Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

Ch 27.5

As numerous thoughts run through my mind, Alfred suddenly takes my right hand.

Holds it lightly.

“…Uh, Alfred?” I say, staring up at him.

His blue orbs, just recently the color of the clear sky, are growing darker.

“…sama… Please… him away…” He spoke so quietly that I didn’t manage to catch his words. 

“What did you say?”

However, Alfred refuses to answer. He only stares at me with dull eyes.

No, he only appears to be staring at me. His focus isn’t on me but on some intangible space. For some reason, that’s the feeling I got from his gaze.

“…protect him. I’ll treat him with great care, so…”

I’m really unable to discern his mutters. “Alfred? What are you saying?”

This time, Alfred’s gaze finally focuses onto me, and he flashes a smile. However, his smile somehow looks ugly, like he’s on the verge of crying. “…It’s nothing.”

“What do you mean with nothing— Ahh!”

Alfred wraps his arms around me and lifts me up.

Because he does it so forcefully, my torso collides into his with the same amount of force he used to lift me.

Despite this, Alfred remains in place, not a twitch or movement to be seen from him. Moreover, he has a large build. So uselessly large. Meanwhile, I’ve only grown a couple of millimeters since we were kids. I don’t have defined muscles either. I feel like I’ve reached the end of my gro—no no no. I can still grow. I still have room left to grow taller. And grow some muscles soon. Yes, that’s right.

…But then, I will never compare to Alfred, who has grown considerably large and robust.

Well, it’s only natural for him to have grown this much. He’s the future hero, after all. This should be a good thing. 

As a matter of fact, I also feel… happy. That his body developed so well.

Though I’m a tad bit envious, I also wish to see him grow taller and bulkier, just like this.

That way, he can become stronger. To the point that he’ll be unmatched by anyone and anything in this world. That is my desire.

So please—

All of a sudden, Alfred squeezes me in a tight hug.

“Huh?! W-Wait, Alfred! Hey…!”

Please consider our location right now!

We’re outside! And there are people in our vicinity!

“Al—”

I feel tremors running through Alfred’s hand on my shoulder. I stop my attempt to push myself out of his hold.

I try to inspect his condition, but from my current position, his neck is all I can see, so I give up.

Instead, I turn my head, gazing at the hand on my shoulder. Though almost indistinct, Alfred really is trembling. “Alfred?”

However, I don’t receive a reply.

What happened to him?

He was fine this morning, but now, I don’t know what’s on his mind. He currently seems inscrutable.

I feel at a loss, but for the time being, I wrap an arm around Alfred and pat his back, trying to calm him down.

This situation seems to have already happened multiple times to me today.