Chapter 26
“What?”
This bastard?
“Hey, wait, we should go together!”
Bewildered, I also hurriedly got up to follow Cedric who had turned around first. This time he didn’t offer his hand, so I had to barely grab onto the back of his collar and follow.
He looked quite sulky.
“Cedy, do you perhaps like Miss Viola…”
“No. Not what you’re thinking.”
I didn’t even finish talking, so why is he being so decisive?
“Do you know what I’m thinking to say that?”
When I asked back grumpily, Cedric let out an annoyed sigh.
“You were going to ask if I like her or something like that, right? Why do you always connect everything to my unrequited love?”
His tone was as if he was already certain what thoughts I harbored. But since everything he pointed out was correct, I had nothing to say.
“If you don’t like it, then tell me properly!”
Isn’t this happening because I don’t know?
But Cedric escaped from this conversation by firmly shutting his mouth. I couldn’t understand what kind of amazing unrequited love he was having to hide the identity of his target like this.
* * *
That day, both of us just drank water and went to sleep.
There wasn’t a proper place to lay out bedding, so the only place to lie down was the sofa. We fought over who would sleep on the sofa, then finally decided to take turns, and today I claimed the sofa.
Apart from feeling sorry for making him sleep on the floor, I was so exhausted that I fell into a deep sleep without even dreaming.
The next day, when I opened my eyes, I reflexively looked for Cedric first. Fortunately, he was sleeping leaning against the wall.
‘…Phew.’
My body, which had tensed up for a moment, relaxed again. At this rate, I might develop separation anxiety symptoms if Cedric disappears from sight.
Grumble…
I gently rubbed my rumbling stomach. I lay sprawled on the sofa holding my hungry belly until Cedric woke up.
I heard rustling sounds nearby as if he had woken up. While turning around, our eyes met exactly in mid-air.
“Good morning, Cedy.”
“Yeah… did you sleep well?”
Cedric mumbled while rubbing his eyes. Even in the midst of this, looking at his handsome face made me feel momentarily disconnected from reality.
I stared blankly at that face and said,
“I slept well, but I feel like I’m going to die of hunger.”
I’m so hungry I have no energy.
But since I was also thirsty, I barely raised my body and looked for the water bottle first.
Gulp. I tilted the water bottle and moistened my throat with water that had become lukewarm overnight. After quenching my thirst, I felt like I could live a bit.
As I was taking another sip, Cedric, who had washed his face dry and approached, gestured asking for some too.
“Me too, water.”
“Yeah. I didn’t put my mouth on it.”
I wiped my lips and handed over the water bottle.
Cedric, who received the water bottle with a disheveled face after just waking up, suddenly asked sulkily,
“You don’t even want to drink water from the same bottle as me?”
“Huh? No, I just thought you might be uncomfortable.”
Of course, it doesn’t mean I’d like it either, but it’s not like I can’t share something I’ve put my mouth on. This isn’t a situation where I can afford to be picky about cleanliness.
But do I have to make excuses about this?
“I don’t mind either.”
Cedric replied bluntly and gulped down the water. I quietly watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down a few times, then asked,
“You… how’s your condition?”
“Yeah. For now.”
Right. It’s ‘for now.’
It sounded like his condition would get worse soon, which made me feel awkward.
“Sh, should we look for something to eat first?”
“Yeah. We should also bring back more water.”
Cedric, carrying the water bottle, stepped lightly ahead first. I also followed Cedric out, pushing my troubled thoughts aside.
Morning sunlight was streaming down through the gaps between trees. Perhaps because there weren’t many trees near the cabin, the surroundings looked relatively bright, bringing a sense of relief.
“Indeed, people should live seeing the sun…”
“Let’s move quickly.”
“Ah, okay.”
Cedric roamed the forest without hesitation, diligently searching for edible tree fruits, and I also diligently followed behind him.
Perhaps because he had experience from expedition training, he was surprisingly knowledgeable about survival-related matters.
“This one is edible. This one is poisonous.”
“Wow… how do you distinguish them? That’s amazing.”
“If you look carefully, the shape and patterns are slightly different. Don’t pick up and eat anything without my permission. It’s really dangerous.”
