The Fraudulent Protagonist Became an Object of Fear (3)

Sosia grabbed the supporting character's arm in genuine shock. "What do you mean you're leaving? Where exactly? It's dangerous out there. We don't even know what kind of people are lurking around, so why would you go?"

"Why wouldn't I? I never planned to stay here long in the first place. I only came to check if Mother was all right. And look at this." The supporting character shook his leg slightly, producing a sharp metallic sound along with the motion. "I need to get this removed. It's a cursed item, so I'll have to visit a temple. Since I was going to leave anyway, this just makes it convenient—two birds with one stone."

"No!" Sosia abandoned all pretense and clung to him. "Absolutely not! I won't allow it! Do you really think I'd let you go when it's obvious how dangerous it would be?"

"People are afraid of me. If I just leave on my own, the problem solves itself."

"If anyone needs to leave, it's those people. You have no reason to suffer for it."

"Mother, shouldn't you phrase that differently? I keep telling you there's no need to worry so much. I'm not going alone—Tiasia and the others will be with me, and Wortroll too."

"That's not the issue!" Sosia shouted, unable to calm herself. The supporting character looked genuinely flustered; he hadn't expected such fierce opposition.

"Uh, la?"

"Do you have any idea how terrified I was, thinking you might really be dead? How happy I was when you came back... and now, after barely any time at all, you're talking about heading straight into danger again!"

"Just calm down for a moment—"

"I said no! No means no! No matter what anyone says, I won't allow it. Why do you think I... why I made this place...?"

Faced with a side of Sosia he had never seen before, the supporting character fell silent. Artie, who had been watching from behind, wondered if she should still be there and approached Tiasia. Tiasia reassured her before walking over to the man who had been hovering awkwardly near Sosia.

"I understand what you wish to say. Since Master and Mother need to settle this between themselves, you may leave now."

Though her words were polite, the look in Tiasia's eyes made it clear the man would not leave alive if he lingered. He trembled under her killing intent, muttered an apology, and fled.

"Absolutely not. Never."

"Just a moment, if we could talk—"

"I don't need to hear it! Don't even think about going outside. Not until we have a complete picture of the situation out there."

Sosia ended the conversation unilaterally and returned to the emergency room without listening to another word. The supporting character was stunned; he had never imagined Sosia would react this way, let alone block him from leaving so forcefully.

"What's wrong with her? Did she eat something strange? I didn't think she'd go this far to stop me from going out. Right, Artie?"

"Hmm~ I think it's perfectly natural for the Saintess to act that way."

"Really? Mother isn't usually like that."

"You've simply never noticed until now. The Saintess cares about you that much."

"Eeh... is that it? La la."

"Of course. It is only natural for Mother to cherish Master."

"Hmm~ I still don't get it. She's never been like this before..."

The supporting character scratched his cheek, clearly unable to understand Sosia's behavior.

****

Sosia refused to speak with the supporting character for the rest of the day. Whenever he tried to approach her, she dismissed him under the excuse of being busy. Eventually, he grew irritated, told her he was going to rest, left Artie with Tiasia, and returned to his room.

Once he was gone, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Artie, unable to focus on her crafting, turned to Tiasia.

"How do you see this situation?"

"Well, I believe neither Mother nor Master is truly at fault. Given Master's personality, no one expected him to stay here for ten whole days, and Mother never intended to let him leave the hospital either."

"Right. After nearly dying recently, of course the Saintess would stop him if he said he was leaving~ What should we do now~"

"You can resolve this, Artie."

Sosia approached them while still busy with her work. Artie blinked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean, Saintess?"

"Exactly what I said. Has Joyeon gone to his room?"

"Yes, a little while ago."

"Where is House right now? Tiasia, is it nearby?"

"Yes, Mother. House is always at our side. Do you have an order for it?"

"Can you check what Joyeon is doing?"

Click! At Sosia's question, a sound came from Tiasia's shoulder as House relayed the information.

"Master is asleep. It seems he woke up far earlier than usual."

"Good... perfect timing. Artie, come with me."

"Yes, eh? Ah, yes... perfect timing...?"

Sosia walked ahead without further explanation, and Artie followed for the time being.

****

A short while later. Inside the supporting character's room.

"S-Saintess...!! N-no matter how I think about it, this is wrong! Why do you always jump to that conclusion?!"

Artie pressed herself against the door, shouting toward the outside in a small voice.

"This is the most efficient method. If you bear Joyeon's child, you'll naturally think you have to stay at the hospital."

"D-don't say such ridiculous things...! Why does every conversation about Joyeon end up going in that direction with you?!"

"Artie, I told you clearly, didn't I? Missing an opportunity is foolish. You've been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend the night with your future mother-in-law's official approval. Don't worry. Even if you have some unusual... barriers, I'll overlook it tonight."

"Who is whose mother-in-law?! Stop saying such stupid things! Besides, I... I've never even done anything like that before...!!"

