Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

Ch 4 - One Year Later

A year has passed since then.

As of now, I am thirteen years old.

Even in the game, time progresses in intervals of one to two years.

Otherwise, the starting village arc would never end.

From ages thirteen to sixteen, we are taught basic compulsory education.

Well, the children of farmers start working at twelve years old.

I attend the school in a nearby town with the three bullies.

That guy also graduated.

It seems the future Hero-Alfred-wanted to work, but the nun at the church convinced him to continue his education.

The future Hero's growing up well.

On mornings and evenings, he works diligently at his part-time jobs.

Keep it up, you working boy. I feel like tears are about to flow out of my eyes. I want to show that appearance to lazy rich guys who can't do anything by themselves.

I'll continue to cheer for you in my heart.

The current training curriculum for the future Hero is as follows.

...Since I'm still a kid, I can't do much.

Even though a year has passed, since he grows slower than me, he's still half a head shorter than yours truly. Also, he's still weaker than me. That's the main point, so I try to stir up a sense of competitiveness in him.

Every now and then I'd do some unfair things, then say cliche lines like "if you hate it, then try and defeat me." Beat into his head that he wants to become strong.

I'm such a great teacher.

Since girls are stuffing baked goods and other foods into Alfred's possession after he entered the new school, his insufficient diet has improved.

I-I'm totally not envious!

At the municipal school, the teacher of the sword lessons is distinguished too.

Somehow, I also won against Alfred in today's spar.

Currently, it's a complete victory.

I can still do this. It'll be okay. My body is still big enough for now.

Alfred seems to be practicing the sword under the guidance of a teacher in the village's school, who used to be a knight.

All for the sake of beating me.

It seems even he can't stand to be completely defeated.

Good, good.

You're doing great. Keep striving to win against me just like that.

According to the game's plot, perhaps it'll be impossible for me to win without using sneaky tricks in the future.

Like making him slip in oil. Or foul play.

That's too unpleasant... Do I really have to do things like that?

There's a fairly large municipal library in town, where books can be borrowed to each individual's delight.

This is great for me.

I borrowed all the books regarding curses and magic squares from one end of the library to the other, and returned home at night to study.

Lian's magic potential isn't high.

In the starting village, he's the kind of person who's like an extra from a movie, who would disappear in a crowd. Basically, his specs are rubbish.