Chapter 8: The Drunken Lich King36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV2gZ8u6MK
“Itadakimasu!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1NQQqlk7y
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTIL40iIZN
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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh6NuZ79yK
Kouya took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, then gave a small approving nod. “Not bad at all. Almost restaurant-level.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeXYrUsSo0
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5n0PFnNEO
Some chefs talked endlessly about philosophy and emotion in cuisine. Kouya had no patience for that nonsense.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP3dPPPuk1
In his mind, food only needed one qualification: if it tasted good, that was enough.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCL9vsXNHe
“Staaare—”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKQwNiFdlr
He felt a heavy gaze burning into the side of his face.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfacVL2WR5
Tohru puffed her cheeks dramatically and raised her hand. “I want some too!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw12n49eB3
“Then use your chopsticks,” Kobayashi replied without even looking up, her tone flat and expressionless.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEOqfZ319s
“Aw, so mean! You gave Kouya food but not me. His bowl must taste better! Kobayashi-sama is biased!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RXuZs5Tyu
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?’36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSBjaycdRS
Kobayashi sighed as well, visibly giving in. “Fine, fine. Here.” She picked up another piece of beef and placed it in Tohru’s bowl.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0icDNQ3fR3
“Thank you, Kobayashi-sama!” Tohru chirped, her eyes sparkling like gemstones. “Tohru loves you the most!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iRZnjP7qC
“Eat,” Kobayashi said curtly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxXsnp17B5
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTijrPAoiZ
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnBYovVitj
He didn’t ask. It wasn’t his business. For now, he was content to just observe.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35R1NE0262
After a while, Kouya picked up one of the beer cans resting beside him.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGZmfYkPSq
“Kouya,” Kobayashi said, pausing mid-bite, “you’re not of drinking age yet…”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDmoLsYwo5
He gave a small smile, cracking open the can with a hiss. “I’m only trying it. How about you join me, Cousin?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gygW3fAr1
For a brief moment, her expression flickered between moral restraint and temptation. The struggle lasted all of three seconds.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDgZAFR5BN
“…Fine. But only one can. That’s the limit.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXadNM65cvY
…36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeasKIybKW
Fifteen minutes later.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLRdKSi4eA
“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!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jZRIKf0pP
Kouya stared at her, completely unimpressed. He was seriously regretting the beer purchase.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yC1BQuXB3
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZw3qGPWVa
The calm, responsible Kobayashi was gone.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OQJnj0dKG
In her place stood… the Drunken Lich King.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc9Ly7gG7j
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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskBsIQPqpH
“…What?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegCeSKXsFg
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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJBtInuhzk
Kouya froze mid-sip and almost choked. “Cough—Cough! What the hell are you talking about?!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKKcQGDpRV
Kobayashi snickered, waving her hand lazily. “Oh, come on, don’t act innocent. Every guy does it. Your cousin knows these things~”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDhnB2kJth
‘Knows your ass!’ Kouya thought. ‘How can you say that with such a straight face?! Have you no shame left?!’36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPvfho6P4W
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?”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrjkrJItvD
Kouya glared. ‘Stop lumping me in with perverts, woman!’36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCVG24VaK4
“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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3LMwLGfTc
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?!’36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQncbXRMQC3
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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwEzO69lt0
Nope. He wasn’t sticking around for that.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszXT6PGX3e
Kouya stood, plastering on his most polite smile. “Thank you for the meal, Cousin. I think I’ll be going now.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSueFph6RyV
“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~”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd0HE6v3yd
Her apartment was tiny—barely larger than his own. One bedroom, one futon. Staying the night was out of the question.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO91PkaFo7
He checked the time. 8:15 PM. He’d been here for over an hour.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lZ0ks2WVH
He exhaled softly. “Really, thank you for dinner. I’ll head back.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2soGmmcXXk
“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…”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Lf1TOzUwX
‘Oh great. Now she’s a crossdressing recruiter,’ he thought, horrified.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8NMwNYPbY
He smiled tightly, more grimace than anything. “No thanks.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO12klEkfI
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!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpkGYcbcrB
“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.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1trClaFxXf
At that, Tohru’s eyes gleamed. Her tail began to sway in anticipation. “Yes, Kouya-sama! Leave it to me!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02ULvbYKws
Kouya barely had time to step outside before Tohru’s excited voice echoed from the apartment.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD1DexkJWe
“Hehehe~ Finally, I get to bathe with Kobayashi-sama!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHotwskAhP
“And then we can sleep together too!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqrEUFwaWx
“Ahhh~ today’s the best day ever!”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A0Kfc2BH6
Kouya stopped mid-step, stared at the ground, and sighed.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I77JHlDSa
‘…Did I seriously just hear that?’36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAO4CLUAmp
He looked up at the night sky, its vast expanse scattered with faint stars, and shook his head. “This world really is insane.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV0TONmDXT
…36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFhXRF03Kt
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy7wTG32lx
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43xOgn38n5
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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiBeqCseV8
But then—something shifted.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMjnbz4NON
A subtle ripple in the air brushed against his senses. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT9rLy3SEx
Someone was watching him.1234 copyright protection32ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzYVz3YMu2 尼

216.73.216.33