a prominent figure within the underworld, he hardly seemed capable of posing a genuine threat to his elder brother.

More importantly… he doubted the youth harbored any such malicious intentions.

If that assessment held true, the situation remained secure.

Rikschel gave a quiet nod, sharing his perspective with Petrick.

“There is truly no one better suited to instruct in the Spirit Arts than that half-elf. This proposal merits serious consideration.”

“It certainly appears that way. However.”

Petrick turned his attention to Lion.

“What are your thoughts on the matter?”

“Hmm…”

Lion fell silent, weighing the idea.

He possessed very little natural aptitude for teaching others.

Did he not encounter considerable difficulties when his very first subordinate joined the ranks?

Of course, he had eventually accumulated sufficient experience to draft training manuals for newcomers…

“Since you mentioned extending your stay here for a little while longer, would it be possible to arrange a trial period until then?”

“An excellent suggestion. It will undoubtedly prove to be a valuable experience.”

Embrogg readily consented without hesitation.

Given that overwhelming affinity for the Spirit Arts, anyone was bound to grow fond of spirits eventually!

“Thank you. That being the case, it would be wise for everyone to spend some time getting acquainted. Perhaps our guests might enjoy exploring the village when time permits?”

“…Then, let us bring today’s discussion to a close here.”

Petrick slowly stood from his chair.

His demeanor implied that further negotiation was unnecessary now that matters were settled, yet it also signaled his willingness to defer to Lion’s wishes.

Thus, the elite elves and the Asteri Territory entered into an unusual period of coexistence spanning a few days.

—

The individuals experiencing the greatest bewilderment amid these developments were none other than the elite unit elves chosen for the mission.

‘What on earth is happening here?’

An elf distinguished by long, straight hair strode through the bustling crowd.

She had originally been dispatched here strictly in accordance with the Elder Elf’s directives to guard a specific individual.

Yet somehow, circumstances had shifted to the point where she found herself leisurely sightseeing in a human settlement.

“Lord Embrogg. Is this truly acceptable?”

“Hoho… It aligns with the Elder Elf’s wishes. Besides, the Asteri Territory happens to be one of the more comfortable regions for us to traverse, so establishing cultural exchange this time around is hardly a drawback.”

Several elves shook their heads, finding conventional human lifestyles utterly baffling.

From an elven perspective, the layout of the human village contrasted sharply with their own forest dwellings.

While elves deliberately maintained a respectful distance from one another’s personal spaces, humans lived clustered together in cramped proximity.

That was not the only point of friction.

“Get your cheap goods right here!”

“Special end-of-day discounts! You are the only one missing out if you walk away now!”

“Come inspect our fresh oranges, picked this very morning!”

“Freshly baked bread is out of the oven! Even the local nobility line up for these!”

To elves blessed with exceptionally keen hearing, the clamor of the open-air market felt akin to auditory pollution.

The constant shouting echoing from all directions left their ears ringing.

However.

After an initial wave of chaos…

They adapted to the surroundings with surprising ease!

“Could… could this actually be more pleasant than expected?”

The long-haired elf who had questioned Embrogg earlier completely reversed her stance within a single day.

In particular, that very same long-haired elf…

“Waaaaah!”

To be entirely frank, it was remarkably entertaining!

The vibrant energy and the warm demeanor of the townspeople were intoxicating.

Surprisingly, the locals harbored no hostility toward her despite her alien heritage!

“Ah, you must be the lord’s honored guest, the elven lady? Step closer and take one of these.”

Kindness was offered freely, without any underlying expectations of a reward.

“Such a polite young woman! Thank you so much!”

“Young…? Wait, exactly how old are you?”

“Oh, well. I lost count after reaching four hundred years.”

“Have a safe journey, Big Sister!”

The elf thoroughly enjoyed wandering the marketplace, accepting courteous greetings from local merchants.

What truly captivated their attention, however, was something else entirely.

*Swoosh!*

Batters coated in flour plunged into furiously bubbling oil, producing a loud, appetizing sizzle.

