Chapter 8: The Drunken Lich King175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOyDhNpByc
“Itadakimasu!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAH4i0ZqvP
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ066ZigYUvO
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.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspiavlLHZL
Kouya took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, then gave a small approving nod. “Not bad at all. Almost restaurant-level.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBjUrfmd3M
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9Zw3MF2IT
Some chefs talked endlessly about philosophy and emotion in cuisine. Kouya had no patience for that nonsense.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkVAJ3xFPe
In his mind, food only needed one qualification: if it tasted good, that was enough.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlZlACVd8h
“Staaare—”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNUGgbPkOn
He felt a heavy gaze burning into the side of his face.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2n0hvSE3G
Tohru puffed her cheeks dramatically and raised her hand. “I want some too!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSXuBwCDhW
“Then use your chopsticks,” Kobayashi replied without even looking up, her tone flat and expressionless.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLSJXp1nfC
“Aw, so mean! You gave Kouya food but not me. His bowl must taste better! Kobayashi-sama is biased!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOKw0xerjW
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?’175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv4iXqIdQL
Kobayashi sighed as well, visibly giving in. “Fine, fine. Here.” She picked up another piece of beef and placed it in Tohru’s bowl.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCP2QfGkXm
“Thank you, Kobayashi-sama!” Tohru chirped, her eyes sparkling like gemstones. “Tohru loves you the most!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVtbN1z9Wx
“Eat,” Kobayashi said curtly.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXxWT96djC
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31vZOVW6rX
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ7QlcbKyt
He didn’t ask. It wasn’t his business. For now, he was content to just observe.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh35WP5sMdV
After a while, Kouya picked up one of the beer cans resting beside him.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkm29utB0n
“Kouya,” Kobayashi said, pausing mid-bite, “you’re not of drinking age yet…”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTJIrLsmil
He gave a small smile, cracking open the can with a hiss. “I’m only trying it. How about you join me, Cousin?”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtjBKtjNPt
For a brief moment, her expression flickered between moral restraint and temptation. The struggle lasted all of three seconds.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbs0ZPpn0w
“…Fine. But only one can. That’s the limit.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliACfSZ3q7
…175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn5HNmVbMs
Fifteen minutes later.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7eF3cEs1M
“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!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJ7T9qf2EN
Kouya stared at her, completely unimpressed. He was seriously regretting the beer purchase.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHQa2s9IgB
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gpuEeRsCj
The calm, responsible Kobayashi was gone.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kwBtedABY
In her place stood… the Drunken Lich King.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGqQu8K28v
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.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWBWBx9Egz
“…What?”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaK63SH4R5
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.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLeFwjFkOF
Kouya froze mid-sip and almost choked. “Cough—Cough! What the hell are you talking about?!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2swJqF5U3
Kobayashi snickered, waving her hand lazily. “Oh, come on, don’t act innocent. Every guy does it. Your cousin knows these things~”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpZ5DTISNg
‘Knows your ass!’ Kouya thought. ‘How can you say that with such a straight face?! Have you no shame left?!’175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8AYg0h58n
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?”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9dnlXID7a
Kouya glared. ‘Stop lumping me in with perverts, woman!’175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoWNnF9Hl8
“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.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP951aeVdE
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?!’175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6iOtvGPFV
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.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYjiGcyRps
Nope. He wasn’t sticking around for that.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPvcuu0sgE
Kouya stood, plastering on his most polite smile. “Thank you for the meal, Cousin. I think I’ll be going now.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV06Mm7CRLh
“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~”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtMuu2a9sI
Her apartment was tiny—barely larger than his own. One bedroom, one futon. Staying the night was out of the question.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AFeewWJqY
He checked the time. 8:15 PM. He’d been here for over an hour.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf031unk5aG
He exhaled softly. “Really, thank you for dinner. I’ll head back.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMs8aJuSbL
“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…”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX7JZoe1Cj
‘Oh great. Now she’s a crossdressing recruiter,’ he thought, horrified.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH77HtntdA
He smiled tightly, more grimace than anything. “No thanks.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MoeAtw6fh
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!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQbFZVaKQR
“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.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbXFgzcA4Z
At that, Tohru’s eyes gleamed. Her tail began to sway in anticipation. “Yes, Kouya-sama! Leave it to me!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo8nwXxPzl
Kouya barely had time to step outside before Tohru’s excited voice echoed from the apartment.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY2X5OaRSG
“Hehehe~ Finally, I get to bathe with Kobayashi-sama!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqHIQ3as2w
“And then we can sleep together too!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB2Gr6tiiI
“Ahhh~ today’s the best day ever!”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCfp0Ji3Re
Kouya stopped mid-step, stared at the ground, and sighed.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb0RnIN9kr
‘…Did I seriously just hear that?’175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr4x1p4SBP
He looked up at the night sky, its vast expanse scattered with faint stars, and shook his head. “This world really is insane.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJITtEoqBqH
…175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmQLYjm1xL
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd0zNgzNVx
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqrMh1jMNQ
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.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlDJHDRy9X
But then—something shifted.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXdau2Yq5g
A subtle ripple in the air brushed against his senses. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfrHa9u7iS
Someone was watching him.1234 copyright protection171ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SfvxUewI7 尼

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