The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 61

—————

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

—————

Chapter 61
Like all exceptional members of the Tree, Kyle had one small flaw.
After opening his eyes, he couldn’t remember who he was at all.
The demon happened to be the type that sprayed oblivion-inducing secretions for mind control, and Kyle seemed to have ingested far too much of it.
On top of that, he was terribly shy around strangers.
Some of it stemmed from his changed personality due to lost memories, but much of it came from his naturally introverted nature.
All these factors combined meant Kyle couldn’t see people clearly and avoided those unfamiliar to him.
He was always hiding somewhere, and naturally, he struggled to participate properly in classes.
“A perfectly defective failure. Tsk.”
One of the teachers who had brought the boy along with Mimosa would say this every time he saw Kyle.
‘The student with the weakest presence in the Forest’.
―That was exactly who Kyle was.
He was usually called nothing but ‘that kid’ without even a proper name (though Mimosa had given him one, no one paid it any mind).
Then one day, while all the other members of the Tree were excitedly participating in outdoor learning.
Kyle had been scolded by a teacher and was trembling behind a tree.
A short shadow fell beside the tree.
“Hello?”
“….”
“Friend hiding behind the tree, why aren’t you playing?”
It was a girl whose name I knew. A model student—Anette.
We used different dormitories, so we rarely had any connection, but Anette was quite famous.
Every teacher praised Anette. Unlike me.
“You’re ‘that kid’, right? The one who can’t look people in the eye?”
“….”
Kyle shrank back wordlessly.
Hmm, she whose voice had been gentle asked.
“Are you stupid?”
“…N-no, I’m not stupid!”
“Ah! You spoke!”
Hehe, Anette laughed playfully. Then she asked something no one else had ever asked.
“Doesn’t it feel lonely when you can’t play with your friends?”
“….”
Kyle didn’t answer this time either. Being asked if he felt lonely suddenly made him feel infinitely lonely.
It was two days later when Anette found the Dormitory where Kyle stayed.
Kyle used a bed in the very corner because of his shyness, but even that wasn’t enough—he hid behind a locker when Anette arrived.
“Here. Take this.”
“….”
What Anette held out was a ‘squirrel mask’. An awkward mask that proudly displayed a child’s regrettable artistic skill.
“It might look odd, but it’ll be cool when you wear it, right?”
“….”
“If you wear a mask, no one will truly see you. Only you will see the people. Is that alright?”
According to Anette, it was more than alright.
She understood precisely Kyle’s psychology—the desire to blend in with others, yet the fear of their gaze.
Because even though Kyle couldn’t truly integrate, he had always lingered near the other children, hidden away.
For Kyle, who had lost his memories, that squirrel mask was the first gift of his life.
No—it was the first time anyone had ever cared for him at all.
Once Kyle donned the squirrel mask, he began attending classes and cautiously mingled among his peers.
Anette helped with that too.
“Come on, this little squirrel wants to play with us!”
“Ooh… squirrel nice.”
“Me too, me too.”
To the members of the Tree, Baby Squirrel felt quite endearing.
Of course—
“What’s with that weird mask? Ridiculous.”
A certain silver-haired boy with violet eyes, possessing a temperament as sharp as a chihuahua, spat the words out bitterly, but was soon silenced by Anette.
“Heinrich!”
The silver-haired boy
“Tch…”
and fell silent. He didn’t curse again after that.
Anette seemed rather cool.
Kyle thought so.
He wanted to become cool like her too.
Then one day Kyle caught the flu and was bedridden all day, but he was terrified of removing the mask even though he needed to take medicine—the school nurse grew thoroughly exasperated since he couldn’t take it without removing the mask.
Eventually, the nurse gave up and simply left.
Click—
The door opened cautiously, and small footsteps sounded. It was Anette.
Anette was carrying something.
The little squirrel, groaning in discomfort, had no idea how much she delighted him from within the mask.
“What’s that in your hand?”
“…A cool squirrel mask.”
Anette said she had asked a member of the Tree who had awakened ice magic to create a cooling mask for him.
And she turned away while Kyle switched to the new mask.
As soon as he put on the new mask, the sticky warmth faded from his face. His fever broke almost instantly.
Moreover, the new mask allowed him to take medicine while wearing it.
“Here, it’s apple syrup cough medicine. I think apples are the most delicious fruit. Do you like apples too?”
“Mm-hmm…”
In truth, Kyle had no particular feelings about apples, but from that moment on, he decided apples were his favorite.
