Chapter 4 : First greeting

"This is the first time I've met another human," ruminated the boy.

The boy recalls what his mother, Queen Orc, had told him.

"You need to talk to her and make sure she doesn't run away. Watch and learn from her!" said the Queen Orc when she dragged Lavinia to him.

A sense of curiosity enveloped the boy in the presence of Lavinia, yet he grappled with the unfamiliar terrain of initiating a conversation. Within the dungeon's confines, he had remained silent, never exchanging words with any other denizen, not even with other monsters. He only lived with his mother in that room.

At the beginning of his sixth year, aware of the difference in his body from his mother's, he asked his mother to train him to become big like her. When he saw Lavinia, he realized that it was the adult form of a human. And he also admitted that he might not be able to become as big as his mother.

He put his hands on his chest, asking,

"Will my chest grow like that in the future?"

he said, while imagining the sensation he felt when he squeezed Lavinia's breast.

"What do you think, Reig?"

The boy looked at his shadow. Then, all of a sudden, his shadow rippled like water. And from his shadow sprang another shadow in the form of black slime, about the size of a little kitten. From that thing, two hands on the left and right came out, and then it shook its head.

"Hmm... you're clueless too? Well, you never talk, so I guess you can't help much."

.

.

.

The following day, after the boy finished his training, he once again brought Lavinia some soup and shared lunch with her.

'"Ugh... I'll never get used to this kid's stare," Lavinia thought to herself.

The boy was asked to keep an eye on Lavinia by his mother, and because of his curiosity (maybe), he didn't want to take his eyes off Lavinia's body.

Lavinia wished she could convey her discomfort to the child, but she knew there was no way he'd understand her words.

After the meal, the boy initiated the conversation.

"isit xekiyious¿" he said.

Perplexed, Lavinia made a confused expression. Realizing her confusion, the boy attempted to clarify using gestures.

"xe-ki-yious," he said while placing his hand on his stomach.

Lavinia remained bewildered, thinking, 'I don't understand.'

The boy then pointed at his bowl, mimicked eating, and held his stomach.

"Hmm? Does he want to ask me if I'm full or not?"

Lavinia then answered,

In response, Lavinia awkwardly replied, "Xekiyious," with a forced smile.

Upon hearing her answer, the boy beamed with joy, leaving Lavinia puzzled.

"Why is he so happy? Did I translate it wrong? Or is he just glad I'm full?"

Approaching Lavinia, the boy pointed to his own face.

"Allen," he said.

Then, he gradually pointed at Lavinia and questioned,

"arecou¿"

Perplexed, Lavinia still didn't grasp the meaning. Undeterred, the boy pointed to himself, spelled out his name slowly.

"A-L-L-E-N," and then again, he pointed to Lavinia.

"Arecou¿"

After the boy reiterated it, Lavinia finally understood. Smiling, she responded,

"La-vi-ni-a, my name is Lavinia."

The boy broke into a wide smile. It marked the first time he had seen a woman smile.

...And thus, Allen had his initial encounter and introduction to another human.