Chapter 70

Chapter 70
Chapter 70: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Hmm?”

Lion felt a sense of bewilderment as blood trickled from his nose, completely devoid of any sharp pain.

How on earth did I manage to bring this upon myself?

‘At least when I was busy carving out that hoe, I was actually expending physical effort.’

This time, I hadn’t done a single strenuous thing.

I merely summoned a magical circle into existence and stood there passively, didn’t I?

‘Come to think of it, a strange chill seems to be creeping over me.’

Lion pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers to halt the bleeding while mentally evaluating his physical state.

I suspect a fever is setting in.

‘Surely not….’

Could it be the consequence of my current level being far too low?

Am I genuinely struggling to bear the strain of even this miniature vessel?

As that thought crossed my mind, my gaze drifted toward Nature…

He wore an expression of profound confusion as well!

Then, as if left with no alternative option, he shifted his physical state once again.

Rather than taking on a humanoid shape, he compacted himself into a much smaller, far simpler beastly form.

*Swish!*

The transformation flowed as smoothly as liquid, and what ultimately emerged was…

A plump, round little chick.

“Pfft.”

Unable to contain his amusement any longer, Lion let out a sudden burst of laughter.

Isn’t this simply too precious?

Despite holding the status of an Ancient Spirit, he bore the uncanny resemblance of a ripe yellow potato.

Nature appeared entirely dismayed by his own newly assumed form, staring down at his small wings in disbelief.

It was as if he were silently pondering, ‘Can my summoned master truly be this fragile…?’

Accepting his current reality with a resigned sort of grace, Nature reached out and gave Lion’s finger a sharp peck with his beak in an act of protest.

It was a clear gesture demanding to know what sort of reckless actions had led to this dismal outcome.

It carried the unspoken message of, ‘How dare you reduce me—one known far and wide as a Spirit King—to a state such as this?’

『 Your bleeding has ceased through the infusion of Nature’s primordial energy.』

Fortunately, it did not seem as though the entity was trying to inflict genuine harm upon him.

Even with his spiritual essence temporarily diminished, a Spirit King remained nothing less than a Spirit King, and the stubborn nosebleed vanished in an instant.

『 Your Companion Spirit harbors a deep grievance toward you.』

『 Actively resolving the grievance…』

“Alright, alright. Calm down.”

Lion gave a casual flick of his hand, brushing away the notification text that scrolled past his vision.

Nature struck his palm with his beak a few more times and sharpened his claws against his skin to make his dissatisfaction known, before finally giving up with a soft huff and settling heavily onto his hand.

‘Still, that raises the question: what became of the original character?’

Did they perish?

We are talking about an Ancient Spirit here, not just some run-of-the-mill elemental wisp.

Furthermore, the entity brought forth was the very same Nature utilized in the past, rather than some entirely separate existence.

This leaves us with only two distinct possibilities.

Either the pact dissolved because the act of summoning was no longer sustainable, or the contract came to an end because the original host drew their final breath.

‘Yet, Nature recognizes my identity….’

This complicates matters. I suppose I will simply have to revisit the topic once Nature and I are capable of having a proper conversation.

Lion dragged his sleeve across his face to clear away the remaining residue and surveyed his surroundings.

The shimmering fairy dust that had previously danced through the air flickered out of existence alongside the completion of the summoning ritual, leaving the immediate vicinity to return to its ordinary state.

“Lion! Are you unharmed?”

Observing that the magical convergence had finally settled, Petrick utilized spatial magic to materialize instantly by his side, gently wiping Lion’s face clean with a fine handkerchief.

The dried streaks of blood vanished entirely beneath the fabric of the luxurious cloth.

“Ah, Grandfather.”

“What in the world were you thinking…”

“I am quite alright. My physical shell merely experienced a brief shock. That is all.”

“….”

Despite the reassuring calmness of Lion’s tone, the depth of Petrick’s anxiety seemed to stretch endlessly upward toward the heavens.

“More importantly, this little one is my personal spirit.”

“….”

Petrick’s expression grew graver still.

‘As anticipated, he possesses prior knowledge of this.’

I introduced the creature simply in case he happened to recognize Nature, and it appears my intuition was accurate.

‘If that holds true, Grandfather….’

He is undoubtedly aware of the alternate character persona. The Druid.

Does that necessarily mean this individual is the Hero?

That particular detail remained shrouded in uncertainty.

“I see. Have you settled upon a designation for him?”

“I have chosen to call him Nature.”

“–Nature?”

Petrick cast a steady gaze down at the tiny yellow chick resting comfortably within his grandson’s palm.

Judging from the subtle resonance of the surrounding energy… there could be no doubt.

An Ancient Spirit.

It was the very same companion once bound to that specific Druid. Even the name matched precisely.

Yet, how could such a thing come to pass?

“How did you arrive at that particular name?”

“This little fellow told me himself.”

“….”

