Chapter 8: The Drunken Lich King8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoa3VAN8C3
“Itadakimasu!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVhGEjlc1P
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBp05qM8Y6
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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2Dw6xEDKG
Kouya took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, then gave a small approving nod. “Not bad at all. Almost restaurant-level.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IF0AW6q8N
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3lQY6ZzX9
Some chefs talked endlessly about philosophy and emotion in cuisine. Kouya had no patience for that nonsense.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOobJTfXUU
In his mind, food only needed one qualification: if it tasted good, that was enough.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONbwLmAB87
“Staaare—”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj0ZiLGPdt
He felt a heavy gaze burning into the side of his face.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLvqiGEfsu
Tohru puffed her cheeks dramatically and raised her hand. “I want some too!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTvYVfzlG0
“Then use your chopsticks,” Kobayashi replied without even looking up, her tone flat and expressionless.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjkD4qa5JP
“Aw, so mean! You gave Kouya food but not me. His bowl must taste better! Kobayashi-sama is biased!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaf41NhEmr
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?’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOauitLGMPC
Kobayashi sighed as well, visibly giving in. “Fine, fine. Here.” She picked up another piece of beef and placed it in Tohru’s bowl.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYzOjAdVMa
“Thank you, Kobayashi-sama!” Tohru chirped, her eyes sparkling like gemstones. “Tohru loves you the most!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvTUoXc1Ff
“Eat,” Kobayashi said curtly.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygEnkFTDcY
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGGV6jIDoe
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j2JDzW0yP
He didn’t ask. It wasn’t his business. For now, he was content to just observe.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMcGvaqthM
After a while, Kouya picked up one of the beer cans resting beside him.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFi1nZuU3k
“Kouya,” Kobayashi said, pausing mid-bite, “you’re not of drinking age yet…”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVO2X6SnI5
He gave a small smile, cracking open the can with a hiss. “I’m only trying it. How about you join me, Cousin?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gieo5Bnow
For a brief moment, her expression flickered between moral restraint and temptation. The struggle lasted all of three seconds.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0B8CHC3UR
“…Fine. But only one can. That’s the limit.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKfiPxmdve
…8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjLJ08ODjs
Fifteen minutes later.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2yiKzIXPu
“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!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxEUZERVim
Kouya stared at her, completely unimpressed. He was seriously regretting the beer purchase.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKQIww9Q7f
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNUilf2Ec8
The calm, responsible Kobayashi was gone.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufm8f247yy
In her place stood… the Drunken Lich King.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpGQygiOUQ
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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpEjWd80oS
“…What?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWnj7F8c4u
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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiYvrLu3TJ
Kouya froze mid-sip and almost choked. “Cough—Cough! What the hell are you talking about?!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztQdPPXWf0
Kobayashi snickered, waving her hand lazily. “Oh, come on, don’t act innocent. Every guy does it. Your cousin knows these things~”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjk0a0nPWi
‘Knows your ass!’ Kouya thought. ‘How can you say that with such a straight face?! Have you no shame left?!’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshax3bUJHw
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?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBAlKHhvUb
Kouya glared. ‘Stop lumping me in with perverts, woman!’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo6pp6Nmbw
“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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4l8hfFFYC
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?!’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z08SXHQLQ
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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ryDzmTwQV
Nope. He wasn’t sticking around for that.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mcWvdjoMa
Kouya stood, plastering on his most polite smile. “Thank you for the meal, Cousin. I think I’ll be going now.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLotMw5Bid
“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~”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNEyUTKO84
Her apartment was tiny—barely larger than his own. One bedroom, one futon. Staying the night was out of the question.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xnv0yTcV9
He checked the time. 8:15 PM. He’d been here for over an hour.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w8ycKUXN1
He exhaled softly. “Really, thank you for dinner. I’ll head back.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q3Y64oN29
“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…”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG5l3bp3rA
‘Oh great. Now she’s a crossdressing recruiter,’ he thought, horrified.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokxY8vekjB
He smiled tightly, more grimace than anything. “No thanks.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz42x61Tt6q
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!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRPhzpX7sw
“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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv1Wbgtrz6
At that, Tohru’s eyes gleamed. Her tail began to sway in anticipation. “Yes, Kouya-sama! Leave it to me!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1mFw4UXf4
Kouya barely had time to step outside before Tohru’s excited voice echoed from the apartment.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF5dlF9EyY
“Hehehe~ Finally, I get to bathe with Kobayashi-sama!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhXsz1b1FA
“And then we can sleep together too!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCruR8gFhyc
“Ahhh~ today’s the best day ever!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT90dGLCLV
Kouya stopped mid-step, stared at the ground, and sighed.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxiMuedwmW
‘…Did I seriously just hear that?’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDehlmsFqFv
He looked up at the night sky, its vast expanse scattered with faint stars, and shook his head. “This world really is insane.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RInUi73oV
…8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBPsqaRUfQ
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfDbYxX6s9
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpJVnaoYFo
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7jJNfZ0vj
But then—something shifted.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnO9ZJqf0Z
A subtle ripple in the air brushed against his senses. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsHWzMMuQO
Someone was watching him.1234 copyright protection4ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgcYTWJJBs 尼

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