Chapter 8: The Drunken Lich King236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqEPCDbqek
“Itadakimasu!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcFvJCdVvC
The sound of chopsticks clinking and the faint aroma of hot soup filled the air as the three of them gathered around the table. Steam rose from the dishes, curling lazily toward the ceiling lamp, casting a soft golden glow over the room.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8oelXdY26
Kobayashi picked up a piece of tender, sauce-glazed beef with her chopsticks and placed it gently into Kouya’s bowl. “Try this one and tell me how it tastes.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVgbRSy9Uz
Kouya took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, then gave a small approving nod. “Not bad at all. Almost restaurant-level.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg8Q0NoJz9
Tohru’s cooking was impressive—precise, balanced, and full of flavor. For a dragon, mastering a human art like cooking was no small feat, but her keen instincts and fine-tuned control over strength made it easy. In cooking, much like in battle, precision was everything. Know when to stir, when to salt, when to turn the flame up high, when to let it simmer slow—and you’d win every time.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExjKmwxcgY
Some chefs talked endlessly about philosophy and emotion in cuisine. Kouya had no patience for that nonsense.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiYZ0ClkX1
In his mind, food only needed one qualification: if it tasted good, that was enough.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyOwONam9n
“Staaare—”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYpN5XDimL
He felt a heavy gaze burning into the side of his face.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtax8lJU0Tz
Tohru puffed her cheeks dramatically and raised her hand. “I want some too!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiFoWhfPkg
“Then use your chopsticks,” Kobayashi replied without even looking up, her tone flat and expressionless.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRL6xBj7Y8
“Aw, so mean! You gave Kouya food but not me. His bowl must taste better! Kobayashi-sama is biased!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvSeWzpS0d
Kouya sighed internally. ‘Unbelievable. You’re a mighty dragon, a being that once could’ve reduced mountains to ash—and now you’re sulking because you didn’t get fed by hand?’236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6vPe3nUvM
Kobayashi sighed as well, visibly giving in. “Fine, fine. Here.” She picked up another piece of beef and placed it in Tohru’s bowl.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJAWjXkttK
“Thank you, Kobayashi-sama!” Tohru chirped, her eyes sparkling like gemstones. “Tohru loves you the most!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8zArz9KIr
“Eat,” Kobayashi said curtly.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIbpI6LbdC
The table fell into a calm rhythm again—the clinking of bowls, the sizzling of hot food, the faint hum of an old refrigerator in the background. Kouya quietly observed the two of them. Despite her ridiculous behavior, Tohru had adapted surprisingly well to human life, her loyalty to Kobayashi absolute and unshakable. She wasn’t serving her out of obligation—it was something else, something far more genuine.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRZy7W5aCf
And Kobayashi clearly knew exactly what her maid really was. Their strange, easygoing relationship hinted at something more—a bond, perhaps forged under circumstances he could only guess at.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirfAjpn3se
He didn’t ask. It wasn’t his business. For now, he was content to just observe.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtBnZjk4lS
After a while, Kouya picked up one of the beer cans resting beside him.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqECqqm2b6
“Kouya,” Kobayashi said, pausing mid-bite, “you’re not of drinking age yet…”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu1IfcMtO5
He gave a small smile, cracking open the can with a hiss. “I’m only trying it. How about you join me, Cousin?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScathSC2RE
For a brief moment, her expression flickered between moral restraint and temptation. The struggle lasted all of three seconds.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlfwbu19Wn
“…Fine. But only one can. That’s the limit.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg16L3nGSLa
…236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYkikUVQjA
Fifteen minutes later.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtGwnMuwaX
“Ehehehe~ Kouya, you only drank one? That’s boring!” Kobayashi’s cheeks were flushed bright red, and her glasses sat crooked on her face. Her usually tired, expressionless eyes had transformed into glazed, mischievous ones that sparkled with chaotic energy. “You’ve gotta drink more! That’s what being an adult’s all about!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73RK21oUwc
Kouya stared at her, completely unimpressed. He was seriously regretting the beer purchase.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDtyGrjVft
The taste wasn’t great—weak compared to the divine brews of the Demon Realm—but that wasn’t the problem. The real issue was watching the transformation that alcohol caused in his once-serious cousin.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDFcOzdXoW
The calm, responsible Kobayashi was gone.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyCHxn8W0M
In her place stood… the Drunken Lich King.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcZVdhkoKg
She downed her can in one massive gulp, slammed it down like a war hammer, and let out a deep, satisfied sigh. “You know, Kouya… maids are the most adorable creatures in existence.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQleZAj9iH8
“…What?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXerIHP4An
