Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death
Chapter 22.2

After eating dinner with Marie and the kids in the dining room, we make our way to the chapel together for the night worship.

Afterwards, the kids ask me to read them picture books, so we head to the large room that acted as a bedroom for ten or so of them. The slightly older kids, who attend school in the village, seem to want to join us. As I call out to them, they blush shyly and approach us.

No matter the world, storytelling with picture books is very popular with children.

Once we reach the point where the adventurer rescues the princess from the clutches of the evil dragon, the small kids start rubbing their eyes and dozing off.

It’s a natural result, even though it’s the most exciting part of the story. I call it a night and decide to resume the story the next time.

Bedtime at the church is very early.

Quite opposite to my messy sleeping schedule where I’d stay up until midnight, theirs is more healthy, since they wake up and sleep early. Marie tells me to be careful since today is freezing, and hands me a metal elliptic container filled with hot water, a towel wrapped around it to prevent it from burning my hands.

It’s a hot water bottle.

As I was still reading the picture book, Marie came into the room and put the same thing near the kids’ beds.

It seems like she also prepared my share. Thank you very much.

Alfred’s room is bare, as usual. It’s similar to a cabin. I laugh, before noticing that today, the room seems like it’s lived-in. The books he borrowed from the library are on his desk, as well as the goods from the part-time job I asked him to do. I wonder if Alfred is currently being worked hard by the owner’s wife at that lively bar downtown.

After dimming the light of the desk lamp, I push the hot water bottle under the bed and slither inside the blanket. The bed sheets, quilt and blanket have a sunny smell. It’s my favorite scent, which brings me relief. My feet are also warm and comfortable.

I lie down sideways and immediately fall asleep.

Someone pulls off the quilt, and a cold breeze rushes over me. I stir awake, shivering.

“…Urgh, so cold…”

What kind of brat did this, even though I was so warm inside the bed?

I struggle to open my eyelids, and manage to catch a blonde man about to slither inside the blanket without asking for permission. He’s wearing what seems to be pajamas: simple indigo blue trousers and a shirt.

“…Al…? Why are you here…?”

The trespasser keeps silent and forces his way into the bed, not caring that I’m already inside. It’s getting tight. Like, really cramped. Since he’s already here, I slide my body to the end of the bed, giving him some room.

His body is warm. Did he even take a bath? He faintly smells of alcohol.

And I make my thoughts known. “…You smell of alcohol…”

“Ah, so the smell isn’t gone yet, huh? Someone splashed some alcohol on my head.”

What did you just say?

Alfred sighs helplessly.

“…Three young men from Leis Village threw an end-of-year party at the bar. They were so drunk they started to make passes at the female staff, badmouth other customers, charge on stage to sing as they pleased, and picking fights with other customers who told them off.”

Utter chaos.

“Wow, that sucks…”

“Seriously, though. Since they were bothering other customers, the owner’s wife told me to bring them back to the village. She added that I could go home straight after that. So I sent them off home and returned here.”

“I-I see… Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yeah. …How about you? You’re staying at the church today?”

Yes, because I thought you would stay at the bar and wouldn’t be returning to the church today. I should’ve been able to monopolize this room, but the real owner has returned. Cut short my leisure time, why don’t you.

“…Is something wrong about that? Today is my day off, so I’m free from any responsibility.”

Alfred replies with a vague hum as usual. You brat, listen seriously when people talk.

He pulls me closer by the waist, hugging me tightly. Buries his face in my neck. Alfred sniffs it like a dog, his breath tickling me. “You smell nice.”

“It’s just the soap I brought from the mansion… ah!”

I shiver, wet stripes on my neck from where Alfred licked me with his warm tongue. He slides his tongue to my chin, giving it a few licks of its own, and when he gets close enough, he kisses me.

A moan escapes my lips.

I tug on his blonde hair in an attempt to pull away, but it is all in vain. His kisses come from every possible angle, making breathing a slightly painful endeavor.

“…Haah …j-just sleep obedie─ngh!”

His warm hand slides under my shirt, caressing the skin there. When I look up, his feverish blue eyes bore into mine. I avert my gaze immediately.

“S-stupid, what are you─woah!”

He strokes my back from top to bottom, and I jolt out of reflex.

“Ah, no, s-stop it…!”

“Lian…”

“I said no! Just sto─! Go to sleep, already!”

Alfred stares at me. He heaves a sigh, then returns to his original position.

“…Got it.”

He looks very dissatisfied, yet he respects my wish. I’m sleepy, and I’m still unsure about what I should do about us. What do I even mean with “what to do?” Obviously we can’t do these kinds of things. He embraces me again, holding me snugly against his chest.

“Is this okay?”

“…Uu… Well, if it’s only this much, it’s okay…”

“I see,” Alfred says, joy thick in his voice as he hugs me tighter. His embrace is so tight it’s starting to hurt, and I begin to choke.

“I-it’s painful…! Ow! Your stupid strength is just too much!”

“Ah, sorry.”

He loosens his hold. I take a deep breath, then sigh. Seriously.

Alfred grabs the quilt and blanket, pulling them up.

It’s warm. The woolen blanket is fluffy and comfortable. With my whole body wrapped up and feet warm, I finally relax.

I can’t handle cold weather, as I’m sensitive to the cold. Like now, my cheeks feel chilly. In a bid for complete warmth, I bury my face between the warm sheets and pillow and Alfred’s just-as-hot body, fitting in perfectly. I’m completely shielded from the cold, and a sense of accomplishment fills me.

Alright.

Alfred’s body twitches slightly, then stays still. His warmth and the regular, slightly-faster-than-normal heartbeat are really comfortable. I feel safe, and I relax even more, drowsiness coming back swiftly. I can’t help yawning. So sleepy… My consciousness drifts, then slips away.

Alfred groans lowly above my head, whispering about torture and whatnot, which I can’t understand in my state. He complains some more, but his voice is so far away I can’t hear it well. Unable to question him about it, I drift back to sleep.

NHAD finally got its own channel on CG’s discord! Come join us and scream about Lian as much as you want together with everyone (or say hello to this lonely translator )~

There are also two fanarts from Vermy-san! It’s I want Lian-sama to pierce me and I want Lian-sama to step on me… //miicalmdown //you’rescaringpeople