Chapter 88: Rikka’s Tears61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5GsGKLtWA
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDjGveFbN7
"Hahahahaha!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUCQDGqWof
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!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIQLZMwcRd
"Eh? P-Pervert?" lucoa froze, her face turning red.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQZvhOWtBe
"Hmph! A woman who uses her massive boobs to tempt men into sin is a pervert, obviously!" Kobayashi declared proudly, still kneading without shame.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUfJSeuN8N
Don’t say that! You, who’s fondling someone else’s chest like that, are the real pervert here!61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftUieAbOL3
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwg1VvudJ4
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x9xh6pSAl
But amusement wasn’t happiness.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD6uTTHGsA
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehf7THqXcM
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?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3qZhZlGsp
When the clock neared nine, Kouya finally stood up. "Tohru, I’m heading out."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQHoc97gh3
"Please take care, Kouya-sama." Tohru bowed politely, her tail twitching.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT5UBXjQmL
He waved her off and stepped into the night.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwULd5bDPyo
The wind outside was crisp and cool.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZEYtd2sOs
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0SYut8zdR
But as he neared his apartment complex, something caught his eye—a familiar silhouette standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPJoP33jU3
A petite girl with a single ahoge fluttering in the breeze, dressed in a gothic outfit she had clearly stitched herself—61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I31Ci3sx6
Takanashi Rikka.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pvBxY3d2w
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvDHLWBuVj
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglOnlpavJI
"Eh?" Kouya froze. Then he immediately shook his head. Nice try.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLk3Ykyils
You think I’d fall for that twice?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze9kYTqH7f
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8bj5zB7vd
Kouya sighed and decided to follow quietly, keeping a few steps behind.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCouTIPhkT
She reached a narrow alleyway, stopped, and lifted her chin, smiling faintly. "Creature of darkness, are you too afraid to reveal yourself?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL3l1nsAaS
The alley was empty. Only the soft wind stirred dust and leaves.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8iL5nqxRl
Of course, her dramatic lines went unanswered.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1yuwCJzT2
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40SeCrbEzU
Fight my ass! You’d just trip on your own umbrella swing!61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCSgWYKNoK
Who does this in the middle of the night? Alone, talking about ‘destiny battles’? Her chuunibyou was in full bloom tonight.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifdMRSoLd0
Expressionless, Kouya turned to leave. Following her had been a mistake.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLk3j2g8kD
Then the sharp roar of a motorcycle shattered the silence. The headlight flared, and with a screech, it stopped right in front of Rikka.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKUfHL1Q8o
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6Qb47vMwF
Rikka froze. Even her ahoge shot straight up, like a cat’s tail bristling in terror.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1PP7oDcTM
Kouya stopped, frowning.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vwKEMpE4G
Who the hell was this guy?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPToun41siT
Had she really managed to summon some kind of “dark creature”? No—there was no magic coming from him. Just an ordinary human.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFnZAJxXjR
The scene was strange. An empty street. A quiet night. A trembling girl. A silent man on a motorcycle.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGDPxKRgxa
Kouya suddenly remembered the news—stories of young girls going missing while walking home alone.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAniDDNYwpw
Could this be one of those scumbags? And Rikka his next target?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4vLJu3BQd
The thought made Kouya’s blood turn cold. His eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the shadows.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi769GOhcH
"Move," the man ordered, voice hoarse and low like an owl crying in a graveyard.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthbsFPk02D
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2KVuAlZ3s
Kouya was ready to act. His body tensed, heart steady.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbFHmBpwZJ
Then—a sound broke through the night.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AljXKPWfI
Footsteps. Fast ones. Accompanied by heavy panting.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJKIwqLSb2
Kouya turned, his face twisting into disbelief.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtnYnpAJnb
A husky came bounding out from the alley, tongue lolling, tail wagging, and without hesitation, jumped gracefully onto the motorcycle’s front pedal.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDolfO36df
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaPUsihVe9
"……"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsufo65GaMm
The air froze solid.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMVEEiLsZz
The silence was so thick it was painful.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n79o2sA7o
Then, the motorcycle rumbled, spewing exhaust, and vanished down the street in a blur of taillights.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA0A3HfFnw
Kouya just stood there, lips parting, words failing him entirely.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7B4TqgRwB
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8M1eWiijm
Kouya sighed deeply and walked over.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm25uJQ3vgM
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgxk6pw216
"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!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi5z5XZxLX
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohDxrSbVEZ
After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Why were you out here alone so late?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zr4vh7GMF
"B-Because… I was searching for dark creatures…" she whispered timidly, still clutching his sleeve.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlXitzmz8K
"And your sister? Doesn’t she watch over you?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDGBtC4RRz
"My sister’s the head chef at a hotel. There’s a big banquet tonight… she’s not coming home."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtu9tZiMo6
Kouya sighed again. "Then stop wandering around at night. Come on, I’ll walk you back."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38kIpe1mtv
"Mm…" Rikka nodded, her teary eyes reflecting the streetlights, still damp but full of trust.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxRWgDzfuM
They started walking slowly toward the apartments. Rikka clung to him tightly, her grip firm, as if afraid he’d vanish.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQfKRdLBMO
"Let go," Kouya muttered, glancing down.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogRcFjeyEb
"N-No!" she said immediately, pressing closer. "If I let go, the hero might disappear!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZzSDH3Vnf
You think I’m some teleporting angel who just goes ‘biu’ and vanishes into thin air? Really?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE42wrOo7G
"Hero…"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sra1txtHE
"What now?" Kouya asked, raising a brow.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bvs083bWK
"Kouya-kun," she said softly, puffing her cheeks like a pouting child. "Walk me all the way home, okay?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B4JGasyNC
"No."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jMmyl1KQG
"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!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjch106dTS
Weren’t you the one challenging dark creatures ten minutes ago? Now you’re scared of walking home?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUWF53H8Ce
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP0RTNDGT8
As soon as he stepped into his room, his phone rang, cutting through the silence.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlePWBQ4mex
He answered—and a frantic, panicked voice came through—61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkynMQdcNZ
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