Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death
Chapter 18.1: Wishing for the Day to End in This Cold and Rainy Night (First Part)

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Standing at the center of the Martina Laffinato Hotel’s oversized lobby is a large, grand staircase. It’s luxurious enough to be used as a movie set, making it one of the highlights of the hotel.

The deep-blue carpet enhances the luxurious quality of the lobby and staircase. After we climb up the stairs to the fourth floor, the highest floor of this hotel, what leads before us is a corridor to the most lavish suite.

The suite that occupies more than half of this floor.

The head chef even personally serves us dinner in our suite.

The various dishes on the table look quite extravagant and appealing. Definitely enough to put a hole in the pocket. I don’t really remember the taste of them, too nervous throughout the entire dinner, but they’re probably delicious.

The leather sofa is also soft and yielding, enough for my butt to sink into.

A large window with a terrace hangs from the wall, the night view of the town visible.

Apart from this room, the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen, there are also rooms for reading and partying purposes. The paintings and furnishings displayed here have been specially ordered from the royal capital. At least, that’s what the chief said with a puffed out chest while serving us prior.

I inwardly vow to stay away from all things artsy.. I can’t even begin to imagine what would happen if my hand slips and breaks one of these treasures, the terrors I’d face. Thinking about the reparations already makes me feel dreadful.

And the other amazing thing about this suite is how it has its own water supply for the bathroom, washroom, and hall.

Even the magic-powered facilities work better than I would expect.

The town owns a water distribution pipe system capable of conserving and purifying water and directing water to designated areas on its own. By paying a monthly fee to connect to the pipe, a person would have access to the water. If they rather not spend money, they could either visit a public water distribution center or use their own well.

However, if someone wants access to water in their whole abode, they would need a large custom pipe system. It goes without saying that it’ll be expensive.

Many hotels can’t afford to supply all their rooms with water. However, the Martina Laffinato pays an arm and a leg each month for access to the thickest pipe from the municipal water distribution system. As such, all facilities and rooms are fully equipped with expensive water purification and distribution systems to ensure the uninterrupted supply of water.

In terms of comfort, this hotel is no different from the luxury hotels in my original world. Well, that’s my assumption. I’ve never stayed in a luxury hotel before.

Basically, the suite I’m in right now is meant for celebrities, a suite that can only be reserved by a rich person.

I can’t calm down at allllllll!!

I want to go home quickly. No, I want to go home now!

Ah, I need to bring my thoughts back to the present..

Sitting across an ornately sculpted low table from me, on another leather couch, are Captain Serpentine and Vice Captain Tetar. They’re talking to one another, voices low, the words escaping my sense of hearing. Perhaps they’re speaking of private matters.

Hey, don’t have secret conversations in front of other people. I feel curious now.

After they finish talking, the vice captain sighs before shrugging his shoulders. Then he stands up and makes for the kitchen.

A moment later, he returns with cups of tea in his hands.

Looks like he went to the kitchen just now.

Perhaps that’s what they were discussing privately earlier. Like whose turn it was to bring the tea?

As if. They can’t possibly have argued about something like that. If by some bizarre reason they were actually fighting over that, then what of adults are they?

But if that’s what it’s really about, it’d be nice if they let me join their conversation.

”S-sorry, I should be the one to serve it…”

”No, no, don’t worry about it. You are today’s highlight after all.”

The vice captain’s eyes curve into crescents as he flashes me a smile and sets the cups down in front of me and the captain. A beat later, he takes his seat next to the other man, crossing his legs in a graceful manner.

From the steaming tea, a pleasant and mellow floral aroma teases my senses, resembling Earl Grey.

As expected from the most luxurious hotel in town. Even their tea leaves seem first class.

The captain turns towards me, pointing to the cup as if recommending the tea to me.

In fact, this is precisely what he’s doing. “The head chef praised these as their finest tea leaves this year. Please have a drink.”

