Chapter 86

Chapter 86
Chapter 86: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“If it is Rikschel Asteri.”

“Indeed. He is my younger brother.”

“Does this stem from any political motive?”

“It does.”

Clarentia stared at him in quiet astonishment.

Could it be that Lion Asteri was making a request for political gain?

‘A falsehood.’

Though their acquaintance was brief, Lion did not strike her as the sort to engage in such maneuvers.

“Elucidate further.”

Lion paused in contemplation before offering his reasoning.

“As you are aware, Rikschel has yet to come of age, but I felt it would serve him better to begin venturing out independently rather than remaining perpetually shadowed by the Family Head.”

Thus, since they were of a similar age and shared the station of a Duke’s household, he suggested they attempt to forge a bond—though the explanation steadily grew more elaborate.

In essence, his point could be distilled into a simple plea: ‘Please be good companions to my younger brother!’

It unfolded precisely as Clarentia had anticipated.

He was merely seeking a more secure way to shield his younger sibling from harm.

“Do you genuinely harbor no ambition for worldly power?”

“There are individuals far more suited to the task than myself, so why should I bother?”

His words carried a pure, unadulterated sincerity.

He seemed entirely devoid of personal ambition.

Reaching such a state of mind must have required no small amount of effort.

“You clearly hold a deep affection for your sibling.”

“Ah… well, I am his elder brother, after all.”

Lion replied with as much nonchalance as he could muster, suspecting he might be laying the sentiment on too thick.

At that response, Clarentia offered a soft, gentle smile.

‘I envy that.’

Yet, strangely, the feeling was not overwhelmingly bitter.

After all, he possessed loyal servants bound to him by ties far stronger than mere blood.

Clarentia glanced briefly toward Jasper before seamlessly shifting his gaze elsewhere.

“Very well. I understand. I shall act as you suggest.”

Noting that ample time remained before the appointed date, Lion remarked that he would dispatch the particulars through his younger brother before retiring to his chamber.

“Hah.”

Gazing out the casement window, Lion released a long, heavy sigh.

Despite bringing all his requisite instruments and even a garden hoe, gathering materials here proved impossible…

The outcome was undeniably disappointing.

Wasn’t the sheer thrill of unearthing novel items part of the inherent charm?

Encountering unfamiliar forms, experiencing sheer novelty, and figuring out the mechanics of harvesting them—

That was his true source of joy.

‘I have nothing productive to occupy my time until the deadline.’

He briefly entertained the dismal prospect of traveling to Andri to take up knitting instead.

“Young Master. Has something untoward occurred?”

Elvia, whose sharp instincts caught Lion’s sigh immediately, stepped forward to inquire.

‘Did the Duke dare make some unreasonable demand?’

If so, she was fully prepared to grab their companion and march straight back to the Asteri household.

“Well, you see…”

Making no effort to conceal his dejected posture, Lion recounted the unfortunate incident involving the avalanche.

“Ah.”

Only then did Elvia allow a gentle smile to mask her shrewder intentions.

“So you mean access has been temporarily restricted as a precaution, given that no one can predict another snowfall?”

Furthermore, it was practically guaranteed that any herbs previously growing there lay deeply buried beneath tons of snow and rendered entirely inaccessible.

From Lion’s perspective, it was a genuinely lamentable predicament.

“…Which reminds me.”

Elvia recalled a picturesque vista she had stumbled upon while scouting the surrounding mountain range.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“It is nothing of great consequence, but deep within the snowy peaks, untouched by the avalanche, I noticed a variety of things you might find appealing.”

Elvia offered the hint with a studied casualness.

She had merely ventured out for reconnaissance to ensure no hostile forces lingered near the snowy range or the Baidantis Territory to threaten him.

Fortunately, no such danger presented itself, and the recent avalanche had conveniently erased any potential threats anyway.

Just as she was preparing to retrace her steps, Elvia had caught sight of a curious discovery halfway up the slope.

An abundance of wild herbs.

Along with…

Elvia curved her lips into a mischievous grin.

The surprise would be spoiled entirely if she revealed everything at once.

‘Besides, it should be safe enough for our little puppy to play there.’

Even if it weren’t, she was fully capable of ensuring his safety should he accompany her.

“Something I might like?”

“Indeed. For instance, there were patches of Mellow Grass, often regarded as the emblem of the Baidantis Territory.”

