Chapter 88: Rikka’s Tears23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyCfnsRcVW
The dinner lasted well over an hour, filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional roar of drunken nonsense. During it, Kobayashi finally gave in to temptation and drank with Takiya, transforming from a calm, emotionless woman into a full-blown, chaotic Lich King.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEDjl0hUiR
"Hahahahaha!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkxWe5njuZ
Her cheeks were flushed, her glasses slightly crooked, and a mischievous grin stretched across her face. Sitting beside lucoa, she reached out, shamelessly cupping lucoa’s enormous chest with both hands. Her voice was filled with drunken envy and disbelief. "Unbelievable! They’re huge! So heavy too! How do you even walk around like this without toppling over? People on the street must think you’re some kind of pervert dressed like that!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz0vNCl5sR
"Eh? P-Pervert?" lucoa froze, her face turning red.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WnBdtp8G1
"Hmph! A woman who uses her massive boobs to tempt men into sin is a pervert, obviously!" Kobayashi declared proudly, still kneading without shame.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yQtwVvUIw
Don’t say that! You, who’s fondling someone else’s chest like that, are the real pervert here!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA4ueqMpXY
Meanwhile, Takiya, his glasses now askew, leaned against the wall with a goofy smile, mumbling drunkenly into Fafnir’s ear about nonsense that made absolutely no sense.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEefKlFp5C8
The room was pure chaos. Laughter, slurred voices, and random drunken phrases overlapped into a mad orchestra of noise. Even Kouya couldn’t help but be amused watching the entire scene unfold—it was messy, human, and oddly warm.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr269UGE39q
But amusement wasn’t happiness.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzNIBv5Xn7
That maid dragon, Tohru, had used distortion magic on him earlier, supposedly to “protect his worldview from corruption.” The spell did nothing—except irritate him. His mood soured every time he thought about it.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14snTu8fQu
They were dragons. What was there to hide? As if he didn’t already know what they were. If they wanted to pass as humans, at least teach that blue-eyed baby dragon some basic manners! What kind of kid eats snacks nonstop all afternoon and still asks for more?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eQaEGO5NR
When the clock neared nine, Kouya finally stood up. "Tohru, I’m heading out."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzrb7XCbIN
"Please take care, Kouya-sama." Tohru bowed politely, her tail twitching.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8LoHCvt7x
He waved her off and stepped into the night.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7Bcs3ohqg
The wind outside was crisp and cool.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFWG5ME35t
The streets were quiet, painted silver under the streetlights. Kouya walked alone, his steps echoing faintly, savoring the quiet calm and the taste of solitude.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQIUhdFXio
But as he neared his apartment complex, something caught his eye—a familiar silhouette standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXqKgXQ9Hr
A petite girl with a single ahoge fluttering in the breeze, dressed in a gothic outfit she had clearly stitched herself—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxeZhUu99C
Takanashi Rikka.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjJToeEU3x
Kouya blinked, frowning slightly. "What’s she doing out here at this hour?" He considered calling out, but changed his mind, deciding to take a detour instead.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcNSxeiAzH
Before he could, Rikka turned her head sharply, her heterochromatic eyes scanning the surroundings. Then she spoke in a solemn, cold voice: "Come out. I already know you’re there."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fHJ5Xa88Z
"Eh?" Kouya froze. Then he immediately shook his head. Nice try.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44oTBQpj8u
You think I’d fall for that twice?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanooFJtq1S
Rikka sniffed the air like a small animal, gripping her black automatic umbrella like a weapon, and began walking forward with an air of confidence that only made her look more ridiculous.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmjHn4tDex
Kouya sighed and decided to follow quietly, keeping a few steps behind.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlWBRfd82U
She reached a narrow alleyway, stopped, and lifted her chin, smiling faintly. "Creature of darkness, are you too afraid to reveal yourself?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMZYJ1d17Z
The alley was empty. Only the soft wind stirred dust and leaves.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1eVZscZie
Of course, her dramatic lines went unanswered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7LhAMi7hD
"I am the agent of the Wicked Eye! I have traversed countless worlds to find you, destined one! Our battle shall shake the stars!" she declared grandly.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gk9jxc3bm
Fight my ass! You’d just trip on your own umbrella swing!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwM7OZEqyJ
Who does this in the middle of the night? Alone, talking about ‘destiny battles’? Her chuunibyou was in full bloom tonight.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAo4uLTS6s
Expressionless, Kouya turned to leave. Following her had been a mistake.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9Ci1cBiuR
Then the sharp roar of a motorcycle shattered the silence. The headlight flared, and with a screech, it stopped right in front of Rikka.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG8xPNbgpM
"Get on," a deep, cold voice commanded. The rider was tall, muscular, helmeted—his face hidden. His tone was that of someone used to being obeyed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJpje2gAVR
Rikka froze. Even her ahoge shot straight up, like a cat’s tail bristling in terror.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRx4FtNJQS
