The Original Work Got Ruined After I Quit Being the Sub Male 35

Or maybe it was just something he said as a joke.

“Anyway, I’m glad everyone is safe.”

Ignoring Cedric’s joke and greeting the coachman and porter, the two people who had been sticking close behind Riette smiled awkwardly. They seemed to be reading the room since they were one of the causes of this accident.

Suddenly, one problem that needed to be solved came to mind.

“Come to think of it, wasn’t the carriage broken?”

“Oh, yeah. It was horribly destroyed.”

“Then… how are we supposed to get back now?”

If we took a carriage to get out, it would be quick, but if we tried to walk out of this forest, it would take longer than expected.

Moreover, even getting out of the forest wouldn’t solve everything. There was still distance from here to the next village.

“That’s…”

Just as Riette was about to say something, moving her lips, the spirits that had been quietly hovering around us first interrupted and answered.

[Don’t worry, Riette’s human friend!]

[We’ll safely send you to the village.]

[Riette is our benefactor, so we’ll help.]

[We can use magic.]

[Places that are too far away have poor stability so it’s difficult, but sending you to a nearby village is definitely possible.]

Right after the spirits perched on top of Riette’s head, she became shy. The spirits chattered in pleasant voices like birdsong.

[Stay one day in the shade of our great tree before you go.]

[Rest before you go.]

[Our king said to let him treat you.]

“Right. Let’s rest for a day before we go.”

Riette added.

“There’s also a healing spring there.”

“A healing spring?”

“Yeah. It’s the spirits’ spring water with lots of mana dissolved in it. If you drink it, fatigue and hunger disappear, wounds heal, and your body feels refreshed.”

Looking now, not only Riette but also the coachman and porters all looked neat and clean. We had washed at the stream too, but looking like this, the difference was so clear it couldn’t even be compared to them.

Along with that, yesterday’s events came back to mind and I became embarrassed. I had unconsciously glanced at Cedric, then quickly withdrew that gaze.

“Alright, let’s go.”

I also want to quickly escape from this grubby state. Once I wash cleanly and become neat as if nothing happened…

Then maybe this embarrassment and awkwardness that clung to my chest and wouldn’t fall off easily would wash away a little too, like the traces of that worrisome act that I hoped had been washed off well?

I deliberately moved away from Cedric and stood beside Riette who was leading the way.

Like that, we received guidance from Riette and the spirits and arrived at the spirits’ great tree.

‘So this is the spirits’ dwelling place.’

Under the spirits’ great tree were countless spirits. As soon as they saw us, they flew over and welcomed us with voices like joyful songs, and the Spirit King, who had been able to open his eyes thanks to Riette’s help, also came out directly to greet us happily.

[Welcome, friends of Riette.]

The Spirit King was larger than the other spirits. In human terms, he was about the size of a young child. However, since he was called a king, we greeted him with proper courtesy.

“Nice to meet you.”

That’s when I greeted him like that.

Suddenly, the Spirit King fixed his gaze on me and stared at me intently. Without saying anything, just staring.

Was it a greeting that went against the spirits’ etiquette somehow?

The stare was so blatantly burdensome that I couldn’t hide my confusion… but the Spirit King soon curved his eyes in a smile and gave a much delayed response.

[Nice to meet you too.]

After that, he acted as if it was nothing, but I kept being bothered by it.

So when I was sitting in the tree shade after washing in the healing spring, watching the spirits prepare food for us, I finally voiced my worry.

“Did I somehow get hated by the Spirit King…”

“Huh? Why?”

“His reaction to me earlier was kind of strange.”

“Ah, he was looking at you pretty intently.”

Riette agreed as if she remembered. Cedric just gave a short response and continued chewing on the tree fruits the spirits had brought.

“It’s probably nothing, so don’t worry too much.”

“I hope so.”

“If there was really a problem, he would have said something.”

“Mm-hmm.”

