Chapter 65

Chapter 65
Chapter 65: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

That was a fair observation.

However, since I couldn’t make heads or tails of it and hesitated to touch the cup, Freya Annya raised her voice sharply.

“Why are elves always so suspicious?”

“You little punk! Is that any way to address Lord Embrog!”

“Hmph! Just drink it already! You won’t be sorry!”

Instead, watching him snap back with such vigor……

‘He certainly acts sure of himself.’

As Embrog moved to inspect the vial in his palm, a minor wind spirit drifted over, shrouding the small container in a thin veil of mist.

“Well now. Am I supposed to just toss this back?”

“It isn’t poisoned.”

“……Lord Embrog. What is your command?”

“If we linger here any longer, we risk arriving too late.”

Having already witnessed Lion’s affinity for spirits, the assembled elves quickly reached a consensus to drink the draught without further delay and deal with the crisis.

“Hmm.”

It felt rather irregular, but since my own retainers arrived at the exact same conclusion, I had no objections left.

Gulp—!

Embrog emptied the entire digestive mixture in a single breath.

“……!”

The initial sensation hit like a sharp, sudden prickle.

It resembled aged liquor, with tiny bubbles effervescing and awakening every taste bud on my tongue.

Following that, a cool, sweet aroma drifted through my nasal passages, and a rich, syrupy sweetness coated my palate.

It was undeniably unusual, yet neither the flavor nor the fragrance was unpleasant, causing me to swallow it completely before I even realized it.

“Kruuu…!”

I even drained the container to the last drop and let out an involuntary sound.

The other elves fared much the same.

Those who had been suffering from sluggish digestion hurriedly downed the spirit-infused liquid to soothe their churning stomachs, their expressions instantly melting into ones of profound relief…….

I will pause my explanation here.

Regardless, it was undeniably a remedy of extraordinary potency.

“That went down remarkably well.”

“It seems to work wonders for indigestion. The bloating is completely gone!”

“My sincere thanks.”

I would have preferred to linger and express my gratitude at greater length, but the pressing matter at hand demanded our immediate attention.

Just as Embrog moved to ask for their indulgence once more.

“……Hm?”

An elf extended a hand toward the open doorway.

The swirling mists that had choked the interior were steadily fading away!

“How can this be?”

It defied all reason.

The situation had deteriorated to a point where a natural recovery was practically out of the question.

That specific realization had driven Embrog to take the drastic step of releasing the sylphs and undines.

Yet here we were.

“You’re wondering how it cleared up all on its own, aren’t you?”

Freya Annya inquired, striking a pose infused with unmistakable triumph.

“……Surely not.”

Only then did my gaze drop to the empty vial still clutched in my hand.

Lodged tightly within the base of the glass was what appeared to be a water spirit stone.

Embrog lifted his gaze once more to lock eyes with Lion.

“It would probably be best if you saw it with your own eyes.”

With a welcoming gesture, Lion swung the door wide and cleared the passageway leading out of the chamber.

The interior of the manor, which should have remained choked in dense vapor…….

Was remarkably pristine.

A faint lingering humidity remained, as though the cleansing was not entirely absolute, but the severe atmospheric disturbance of moments prior had vanished.

“Ah! Thank goodness!”

“The air is drying out so much faster than usual!”

The domestic staff embraced one another in shared relief, drawing long, shuddering breaths.

More astonishing than anything else, however, was this…….

The spirits were actually feeding!

“……!”

Spirits were certainly capable of consuming certain elements.

An aqueous spirit might draw sustenance from water, or a flame spirit from wood and oil.

Yet this spectacle bore little resemblance to ordinary sustenance.

No, it was radically different.

‘Aren’t those the exact draughts we just consumed?’

They mirrored the empty glass bottles still held in Embrog’s grip precisely!

“What on earth did you do?”

“The spirits appeared to be suffering from severe stagnation, so I simply brewed a digestive tonic.”

“We merely drank it ourselves, and… spirits can consume it as well?”