It was an irresistible sound that commanded the attention of anyone passing by!

They had paused directly in front of a stall specializing in fried delicacies.

What lay just beyond?

Fresh fruits were sliced and arranged neatly, while neighboring vendors pressed them into refreshing juices to hand directly to customers.

Nor did the offerings end there.

Flatbreads baked over open hearths, savory meat pies oozing rich sauces, and even mysterious fermented ales!

It constituted an astonishing culinary feast.

Naturally, such dishes had no place in the elven homeland…

At the very least, they certainly never appeared on the strict nutritional regimen assigned to this ‘elite unit’.

Such restrictions stemmed from the widespread belief that maximizing spiritual affinity required a diet kept as unadorned and unprocessed as possible.

While the scientific validity of that claim was highly questionable, obedience to tradition left them chewing on bitter greens day after day.

Elves who lacked spiritual talent fared little better.

Elven martial arts emphasized rotational momentum to amplify striking power, necessitating lean, exceptionally rigid physiques.

Consequently, plain greens were routinely paired with boiled chicken breast.

That was not to say elves universally despised meat.

Certain individuals grew so addicted to carnivorous diets that they refused to eat anything else.

None of those exceptions belonged to this particular elite unit, however.

*Gulp.*

They were forced to exercise restraint.

It was not as though they lacked appetites.

Driven by clear objectives, they had spent decades—or even centuries—suppressing their dietary desires.

Yet right before their eyes…

Such an extraordinary…

Feast of flavors.

A masterclass in visual temptation!

When faced with such a spectacle…

“Senior?”

“Negative.”

Though the senior elf attempted a stern warning, his own voice wavered.

In truth, he was teetering under the weight of an even more intense temptation and impulse.

“Oh, you needn’t purchase anything; just sample a piece.”

A kind-hearted merchant pressed a freshly baked, golden-brown meat pie directly into the hands of the bewildered elves.

The pastry, crisp on the exterior and stuffed with generous fillings, possessed considerable weight.

“How many more opportunities will I get in my lifetime to set eyes on an elf?”

The vendor chuckled, turning back to solicit other passersby as if to dismiss the gesture.

“Senior…?”

“…”

This time, even the senior elf remained utterly speechless.

What rested in their palms belonged to a completely different tier of existence compared to mere visual displays.

“Just… just a single bite!”

“Let’s do it! Just one bite won’t hurt!”

The two elves split the pastry down the middle.

Plumes of piping-hot gravy spilled from the tender bread.

The savory, sweet aroma flooded their senses, and then—

Then.

*Munch- Chew-chew-*

“…”

“…”

Their eyes flew wide open.

Human and elf alike, they froze in absolute silence, struck by a culinary revelation so profound it threatened to redefine their existence.

Having tasted an ‘explosion of flavor’ for the first time in their lives, all remaining traces of restraint shattered.

With their self-control thoroughly compromised, the pair retraced their steps to the beginning of the food street and systematically explored every vendor in sequence.

They did not regain their composure until they had sampled virtually every delicacy available.

Given their habitual reliance on small portions, raw vegetables, and unseasoned meals, a severe digestive backlash was inevitable…

“Kekeke! Another round for us, Senior!”

“Let’s keep going!”

Whatever discomfort awaited them later, one fact remained undeniable: they wore expressions of pure joy.

“Oh dear.”

Lion, who happened to be gathering basic ingredients for Freyaña’s alchemy lessons, offered a sheepish smile at the sight of their unrestrained indulgence.

‘The first alchemy potion I brew for them will definitely need to be a digestive remedy.’

He resolved to prepare a soothing hangover soup as well.

With quick steps, Lion hurried along his way.

—

Before Lion could put his plans into motion, however, the crisis manifested.

『A low-grade fire spirit is wheezing and sputtering flames from its mouth!』

『A low-grade water spirit is spitting erratic jets of water.』

『A low-grade wind spirit is spinning wildly out of control.』

The minor spirits drifting throughout the village began exhibiting bizarre, synchronized symptoms one after another.