Sensing the mood growing uncomfortably heavy, Lion reached out to pat his grandfather reassuringly on the shoulder.

It was evident that the old man was wrestling with a myriad of private concerns, but dwelling on them endlessly would accomplish nothing.

“Oh dear~ To think you subjected yourself to such grueling hardship merely to bring this tiny creature into the world… my entire body aches in sympathy.”

“Ah, yes. Your physical frame must have undergone quite a severe shock. Let us return indoors without delay. Are you capable of moving under your own power?”

Should the answer be no, he was fully prepared to hoist Lion away using flight magic or a comparable method.

“Ha-ha. It stings slightly, but I can walk perfectly well. Let us head back promptly.”

The two of them swiftly made their way out from the outer perimeter of the labyrinth.

Petrick, however, was far from satisfied with merely returning; he personally escorted Lion back to his chambers, handed his care directly over to Elvia, and then hurried off to attend to his own pressing responsibilities.

“First and foremost, you must focus on obtaining adequate rest, Young Master.”

Elvia, wearing an expression of unmistakable worry, guided Lion straight toward the mattress and tucked him in.

“Understood.”

Naturally, today marked the scheduled departure of the Elves, meaning he would eventually need to rise to bid them a proper farewell, but taking a brief respite beforehand was essential.

Weariness was indeed heavy upon him, and a deep sense of drowsiness quickly began to pull him under.

‘Elvia will likely rouse me when the time comes.’

Nature, too, sought out a comfortable nook near the edge of Lion’s bed and gently closed his eyes.

Due to his miniature physical state, the drain on his reserves was practically nonexistent.

Or perhaps, driven by his naturally inquisitive nature, he was simply dipping into his own internal pool of vitality.

*Blink, blink.*

Thus, Lion kept his eyes fixed on Nature for a few quiet moments with a look of quiet satisfaction before finally drifting off to sleep.

—

Meanwhile, Petrick—who had just emerged from the labyrinth alongside Lion—found himself gripped by an intense wave of agitation unlike anything he had experienced in a considerable span of time.

He had not felt a comparable knot of dread in his chest since the harrowing period when Lion had gone missing deep within the labyrinthine tunnels.

With a hardened scowl, Petrick paced back and forth across the wooden floorboards of his study multiple times.

It was a stark departure from his usual composed demeanor, but the sheer weight of recent occurrences rendered tranquility impossible.

“…Just as I feared.”

Reaching a firm resolution at last, he retrieved a polished magical orb and established a connection with a specific individual.

The person on the other end was none other than the Elder Elf, Boaresia.

-You are initiating the contact for once, which suggests that the boy successfully achieved some manner of result?

Before long, the projection stabilized, and Boaresia’s voice drifted through with a leisurely cadence.

-Well? What tier of spirit saw fit to manifest?

“Hoo…”

Rather than answering the inquiry directly, Petrick expelled a long, heavy breath.

-Petrick?

“To what extent did you foresee this outcome?”

-Foresee what precisely? What are you driving at?

“Lion successfully summoned a spiritual entity today utilizing the very fairy dust you provided him.”

-Indeed. That is precisely why you are reaching out to me now, is it not?

“And it materialized successfully.”

-If that is the case…

“An Ancient Spirit. The exact one wielded by that Druid, no less.”

-……

The chamber plunged into an absolute hush.

-That is impossible. It cannot possibly be an Ancient Spirit.

“What makes you so certain?”

-Ancient Spirits simply do not forge pacts with individuals they have never previously encountered.

“….”

-Even supposing they had crossed paths in the past, an Ancient Spirit would invariably spend its days waiting for its original master.

“That much is true.”

The probability of it yearning for that particular Druid was undeniably high.

A Druid.

An individual whose true name remained shrouded in mystery.

He was a human who materialized out of nowhere precisely when the Hero had suffered critical injuries and begun to fall into a state of ‘Corruption’, stepping forward to rescue him from the brink.

He had introduced himself simply as a proficient practitioner of the druidic arts, later presenting the newly awakened Hero merely as an acquaintance he had crossed paths with.

Possessing a naturally gentle disposition coupled with an extraordinary affinity for spirits, he journeyed alongside the Hero for a brief duration with the explicit permission of the Elder Elf.

He undoubtedly stood firmly on the side of the Hero, yet he remained classified among those anonymous ‘Supporters’ whose backgrounds were entirely unknown.

Furthermore, the sheer magnitude of his strength…

‘Had he truly chosen to unleash an Ancient Spirit, his underlying potential would have rivaled that of the Hero himself.’

Yet, Lion had not only managed to successfully brew the legendary healing potion of the Hero, but he had now gone so far as to summon the personal spirits of those connected to that era.

‘What on earth… what manner of future awaits us from this point forward.’

-Petrick. While I cannot pretend to fathom the full scope of your thoughts, you are contacting me because you require counsel. In that event, I, having witnessed far too many years, can offer a word of advice.

The voice paused for a brief beat before resuming with solemn gravity.