My mood improved a little from Riette’s comfort, so I smiled brightly. Riette also smiled cutely, then suddenly widened her eyes as if remembering something.

“Oh, come to think of it.”

“Yeah?”

“Cedy, was your, um, condition okay? Hasn’t it come yet?”

What condition being okay, what hasn’t come yet…

Even without saying exactly, I had no choice but to immediately know what she meant. My expression stiffened without me realizing it.

When Cedric, who had been drinking water, looked back at Riette, I became anxious and quickly interrupted.

“It was fine! Nothing! Happened!”

“Really? Then that’s a relief, but…”

Riette’s strange gaze went toward Cedric. As if asking if it was really true, I blocked that gaze with my body and laughed.

Even I thought I looked restless, but I was more afraid of what bombshell statement Cedric might make with that mouth of his, so I wanted to quickly change the subject.

“More than that, Ret… wasn’t it hard staying in the forest?”

So I was quickly trying to divert her attention when suddenly I saw the Spirit King approaching this way.

[Human, you said your name was Edgar, right?]

He was clearly showing that he had business with me. I felt Riette and Cedric’s gazes turning toward me.

“…Yes. That’s correct.”

[Could you have a brief conversation with me?]

The Spirit King smiled mysteriously.

“Of course.”

I readily answered and stood up.

But I was extremely nervous inside.

I felt intimidated for no reason. What did he call me aside for? Following the Spirit King who moved to another spot first, I was just looking at his back as we walked, and only after we had come quite far did he look back at me.

[Hmm.]

Then he began examining me up and down, left and right, quite openly. Standing stiffly as if I had become a mannequin in an exhibition hall, the Spirit King, who had changed back to a position of looking directly at me, opened his mouth.

[Are you a mage?]

I hesitantly moved my lips.

“No… I’m not.”

[Really? Are you certain?]

“Yes.”

In this world, there are people who have trained for long periods to be able to directly feel mana, nature’s energy. Or those born with innate talent who have handled mana since childhood.

And in the former case, they create what’s called a mana heart, a chamber that holds mana, and only then can they finally use magic – such people are called mages.

I was someone who had never even attempted such a thing. So I could only be bewildered by the Spirit King’s questioning.

He who had been steadily gazing at me with eyes that felt deep despite his chubby childlike face, narrowed his eyes.

[It seems I was mistaken. I felt a powerful magical aura from you, so I thought you were a mage.]

“Pardon?”

[Who cast such magic on you?]

“I… don’t really understand what you mean…”

[Ah, I’m not trying to scold you. The current Spirit King inherits the memories of all previous Spirit Kings, so I’m more knowledgeable about magic than anyone. But the magic dwelling in you is so powerful that I’ve never seen anything like it even in those memories. I was just slightly curious.]

“…So you’re saying magic is cast on me right now?”

I asked, feeling like I needed to clarify that first.

The Spirit King, who had hesitated for a moment, nodded.

[There’s one magic cast on your soul. Magic so powerful that even I can’t interpret or touch it.]

The Spirit King reached out his hand toward me. Light gathered for a moment, then rose in geometric patterns before breaking as if bouncing off.

I stepped back in surprise.

I was really confused by this situation.

“Wh-what? Is something wrong with me?”

[No. It doesn’t seem to be curse-type magic, so there’s nothing to worry about. Wasn’t there any situation where someone might have cast magic on you?]

“I don’t know…”

[Hmm. It makes me want to research it.]

The Spirit King muttered in a tone that showed genuine interest and looked me over as if I were research material.

Wanting to research… what exactly does he want to research and how?

When I shrank back feeling repulsed, the Spirit King smiled kindly.

[Don’t be afraid. I won’t lay a hand on you.]

“…I can trust that, right?”

[I won’t touch a friend of Riette, our benefactor.]

So that means if I wasn’t Riette’s friend, he would have touched me?

As I stared at him with displeasure, the Spirit King first dismissed the conversation and let me go, telling me to return.

On the way back to under the tree shade.

‘Hmm.’