How to Survive as a Supporting Male Lead

Sure enough, as Derek said, a southern horse would have frozen to death the moment they arrived. While they could have survived with Iann’s warmth spells, this was Kallian’s territory, and he’d prefer to conserve his magic in case of an encounter.

Instead, he cast endurance and warmth spells on himself and Derrick, allowing them to travel continuously until they reached an inn near Nieve Forest by nightfall.

While Iann wolfed down his dinner at the inn, Derrick, ever the financial overseer, arranged their lodging.

He booked just one room.

Caught off guard mid-bite, Iann looked over at Derrick with a questioning stare as he realized they’d be sharing a bed.

“Why?”

Derrick’s expression soured under Iann’s gaze, only to darken further when he realized Iann had already finished eating while he was getting the room.

“You’re just… unbelievable.”

“Why did you only get one room?”

Derrick was about to snap at him but closed his mouth instead, and Iann’s eyes narrowed even further.

This guy… he’s up to something. Like a suspicious cat on the prowl, Iann observed Derrick. But as soon as Derrick’s food arrived, Iann snatched the room key and hurried upstairs.

He’d purposely ordered all of Derrick’s favorite foods. Since Derrick hated wasting food, it would take him a while to finish, right? That gave Iann the perfect chance to claim the inside spot on the bed and figure out why Derrick only booked one room!

“……”

No luck. Iann abandoned his search after ten minutes. Instead, he wrapped himself up in the blankets in a show of protest, racking his brain as he waited.

Why did Derrick suddenly decide on just one room? It was too out of character. Poking his head out from the blanket, Iann glared at Derrick, who was now busy organizing their belongings.

Derrick, who was more than used to Iann’s childish antics, ignored him completely and focused on his work. Watching Derrick’s brown-haired head, Iann returned to his thoughts.

Did I underpay him? No, I gave him plenty. Maybe he found out I pushed extra work on him yesterday? Is he planning to get revenge by keeping me up with his snoring? That’s it!

“I already anticipated your attack. I brought earplugs.”

Finished with his packing, Derrick looked over to find Iann grinning maliciously at him. He let out a deep sigh and, edging carefully, sat on the very corner of the bed, as if trying to avoid any contact with Iann.

Just as Iann’s brow began to twitch in confusion over Derrick’s odd behavior, Derrick hesitated, then asked a cautious question.

“So… the Duke, Kallian Khan Dervel … he’s the one who kills you, right?”

“Huh? Oh, uh, yeah.”

Iann, who’d been about to tease him, felt taken aback. Derrick’s voice was at least three octaves lower than usual. In other words, he was dead serious.

“I can hardly believe it, but almost everything you’ve predicted has come true so far.”

“Well, yeah… I guess so?”

“If… if something really were to happen…”

“Happen? What do you mean?”

“You know, the worst-case scenario.”

For the first time in nearly four years, Derrick looked truly solemn, and Iann found himself at a loss for words. Unaware of Iann’s reaction, Derrick’s back was to him, wrapped up in his own gravity. Iann decided to try to match Derrick’s tone.

“Getting lost in the forest?”

“No. Not that. I mean a real worst-case scenario.”

“Losing my enchanted pouch? Losing all our funds? Getting addicted to gambling? Encountering monsters in the forest? Hey, relax, I can handle it all. Just trust me, okay?”

“No! I mean, you dying!”

Annoyed by the evasive responses after he’d worked up the courage to talk about it, Derrick’s voice suddenly rose. It was only after he saw Iann’s blank expression that he brought his hand to his forehead in frustration.

“Oh! Oh, that! Hey, why didn’t you just say so from the start?”

“Sigh… anyway, I’m saying if that actually, really happened…”

Derrick regained his composure with difficulty. By focusing on the space between Iann’s eyebrows instead of his face, he managed to concentrate a bit more.

“Right. If it happens, so what? Don’t worry; I put your name in my will.”

“What will? Stop joking around. I mean… if something were to happen, I’d… I’d get revenge. No matter what.”

“……”

“Duke Kallian may be strong, but if I give it everything I’ve got, I could at least leave a scratch, don’t you think?”

“……”

“We’re… friends, after all.”