Chapter 91

Chapter 91
## Chapter 91: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Petrick furrowed his brow in response to Lion’s sudden declaration.

“You’ve just returned from an exhausting journey, and you’re already planning a trip to the forest before your travel fatigue has even begun to fade?”

“Yes.”

“For what reason?”

Petrick resolved not to let the matter drop so easily this time.

First, he was concerned for Lion’s overall well-being.

Second.

‘This rascal is at it again…’

The boy hadn’t bothered to send a single letter the entire time he was away, and now that he was finally back, he intended to dash off to the woods without even sharing a single meal together.

Indeed.

Petrick was genuinely displeased!

Lion opened his mouth to offer an immediate explanation, then checked himself and hesitated.

It was true that he had been acting rather recklessly in his eagerness regarding Rikschel.

Lion glanced upward at his grandfather.

A visage etched with austere sternness, radiating a subtle, sharp pressure.

It was the formidable expression that struck fear into the hearts of everyone in the household, and yet…

He understood the truth.

He knew quite well that his grandfather was deeply disappointed!

‘Ah, goodness.’

Perhaps because he had recently spent considerable time in the company of Clarentia, whose demeanor was exceptionally tranquil, he had completely overlooked his grandfather’s feelings.

Lion cleared his throat as if preparing to elaborate, then hastily softened his phrasing.

“I can explain all of that over dinner.”

“…Hmm.”

For a brief second, the heavy pressure surrounding Petrick eased just a fraction.

Elvia, observing the exchange with a satisfied smile, chimed in subtly.

“The head chef received word of the Young Master’s safe return and has prepared an abundant feast featuring all manner of dishes.”

“Ah! Just talking about food makes me ravenous. Will you be joining us for dinner, Grandfather?”

Lion seized upon Elvia’s remark and delivered the final push.

Specifically emphasizing that he was starving.

“Hmm!”

Petrick’s eyes widened by a fraction.

His cherished grandson—whom he treasured so dearly he would gladly keep him in his very eyes—was actually hungry?

‘Did those people fail to provide proper meals within the Byrdentis Family?’

Or perhaps the local cuisine simply did not agree with his palate.

The food from those regions was always notoriously heavy on salt and oil.

Could the boy be suffering from stomach cramps?

‘Those insolent scoundrels. They should have taken meticulous care of an honored guest!’

Come to think of it, his grandson’s face did appear slightly more gaunt since returning from the trip.

For an instant, Petrick’s imagination conjured a vivid picture of Lion wasting away, barely able to touch his food for days on end.

In reality, Lion had never experienced anything remotely resembling that.

Hadn’t the boy been known to wake up from a deep sleep solely to consume a midnight snack?

Nevertheless, Petrick, once swept away by his own imaginative anxieties, grew increasingly frantic.

“Let us make haste.”

Petrick raised a hand and executed a graceful wave in the air.

At that moment…

Whoosh!

A gentle gale swirled beneath his boots, lifting his frame effortlessly off the ground.

Elvia, recognizing the manifestation of magic, halted in her tracks and offered a respectful bow.

“Then, I wish you both a pleasant mealtime.”

“Pardon?”

That served as the final parting word.

Whoosh!

The forms of Lion and Petrick surged forward at great speed toward the dining hall!

—

Following that, a truly tempestuous dining experience ensued.

“Eat up.”

“Is that truly all you intend to consume?”

“Try this as well.”

“…”

Lion stared blankly at the towering mounds of food accumulating across the bowls and individual platters, all concentrated squarely in front of his seat.

In his haste earlier, he had uttered the ultimate forbidden phrase.

‘I should never have mentioned that I was hungry.’

Lion could only chuckle helplessly at the endless procession of dishes arriving at the table.

Though he felt thoroughly stuffed and the sheer volume of food before him bordered on overwhelming, the sensation was far from unpleasant.

On the contrary… it felt wonderful.

This was the first time in his life he had ever been the recipient of such overwhelming affection.

“Ah, during my visit to my grandmother’s house, I recall eating far too much.”

“Snacks, full meals, chicken, fruit, traditional rice cakes, sweet rice punch… Good grief.”

“One must strictly avoid mentioning hunger in the presence of one’s grandparents.”

That was the universal lament of those returning from visiting their elders in the countryside.

They invariably gained a significant amount of weight in mere days, returning home burdened with half-forced side dishes they could never hope to finish.

‘So this is what that experience feels like.’

For Lion, formerly known as Baek Yi-hyun, the very concept of a true ‘home’ had never existed.

A modest cot, a utilitarian desk for a computer, and a few garments barely hanging from a makeshift rack.

A cramped kitchen coupled with a tiny refrigerator, flanked by stacks of two-liter water jugs that obstructed any movement.

