Chapter 8: The Drunken Lich King237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WtVDkhWqC
“Itadakimasu!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpipSr3WwOd
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkptPDAuR4f
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqshVL1NbZ
Kouya took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, then gave a small approving nod. “Not bad at all. Almost restaurant-level.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0Du0K5Nhd
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6BLRPB5ID
Some chefs talked endlessly about philosophy and emotion in cuisine. Kouya had no patience for that nonsense.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYRFhpHaRz
In his mind, food only needed one qualification: if it tasted good, that was enough.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFKlPTMXUN
“Staaare—”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxDHYUUaJl
He felt a heavy gaze burning into the side of his face.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdeevhzSJG
Tohru puffed her cheeks dramatically and raised her hand. “I want some too!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjcdgROWm8
“Then use your chopsticks,” Kobayashi replied without even looking up, her tone flat and expressionless.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWL0uuC0CC
“Aw, so mean! You gave Kouya food but not me. His bowl must taste better! Kobayashi-sama is biased!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7nloeqAsV
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?’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvyiPdT3jC
Kobayashi sighed as well, visibly giving in. “Fine, fine. Here.” She picked up another piece of beef and placed it in Tohru’s bowl.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt17uNGdGu1
“Thank you, Kobayashi-sama!” Tohru chirped, her eyes sparkling like gemstones. “Tohru loves you the most!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vjLgf8fk0
“Eat,” Kobayashi said curtly.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9rZ72h8QI
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpx5FxjcGc
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam0wXZy9hz
He didn’t ask. It wasn’t his business. For now, he was content to just observe.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQHW8REmDy
After a while, Kouya picked up one of the beer cans resting beside him.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9uDRsf3cu
“Kouya,” Kobayashi said, pausing mid-bite, “you’re not of drinking age yet…”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyYkI0LBC3
He gave a small smile, cracking open the can with a hiss. “I’m only trying it. How about you join me, Cousin?”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFZ6TFvavI
For a brief moment, her expression flickered between moral restraint and temptation. The struggle lasted all of three seconds.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyMA6tDA66
“…Fine. But only one can. That’s the limit.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA13EYl8XoA
…237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk67gw5eC7R
Fifteen minutes later.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPt1PHsrCZ
“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!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZQXQKbSLn
Kouya stared at her, completely unimpressed. He was seriously regretting the beer purchase.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mmsKgibme
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0gV0cWTRI
The calm, responsible Kobayashi was gone.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yFF043GJi
In her place stood… the Drunken Lich King.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4mfAvG7e3
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYIbfKJdLH
“…What?”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIJgZbgmBN
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq7qhnbhgA
Kouya froze mid-sip and almost choked. “Cough—Cough! What the hell are you talking about?!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhQztVtV0q
Kobayashi snickered, waving her hand lazily. “Oh, come on, don’t act innocent. Every guy does it. Your cousin knows these things~”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQdaDdLqZV
‘Knows your ass!’ Kouya thought. ‘How can you say that with such a straight face?! Have you no shame left?!’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjYIaukUpv
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?”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q6iE5LMOj
Kouya glared. ‘Stop lumping me in with perverts, woman!’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8CDC1SAWb
“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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoWwg3dt2o
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?!’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpT0sec6fB
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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonK35jNUOd
Nope. He wasn’t sticking around for that.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3pj3M18HS
Kouya stood, plastering on his most polite smile. “Thank you for the meal, Cousin. I think I’ll be going now.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWNZ97V2T9
“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~”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkHqPftk0S
Her apartment was tiny—barely larger than his own. One bedroom, one futon. Staying the night was out of the question.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIbAUQFk0H
He checked the time. 8:15 PM. He’d been here for over an hour.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ6NK2oTTb
He exhaled softly. “Really, thank you for dinner. I’ll head back.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Q0oyYXFZd
“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…”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oq0bdi5vZ
‘Oh great. Now she’s a crossdressing recruiter,’ he thought, horrified.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvwQKSoQzz
He smiled tightly, more grimace than anything. “No thanks.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4AQ9LLKik
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!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbICmZP3tgm
“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.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2flqPQNkF
At that, Tohru’s eyes gleamed. Her tail began to sway in anticipation. “Yes, Kouya-sama! Leave it to me!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD9P58t476
Kouya barely had time to step outside before Tohru’s excited voice echoed from the apartment.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8SN5v7A1Y
“Hehehe~ Finally, I get to bathe with Kobayashi-sama!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA6WxeADXE
“And then we can sleep together too!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡic2LITaMv8
“Ahhh~ today’s the best day ever!”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUk5pZ5A1o
Kouya stopped mid-step, stared at the ground, and sighed.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WbSh2HA4m
‘…Did I seriously just hear that?’237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkmNqGkP6a
He looked up at the night sky, its vast expanse scattered with faint stars, and shook his head. “This world really is insane.”237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqhDuiiAQs
…237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKZfknKATU
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NaCU98Pvz
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7vQvikovE
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.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHjdPsUlTv
But then—something shifted.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPfZ7EbRa8
A subtle ripple in the air brushed against his senses. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2yFLzgrde
Someone was watching him.1234 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtKQ5usouP 尼

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