The Original Work Got Ruined After I Quit Being the Sub Male 25

Chapter 25

“This isn’t the time to be talking so casually about it!”

I ended up shouting like a scream. I had no confidence in handling something like that by myself.

“We need to find people right away… Oh, and speaking of which, isn’t there anything that could substitute for the medicine? Can’t we delay the rut or something?”

“No. There isn’t.”

Cedric was annoyingly firm and nonchalant.

“Haah. Why on earth did you lose something so important…”

“I lost my sword too, so how could I have kept track of medicine in all that? You can’t even see it when it falls on the ground.”

That’s true enough.

‘Ugh, what should we do.’

For a moment I imagined a catastrophe and my face burned with embarrassment.

It’s fortunate it’s dark—if I had been caught with a red face while having this conversation in a bright place, I would have wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

‘No… actually, it seems like he should be the one wanting to hide in a mouse hole.’

He might have to show me a humiliating side of himself, isn’t he embarrassed, isn’t he worried…

I had a mountain of things I wanted to ask, but I was afraid it would become even more embarrassing, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Especially since Cedric looked too calm compared to my flustered state.

‘Is he not concerned because I’m a beta?’

Even so… could that be possible?

If it were me, I wouldn’t even want to imagine it.

‘Ngh.’

I shook my head to dispel the distracting thoughts. I turned my body slightly to avoid Cedric’s gaze and said:

“Cedy, let’s not worry too much. All the concerns we’re having right now will probably be pointless. Our companions will come looking for us soon. We just need to hold out until then. Yes, everything will definitely be fine.”

“…Are you worrying about me?”

When I glanced back, Cedric, who had his arm against the backrest with his chin propped up, met my eyes and smiled brightly.

It was definitely a face no different from usual. Whether it was because of the flickering firelight or because of our earlier conversation, he looked somehow alluring, making me unconsciously catch my breath.

I put strength in my eyes to keep my gaze from wandering downward. It had only been a few seconds since I dismissed my distracting thoughts, yet lewd thoughts were blooming again like clouds.

At the same time, strong guilt and doubt overwhelmed me. How could I have such embarrassing thoughts about a same-sex friend?

‘I never had strange fantasies about Ret either.’

Is it a problem that I know too well the body structure of a man with the same equipment?

No, surely… this is all because of that guy’s face. Even if you’re handsome, you should be moderately handsome.

Even though he’s a friend and a man I’ve never considered as a sexual object, the fact that I’m having these ‘bad thoughts’ is all because of that guy’s face.

People are naturally weak to handsome and pretty things. I’m not strange.

After rationalizing it so ridiculously, I felt a little more at ease.

“Haah… But is there any water to drink here?”

“Are you thirsty?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll have to find water. Then I’ll go out for a bit and come back.”

Cedric suddenly got up from his seat. Startled, I looked up and asked:

“You’re going alone?”

“If you’re scared, let’s go together.”

“…It’s not that I’m scared, I’m worried about you.”

Cedric let out a small laugh. He clearly knew it was an excuse. I awkwardly got up from my seat.

I didn’t want to stay alone in this eerie cabin. Besides, I thought it would be safer to follow Cedric than to remain alone in this cabin.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Cedric picked up an empty container that could hold water from the cluttered table and asked. I followed him as he opened the wooden door and went out, gently rubbing my stomach.

“I’m hungry too…”

“We should eat something.”

“Aren’t there any edible fruits or berries nearby?”

“That probably wouldn’t be enough to fill two people’s stomachs.”

“Hmm. Then what should we do?”

“…Let’s catch and eat a monster.”

That was Cedric’s suggestion after seeming to think briefly. Catch and eat a monster. I’d heard that some people eat them as delicacies, but…

Ugh. I don’t want to try that readily.

“Is it okay to just eat something like that?”

“It’s fine. The taste is better than you’d think too.”

“Have you eaten it before?”

“Yeah. It varies a bit depending on the monster type, but usually the texture and taste are similar to regular beef or pork. If you remove all the fur and hide from the outside and just grill the meat, you won’t feel disgusted.”

“…When did you ever eat something like that?”

“When I attended the Empire Academy, don’t you remember I used to disappear for expedition training during every semester break?”

“……”

“I figured as much. Anyway, back then I had to solve my own meals there. So I often caught and ate monsters.”

The phrase “I figured as much” sounds like he didn’t expect me to remember anyway.

Feeling restless for no reason, I grabbed his sleeve, and Cedric smiled softly. Then he took my hand in return.

…He probably mistook it for me clinging because I was scared.

In this situation, explaining and telling him to let go of my hand might make the atmosphere awkward, so I just stayed still while being held.

It was a bit embarrassing to be like this, but since no one was watching anyway, I thought it didn’t matter.

So I left the cabin with Cedric and began wandering around the forest. As the underbrush brushed against our feet, the forest filled only with rustling sounds was quite oppressive in itself.

It was so dark that even the outline of Cedric, who was walking slightly ahead of me, looked blurry, swallowed by the darkness.

At that point, I even thought it was good that I was holding hands with him. When I unconsciously tightened my grip, I felt Cedric respond by holding on more firmly as well.

“We’ll be able to find our way back properly, right?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I left pheromone traces.”

“Ah… I see.”

Suddenly, a great sense of relief washed over me.

Having Cedric by my side in this endless darkness couldn’t be more reassuring.

“How do we find water?”

“Well… I’m looking for a place where spring water might flow… Watch your footing carefully and follow me. You might slip if you’re not careful.”

“Okay.”

When the sloped forest floor appeared, I stepped more carefully, relying on Cedric’s strength as he held and supported me.

How much further did we walk?

I began to hear the refreshing sound of flowing water nearby. At first I thought it might be the wind, but when we went down along the sloped ground, water flowing from a spring was running along a stream.

“Oh, there it is.”

Moreover, that area was well-lit by moonlight, making the surroundings quite bright. When we got a little closer, the refreshing scent of water tickled my nose.

“We found it faster than expected.”

“Indeed.”

Cedric first checked if the water was clean, then washed out the empty container.

And I soon crouched down beside Cedric, who was filling it with water, and cupped water in my palm to drink.

Since it was flowing water with a spring nearby, it was clear and refreshing.

“Is it okay?”

“Yeah. Ahh, I feel like I can live now.”

Since I was by the water, I happily washed my hands and wiped my face too. While I was doing that, Cedric, who had been silently filling the container with water with his mouth firmly shut, suddenly spoke up.

“You know, Eddie.”

“Hm?”

“What would you do if… Miss Viola said she liked you?”

It was an unexpected question, if you could call it that.

I looked at Cedric.

He was just staring at the flowing stream.

“Why are you suddenly asking something like that?”

“…What would you do?”

Cedric glanced at me while urging an answer. He wouldn’t tell me the reason but seemed to want to know my response.

‘Why is he curious about that?’

Of course, I’m also greatly interested in Cedric’s romantic stories, so thinking about it the other way around, isn’t it the same thing?

Other people’s romantic stories are fun.

Needing time to think, I put my hand in the flowing water and pondered.

“If Miss Viola said she liked me… I’d like that too.”

After all, having someone who likes me is a joyful thing in itself.

“Then, if she confessed, would you accept her?”

“I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t.”

I have some fondness for her too.

Besides, these days even nobles prefer free love over arranged meetings when looking for marriage partners. Since there wasn’t a big difference in social status, there wouldn’t be any problems.

“……”

“…Why?”

“……”

Cedric doesn’t respond at all.

Even though he asked first.

He just looked extremely uncomfortable, then picked up the full water container, stood up, and casually threw out a single comment.

“I think that woman is not good.”