"Everyone struggles the first time. Just follow your instincts. I was a little hesitant at first too, but in the end, humans are animals. If you're really unsure, just leave it to Joyeon."

"I-I'm telling you I'm not ready for this...!"

"I've already prepared everything. All that's left is to wake Joyeon, who's sleeping right there."

"A-at least give me some clothes...!"

"You're already wearing clothes."

"This is just underwear!!!"

Artie reflexively shouted, then quickly covered her mouth for fear of waking the supporting character. She was wearing nothing but an extremely thin babydoll that Sosia had somehow procured. Looking irresistibly alluring to any man, she desperately tried to cover herself while calling for Sosia.

"Sneaking into a man's room dressed like this... it's no different from being a pervert!!"

"It's fine. Joyeon will definitely like it. Besides, I approached him wearing nothing at all."

"I don't need to hear about your story!!"

"Joyeon is a good man. Even when drunk, he was reasonably gentlemanly, so he won't be rough with you."

"I don't want to hear it~!!"

Artie tried frantically to open the door and escape, terrified that the supporting character might wake up. But the door wouldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠budge—Tiasia was blocking it from the outside.

"There's plenty of time. Don't even think about running. Tiasia will keep guarding the door. She has orders to only let you out after the deed is done."

"Y-you...! Y-you villainess! Using me like this!!"

"True. I agree. 'Saintess' doesn't suit me at all."

"D-don't agree with that, just let me out~!"

"I'll let you out. Once you're pregnant."

"Don't say it so bluntly~!"

Artie's face flushed crimson as she begged the door to open. But outside, only the sound of fading footsteps could be heard; Sosia's voice was gone.

"S-Saintess?! Saintess~?!"

"...Artie, Mother has returned to the emergency room."

"Tiasia? Let me out~! This isn't right, is it? Is this okay?! Sleeping with your master—is this really okay?!"

"...Well, Master doesn't dislike you either. And Mother's desperation is obvious... You don't dislike him either, do you?"

"I-I don't dislike him, but...! This isn't right, is it? Shouldn't it be more... romantic? With some atmosphere first... This is just... forced, isn't it? Following instincts like animals..."

Did Artie like the supporting character? Of course she did. If asked whether she liked or disliked him, she would say she liked him. If asked whether she liked him a little or a lot, she would admit it was a lot. If asked whether it was affection or love, she would shyly answer love. But if asked whether she wanted to have his child... even so, she thought she needed to think about it a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠little more.

"A child should only be had after you're fully prepared to raise one! Having one without thinking would be bad for the child too, right? You need a house, bridal lessons, someone to help raise the child...!"

Despite her appearance, Artie—who could still be considered young—had surprisingly practical thoughts about having children.

"All of that can be prepared anytime. If you decide to, everything can be ready before you give birth. So in the end, the choice is yours, Artie. Mother at least had enough conscience to leave without waking Joyeon. Artie, choose. You can simply sleep here and leave in the morning if you want."

"...Uuu~!!"

Realizing that talking to Tiasia was pointless, Artie sat down in front of the door, quietly cursing Sosia under her breath to stub her toe.

"Aah~ Being pretty is a sin. If I weren't pretty, none of this would have happened..."

Artie muttered words that would have earned her the hatred of other women as she gazed at the supporting character sleeping on the bed.

"...Not waking up even with all that noise. Maybe you're pretending to be asleep?... If you opened your eyes right now and pounced on me, I wouldn't be able to resist... R-right now, no one would interrupt, and we could enjoy ourselves to our heart's content~~"

Blushing as she teased about being attacked, Artie looked at his peaceful sleeping face and felt everything was absurd, gradually regaining her composure.

"...It's your fault. If you were just a little uglier, if you hadn't saved me, if you weren't a necromancer, if you didn't have magic to protect me... I would never have... fallen for you. Never........... probably."

When even standing right beside him and muttering to herself failed to wake him, Artie finally let go of her worries. She reached a point ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠where she no longer cared what happened.

"Ah... right."

Startled by the sudden notification window, Artie stared at it with an expression that said this was bad.

The passive skill 'Attachment and Obsession,' newly acquired by Artie not long ago, had activated.

"Ah, no. Falling asleep like this..."

'Attachment and Obsession' was a skill born from Artie's feelings toward the supporting character after he helped her escape misfortune and persistent men. Its effects changed depending on how close she was to him. When near him, 'Attachment' activated, boosting efficiency and granting psychological stability so she wouldn't feel status ailments or fatigue easily. When apart, 'Obsession' activated, lowering efficiency, inducing psychological isolation, reducing physical abilities, and intensifying her fixation on him.

This was why Artie had been unable to sleep without the supporting character nearby lately. When she had checked her status window, she had even cursed the god of the fused world over a skill whose drawbacks far outweighed its benefits.

"Agh... the aftereffects of staying up all night..."

Without the supporting character's mana reactor to help her concentrate, Artie struggled against sleep and soon began to drift off. Concluding that resisting was meaningless, she crawled under the blanket covering him without thinking about the consequences.