The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 285

Opinions about the Archmage Mercedes were sharply divided even within the Mage Tower.

After the first Archmage—called the “God of Magic,” the one who defined and systematized the mysterious power known as magic—was murdered, chaos followed. Matters grew worse when an incomplete imitation of a magic god emerged from the Tower’s research.

It was Mercedes, the new Archmage, who brought order to that turmoil and became the new master of the Mage Tower.

Unlike the first Archmage, who traveled all over the world leaving unmistakable traces of his existence everywhere, Archmage Mercedes—now the Tower Master—had almost no notable public achievements.

Since even the operation of the Sky Tower was handled by the Brigemin Council, mages often wondered what the Mage Tower Master actually did……

“That’s the Archmage.”

“Wow… he really is different.”

The maids huddled together, quietly admiring the distinguished guest. Even from a distance, with nothing but a robe visible, they could immediately tell who Mercedes was because of his unique aura.

Even though several other mages in similar robes stood beside him.

Meanwhile, Luca, who had just entered the ranks of star mages, stood there in his star-embroidered robe, thinking:

Where am I… and who am I…?

‘I just felt like I had to find Lady Arellin, so I came looking.’

But why was he traveling with none other than the Archmage himself?

Now he understood why the senior star mages had reacted so enthusiastically.

Traveling with the Archmage meant this.

“So you’re saying the illness has returned?”

“It is not an illness. She was born this way.”

Mehen struck his chest in frustration. Luca understood how he felt.

The Archmage’s way of speaking was… extremely vague.

“She’s done everything she was told not to do.”

And he often said things no one could fully understand.

“Fate……”

Luca started wondering if it might have been better to just stay in the Mage Tower instead of coming to find Lady Arellin.

‘I still have to help prepare Lord Jemello’s funeral.’

Mages had funerals meant only for mages. The Sky Tower was already in chaos, dealing with the aftermath of the Gairen incident and preparing Jemello’s funeral.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

‘…There’s also that man’s situation.’

Luca briefly thought of the man who had completely turned the Sky Tower upside down, then forced his focus back to the present.

‘Lady Arellin.’

He only wanted to confirm that the moments he still remembered so clearly had truly been real—that he really had met her.

“So you’re saying you’ll take her back to the Mage Tower?”

At this point, Mehen gave up trying to talk to the Archmage directly and grabbed Luca instead.

“Uh……”

To be honest, Luca didn’t really know either.

“It seems like he plans to treat her here.”

And then he realized why every mage who stood beside the Archmage inevitably became an interpreter.

His fantasy shattered completely.

So this was the reality of what he had thought was such an honorable position.

“Luca.”

The Archmage spoke just one word, but Luca heard it clearly as You’re in the way. Leave.

‘Being a star mage is supposed to be a good thing……’

Then why did he suddenly miss the old days?

It was strange.

 

 

****

 

 

Mercedes’s calm gaze settled on the sleeping Arellin.

Compared to her body, the rank of her soul was overwhelmingly high. Yes—like a soul meant to be born as a dragon, trapped in a human body.

Her body couldn’t endure the soul’s power, so it began to collapse. In other words, if her body’s rank could be raised to match her soul, there would be no problem.

Mercedes shaved off a portion of his own rank and shared it, forcibly expanding and strengthening Arellin’s vessel.

But this was only a temporary measure.

‘So this is as far as it goes.’

Cracks formed in the borrowed rank he had filled her with, and her body began to waver—a sight only he could see.

He shared his rank with her once more, but a body that had already cracked once would only crack more easily the next time.

Mercedes felt heavy-hearted.

This world seemed especially cruel to Arellin.

“Is this the price of changing fate…….”

The Archmage pitied the child.

And yet, at the same time, he hoped—

That this child might one day change his fate as well.

 

 

 

****

 

 

It was a strange dream.

I knew it was a dream because……

[Saebom…….]

I saw my mom.

“?”

The mom in the dream looked completely unfamiliar.

The neat, always-put-together mom was nowhere to be seen. She looked totally disheveled, almost like a wreck. She looked so different that if she hadn’t called my name, I probably wouldn’t have recognized her as my mom at all.

‘Is it because it’s a dream? It doesn’t feel very realistic.’

Was it reflecting my wish?

That wish where I once thought I wanted her to regret losing me?

‘…That was so long ago.’

Feeling a bit awkward, I kept looking at her—then I blinked, and the scenery changed.

‘……?’

And then, filling my entire vision, was another woman.

A face that looked exactly like mine.

No—maybe I should say, a face that I looked like.

Soft, flowing platinum-blonde hair, and rose-colored eyes that looked lightly brushed on.

A woman named Sione, who looked as if she had stepped out of a masterpiece painted by a legendary artist with their whole soul, smiled at me.

[My baby.]

I had never heard that voice before, yet it felt incredibly familiar.

A sense of déjà vu made me tilt my head.

What is this… I feel like I’ve seen this scene before.

[You can resent me.]

These words, too, felt like something I had heard before.

Before, the dream always ended here—but not this time. The smile on Sione’s face hardened.

[I saved you on my own terms and tried so hard to keep you alive, so you have every right to resent me. This is all my selfishness.]

Her cheek pressed against my forehead, soft and warm. I tried to reach out, but I couldn’t move inside whatever bundle was wrapped around me.

Her eyes looked down at me with overwhelming tenderness.

[But I still want you to be happy. So happy it feels undeserved—truly, deeply happy. I want you to live that kind of life, and then leave this world satisfied.]

Instead of me.

Her eyes were filled with determination, as if she meant to place everything she herself could never have into my hands.

There was no despair in her shining eyes. If anything, Sione looked happier than ever.

Was this…… really a dream?

[Will you not regret this moment?]

A voice I couldn’t identify asked. I couldn’t turn my head to see them, but I could tell someone was standing beside Sione.

[How could I regret it?]

Sione smiled.

[Instead of living a crappy life decided by others, I get to die in a ruin of my own choosing. I’m grateful, if anything.]

The blurry voice said something else. Sione listened and smiled again.

[I wanted to live, if I could… and even now, I could live if I wanted to… but I’m very greedy.]

[And I don’t want to be the only one who survives.]

[If all three of us can’t live, then I want at least two to survive.]

[And if I have to die anyway, I want to die in the most meaningful way.]

[For the people I love.]

Her eyes reflected the tiny me.

For some reason, the expression on my real mother’s face looked sad.

[I do feel a little sorry for that person, though. But he’ll forget someone like me soon enough anyway.]

That person? Is she talking about my biological father?

I pricked up my ears, hoping to get even a little more information.

[Maybe that’s why I could love freely and leave without guilt. Should I call that a good thing?]

I heard words I couldn’t fully understand. Sione made a complicated expression.

It sounded like a question—something like, What if that wasn’t the case? Then would you not leave?

[…Well.]

Sione looked at me.

[Even then, my choice wouldn’t change.]

I felt something soft touch my forehead. The sensation was so clear it felt real.

[I’ll carry all the shackles myself, so you—at least—be happy.]

With those final, blessing-like words, it felt as if someone was pulling my consciousness away, dragging me somewhere else.

‘No!’

I was seized by the feeling that I had to get something more from this moment, no matter what, and desperately tried not to wake up.

As my vision blurred, my eyes met a pair of red eyes that felt oddly familiar.

‘Huh?’

And when I came to—

I was already awake.