“I wasn’t entirely certain if it would succeed, but Freya Annya had mentioned spirit stones to me earlier.”

He offered a brief explanation, noting how the casual mention had sparked the inspiration behind his concoction.

‘Is a feat like that possible from a mere spark of inspiration?’

Even given my own extensive background in alchemy, had such a formulation been so easily attainable, the Elf Country would have developed it centuries ago.

Yet I had never so much as encountered such a potion in all my years.

Which meant this was the true caliber of Lion Asteri.

A masterpiece born entirely from the hands of an extraordinary prodigy.

“Brother! Were you in here?”

“Ah, Rikschel.”

“How are you feeling? Are you injured at all?”

“Not in the least. I am in perfect condition.”

Rikschel, appearing precisely on cue, swept his gaze over Lion’s person before turning to face Embrog.

“I was told there was quite a disturbance.”

He delivered the words with a serene smile, as though he had been fully aware of how the incident unfolded and who had brought it to a close.

The unmistakable smirk of a victor.

No other description felt quite as fitting.

“……It certainly was a lively affair.”

“There is no cause for concern, however. My brother has settled the matter entirely. Please, esteemed guests, return to your conversations in peace.”

“……We are grateful.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

As if offering a casual farewell, Rikschel added a parting remark layered with unspoken subtext.

“By now, you surely understand, don’t you? My brother possesses a ‘profound’ mastery of alchemy.”

The underlying message was transparent: cease any further pestering, seeing as the matter of academic sponsorship and alchemical assistance had already been thoroughly addressed.

“Have a pleasant evening, then.”

“…….”

A decisive and total defeat.

“Brother, you ought to head to your quarters to rest as well. Elvia mentioned she had your room prepared.”

“Very well. You’ve done well today.”

“Shall I guide you? The corridors remain rather slick.”

With a hearty laugh, Lion declined the offer, pulled several additional glass vials from his pockets, and pressed them into Embrog’s hands.

“Keep these for Endairon and the others.”

Endairon, who had maintained a quiet vigil behind Embrog throughout the commotion, stepped forward with graceful strides to sniff the vials resting in Lion’s grasp.

“I shall take my leave now.”

Having transferred the remedies to Embrog—who remained somewhat dazed by the rapid turn of events—Lion offered a polite nod and departed for his chambers.

“Such a genuinely kind human being……”

Embrog watched the youth retreat before carefully administering one of the new draughts to Endairon.

Although my Endairon had suffered no affliction, the prospect of sharing the exact same nourishment held a certain appeal.

Thanks to a single mortal, an evening that threatened to devolve into a nightmare would instead be remembered with a degree of warmth.

Or so Embrog believed.

……Or so he thought at the time.

The true potency of the formulation, however, became glaringly apparent by the following morning.

The first to recognize the transformation was none other than Embrog himself.

And the reason was impossible to overlook…….

Endairon’s coat possessed a brilliant, immaculate sheen!

“Just what… what on earth is the secret behind this creation…!”

—

While Embrog remained paralyzed by shock, a solitary elf approached the main gates of the Asteri estate.

“Open the gates. I bear a decree directly from the Elder Elf.”

The visitor had been dispatched to deliver formal compensation from the leadership to the Asteri household.

The gatekeeper studied the figure standing before the threshold.

‘Who is this individual?’

Every elf who had arrived prior to this possessed an otherworldly aura.

A mesmerizing countenance coupled with flawless hair, regardless of gender; pointed ears and youthful features masking a profound, ancient presence.

Yet this particular visitor radiated an entirely different tier of power.

Even their leader, Embrog, failed to project such an oppressive weight of authority.

Having served the Asteri family for decades, the veteran gatekeeper immediately understood that this guest was exceptional.

“Um, well…”

“Is there an issue?”

“Ah, not at all! Have you truly come solely to deliver a token of appreciation?”

The gatekeeper posed the question with utmost courtesy, anxious to avoid any misstep.

