Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 167

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 167

A week had passed.
What was once a collection of childhood friends who gathered on Fridays had become a Monday-through-Friday affair.
‘How did things end up like this?’
As a result of faithfully showing up at the Imperial Palace from Monday to Friday like some web novelist’s release schedule, an unexpected side effect had emerged: people clung to me even more when I was home.
“Your kindness is insufficient.”
“Please, spend more time with us!”
The Childcare Unit clung to me without letting go even when I needed to read.
“……Should Father make the Imperial Palace disappear?”
Father, who smiled and said such chilling things without batting an eye.
“Hmph!”
“Get lost.”
“You insolent—”
A certain man who dreamed of playing father, trying to squeeze in even a word before being thrown out by Father……
Mehren, unexpectedly, had little to say about it.
“?”
“?”
Our eyes met and we both tilted our heads in unison. Mehren smiled and embraced me.
“Is something the matter?”
“Mmm.”
Perhaps because Father had settled so well at the Manor?
The dark circles that always seemed to reach down to his chin had faded considerably, and even the necktie that used to bear slight wrinkles from being loosened in frustration looked pristine.
“Doesn’t Mehren feel lonely?”
“Hmm?”
“Everyone else seems hurt that I go out so much.”
Mother’s thought that she was glad I wasn’t being a bother, and the thought that perhaps she should feel some resentment, collided within me.
I don’t even understand my own heart.
Mehren smiled softly and pulled me close in a tight embrace.
“I do feel lonely.”
“Really?”
“But it’s more lovely to see you going out into the world. You were always home before.”
Mother truly was……
“If something hurts or anything is wrong, you must tell me immediately. Understood?”
“Yes. I promise I’ll tell you.”
When I promised solemnly, Mehren laughed.
After all, I seemed to have brought home one mother exceptionally well.

* * *

Once a month.
There was medicine I absolutely had to take.
‘I’ve had my share of trouble from missing doses.’
In the old days, someone would occasionally steal it and get caught. But that ended quickly, since skipping the medicine meant I’d convulse immediately and it would be obvious.
I used to not understand why the symptoms showed so clearly whenever I missed a dose.
‘Is this medicine containing the Sleeping Sloth Power……?’

[Abnormal Status: Weakness, Bodily Collapse, Mental Power Decline]
[!WARNING! Body undergoing Collapse]
[Current Progress: 78% (Blessing applied)]
[Currently Active Blessing:
Sleeping Sloth Power (Bodily Collapse Rate –2000%)]