Mellow Grass?

Lion’s ears pricked up instantly.

It was a peculiar flora whose fruit bore a striking resemblance to marshmallows, and because it thrived exclusively within the Baidantis Territory, acquiring it was notoriously difficult.

Wasn’t that precisely the missing ingredient he had lamented lacking when attempting to brew hot chocolate?

“Elvia.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Let us depart at once!”

Lion and Elvia exchanged grins of shared anticipation.

—

Crunch!

Lion’s boots left distinct impressions upon the pristine, untouched snow.

Deep within the rugged mountain range encircling the Baidantis Territory,

Lion ventured into a secluded expanse where even the tracks of wild beasts were absent.

This was entirely thanks to Elvia’s guidance.

“Oh, marvelous.”

Lion’s eyes widened as he surveyed the flora half-hidden among the glistening white drifts.

Every single one of them sparkled with potential.

This meant they were all harvestable!

‘Is this a windfall… or rather, a harvest-fall?’

The area was teeming with unfamiliar plants he had never encountered before!

Entranced as though under a spell, Lion produced his garden hoe and sickle, setting to work without delay.

『 Acquired Mellow Grass (★★) 』

-The sweet white fruit is wonderfully fluffy! It possesses a soft, faintly chewy texture much like cotton candy.

-Roasting it enhances the flavor even further.

-Base market value: 300 Shilling and upward.

『 Properties – Food, Potions 』

『☞ Click to inspect the recipe. 』

First, he carefully harvested a generous quantity of the Mellow Grass that had initially caught his eye.

He collected the pulpy fruits into separate pouches, sliced the stalks cleanly with his sickle, and stacked them neatly aside.

Momently…

『 Gathering Proficiency has advanced to Apprentice Level 9! 』

His long-stagnant gathering rank surged upward in a single bound!

‘Just as I anticipated!’

A tingling sensation akin to an electric current raced from his fingertips straight to his wrist, likely a reaction to experiencing a fresh breakthrough after such a long interval.

“Oh, and what might this be?”

That was not the end of his discoveries.

『 Acquired Snow Mountain Stone Mushroom (★) 』

-A fungus possessing a density rivaling solid stone. It is so remarkably hard that neither humans nor local beasts can manage to bite into it.

-Cherished as a prized curiosity among eccentric collectors.

-Base market value: 250 Shilling and upward.

There also grew clusters of mushrooms that resembled king oyster varieties yet possessed the rock-solid consistency of stone.

Lion meticulously scoured the snowfield, plucking them one by one with utmost care.

Elvia observed his diligence with a deeply satisfied expression.

‘He looks so genuinely overjoyed.’

When he had first dipped his toes into alchemy, she had privately assumed it was merely a coping mechanism driven by heavy pressure.

She had figured he turned to alchemy—a discipline independent of mana—simply because his magic had failed him.

Yet that supposition proved entirely incorrect.

Whether he was brewing basic remedies for Petrick or concocting far superior mixtures for her own use, the Young Master invariably wore an expression of pure contentment.

That exact reason was why she simply could not keep the location of this place a secret from him.

A hidden botanical sanctuary tucked deep within the mountains, entirely shielded from human intrusion!

As Elvia continued to watch Lion work, a peculiar anomaly caught her eye.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“What is that over yonder?”

Elvia extended a finger toward a faint reddish vapor rising from the snowy ground.

Upon closer inspection… it was not a vapor at all, but a solitary leaf!

Could it actually be radiating thermal heat? The surrounding snow had melted entirely away, exposing the bare earth beneath it.

“…!”

Lion’s eyes widened at the sight.

While it had remained dormant a moment prior, it was now glowing with a distinct radiance.

This indicated it was an advanced plant unlocked only upon achieving Apprentice Level 9 in gathering proficiency.

‘Does that mean it qualifies as at least a rare specimen?’

As one draws closer to higher proficiency tiers, the likelihood of encountering and successfully gathering rare vegetation increases proportionally.

Furthermore, the innate efficacy of such plants tends to be exceptionally potent.

Take, for example, the flame-like leaf resting before him now.

『 Snow Mountain Flame Herb 』

-Exercise extreme caution, as direct contact can induce actual thermal burns.

-Handle with care during harvesting due to potential explosion hazards!

“…”

That certainly constituted an alarming description.

The danger likely stemmed from the fact that the Flame Herb was actively generating genuine flames.