Kouya stopped, frowning.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XbzMhRbBX
Who the hell was this guy?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRmgX5uyQu
Had she really managed to summon some kind of “dark creature”? No—there was no magic coming from him. Just an ordinary human.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1j57zKL5p
The scene was strange. An empty street. A quiet night. A trembling girl. A silent man on a motorcycle.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXnZoej92J
Kouya suddenly remembered the news—stories of young girls going missing while walking home alone.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoLxMTtIBc
Could this be one of those scumbags? And Rikka his next target?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytTdkMoHxU
The thought made Kouya’s blood turn cold. His eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the shadows.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWUPrcvkIX
"Move," the man ordered, voice hoarse and low like an owl crying in a graveyard.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPku7lqgk2x
Rikka shook, clinging to her umbrella. With a trembling hand, she pressed the button—“puff!”—the umbrella opened wide, a flimsy barrier between her and danger.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXa9Qwk73T
Kouya was ready to act. His body tensed, heart steady.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHlw34p0GE
Then—a sound broke through the night.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkihdHC6DN
Footsteps. Fast ones. Accompanied by heavy panting.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTah8X88qPV
Kouya turned, his face twisting into disbelief.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoaIWlzH5m
A husky came bounding out from the alley, tongue lolling, tail wagging, and without hesitation, jumped gracefully onto the motorcycle’s front pedal.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPKGuuyGWQ
The rider looked down at it. Then both man and dog turned their heads at the same time to stare at Rikka, their gazes eerily synchronized.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pQnIUKxhq
"……"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBDaMMizpm
The air froze solid.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQL8HI2CsN
The silence was so thick it was painful.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaM8NfONGw
Then, the motorcycle rumbled, spewing exhaust, and vanished down the street in a blur of taillights.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0NnLjuzkY
Kouya just stood there, lips parting, words failing him entirely.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWRjMhTpiZ
When the sound finally faded, Rikka collapsed into a crouch, clutching her head, her shoulders trembling violently. Tears brimmed in her eyes. Fear still lingered in every shiver.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAmMf6pXNU
Kouya sighed deeply and walked over.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OCevmTOof
Hearing footsteps, Rikka looked up instinctively. The moment she saw Kouya’s face, her fear melted into relief, and the tears she’d held back finally spilled over.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsriICH279n
"Hero!" she cried, throwing herself against his chest, her small frame shaking. "I knew it! I knew the hero would come! You’d never leave me!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa81Mo5bOE
Kouya stiffened, instinctively wanting to push her away. But seeing how fragile she looked, trembling like a scared kitten, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcQUyUAec3
After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Why were you out here alone so late?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCOY6raxHF
"B-Because… I was searching for dark creatures…" she whispered timidly, still clutching his sleeve.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7qIRuQe0p
"And your sister? Doesn’t she watch over you?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIbB6hTgr7
"My sister’s the head chef at a hotel. There’s a big banquet tonight… she’s not coming home."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvli8TZAifR
Kouya sighed again. "Then stop wandering around at night. Come on, I’ll walk you back."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu5gSRtrWK
"Mm…" Rikka nodded, her teary eyes reflecting the streetlights, still damp but full of trust.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj6NSJNBsA
They started walking slowly toward the apartments. Rikka clung to him tightly, her grip firm, as if afraid he’d vanish.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8fbgeOp9q
"Let go," Kouya muttered, glancing down.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkKb9qtJJ3
"N-No!" she said immediately, pressing closer. "If I let go, the hero might disappear!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdf5o7yeKl
You think I’m some teleporting angel who just goes ‘biu’ and vanishes into thin air? Really?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimrX5qror1
"Hero…"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHshPr8hr4
"What now?" Kouya asked, raising a brow.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCPBVZtrtC
"Kouya-kun," she said softly, puffing her cheeks like a pouting child. "Walk me all the way home, okay?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVBLNWRsir
"No."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gvAZ9Prq9
"Kouya-kun, you’re so mean!" she whined, tears threatening again. "What if a monster grabs me on the way? Then what? You’d regret it forever!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYZvAPy4xP
Weren’t you the one challenging dark creatures ten minutes ago? Now you’re scared of walking home?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4e2NTGxLx
With a helpless sigh, Kouya finally escorted her to her building. Only after watching her go inside safely did he turn back toward his apartment.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5DXx0V6Dg
As soon as he stepped into his room, his phone rang, cutting through the silence.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS826DtawL
He answered—and a frantic, panicked voice came through—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPuGNvXWrj
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