Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

Ch 20.4

I cover Alfred’s mouth with both of my hands and throw furtive glances around.

Only after making sure that there is nobody around us who could have heard what he said can I be at ease.

T-this brat! There’s a limit to being so straightforward, you know! Would it kill you to be more subtle?

I really want to dig a hole and bury my face inside it.

Anyway, it’s true that I was assaulted, but they didn’t manage to actually do anything to me.

I just want him to amend his previous statement.

“Hear me out first before freaking out. Those captains were the ones who barged into that trash’s room, and they were also the ones who started beating him to a pulp. I didn’t even have to lift a finger. But he cried and pleaded after that, trying to run away, so I kicked him once or twice… It should be fine, right?”

“What do you mean by fine?!”

I wonder if it’s really alright…?

“In a nutshell, the captains hit him until his eyes rolled back and he started foaming at the mouth. He couldn’t even get up anymore.”

I was already feeling anxious when Alfred had asked who assaulted me, so this result is somewhat predictable. But it also surpassed my expectations…

He clearly didn’t lie when he said that he was just going to pick up my luggage, though. And while that’s true…

I place both hands on the table to steady myself, fatigue seeping into my bones. I could already feel a throbbing headache in the works.

“Ah, right. The captains who followed me said they would report this matter to the head of the Knights’ Order. That bald captain even said he would beat up his own squad later. And then there was that trash’s vice captain. To be honest, I don’t even know when he entered the room. He said he would leave this matter in the bald captain’s hands. That guy is really mysterious. Even before we had the chance to interrogate him, he readily spilled the beans about the aphrodisiac.”

“What?” What’s that droopy-eyed guy thinking?

“Because they both had a hand in your assault, they’ll both be reassigned to the frontier as guards. So that guy won’t be able to go near you anymore.”

“I-I see.” Relief washes over me.

I’m really thankful that I won’t see him again. If possible, I don’t want to see his face anymore for the rest of my life.

“If he still hasn’t learned his lesson and comes to bother you again, don’t worry. I’ll deal with that guy.”

“Al…”

His grin is so confident, making me wonder where he gets this assuredness from. I can’t help but laugh at that, another wave of relief upon me.

At that moment, Alfred turns to my beaming face. Caresses my cheek with the back of his large hand.

A weird gasp-grunt-hybrid escapes my lips as I jolt, slapping Alfred’s hand away and retreating a step, ready to bolt.

Alfred’s eyes widen.

“Lian.”

“N-no, this is…”

I’m just startled by his sudden touch. It’s not like I feel threatened by him.

After I avoided Alfred, he lowers the hand used to brush my cheek, letting it drop and hang idly by his side.

He opens his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but after opening and closing it repeatedly, he ends up bowing.