The medicine Anette had given him was sweet and not bitter at all.
His small heart raced so hard it felt like it might burst.
From that moment on, Kyle adored Anette.
It was simply wonderful.
Thoughtful, affectionate, kind, warm….
But Anette was the center of everyone’s world.
Everyone adored her.
In contrast, I was merely a boy wearing a squirrel mask.
The only thing a small Baby Squirrel could do was hover eternally at Anette’s side (remarkably, no one noticed my existence).
“My favorite fruit is apples.”
“Hmm, I’d love to raise an intelligent pet. That’s what I want to try most right now.”
“I prefer my steak rare. …Ah, I wonder if children can understand my tastes?”
Anette was truly magnificent.
Her preferences seemed so mature, so wonderfully sophisticated.
So I remembered every detail without forgetting a single word.
Believing that if I remembered everything about Anette well enough, someday she would remember me too….
Then one day.
“―So you were here, my son.”
Bijae Winston came to The Forest.
It was their first meeting in a year.
* * *
“If you would take a confidentiality oath, we too shall keep all information regarding your son in strict confidence.”
“That is precisely what I desired, Mimosa.”
To Bijae Winston, who had come to The Forest in secret, Mimosa promised absolute discretion.
The fact that the Winston Family had lost their son and found him in The Forest was an unnecessary scandal.
At the same time, bringing a noble child to The Forest had dealt a significant blow to the organization’s image.
With their interests aligned, the two kept the matter secret.
Thus Kyle returned to the Winston Family.
News of that unremarkable boy finding his parents circulated quietly (rumors spread that they were commoners), and like his very presence, those rumors quickly faded away.
Kyle Winston underwent treatment.
It was therapy for his amnesia, and fortunately, most of his memories returned.
But there was one problem.
The family physician spoke.
“For Kyle to safely recover his memories, all recollections from when the ‘amnesia’ occurred—that is, all memories from ‘The Forest’—must be erased.”
“But Kyle does not wish for that.”
At Bijae’s words, the physician hesitated.
“Then the two sets of memories will collide, and you will suffer severe headaches frequently.”
At that moment, Kyle stepped forward.
“Even if I have headaches, please let me keep my memories of The Forest.”
“…My son, then you will complain of the pain, will you not?”
To Bijae’s concern, the still-young boy answered calmly.
“There is someone I absolutely do not wish to forget.”
“….”
“Even in death, I don’t want to forget her.”
Bijae Winston respected his young son’s wishes, and Kyle retained his memories while recovering the old ones.
A boy who had traded headaches for memories of her.
But it was more than worth the price.
Some time later.
The Winston Family’s messenger animal had died, and as his successor, Kyle was tasked with selecting the next one.
The animal chosen was a squirrel.
* * *
“Thank you so much for helping today, Kine.”
In front of the Bakery.
After finishing their shopping, the two dined at a Restaurant.
It was a Restaurant that Kyle had reserved in advance—a place frequented by couples on dates.
Anette had offered to pay as an apology for being late and thanks for his labor, but the bill had already been settled.
Anette muttered, “I would have eaten more if I’d known you were paying,” and Kyle laughed aloud at how adorable she was.
Afterward, the two returned to the Bakery together.
Kyle had carried all the heavy items inside.
Kyle answered Anette’s words of gratitude.
“No, that’s not it. I was genuinely delighted to be of help.”
“But I’ve imposed on you far too much today.”
“Please don’t say such things.”
His words were no mere pleasantry. Every single second spent with her was his happiness.
Anette sorted through the rustling bags, then turned to face him.
“Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
Kyle’s expression brightened at the mere fact that she was asking him something.
He smiled, revealing his dimple, and spoke.
“Anything at all, my lady.”
“Why did you give me apples as a gift?”
“Because you like them.”
Anette’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve never said I like apples. And you bought me lemon ice cream earlier without even asking. At the Restaurant, my steak arrived cooked exactly the way I prefer it before I could even choose. Kine, you know my tastes far too well. As if you’d investigated me.”
“…”
“Did you really come to my Bakery by chance?”
Kyle’s expression grew slightly pale. He seemed troubled.
Anette’s face hardened as she asked.
“What are you?”

—————

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

—————