Chapter 47 Temptation of Ambrosia

After gratefully accepting the sword specially forged for him, he was surprised by Celly herself giving him a gift.

He looked up as the silver-haired young woman gave him something that was wrapped in a verdant cloth, bearing a similar, long shape to the sword he had received, though as he accepted it, it was certainly lighter.

“…You didn’t have to,” he smiled.

“I wanted to,” Celly smiled, “Teaching you has also taught me a lot. It’s been more fulfilling and…fun, than I could’ve expected. It’s thanks to having such a bright student. Happy birthday, Emilio.”

It still made him feel somewhat guilty that the tutor who was being paid to be there went out of her way to get him a gift, but he knew that the relationship with Celly was more than something simply peddled by coin.

As he unwrapped the item in the blue cloth, his eyes sparkled at the sight–a staff. It was scaled to his size, made of finely-carved wood with the end spiraled into a circular shape.

“It’s nothing fancy, but it’ll aid you much better than that wand,” Celly sold.

He held it up, moving it around to feel it out as he smiled, “–No, this is great! Thank you, Celly-really.”

As he gave her a warm smile, he was greeted with one in return as the half-elven lady seemed relieved that he liked it.

With both a proper staff and a sword to boot, it felt as if he had just reached a new stepping stone in strength.

As he got a feel for his staff and the weight of his sword as he attached the scabbard to his belt, he was surprised by Irene approaching him with a small item in her hands.

“What’s this?” He asked.

Irene had a small tint of pink to her cheeks as she meekly held the item forward, “…Happy birthday. I…made this for you.”

As he looked at what was on her hands, he saw it was some sort of necklace with a black-and-gold insignia on it, painted with an alluring design.

Wait…this is what she was doing before? I remember seeing her working on something then hiding it–I don’t deserve kindness like this…! He thought.

“Oh! Thank you!” He smiled.

He graciously accepted the necklace, allowing her to put it on for him as he smiled giddily, swirling the insignia while inspecting it.

“It’s a dragon…in the center,” Irene told him shyly.

“Oh…I see it!” He said.

To the blue-haired girl’s surprise, he gave her a tight hug, seizing the opportunity to feel her fluffy locks in the process.

“Look at that! You’re all set for when you begin your adventuring!” Julius said.

“Yeah…” He nodded while smiling.

Looking up at his mother, who was filling his plate with seconds of the marinated-and-spiced chicken she had made, he noticed that look present in her eyes, though she was smiling and mostly happy still.

As the topic of adventuring, he always noticed a small look of subtle sadness on his mother’s face, but it was obvious why. He felt it himself: the inevitable departure.

Will this…be my last birthday celebrated here? He wondered.

It was a sad thought, but at the same time it also brought a warmth in him. Thirteen years—it had been thirteen years since he abandoned his prior life and began this new one.

There were already plenty of memories he had made with his parents and others around.

It’s time to open a new chapter in my life. For now…I’ll cherish this time with them, he thought.

It was an all-day celebration; Celly and Treyna both prepared the feast that was savory and filled with his favorite dishes. Spicy boar meat, crumble bread, mashed potatoes—there was much more, and almost too much, but with Julius’ endless appetite around, there was never “too much.”

Amidst the birthday celebration, Julius had brought out booze, having his fill before he began pouring some of the amber liquid into his son’s cup.

“Err…” He smiled wryly.

“C’mon! You’re a man now, aren’t you? Well, you aren’t a true man unless you’ve had a belly warm with ale!” Julius laughed.

It was clear that his father was already drunk by his reddened cheeks, slurred words, and the fact that half of the booze he was pouring ended up on the table rather than in the cup.

“I don’t know…”

Counting even his prior life, he had never even had a sip of alcohol in his life. Even then, he still had the small body of a thirteen-year-old with no resistance to booze in the slightest.

Medieval booze…I bet it’s ten times more powerful than the stuff back on Earth, too! He thought.

He was hoping his mother would save him, but as he looked up, he realized he was practically alone in being sober.

Treyna had red cheeks and a smile, waiting for him to sip as he looked over and saw even the demure Celly had begun drinking, slamming her mug down as she burped cutely.

“Gimme another!” Celly demanded with a flushed face.

It was like seeing a unicorn when witnessing the meek, well-mannered tutor of his abrasively demand something so openly and without shame.

“Coming right up!” Treyna indulged her.

Even Celly?! He thought.

“C’mon! Don’t be shy! It won’t bite!” Julius coaxed him.

There was little holding him back besides his own ignorance of alcohol itself. He didn’t know what would await once that golden liquid traveled down to his gut.

I’m already a hopeless degenerate normally! What the hell will I be with booze in me?! He thought.

Though with the atmosphere of the party around him and the warmth of his family, he decided to take the dive and finally lift that mug up with a mission.

“Woah! Go! Go! Go!” Julius cheered him on.

GLUG. GLUG. GLUG.

He kept the mug to his lips, pouring the booze down his throat as he opted to finish it all in one drink.

It was bitter, but smooth. As long as he let it flow past his tongue without taking the time to taste it or concentrating on that flavor, he was able to put it down the hatch while the others watched anxiously.

He finally slammed the mug down, emptying its contents into his body as he let out a breath that reeked of alcohol, but that was par for the course at the Dragonheart residence right now.

“That’s my student right there!” Celly drunkenly said.

“Yeah, that’s my boy!” Julius laughed.

He immediately felt a warmth bubbling up in his gut, swirling as it filled his body like a soothing cloud. An entire mug was certainly enough to have a quick effect on him as he already felt as if he was wrapped in a heated blanket.

“…Uegh…” He chuckled.

“Another!” Julius proclaimed.

Before he could say anything, his eccentric father had already begun pouring more of the golden, head-swirling liquid into his mug before having another gulp for himself.

“Yeah…!” He celebrated with a burp.

Things like this were certainly not able to be experienced in his previous life. Underage drinking aside, this as a whole was a new experience for him.

I never got to even come within ten feet of liquor. It was kept away from me, kept out of reach or locked away. It was for my health, apparently. My mother was so overprotective that she suffocated what little enjoyment out of life I’d be able to have. This is…what I wanted, he thought.

“What’s with that gloomy look on your face, kid? Drink up!” Julius said, sitting directly beside him.

“…Right…Yeah!”