These were the recurring characteristics of every cheap lodging they hopped between whenever a lease expired.

That constituted his home.

As for a hometown, or the warm abode of parents.

No such thing as a “Happy Home” filled with joy and comfort had ever been his.

Consequently, during his youth, he used to harbor resentment toward peers who complained about such domestic pampering.

It was an expression of bitterness, jealousy, and deep envy for things beyond his grasp.

Naturally, as an adult, he had learned to offer socially acceptable replies such as, “That sounds delicious. But surely you still had fun, right?”

“…I suppose home-cooked meals truly are the finest.”

Indeed. Perhaps this was the exact sentiment he had always longed to express.

To be the recipient of this suffocating, heavy-handed concern and to eat until he could hold no more.

And to whine playfully, “I simply cannot manage another bite~.”

“…”

Moved by Lion’s sincere confession, Petrick silently shoved several more bowls in his direction.

“Eat your fill.”

Although the spoken words remained characteristically indifferent, Lion simply offered a warm smile.

“I am completely full.”

“You claim to be full after consuming a mere trifle like that?”

“I honestly have no room left.”

The profound sense of emptiness he had unconsciously carried since childhood was being filled to the brim with a warmth so exquisite it threatened to bring tears to his eyes.

“In that case, I shall have dessert brought out.”

“Hahaha. Very well.”

Since his grandfather, notoriously inept at expressing his inner emotions, was going to such extraordinary lengths, he had no choice but to live up to those towering expectations.

‘…Wait a moment? Could this exact feeling be why I prepared such a massive portion of Dakgalbi that time?’

Lion experienced a sudden wave of warmth and mutual understanding.

Ah, looking back, the portion size on that occasion had indeed been somewhat excessive.

Truthfully, that single dish of Dakgalbi would have easily sufficed for five to six people.

As Lion lost himself in these minor, pleasant reflections…

The savory plates were cleared away…

Thud!

Accompanied by a heavy thud, a colossal array of desserts materialized on the table.

“…Pardon?”

A gigantic cake, a massive pie, and upwards of ten distinct scoops of chilled sorbet!

Macarons, eclairs, and frosted cupcakes completely blanketing the serving platters!

A cursory inspection of the menu items revealed that every single selection consisted of Lion’s absolute favorites.

The sole complication was the sheer, staggering quantity and the immense variety.

“Partake.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Eat.”

Lion was unceremoniously yanked back from his nostalgic reverie into harsh reality.

Was this not crossing the line into excess?

‘This precisely explains why those individuals used to complain.’

They genuinely had no alternative but to consume a monumental quantity of food!

Lion swallowed hard, his hand trembling slightly as he picked up his silver fork.

He braced himself with the sobering realization that he would likely need to chug a restorative mana potion immediately following this meal.

Having finally eaten to his heart’s absolute content, Lion could do little more than recline heavily in his chair, clutching his painfully distended stomach.

“Hmm, now then, what was the exact reasoning behind your planned excursion?”

Petrick inquired in a remarkably gentle tone, his expression radiating profound satisfaction.

“Ah, I simply considered the possibility that Rikschel might experience significant exhaustion upon emerging from the training grounds.”

“He likely will. The strain he is enduring at this moment is considerable.”

Petrick gave a slow nod of agreement.

The 5th Circle.

Certain schools of thought regarded the 5th Circle as the definitive initial threshold toward achieving the status of a true Archmage.

It represented the vital qualification required to catch a glimpse of a transcendent realm.

It was widely maintained that mages incapable of conquering that formidable barrier would remain trapped within the 4th Circle for the remainder of their days.

Naturally, ascending to even greater heights demanded staggering levels of enlightenment and relentless exertion.

And is the initial breakthrough not invariably the most arduous?

Particularly when blazing a fresh trail along the path of an Archmage.

‘The physical toll is no laughing matter.’

Scholars noted that the physical vessel frequently suffers acute agony simply because it struggles to endure the shock of stepping into a higher tier of power for the first time.

This phenomenon was commonly referred to as ‘Mana Pain’.

While the severity of the affliction fluctuated depending on individual constitution, certain individuals underwent torment comparable to a severe Mana Shock.

Moreover, a continuous, draining hemorrhage of stamina was a given.

This physiological reality likely explained why high-level mages often suffered from depleted physical endurance.

“However, I happened upon a rather beneficial discovery during my time in the Baidantis Territory.”

“And what might that be?”

“A natural hot spring.”

Lion provided a concise elaboration.

He explained how he personally observed his physical vitality recovering rapidly after immersing himself within the healing waters of this hot spring.

“Consequently, I intend to attempt constructing one myself.”

“You propose to build a hot spring?”

“Indeed. Right here within the Mimir Forest.”

“…”

Petrick fell into a profound silence in response to Lion’s casual assertion.