Should it trigger an explosion…

‘That reaction must originate from the root system.’

It implied that snapping the stem carelessly would likely result in a sudden detonation.

Nevertheless.

“Is this specimen truly here?”

To Lion, the threat did not appear insurmountable.

After all, Lion was currently equipped with an array of reliable tools.

First, protective gloves crafted from ‘Benevolent Love’ material.

Second, a garden hoe imbued with the essence of the Fire Spirit…

“Beep.”

And finally, the Ancient Spirit Nature, capable of manipulating the fundamental power of all elements.

Perhaps feeling the bite of the mountain chill, Nature instantly puffed out its golden fur, transforming into a neat little yellow sphere.

Its exterior appearance seemed to adapt slightly depending on prevailing environmental conditions.

Regardless, the circumstances could not have been more ideal.

These represented the textbook conditions required for harvesting such a volatile Flame Herb.

‘I am certain of success.’

Successfully harvesting this specimen would undoubtedly propel him past the threshold toward the skilled tier.

Every condition was perfectly aligned.

Lion exhaled a plume of frosty breath and cautiously lifted his hoe.

The initial priority involved clearing the snow surrounding the Flame Herb’s leaves to prevent direct thermal contact with the cold drifts.

Executing that task would be far simpler with assistance…

“Nature. Would you mind making the soil in this immediate vicinity dry and fluffy?”

With its fur fluffed to maximum capacity, Nature waddled out from its warm pouch and circled the damp patch of earth.

Simultaneously, Lion felt a faint, negligible drain upon his internal mana reserves.

『 The surrounding soil is rapidly drying due to the passive influence of Companion Spirit ‘Nature’. 』

The ground immediately encompassing the Flame Herb dried out completely, albeit within a tight radius.

“Splendid.”

As expected of a genuine Ancient Spirit.

Under normal circumstances, one would be forced to summon an Earth Spirit followed sequentially by a Water Spirit to achieve the same result, yet Nature resolved the issue in a fleeting instant.

“My thanks.”

Tucking Nature back into its cozy receptacle, Lion gripped his garden hoe once more.

The critical phase now lay in executing a precise harvest without inflicting damage upon the delicate root system.

Although the topsoil was sufficiently dry, the roots themselves would inevitably retain moisture from the surrounding permafrost, demanding a delicate touch.

Drawing upon accumulated experience, Lion gently carved away the dirt with his hoe, exposing the slender, elongated roots of the Flame Herb.

Their appearance bore a striking resemblance to the wick of a traditional candle.

Swooosh!

With practiced dexterity, Lion exerted a steady, gentle upward pull, extricating the Flame Herb while keeping its root structure completely intact.

『 Acquired Snow Mountain Flame Herb (★★) 』

-A volatile, high-temperature herb that blooms exclusively within glacial mountain ranges.

-Exercise caution, as improper handling may result in severe thermal burns.

『 Properties – Food, Potions 』

『☞ Click to inspect the recipe. 』

“Whew!”

Fortunately, no explosion occurred.

The unavoidable tension caused a delightful surge of dopamine to flood his nervous system.

‘This is the feeling! This is the true essence of the craft!’

The tactile feedback through his palms felt remarkably satisfying—vastly superior to ordinary materials—doubtless because he was handling a high-grade specimen.

Moreover, the initial star rating for a first-time harvest proved exceptionally high!

‘This is immensely enjoyable.’

The sole minor regret was that his overall proficiency level had not jumped immediately upon completion.

Still, that was hardly an issue.

After all, plenty of other targets remained waiting for him!

Naturally, as he lingered longer within the heart of the snowy range, his physical body steadily grew chilled, yet that discomfort paled in comparison to his current elation.

Furthermore…

As Lion reviewed the structural breakdown of the Flame Herb recipe, his eyes gleamed with fresh insight.

While demanding careful handling, the Flame Herb offered immense versatility across multiple applications.

Processed as a culinary ingredient, it could yield a pungent, fiery oil closely resembling chili oil.

And its utility within alchemy was, naturally, exceptionally broad.

‘I initially dismissed it as a standard Flame Herb…’

The prefix ‘Snow Mountain’ had been appended to its designation.

That single distinction guaranteed it possessed superior potency compared to ordinary variants!

Should he incorporate this specific component into his alchemical brews… the resulting creations would undoubtedly prove revolutionary.