Chapter 10 Independence!

I did it! He thought.

It was much more anticlimactic than he had imagined; Veldalla didn’t even budge from the strike, but she did come to a full-stop.

Well, can’t expect much from the body of an eleven-year-old, he thought with a sigh.

The scarred, but beautiful, rowdy woman looked at him for a moment.

In place of surprise, Veldalla’s expression instead turned to a fierce smile as she slapped the spot where she was hit, laughing out to the azure skies above.

“Nicely done, kid!” Veldalla smiled wide, smacking her stomach again, which didn’t even show any signs of being hit.

“Ehe,” he bashfully ruffled his own mix-colored locks.

“Julius wasn’t kidding with that letter he sent. You’re a natural. While your skill with the sword itself is still lacking in some areas…You definitely have a mind for combat,” Veldalla told him.

It was something he didn’t expect, but the rough, battle-loving woman properly gave him an evaluation.

“You were able to make use of your surroundings, and even lure me into a trap you set throughout our training. How exciting…” Veldalla looked at him as if a moment from drooling, “Hey, kid, have you ever thought about becoming an adventurer?”

“Huh? I haven’t really thought about anything like that…Why?” He asked.

Veldalla slapped him on the back a few times with her usual, boisterous laughter, “It’d fit you well! You’d shoot up the ranks, especially with me by your side!”

“Oh, really?…” He laughed, not really knowing what to say.

“Anyway, we can leave that for another time–what was it about your prize you wanted? I think it was something with my chest–I don’t know what value that has for you, though,” Veldalla said.

The crimson-haired woman seemed genuinely confused by why anybody would be interested in, what he called, the “double-Ds” on her chest.

He smiled ear-to-ear with the topic he was truly interested in being brought up, “A deal is a deal, right? You said I could touch them if I landed a hit?”

“Yeah, sure. I just don’t see the merit in it, but if you want to, go ahead!” Veldalla laughed.

For him, this was practically touching that which humanity should not reach for–the stars, heaven, angels, the outer gods–for him, it was the body of a woman.

Throughout his nineteen years of living, he had never touched a girl, let alone have the chance to touch one like this.

So, just the thought of it set him off like a lecherous old man, rubbing his palms together despite having the face of a young boy.

Veldalla seemed completely perplexed by anything that was sexual in the slightest. It was clear by her attire and attitude, but she was definitely more of a tomboy, despite having the beauty of a princess behind her tough persona.

He rolled up his sleeves with a conviction fitting for a shining hero.

I’m taking back my youth–right here, right now. It’s time; we’re finally going to grasp the “Twin Mountains of Boy’s Dreams”! He thought.

As he reached up towards the wonderful mounds that loomed over him, it was reached—Emilio had found paradise.

Soft. They’re like marshmallows. She’s got a lot of muscle, but I guess some things never change, he thought.

“Ehe-he…”

“You’ve got a weird look on your face, kid. Is this really enjoyable?” Veldalla looked down at him with a straight face.

“It’s just about the best,” he said.

While he was caught in the splendid moment that was reaching for the summit of a boy’s dreams, he immediately withdrew his hands as the front door to his house opened.

“Hey, Emilio, Veldalla! How’s the training coming today?” Julius stepped out, carrying a sack over his shoulder.

Veldalla smiled, “He just landed his first hit. It was a spectacular one, I’d say.”

Julius looked surprised before a proud smile came over his lips as he looked down at his son, “Really?”

He nodded bashfully, scratching his cheek, “…Yeah.”

More than praise, he was praying the red-haired woman wouldn’t blurt out what their deal was that made his resolve capable of winning possible in the first place.

“Your boy is really something. He made a bet with me if he landed a hit—if he won, he was allowed to feel my chest. Ha-Ha! I don’t get it, but somehow that was enough for him to man up!” Veldalla laughed.

He immediately wanted to shrink away and die of embarrassment as Julius looked over at him.

“Emilio…” Julius said his name.

Expecting some sort of punishment, he closed his eyes—only to be surprised as his hair was ruffled by his father’s hand.

“—?”

“Attaboy, Emilio! You’ve got Dragonheart blood in you! There’s no doubt about that!” Julius smiled wide.

He received some playful slaps on the back while listening to the laughter of his eccentric father.

“Julius used to be handsy with me too, back in the day when he partied together. He always had this pre-dungeon ‘ritual’ where he groped my chest. He said something about it increasing his vigor,” Veldalla explained with a smile.

“Err, I was young back then!” Julius laughed off her words.

Seriously, what kind of family was I born into?! It’s perfect! He thought.

His father hoisted the sack up in front of him, “Anyway, Emilio, can you do me a favor and turn this in at the Guild Center?”

He looked at the item for a moment, nodding as he took hold of it, instantly dropping it to the ground as he hoisted it back up with a struggle.

“…It’s heavy, what is it?” He asked, holding it over his shoulder.

Julius cheekily smiled, folding his arms over his chest, “Just proof of the orcs I took care of around the outskirts. The Guild Center needs proof like that so they can confirm that I handled my end of the quest.”

“…I see,” he said with a disgusted expression.

As he moved the sack the slightest bit, the squishy sounds now made his stomach churn as he realized it was filled with heads of orcs.

“I can go with him,” Veldalla offered.

“That’d be–” He began to say before being interrupted by his father.

Julius ruffled his hair, “That’s alright. Emilio needs to learn some independence, right?”

“Right…” He sighed.

“You’re not going to be a kid forever. This is good for you!” Julius told him with a smile.

To him, it seemed more like his father lightening his own load by having him handle the grunt work.