Naturally, a thermal spring possessing such remarkable therapeutic qualities held undeniable appeal.

Even so, a hot spring was hardly something one could simply manufacture at whim, was it?

Thermal springs were phenomena created by nature itself.

Even accounting for Lion’s exceptional aptitude in alchemy and spirit arts, would his efforts not ultimately amount to little more than artificially heating ordinary water?

And even should he somehow achieve success, the toll exacted upon his own body seemed glaringly obvious.

“Would it not be far more prudent to dispatch you on a formal leisure trip to a pre-existing hot spring resort?”

“That would certainly be delightful if you accompanied me, Grandfather. Do you happen to have the schedule for it?”

“…”

That was an impossibility.

Had the destination remained within the boundaries of the Empire, he might have managed to carve out a sliver of free time, but crossing the continental divide meant any emergency response from his end would face critical delays.

Even for someone of Petrick Asteri’s stature, traversing between continents demanded the expenditure of vast quantities of mana.

Furthermore, should a powerhouse of Petrick’s caliber resort to casting grand-scale spatial magic without a compelling national crisis…

Would the surrounding populace not be thrown into absolute terror?

“Am I incorrect?”

He was left entirely without a counterargument.

“Could the two of you not simply depart without me?”

“Oh come now. The journey would lose all meaning if you weren’t present, Grandfather.”

Petrick’s firm dismissal was instantly neutralized.

“Hmm.”

Petrick lapsed into deep contemplation.

‘Knowing Lion as I do…’

The boy possessed an uncanny knack for successfully executing the seemingly impossible.

Therefore, there was a distinct possibility he might actually pull off this preposterous hot spring venture.

Yes. The more plausible success appeared in his mind, the greater his underlying anxiety grew.

“I possess my own methods for handling it.”

“…Very well. Is there any manner in which I can assist you?”

“Well, would you perhaps be willing to accompany me when Rikschel steps out of training? I will ensure the facility is fully completed by that juncture.”

“Very well. However.”

“However?”

“You are forbidden from overexerting yourself. Under any circumstances.”

Meeting those piercing eyes, Lion flashed a self-assured grin.

“Rest easy! Overexertion is precisely what I despise most in this world.”

Regrettably, he failed to realize that this exact reassurance served only to double his grandfather’s internal worries.

“Haa.”

The boy was inevitably going to push himself past his limits once more.

Petrick released a long, heavy sigh.

—

“Oh, my stomach is still astonishingly full.”

Lion, having devoured a hearty meal followed by an immense mountain of desserts, ambled down the corridor toward his bedchamber, absently rubbing his rounded abdomen.

Left entirely to his own devices, he would have dashed off toward the Mimir Forest without a moment’s delay, but witnessing his grandfather’s lingering apprehension, he decided he ought to remain at home for at least the remainder of the day.

“I shall rest throughout today and commence my work tomorrow.”

He could not help but smile as he noticed his grandfather’s expression brighten visibly at those words.

*Splat!*

Lion collapsed face-first onto his mattress, sprawling out in a posture of utter comfort.

He appreciated the familiar, cozy feel of his own bedding, rolled lazily across the sheets a few times, and finally turned his gaze upward toward the ceiling.

『Unclaimed rewards are currently available.』

『Kindly confirm your accumulated rewards within a secure environment.』

『Would you like to proceed with confirming your rewards?』

Affirmative. This represented the long-awaited compensation for returning the recovered necklace.

This was a matter that demanded immediate verification.

“What manner of reward will they grant me?”

In truth, contrary to his initial suspicion that the necklace might be intrinsically tied to his identity as the ‘main character,’ he had failed to unearth any concrete clues.

He had previously entertained the notion that it might connect to the realm of spirits, largely because Tiali, the High Elf, had been the source of the initial intelligence, but that hypothesis proved incorrect as well.

The core issue had simply involved restoring the stolen emotions that served as collateral for the Holy Sword.

Naturally, restoring Marquis Byedantis’s emotional capacity was an undeniably positive outcome.

Furthermore, he had secured official permission to act as Rikschel’s designated partner, meaning the overall result was exceptionally favorable from Lion’s perspective.

Yet, perhaps because he had subconsciously anticipated a grander revelation, a faint trace of disappointment lingered.

‘I certainly wouldn’t have minded a bit more background information.’

Regarding the main character. Or perhaps a sub-character.

Or at the very least, precise details concerning what transpired during the historic war against the Demon Race.

‘Ah well, one cannot expect to acquire every secret on the very first attempt.’

Lion casually flicked his finger toward the glowing system window inquiring about the confirmation of his reward.

Operating under the assumption that it would likely amount to nothing particularly earth-shattering.

However, at that exact moment.

“…What on earth is this?”