The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 366

The reverse world.

At the moment when the mana storm shook the very foundation of this world, Mercedes woke from his sleep.

All he remembered was that his chest had ached as he was comforted by a sorrowful song that sang of hope—and the voice of his youngest disciple. Everything else was blank.

‘So I almost got corrupted.’

Thanks to the memories shared by the stars, he was able to understand what had happened to him.

If he had been completely consumed, the stars would have lost their protection and all fallen into servants of the Nightmare of the Stars.

The Sky Tower would have collapsed, the Mage Tower would have lost its protective functions, and ‘that thing’ crouching in the north would have descended.

Mercedes realized that what the mana storm was swallowing was the authority he himself had placed over this continent long ago, back when he was the first Archmage.

And he also understood what was happening now.

Leaving behind the Mage Tower, which was in chaos due to the unprecedented disaster, Mercedes headed to the heart of the central continent—the Imperial Palace of the Albert Empire.

More specifically, the reverse world of the Imperial Palace.

‘Sleeping Sloth,’ who always guarded that place, welcomed him.

【So you finally woke up, Archmage.】

As if by prior agreement, the two looked toward the same place. The turbulent waves above were affecting even the reverse world beyond dimensions.

【Your unruly disciple is always so amusing. To think they’d exploit a crack in my domain and pull off something so improper.】

A foreign energy digging into the weaker parts of Sloth’s authority.

Sloth laughed without scolding him, but Mercedes couldn’t bring himself to smile.

Still, there was a reason why the two immortals were not deeply shaken.

They knew that Arellin was moving.

It was ironic. Even beings with such immense power and high status had to entrust something they couldn’t do to a mere mortal.

‘Though Arellin isn’t exactly a mere mortal.’

Mercedes’ gaze fell, heavy with fatigue.

“Did you know, Sloth? That child would become this kind of existence if they grew safely. Is that why you gave your blessing? Even knowing your blessing could only prolong ‘being alive’ and save nothing else.”

At Mercedes’ question, Sloth burst into laughter.

【No, it was all coincidence. The bloodline of Halbern has always been important to me.】

Sloth recalled the long-standing connection with the Halbern family.

After the central continent was reduced to ruins by the aftermath of godslaying, the founders of Albert returned, vowing to build new glory rather than restore the old.

And the Halbern family, who organized the chaotic continent using their ability to traverse the reverse world.

【You know why I am here.】

Sloth gestured beneath himself, implying the ‘something’ sleeping at the center of this world, sealed by his own hand.

【But still… if I had to name a reason, perhaps it’s because that child resembles me.】

Sloth’s smile faded.

He remembered Valer, who had come to bargain with him—those crazed eyes, desperately clinging to even a straw.

【Trying to save what cannot be saved was so foolish, so pitiful… it reminded me of myself. That’s why I lent my authority, even knowing it would only mortgage the future to preserve the present.】

Realizing something, Mercedes turned toward Sloth.

“It may be coincidence, but perhaps someone intended for that coincidence to happen.”

Sloth smiled gently.

【Even if it were someone’s intention, I would have lent my power anyway. Those eyes were sincere.】

It was a trap one could not avoid, even knowing the truth. That was why he was called Sloth.

The lazy mother who did not kill those who should be killed, only putting them to sleep, smiled quietly.

Then Sloth’s gaze turned to Mercedes—the First Star, the Star of Longing, the Archmage.

【But isn’t it the same for you?】

“…….”

Mercedes fell silent.

With a faint smile, Sloth asked him,

【How is your disciple?】

Mercedes’ golden eyes met Sloth’s violet ones.

【When that time comes again—】

Mercedes’ eyes wavered.

【Will you be able to kill them?】

Seeing Mercedes close his eyes without answering, Sloth wore a sorrowful expression.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

Albert had been suffering from one crisis after another lately.

A series of disappearances.

A disaster that erupted in the middle of the capital.

And the appearance of a suspicious crystal formation.

In the dead of night, Pession—who was practically responsible for Albert—sat awake, staring at the crystal formation.

“Is His Highness not tired at all?”

“He handled so much during the day and still won’t sleep…”

“Guess that’s what makes him a Swordmaster.”

Since the capital of Albert itself had been directly hit, the amount of work Crown Prince Pession had to handle was endless.

Maintaining public safety, stabilizing order, easing citizens’ anxiety, dispatching investigation teams of mages and scholars, refugee measures, damage compensation policies, and more.

After a full day of reports and nonstop movement, slicing time down to the second, it was finally 4 a.m.—the only time he could rest.

And yet, Pession couldn’t fall asleep.

‘No, it’s not that I don’t know why. I already know the reason.’

Staying not in the palace but in a temporary tent set up in the disaster zone, Pession’s eyes darkened as he stared at the massive crystal.

What was choking Pession wasn’t the unseen threat of the unknown crystal—but Arellin’s absence.

So many anxious thoughts swirled in his head that even his hands began to shake, and without realizing it, Pession gripped his sword hilt until his knuckles turned white.

“Are you okay?”

Harun, who had returned to his role as the Crown Prince’s guard, asked after coming to check on him.

The citizens were moved, thinking the Crown Prince had grown gaunt from working so hard for the victims—but those close to Pession knew exactly who was responsible for his condition.

“I’m fine. I’m still holding up.”

“Someone fine wouldn’t look like that…”

Harun’s expression grew serious as he watched Pession, who looked like he might die at any moment—or kill someone.

He knew Pession was anxious because he didn’t know where Arellin was, but honestly… was it really this bad?

Even after seeing that scene?

Harun still vividly remembered Arellin treating Luca while wielding divinity.

After feeling that instinctive chill—realizing that being was fundamentally different—he hadn’t even been able to worry anymore. So why was Pession this shaken?

Pession knew Harun found it strange. Of course it would look odd to worry about someone that strong.

Pession knew Arellin had become strong.

No—“strong” didn’t even begin to describe it.

More than anyone, he knew she had changed into something of an entirely different species.

When Pession said he’d be fine as long as she stayed by his side—even if she were a monster that came to devour him—he meant it.

This anxiety was simply the fear that one day, Arellin might suddenly leave somewhere he could never reach, and that thought was driving him mad.

‘I preferred it when she couldn’t do anything.’

When she relied on him completely. It would have been fine if the two of them lived alone in a small world.

“I should’ve locked her up. Hidden her away where no one could see her—only me.”

The feelings he’d suppressed to avoid being hated by Arellin went wild under the weight of anxiety. As Pession wavered, the pressure he failed to contain crushed the air around him.

Even Pession knew these thoughts made him sound insane—but he couldn’t help it.

These were emotions that only the real, tangible Arellin could soothe.

“Arellin…”

Meanwhile, watching Pession stare at the crystal formation, Harun felt like he could see Pession’s future.

Even if he got married.
Even if he had children.
He’d probably still be like this.

A disturbing future.

‘No way… right?’

That was when it happened.

With a thunderous roar, light tore through the dawn darkness like lightning striking from the sky—and in the blink of an eye, the scenery had changed.

“The crystal formation…?”

The crystal shattered into light.

Pession stared blankly for a moment, then ran out of the tent toward it before anyone could stop him.

Harun ended up running after him.

Surely, Arellin would be there.

That’s what they expected when they arrived.

“……?”

What greeted them was an empty clearing, with no one in sight.

The sun was rising over the silent ruins.