No one had ever told me what the Sleeping Sloth Power was, but with my keen intuition and web novel reader’s experience, I’d managed to piece together that it was some kind of Immortal being at the Imperial Palace.
‘The problem is that drinking this doesn’t make the Bodily Collapse disappear.’
I have some kind of power I don’t even understand, and because of it my body is being destroyed?
I really never wanted strength like this.
What kind of situation is this, anyway?
‘Should I really try to make an Elixir?’
The legendary cure-all that supposedly grants immortality to whoever drinks it.
‘Getting the original would be difficult.’
You’d need the Philosopher’s Stone for that.
Regardless, the plan to “get healthy” seemed like something I couldn’t solve on my own.
“You’re not going to drink your medicine?”
Father asked, propping his chin up, as I stood staring at the medicine like it deserved a ritual offering.
“I have to drink it.”
One shot!
“You drink it so well.”
Father patted my back approvingly.
“Here, have some candy.”
“Okay.”
Once I’ve dutifully eaten the candy Father gives me, my tasks for the day are done.
I rolled the candy on my tongue and stared blankly at Father’s face. That radiant face……
Sione, Mother, who looked almost like twins with this face, was incredibly beautiful too. For a moment, I understood the heart of Ludvich, that insufferable Regent Duke.
He must have wanted to possess her at any cost.
‘So who is my real father?’
The final mystery Sione left behind.
Whoever my real father is, I know he’s no ordinary man.
‘Is he even human?’
I shook my head, recalling the black rectangle that had gouged through my status window.
No, finding Father won’t solve my problems anyway.
“Sigh.”
Was I getting doubly troubled because of Chloe and Chaiyen?
All sorts of strange thoughts were coming to me.
“Why are you making that face?”
“Hmm.”
Long, elegant fingers touched my cheek.
“Father?”
“Yes?”
“Can I ever get healthy?”
“……Why would you say such a thing? You’re breaking Father’s heart.”
His eyes narrowed as though suppressing emotion, his brows drooped. His violet eyes, which looked on the verge of tears, deepened in color.
“Does it hurt you when I say things like that?”
“Yes. Very much.”
“I told Mehren not to build a tomb if I die.”
At my mumbling, Father raised his handsome brows and countered.
“To whom did you say this?”
“To Mehren.”
“……”
“Would Mehren have been hurt?”
Father took a deep breath and drew me into his arms. His lips, which had stiffened subtly, felt heavy on my heart today.
“Why does our daughter keep thinking of sad and painful things?”
“It’s realistic.”
“……”
“I won’t live long, after all.”
As the saying goes, when some problem erupts, merely avoiding and covering it up never solves anything.
Only by facing it and accepting it can you see the true nature of a problem and find the thread that leads to its solution.
Had I spoken too plainly?
“Don’t worry.”
Father grasped me carefully, his face on the verge of actual tears.
“Even if it costs Father his life, I’ll keep you alive and die afterward.”
“……”
“No matter what I have to offer up, I absolutely will.”
His violet eyes, dark as though swallowing darkness, shone intensely.
It felt like I was overhearing an oath and vow of tremendous age.
Perhaps because I’d heard the story of Father’s dream—how he’d tried so many times to keep me alive.
“Yes. I believe you.”
“Our daughter doesn’t believe Father.”
“I just said I believe you.”
“This is not the face of someone who believes.”
Valere grumbled.
“So is this what you get for a 45-affinity father?”
Because he kept bringing this up whenever he got the chance, I found myself squinting at him despite myself.
“Father, you hold grudges too long. Men who do that don’t become popular.”
“Father only needs to be popular with his daughter. Mother is already, isn’t she? Surely you don’t want another mother?”
“No!”
At my urgent answer, Father chuckled. I pressed my plea against that smiling face.
“From now on, Arelin’s only mother is Mehren!”
“Yes, yes.”
Father sat on the sofa while holding me, leaning back against it and stroking my hair. He poked my chubby cheeks, which had filled out with baby fat, mischievously.
“Father doesn’t want you thinking about things like that. You’re still so young.”
Yet at moments like these, I feel less like I have a father and more like I have a grown son.
So I let it go.
“Eat well, sleep well, laugh well, talk well, and think about things like: what’s fun today? What should we play tomorrow? I’d like it if you lived with thoughts like these.”
“Did Father think that way at my age?”
“Yes. Thanks to someone who loved Father so very much.”
Probably speaking of someone I now know well, Father laughed like a boy.
“Father, are you happy?”
Instead of answering, Father smiled and turned the question back to me.
“Is our daughter happy?”
I blinked wordlessly.
Am I happy?
A question I’d never asked before.
I carefully traced back through memories of recent days. All of them, even the memories from my past life.
“Yes.”
So that’s how it is.
“I think I’m happy.”
That’s why I want to live, Father.

* * *

“Happy?”
The Twins tilted their head to one side.
“Can you buy happiness with money?”
“You two seem always happy because your brains are so refreshingly simple.”
“?”
This time the Twins’ head tilted the other way.
“Sun, do you know what Arelin is talking about?”
“Water, I don’t know either!”
They’re still doing that……
After giving the Twins a pitying look, I surveyed the childhood friends’ gathering, where they were playing together in their usual harmonious way.
It had been a week since the new members joined.
The landscape of this always-consistent gathering had changed.
The most noticeable change was……
“Wow, so you can use Magic?”
“Already? Chloe, that’s amazing!”
That our beloved female lead, beloved wherever she went, had quickly made many friends.
“Wow, it’s Chaiyen.”
The annoying stalker had risen to become the second-most popular at the childhood friends’ gathering.
He’d had remarkable popularity from day one.
‘Why would they like that hollow pretty-face!’
Everyone is being fooled. Fooled, I tell you!
I was indignantly thinking that this was entirely unreasonable and absurd.
“?”
Our eyes met with Chaiyen.
The moment an ominous premonition flickered through my mind.
“Arelin—”
Chaiyen greeted me in an affected tone.
All attention instantly shifted this way.
‘That jerk is doing this on purpose, isn’t he?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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