‘Could this be…?’

Lion rushed back to the mansion, locating Freyaña, who had yet to depart the Asteri estate.

“Pardon me.”

“Gasp! You’re back already…?”

Noticing the strained atmosphere, Freyaña greeted Lion, her eyes widening in alarm.

“Did something occur outside?”

Lion recounted the unusual phenomena he had just witnessed without omission.

He concluded that obtaining accurate information from Freyaña would prove far more reliable than attempting to brief Embrogg on the unfolding chaos.

Another factor weighed on his mind…

‘If word of this reaches that particular professor, the situation will only escalate unnecessarily.’

There was no sense in inviting additional complications.

“Do you happen to understand what is happening?”

“Hmm… It sounds like the contractors—the elves—have started overindulging in rich foods and merrymaking, which is causing distress to their bonded spirits. I have a fair idea of the cause.”

“And what might that be?”

“Indigestion.”

“…Spirits suffer from indigestion as well?”

“Oh, naturally, it isn’t quite the same as ordinary physical indigestion!”

Eager to prove her usefulness, Freyaña suddenly burst with enthusiasm, lugging out a massive tome roughly the size of her own torso before flipping it open.

*Rustle.*

The thick parchment pages turned until she reached the middle chapters.

“Observe right here.”

-The deeper a spirit’s bond with its contractor, the stronger its tendency to synchronize directly with the physical condition of the contractor.

“Yet this is occurring even among the low-grade spirits?”

“They are simply the most fragile. Mid-grade spirits will likely begin reacting shortly…”

Just as Freyaña finished speaking, a fresh commotion erupted outside the doorway.

“Goodness, what sort of unnatural gale is this?”

“Brrr, it suddenly freezing cold!”

Freyaña gave an apologetic shrug.

“It is merely spiritual indigestion. Once the owners recover their physical equilibrium, the spirits will stabilize on their own. Of course, the recovery process will take longer here since we are in an urban center rather than a natural habitat… Oh, does this mean I will be forced to endure the sight of those arrogant elves for even longer?”

A fresh wave of anxiety crossed her features.

While Freyaña pondered her predicament, Lion cracked the door slightly to survey the courtyard.

What he witnessed confirmed his worst fears.

『A sylph is venting gales of wind uncontrollably!』

『An undine is generating dense, blinding fog across the grounds.』

『A salamander’s core body temperature is climbing dangerously.』

The abnormalities among the spirits were worsening by the minute.

“Sigh.”

Lion shut the door firmly once more.

‘I am going to have to intervene.’

If matters were left unchecked, the estate would soon be leveled by a succession of localized natural disasters.

Furthermore, if such a fiasco transpired on the very first day of their temporary exchange, no one would ever agree to participate in future diplomatic programs.

The initial impression of the Asteri Territory was teetering on the brink of total ruin.

‘This is a far more critical issue than I anticipated.’

His original intent had been merely to whip up a batch of hangover or digestive stew for the following day while introducing Freyaña to basic potion-making.

Having already attained the skilled tier, he could effortlessly concoct simple remedies with a flick of his wrist.

“This is precisely why novices who focus entirely on rigid dogma are utterly useless. Isn’t that right, Salamander?”

Perched upon Freyaña’s shoulder, the small salamander puffed out its chest with an air of fierce dignity.

Even so, both of them remained remarkably small and diminutive…

“Which reminds me, how are you holding up?”

“Me? I am perfectly fine, naturally. For one thing, I do not lose my senses over common street food, and I maintain my preparations at all times.”

With that declaration, Freyaña pulled an unusual item from her satchel.

“What is that?”

…It appeared to be nothing more than a plain stone.

At least, that was how it looked at first glance.

“Is this your first time laying eyes on one, Master? This is known as a spirit stone!”

“A spirit stone?”

—

*What would you like to explore next regarding Lion, Freyaña, and the elves in the Asteri Territory?*