The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 162

“Are you really sure you won’t regret it?”

“Arellin, are you lacking confidence?”

With our track record so far, did I really look confident? Recalling the countless negative points I’d racked up, I warned them.

“Hoo. I definitely tried to stop you.”

Looking at the two pairs of clear, sparkling eyes, I activated the favorability scanner.

Wiiing—

[Me → Target]
[♥ 36 Friendship]

“……?”

I widened my eyes at the higher-than-expected number.

“Ooooooh!”

Ciel’s eyes lit up.

“Me too, me too!”

“Uh—.”

Noel got the same result.

The same 36.

‘Why… is it so high?’

I’d expected at least a negative score, or at most around 10, so this unexpectedly decent result left me flustered.

Ciel’s eyes sparkled.

“Is that a high number?”

“Uh, y-yeah.”

For a normal person it wasn’t that high, but for me, it was.

“Yes!”

“Yay!”

The twins high-fived each other.

What a bunch of idiots.

“Behold, this is our friendship.”

“So Arellin has acknowledged it at last.”

“We should brag about it.”

“Who should we brag to?”

“Dad, obviously?”

I was laughing at the twins’ ridiculous behavior when I suddenly felt something was missing.

What is it? Why does it feel empty?

“Ah.”

At this point, I noticed the absence of someone who would usually jump in, get jealous(?), and try to pull me away.

I looked around, and the person I was searching for was standing alone in a corner of the room.

Chirp—

“Right.”

A beautifully crying bird, and a stunningly beautiful young boy who looked like he’d stepped out of a myth.

The scene was worthy of being painted as sacred art, and I blinked blankly without realizing it.

Pession playing with the divine beast he’d given me as a birthday present.

‘…He’s pretty.’

Was I always this weak to beautiful things?

I’d been able to confidently say I was immune to Dad’s face-attacks now, but judging by how loudly my heart was acting up, that didn’t seem to apply to Pession.

Yeah. I really like him.

It still felt unfamiliar and strange for someone like me, who preferred being alone, to want to be with someone else.

Still, you won’t leave me alone.

I don’t know where this firm belief came from or how it came to make up part of me, but thinking of the star-filled night sky and the other side of the world that had come like salvation made me smile.

Just then, Pession, standing by the window as if he were bathed in all the light in the world, turned his head.

Our eyes met.

“Arellin.”

The moment he spotted me, his eyes curved gently, and his gaze shone even brighter. The goodwill and affection he showed with his whole being made my expression soften without me realizing it.

I thought I just liked him, but could it really feel this different?

Maybe it was because I’d never liked someone this much before—it felt ticklish and soft somewhere inside.

“Sion, what are you doing all alone?”

“This little guy called me.”

Chirp—!

The sparrow-like divine beast fluttered around us, flying so energetically it almost looked exhausting.

“Arellin, have you named this little guy yet?”

“Hmm. Not yet?”

My eyes met the divine beast’s black eyes.

Chiiirp—

“This little guy looks disappointed.”

“Is that what a disappointed cry sounds like?”

“They say you have to give divine beasts a name.”

“Who says?”

“There is. A self-proclaimed divine beast expert.”

“……?”

Pession dodged the question with a sheepish smile. It was an obvious refusal, but since he smoothed it over with such a soft smile, I didn’t feel like pressing him for an answer.

Really… what should I even say?

Am I wearing rose-colored glasses?

It suddenly occurred to me that even without the Allemang Imperial family’s special ability, Pession would still be loved by everyone.

Who wouldn’t like a guy like this?

Wooooong—

Ether in my arms whined that it was annoyed by my lovestruck mood, but I ignored it.

What nonsense—coming from an inanimate object.

“Then I’ll name it ‘On.’”

“On?”

It was taken from Pession’s name, but Pession didn’t seem to get it at all and just tilted his head.

‘That’s strange.’

Normally, he’d catch on right away and be happy, so seeing him like this made me worried.

When did it start? Ever since I came back from Rock Castle?

I’d thought Pession seemed oddly low-energy and gloomy then…

And it was the same now. He’d be smiling brightly, then suddenly his expression would darken.

‘Did something really happen?’

Before, I’d held back because I didn’t want to stir things up, but now it felt like I really couldn’t just leave it alone.