“Yes sir.”
At times like this, I should listen well to the person holding my lifeline.
I used my cravat as a makeshift wrapper and carefully collected only the edible fruits there.
After fruit picking came monster hunting time.
Again, I was of no help to Cedric whatsoever. Except for hiding quietly so as not to be a burden…
Just then, Cedric grabbed the head of a monster that was excitedly charging at us and separated it from the body just like that. Yesterday too, he must have taken out that snake monster in one go like that.
‘How can he do that with just grip strength…’
It’s amazing if you call it amazing, and scary if you call it scary. I felt anew that Cedric was like a completely different species from me.
“Eddie? Are you there?”
“Ah, yes! Here!”
After Cedric wiped the blood that had splattered on his face and glanced this way, he began concentrating on dismantling the monster to make it easy to carry.
I guess he just called to check if I was okay.
After finishing the dismantling, he carried only the meat parts of the monster and returned to the cabin first.
Watching the blood drip made my stomach churn, but after cutting it into small pieces and skewering it for roasting, it just looked like meat skewers and was better than expected.
I picked up one well-cooked skewer and looked at the smoke rising in soft puffs. The smoke from the fire was rising long into the sky.
“I hope someone discovers this smoke…”
The feeling of loneliness was only momentary.
“…Hmm? It’s delicious.”
“I told you so.”
My eyes widened at the monster meat taste, which was much better than I thought. The texture was tender and the taste was close to beef. Thanks to that, the slight aversion I had remaining completely disappeared.
I’m full, warm, and have temporary shelter.
Since I had become somewhat safe, I started worrying about our companions again.
“Is Ret okay? The other gentlemen too.”
“They’ll be fine. Especially the coachman and porter gentlemen were on horses… they could have avoided it when the carriage overturned.”
“…You’re very calm. Aren’t you worried?”
“I am worried, but I believe they’re okay. We’re also stranded. Being anxious won’t change this situation right now.”
“……”
“And you’re worrying hard enough for me.”
…Saying it like that makes me feel strangely ticklish. As if he’s gently comforting me that worrying isn’t wrong.
Somehow my heart felt much better.
Right. At times like this, at least one person should be able to judge the situation coolly.
‘Coolly…’
Thinking that far, I was reminded again that Cedric’s condition was like a time bomb that could explode at any moment.
‘Sigh. Really, what should I do.’
When the moment his rut explodes comes, would it be okay to step aside? Can he handle it himself?
I understand the superficial educational information about heat cycles and ruts, but since I’m not someone who directly experiences those cycles, I knew nothing in detail.
Whether it’s a phenomenon that subsides on its own if left alone, how long it lasts, etc…
But asking directly would be too embarrassing.
‘I should have studied more if I knew this would happen.’
But I know it myself.
This is a problem I can’t avoid forever.
If we rejoin our companions today, I don’t know, but if not, I need to have a serious conversation with Cedric about this by tonight at the latest.
I need to find a solution and know how I should deal with it…
“Eddie.”
What a surprise. I quickly raised my head at the voice I heard while deep in thought. Cedric, who had finished eating, was getting up from his seat.
“I’m going to wash at the spring. Want to come with me?”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, both Cedric and I looked terrible. Cedric especially would be in an even more unpleasant state, having monster blood splattered here and there.
“Yeah, let’s go. I should wash up too.”
Right away, we immediately got up and left. We walked along the path that had become quite familiar thanks to going back and forth several times, heading to the spring.
Growl!
During that time, we suddenly encountered a monster that had become sensitive, and the monster that discovered us suddenly charged and attacked.
While I froze in surprise, the monster was mercilessly dismembered by Cedric.
I instinctively cowered, frightened by the blood splattering in all directions.
“Ugh, what a scare…”
What would have happened if I had been alone in this forest?
It was something I didn’t even want to imagine.
“Are you okay?”
Cedric turned to look at me and check on me. Such a caring guy. I nodded and answered with a relieved feeling.
“I’m fine since you’re protecting me. What about you?”
Suddenly Cedric chuckles.
I asked if he was okay, but why is he just laughing?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