-The mere fact that an Ancient Spirit has seen fit to select a new master implies that profound trials lie directly ahead. What shall we do if the tragedy of fifty years ago repeats itself once more?

“….”

-Never let it happen. You must not permit the sacrifice of another soul.

The tone of the Elder Elf turned chillingly cold, though it carried an underlying undertone that hinted at a bitter sort of mirth.

Petrick understood the root of that reaction all too well.

Within that fleeting window of time long ago, the Elder Elf had grown deeply attached to that nameless Druid.

Even by ordinary human standards, their time together had been remarkably brief, yet they had forged a bond of inseparable camaraderie during that era.

And yet…

-You need not offer me your pity. It was merely a transient tether in the grand scheme of things.

“Indeed.”

Who among them had not lost someone dear during that devastating conflict?

They parted ways, vanished into the ether, perished in battle, or were simply lost to time.

That cruel fate had visited the Elder Elf as well.

-Ahem, let us cease dwelling on the ghosts of a bygone era. I shall instruct our younger kin to check upon your grandson’s well-being prior to our departure.

Very well then. Should you find a spare moment later on, I suppose I wouldn’t mind an opportunity to converse with my grandson again. With that rather perfunctory farewell, Boaresia terminated the magical connection.

Naturally, Petrick harbored zero intention of presenting his grandson to Boaresia for inspection—not even in the slightest degree.

“This situation is truly…”

It was clear he had inadvertently struck a deeply sensitive nerve within the Elder Elf.

‘Elves.’

There is a distinct rationale behind the way they deliberately draw a firm line by explicitly identifying themselves as separate from the mortal human race.

It is undoubtedly born of tragedies precisely like that one.

At any rate… did he mention dispatching someone to check on Lion?

My grandson must be fast asleep by now, completely exhausted from the ordeal.

‘Surely they wouldn’t resort to waking him by force.’

He received a direct directive from the Elder Elf, so he will undoubtedly exercise appropriate discretion.

With that reassuring thought, Petrick picked up his quill once more.

After all, he still had a mountain of tasks ahead of him if he wished to properly safeguard Lion.

His duty extended past merely protecting the Hero; the Hero’s Supporters warranted equal vigilance.

Compiling accurate intelligence regarding their movements was an absolute necessity.

—

If there was one critical variable Petrick had completely underestimated, it was the sheer, obsessive reverence higher-level Spirit Masters held toward Ancient Spirits.

*Gulp!*

Embrogh and Tiali were huddled together just outside Lion’s bedchamber, whispering frantically to one another.

Judging strictly by their current behavior, they displayed a frivolous streak that seemed entirely unbefitting of High Elves, but…

When weighed against the monumental events of the day, their restless excitement was somewhat understandable.

“Did you hear him? He said it was an absolute Ancient Spirit! We simply must lay eyes on it with our own senses!”

“Mhm! I completely agree with you!”

“Seeing as Lion is currently fast asleep, how about we slip inside for a quiet peek? We can technically claim we were just verifying his health as the Elder commanded.”

“Mhm! That sounds like a brilliant plan.”

Their eyes were practically dilated with unconcealed anticipation.

An Ancient Spirit!

A legendary entity that ordinary Elves might consider themselves fortunate to lay eyes upon even once throughout the span of their long lives!

And as if that weren’t enough?

Rumor dictated that merely standing in the physical proximity of an Ancient Spirit could elevate one’s inherent Spirit Affinity and even grant a surge of pristine vitality.

Whether those old tales held any real truth or not, taking a brief look couldn’t possibly cause any harm, could it?

More crucially, if they let this moment slip away, when would such an extraordinary window of opportunity ever present itself again!

Today was the exact day they were scheduled to pack up and leave.

“Alright, on the count of three, we’re going to slide the latch open quietly.”

One, two.

*Creeaak!*

“Oof.”

Regrettably for them, their clandestine infiltration was doomed from the start.

Without warning, the heavy timber door swung wide open because Lion had chosen that exact moment to wake up and step outside.

“….”

The stealthy movements of the two intruders froze dead in their tracks, and they instantly snapped into stiff, polite bows as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

“You have awakened. We were merely waiting here for you.”

“Yes. That is precisely the case.”

Although their prior posture made it blindingly obvious that they had been attempting to sneak directly into his quarters, Lion elected to let the matter slide for the time being.

Before taking his leave of the room earlier, Elvia had offered him a timely piece of advice.

“Young Master. There are two individuals with excessively pointed ears… or rather, Elves, lingering just outside your threshold.”

“Oh?”

“Indeed. They appear to possess a rather overwhelming array of inquiries directed at you, though you are under no obligation to indulge every single one of them.”

In simpler terms, entertaining them carried a high probability of becoming an immense nuisance.

‘Their gazes look positively feral.’

Sure enough, a distinct glint of unhinged obsession was clearly discernible within the eyes of the two waiting Elves.