A subtle smile touched the otherwise impassable expression of the elf.

‘Not a bad reaction, for a mere gatekeeper.’

While they clearly lacked a full grasp of the circumstances, they evidently possessed an acute sense of awareness.

Perhaps guarding the dwelling of an Archmage naturally cultivated such sharp discernment.

‘A household worthy of entrusting our young ones.’

Young ones, referring to the youths who had arrived earlier.

In any case, any initial hostility had evaporated.

It was undeniably for the best that the young elves remained in a secure and sheltered environment.

The elf gracefully stepped back a half-pace, bowing slightly in formal introduction.

“Indeed. I am Tiali, a High Elf who formerly commanded the Elder’s personal vanguard. I was dispatched because our fastest traveler departed ahead with the initial conveyance.”

“Th-that’s who you are! Please forgive my utter blindness!”

The gatekeeper’s jaw dropped before he frantically motioned for a servant to come forward and escort the guest inside.

Though unfamiliar with the precise hierarchy of the elves, anyone entrusted as the captain of an Elder’s personal guard was undoubtedly a figure of immense standing.

“I deeply apologize for my inadequate welcome. Allow me to guide you inside at once.”

Fortunately, a domestic helper rushed to the scene.

Having likely received prior instructions from the gatekeeper, the servant offered a deep, respectful bow and ushered High Elf Tiali into the grand interior of the manor.

The layout of the human domicile matched what reports had described.

Human living spaces tend to be confined, arid, and largely devoid of natural spiritual resonance…

‘Hm?’

Yet this location felt remarkably distinct.

During the long journey, I had traversed countless human settlements and territorial borders.

While the route mostly adhered to woodland paths, the forests bordering human domains invariably suffered from depleted spiritual vitality, offering precious few resources to sustain a spirit’s strength during transit.

Elves could manage the strain, but the journey proved taxing upon the spirits themselves.

Had Silairon, currently perched upon my shoulder, not recently shown signs of wear upon his plumage?

‘Yet here…’

Not only intermediate entities, but even minor spirits pulsed with vitality.

The wind avian resting upon Tiali’s shoulder stretched its wings wide, visibly invigorated by the ambient environment of the estate.

And that was merely the beginning.

‘What is happening here?’

Certain spirits actually appeared healthier than they would have within the borders of the Elf Country.

Such a phenomenon defied natural laws.

Could there be a localized concentration of primal energy gathered upon these grounds?

‘An investigation is warranted.’

As a High Elf and former captain of the Elder’s vanguard, my presence here was not driven solely by the need for speed.

While Embrog had ostensibly addressed the immediate crisis…

The Elder had issued a confidential decree that had not been shared with the other delegates.

Publicly, of course, my role remained that of a simple courier delivering a gift.

“This is the chamber assigned to Lord Embrog.”

“My thanks.”

Tiali pushed open the door to Embrog’s suite and bypassed formalities entirely.

“Embrog. What transpired here while we were apart?”

“……”

Embrog offered no reply.

Instead, he remained entirely absorbed in running his hands over Endairon’s coat with an expression of intense preoccupation.

‘Did Endairon cause some manner of trouble?’

If a high-ranking spirit had unleashed its power, it was conceivable that the surrounding atmosphere had been temporarily purified.

Yet such an event should have left a trail of considerable destruction.

I sensed no residual traces of conflict.

“Embrog?”

“What on earth is this wizardry……”

Embrog muttered under his breath, still trapped in a daze as he continued to inspect the spirit.

He clearly remained oblivious to my entry, despite my voice and presence.

It was an old, frustrating habit whenever deep concentration took hold of him.

I had warned him about that tendency on countless occasions.

“Hoo.”

Tiali exhaled a long breath and nudged the wind avian resting on his shoulder into flight.

Silairon gracefully caught the air, spreading its wings to glide across the room…

Peck!

And delivered a sharp, light tap directly to the back of Embrog’s head.