She leaned across the table, voice lowering into a conspiratorial tone. “Hey, I heard your school used to be an all-girls’ school, right? Bet there are lots of cute girls. Don’t be shy, if you like one, go for it! Just don’t waste your youth… doing it alone.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo7iny4X9i
Kouya froze mid-sip and almost choked. “Cough—Cough! What the hell are you talking about?!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNt02I6vYc
Kobayashi snickered, waving her hand lazily. “Oh, come on, don’t act innocent. Every guy does it. Your cousin knows these things~”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0mlL61ZCQ
‘Knows your ass!’ Kouya thought. ‘How can you say that with such a straight face?! Have you no shame left?!’236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNgkT8SUwZ
She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a teasing whisper. “Boys your age are basically in heat all year, right? You see a pretty leg, and bam, your instincts kick in, huh?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA5XNYGIVw
Kouya glared. ‘Stop lumping me in with perverts, woman!’236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQHRfpDEop
“Aw, don’t be shy.” She grinned lazily, resting her chin on her palm. “You short on cash? Want me to give you some? There are… places you could go, you know.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni5ZakyChH
He stared at her blankly, jaw tightening. ‘Did she seriously just suggest her underage cousin visit a brothel?! What the hell is wrong with this woman?!’236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXrOtDJZo5
The respectable Kobayashi from earlier had vanished, replaced by a depraved monarch of drunken nonsense. If this went on any longer, she might actually say something like, “If you’re that desperate, I’ll help you myself.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcxogHvYLX
Nope. He wasn’t sticking around for that.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo9vevbfZ8
Kouya stood, plastering on his most polite smile. “Thank you for the meal, Cousin. I think I’ll be going now.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2U9HWHMdzs
“Ehh, don’t gooo~ Stay and drink! You can crash here tonight!” she whined, grabbing weakly at his sleeve. “Your cousin’s lonely, you know~”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPosJqg0nvk
Her apartment was tiny—barely larger than his own. One bedroom, one futon. Staying the night was out of the question.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X6aLxyCgq
He checked the time. 8:15 PM. He’d been here for over an hour.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ75YKh2H1
He exhaled softly. “Really, thank you for dinner. I’ll head back.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYCVpbV6mv
“Just one more drink!” she slurred, wobbling dangerously close to him. “Hey, Kouya~ don’t you think maid outfits are cute? Want to wear one? I’ve got spares~ hehehe…”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLyN6GewDv
‘Oh great. Now she’s a crossdressing recruiter,’ he thought, horrified.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TthLLP89N
He smiled tightly, more grimace than anything. “No thanks.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE9f5jYTaQ
Tohru appeared beside him just in time, bowing with a mix of apology and awkward cheer. “Sorry, Kouya-kun! Kobayashi-sama always gets like this when she drinks too much. Please don’t mind her!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjCUOCVgUY
“I figured,” he replied, rubbing his forehead. “Take care of her. Maybe get her into a bath—she’ll sleep better without the alcohol smell.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc3ynKGeHD
At that, Tohru’s eyes gleamed. Her tail began to sway in anticipation. “Yes, Kouya-sama! Leave it to me!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWYMldjIPj
Kouya barely had time to step outside before Tohru’s excited voice echoed from the apartment.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwAdB5XLK7
“Hehehe~ Finally, I get to bathe with Kobayashi-sama!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoOQZXr4i2
“And then we can sleep together too!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTXfSDZMpn
“Ahhh~ today’s the best day ever!”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjdfKuLttY
Kouya stopped mid-step, stared at the ground, and sighed.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnIq4IRcba
‘…Did I seriously just hear that?’236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHX6oID3oS
He looked up at the night sky, its vast expanse scattered with faint stars, and shook his head. “This world really is insane.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre1zHEzZO9
…236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi68OVRv0tK
The streets were quiet now. The soft hum of the city mixed with the distant chirping of crickets. Faint light spilled from apartment windows, glimmering on the pavement like scattered gems.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RAvj0Z1gA
Compared to the daytime chaos, the city at night felt almost alive in a different way—gentler, calmer, breathing in slow rhythm. Kouya liked it. It reminded him of the quiet after a storm.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCvfRGuk2P
He walked leisurely through the park, hands in his pockets, watching a drunk man snore loudly on a bench, couples whispering under dim lamps, and tired workers trudging home with heavy steps. The simplicity of it all brought an odd peace to his mind.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFXeGYcA9H
But then—something shifted.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jb4rFJR4h
A subtle ripple in the air brushed against his senses. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zShogfIsY
Someone was watching him.1234 copyright protection232ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoHJf0weJv 尼

216.73.216.253