“I-is that so…?”

I bring the teacup to my lips, trying my utter best to suppress the trembling in my hand.

I take a sip. And I want to tilt my head in confusion.

The taste is somewhat… strange.

Is it just my imagination?

It smells like flowers, though.

But it’s slightly too sweet. Like cough syrup. Like the sweetness is there to hide something else─

“How is it?”

“…It tastes somewhat unique.”

I throw in the phrase people often used in cooking programs as a euphemism for less than delicious dishes.

I wonder why it tastes bad. Perhaps it’s an acquired taste, one that us ordinary folk can’t appreciate? Since my preferences align closer to those of the general public, I can’t understand it.

Hearing my reply, the captain deepens his smile.

“I watched your match today. Your prowess in swordsmanship is excellent compared to those of the other students. It will grow even better if you continue to train.”

“No, I am…”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to be modest. It’s the truth after all. I asked the teachers, and it seems like you’re always at the top of your grade too, right?”

That’s because I desperately worked hard. To the point of sacrificing my sleep. I needed to, in order to not lose. In order to continue my rivalry with Alfred.

I’ve also gone to the university already. Only mentally, though.

The general education in the local school is the same as what I’ve learned in my previous life. The only thing that’s different is the magic class, so it initially perplexed me. Still, the mechanisms are quite similar to programming rules, so I managed to pull it off fine. After deciphering the language of magic, I was able to assemble a program, or a magic technique.

Anyway, I’ve managed to keep my spot as the number one student until graduation, so I’m relieved.

“The other captains also talked about you before… They didn’t call you out?”

“N-no.”

The sharpness in the captain’s eyes soften, and his smile grows even wider in joy.

“I see, I see. So I’m the first one to talk to you, right? I’m glad. I am very, very interested in you. Will you join my squad, the Royal Palace Knights?”

“Royal Palace… Knights…”

So this is seriously a scout, eh?

The Royal Knights are composed of several squadrons.

The Imperial Guards guarding the royal family, the Royal Capital Knights guarding the royal capital and its surroundings, and the Royal Palace Knights guarding the royal castle.

There are also Border Knights who guard the border, as well as the Defense Knights.

The last two squadrons are the most unpopular because of the heavy workload, while the Royal Palace Knights is the most popular for the opposite reason.

The Border Knights and Defense Knights always have to risk their lives together. If demons manage to attack the country, both squadrons will be subject to punishment. If a fight breaks out somewhere, the public will blame them. The uncle with the face full of scars and the bald macho man sitting in the VIP seats should be the captains of those squads.

On the other hand, the main work of the Royal Palace Knights is the safest. They just have to patrol around the royal castle.

With such an easy job, they are given the same salary as that of the Imperial Guards. That’s another reason why this job is very popular.

“I will prepare a letter of recommendation for you to enter the Royal Knights School. Once you’ve graduated from the local school, head to the capital city. I’ll have you enter the Knight Academy. And you don’t have to worry about lodgings. You can live in my house and learn as my subordinate. I will teach you myself. Skipping grades is possible in the Knight Academy, and with your ability, you will probably graduate in about half a year. After you graduate, I’ll assign you to my squad─”

Woah, so scary. Has he already prepared that far!?

I need to quickly reject him!

Special thanks to Lan Wangji’s Admirer-san, An anonymous reader-san, Starrysky-san, and Anon-san for the ko-fi!

I facepalm so much in this chapter part my face is completely red now. (ノ｀Д´)ノ彡┻━┻

LIAN, DOES YOUR GRANDPA NEVER TEACH YOU NOT TO DRINK SOMETHING A STRANGER GIVES TO YOU!? HE EVEN SAID HE WANTS TO JOIN THEIR CONVERSATION… ULALALA IM SHAKING…… IN WORRY

*smacks Lian*

*dials 110* *spams Alfred’s wivey signal antenna* *screams in worry, terror, and shock*