“Sion, are you sick?”

“No.”

“Then why do you look so tired?”

Pession blinked slowly.

Long eyelashes fluttered along his pretty eye line.

His slightly unfocused eyes settled on me.

“Do you really care about me?”

“Of course I care.”

“Really?”

“Why? Do you think I’m lying?”

Pession hesitated, then gave a small nod.

“You told me you didn’t want to be alone and asked me to stay with you, but you’re always with other people.”

The unexpected answer made me go silent for a moment.

Did I do that? I don’t remember.

Then I recalled saying something like that in the hidden world of the imperial palace and laughed to myself.

Ah, right. I did say that.

So many things had happened that it felt like a long time ago. I’d grown stronger enough that the memory felt faint. Wow, now that I think about it, that’s true.

“So… that hurt your feelings?”

Pession made a sulky face like he was pouting, then nodded.

“It feels like I’m the only one who misses you…….”

A shadowed expression, an unsure voice, clear signs that he’d been worrying about it alone.

Suddenly, I remembered when I stopped caring that this world was a novel.

The day Pession came to the library.

He was like this back then too.

Whenever this bright, sun-like Pession showed such weakness only to me, I never knew what to do.

It felt like it was my fault, like I was the problem.

But strangely, I wasn’t anxious.

Maybe it was because I trusted you now.

“You know.”

I gently took the hand where the softly chirping bird was perched and carefully began to speak.

“It’s because you were there.”

“Me?”

I thought back to the distant past that now felt so far away.

The time when I built walls and dug myself into a hole alone.

The childcare group, Mehen, my dad.

Now there were many people by my side, but if I traced it all the way back, the beginning was Pession.

The reason my world grew wider, and the reason I could finally face even the past I wanted to forget.

“You were there for me.”

This stubborn, troublesome guy who dragged me out when I just wanted to quietly die by fate, made me laugh, and wished for my happiness.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

At my shameless credit-taking, Pession’s expression softened, then turned pouty again.

“Then why do you keep hanging out with other people?”

“Because it’s more fun when everyone plays together.”

“……That’s true.”

I held back a smile as I watched Pession reluctantly agree.

“You don’t like it?”

“I don’t dislike it.”

His face brightened, then drooped again.

“Why?”

“Because you get sick so easily.”

“Me?”

“I get stronger easily with just a little training, and I’m always healthy no matter what. Why is everything so hard for you?”

What is this, a humble brag?

“I don’t know what else I should do for you.”

Pession groaned in frustration.

It seemed like he really wanted to do something for me, but couldn’t, and that bothered him.

Ah, seriously.

You’re too cute.

“Okay, stop right there.”

Just as I was about to comfort Pession—

Out of nowhere, Dad jumped in between us and narrowed his eyes.

“What are you doing in the sacred reception room?”

“We didn’t do anything.”

“You were stuck together.”

“We were just holding hands?”

“Ahem.”

Behind Dad, I saw the twins sticking their tongues out.

Ah, I see. Those brats brought Dad here. Seeing Dad being wary of Pession made me laugh in disbelief.

“Arellin! Let’s do this with Harun too!”

“Show us the favorability!”

The twins dragged Harun over like they’d been waiting for this. I glanced at them briefly, but I wasn’t in a bad mood.

This is bad. Now they look cute too.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

Harun looked clearly unwilling.

[Me → Target]
[♥ 44 Trust/Friendship]

“……?”
“?”
“?”

The number was higher than expected, and the twins froze.

“We’re…….”

“Lower than Harun?”

Leaving the twins, who looked shocked and kept glancing between Harun and me with shaking eyes, I went over to Pession.

“Sion, want to try this too?”

Pession stared at the favorability scanner with a reluctant expression.

What didn’t he like about it?

“Try it. Dad’s curious.”

“Huh?”

“Maybe around 30?”

“?”

“There’s no way I’d lose to a kid.”

Dad urged me on with groundless confidence.

“Daughter, hurry up.”

“I’ll do it.”

Pession nodded.

Soon, a bright light wrapped around us.

And then—

[Me → Target]
[♥ 71 Trust/Affection]

“…….”
“…….”
“…….”

In an instant, a suffocating silence fell.