Chapter 8: The Drunken Lich King237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q636b9Q3M
“Itadakimasu!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYWG20Kxar
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYVJF4jkXL
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qr6gXDGBB
Kouya took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, then gave a small approving nod. “Not bad at all. Almost restaurant-level.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5gpROn8me
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQy3tJdXLm
Some chefs talked endlessly about philosophy and emotion in cuisine. Kouya had no patience for that nonsense.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRHIBUM9v3
In his mind, food only needed one qualification: if it tasted good, that was enough.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Di3Ln3lkD
“Staaare—”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNFgHcVowd
He felt a heavy gaze burning into the side of his face.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLYDwp43v7
Tohru puffed her cheeks dramatically and raised her hand. “I want some too!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZgfSdF9xd
“Then use your chopsticks,” Kobayashi replied without even looking up, her tone flat and expressionless.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcSVbZ8ncP
“Aw, so mean! You gave Kouya food but not me. His bowl must taste better! Kobayashi-sama is biased!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKFwJc9Zyx
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?’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA94gkWkR3e
Kobayashi sighed as well, visibly giving in. “Fine, fine. Here.” She picked up another piece of beef and placed it in Tohru’s bowl.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVDEMmzUsq
“Thank you, Kobayashi-sama!” Tohru chirped, her eyes sparkling like gemstones. “Tohru loves you the most!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZsYPYTA3Y
“Eat,” Kobayashi said curtly.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBhXQBEyHX
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwpIZKLx1S
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvHGpYBC4H
He didn’t ask. It wasn’t his business. For now, he was content to just observe.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6VyhHRPvu
After a while, Kouya picked up one of the beer cans resting beside him.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxoOW2bjvN
“Kouya,” Kobayashi said, pausing mid-bite, “you’re not of drinking age yet…”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMB1l1wtqK
He gave a small smile, cracking open the can with a hiss. “I’m only trying it. How about you join me, Cousin?”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRMkBPt8xX
For a brief moment, her expression flickered between moral restraint and temptation. The struggle lasted all of three seconds.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4xzSehBpW
“…Fine. But only one can. That’s the limit.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmqWyq3q9H
…237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYssm7jvDpk
Fifteen minutes later.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnsRyUmX8Y
“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!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES7nvDynV6
Kouya stared at her, completely unimpressed. He was seriously regretting the beer purchase.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ228S1LlKMy
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0FAzk0GQh
The calm, responsible Kobayashi was gone.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU4dzP5S3W
In her place stood… the Drunken Lich King.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7XnminzHN
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjqYTibnlH
“…What?”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpjpqSjGRs
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA8dwtKBSG
Kouya froze mid-sip and almost choked. “Cough—Cough! What the hell are you talking about?!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wDWABVH8I
Kobayashi snickered, waving her hand lazily. “Oh, come on, don’t act innocent. Every guy does it. Your cousin knows these things~”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCnWOw4hUl
‘Knows your ass!’ Kouya thought. ‘How can you say that with such a straight face?! Have you no shame left?!’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWEqf2KA0P
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?”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiNXwiLkzl
Kouya glared. ‘Stop lumping me in with perverts, woman!’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInUzzCJ6rc
“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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGajUgfPvqD
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?!’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki7odxMfOl
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbCqosPuUK
Nope. He wasn’t sticking around for that.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyka3LYOf0L
Kouya stood, plastering on his most polite smile. “Thank you for the meal, Cousin. I think I’ll be going now.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwmUvi0rBt
“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~”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYskYgCExlh
Her apartment was tiny—barely larger than his own. One bedroom, one futon. Staying the night was out of the question.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxHZHE48z2
He checked the time. 8:15 PM. He’d been here for over an hour.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDcUyPdLjR
He exhaled softly. “Really, thank you for dinner. I’ll head back.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY9aWkStAn
“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…”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSYRzWOZEr
‘Oh great. Now she’s a crossdressing recruiter,’ he thought, horrified.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoShTFuhsT
He smiled tightly, more grimace than anything. “No thanks.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUjADbWYEi
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!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpPag7YGtf
“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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0xRYVCGBw
At that, Tohru’s eyes gleamed. Her tail began to sway in anticipation. “Yes, Kouya-sama! Leave it to me!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV9soyzlhF
Kouya barely had time to step outside before Tohru’s excited voice echoed from the apartment.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MMOK4itvE
“Hehehe~ Finally, I get to bathe with Kobayashi-sama!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwvz6HE4Iz
“And then we can sleep together too!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfzYokOjsw
“Ahhh~ today’s the best day ever!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrFttwBV00
Kouya stopped mid-step, stared at the ground, and sighed.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZrY6hfvHF
‘…Did I seriously just hear that?’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8xwhjrUrt
He looked up at the night sky, its vast expanse scattered with faint stars, and shook his head. “This world really is insane.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t2TEzi6Eg
…237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW3tSYZS0Q
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDS6PbWTNf
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwfcgjXtyK
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0wQAwtOgZ
But then—something shifted.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6CGeM4FUI
A subtle ripple in the air brushed against his senses. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhG3ls4p0k
Someone was watching him.1234 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUYzwHwmfS 尼

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