Chapter 88: Rikka’s Tears127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46ouHWgPUP
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XJV9aqaMZ
"Hahahahaha!"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvEsLWtZWB
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!"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9JEGEbpSp
"Eh? P-Pervert?" lucoa froze, her face turning red.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvmHAxBnFh
"Hmph! A woman who uses her massive boobs to tempt men into sin is a pervert, obviously!" Kobayashi declared proudly, still kneading without shame.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0Bdnc7K8J
Don’t say that! You, who’s fondling someone else’s chest like that, are the real pervert here!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLU2Vm218B
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYlC4I1fyw
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOhOa6PkvN
But amusement wasn’t happiness.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qW2c71QJx
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMlJrJNZhN
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?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsQMKGY5Jp
When the clock neared nine, Kouya finally stood up. "Tohru, I’m heading out."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2daxh114db
"Please take care, Kouya-sama." Tohru bowed politely, her tail twitching.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdURwW4Vi3s
He waved her off and stepped into the night.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK0veYOjR5
The wind outside was crisp and cool.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN8EzJke9v
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCfJoP7oGE
But as he neared his apartment complex, something caught his eye—a familiar silhouette standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe7W6nJkhL
A petite girl with a single ahoge fluttering in the breeze, dressed in a gothic outfit she had clearly stitched herself—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfGrOl5b2V
Takanashi Rikka.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4RZi6INig
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpudvCaR0v
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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VvwiGYIsX
"Eh?" Kouya froze. Then he immediately shook his head. Nice try.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiIThpqVJl
You think I’d fall for that twice?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucyAlRvPrD
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc0DVcq9Am
Kouya sighed and decided to follow quietly, keeping a few steps behind.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOPwGeBeKf
She reached a narrow alleyway, stopped, and lifted her chin, smiling faintly. "Creature of darkness, are you too afraid to reveal yourself?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX6Btf7cVH
The alley was empty. Only the soft wind stirred dust and leaves.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1jjfKk8W2
Of course, her dramatic lines went unanswered.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2Vx6BlT0A
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR2wTiRGQi
Fight my ass! You’d just trip on your own umbrella swing!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW79aTKclB
Who does this in the middle of the night? Alone, talking about ‘destiny battles’? Her chuunibyou was in full bloom tonight.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgYYDExNqj
Expressionless, Kouya turned to leave. Following her had been a mistake.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMRR6KyfTL
Then the sharp roar of a motorcycle shattered the silence. The headlight flared, and with a screech, it stopped right in front of Rikka.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqWdQLuDc2
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT6DTz0Uua
Rikka froze. Even her ahoge shot straight up, like a cat’s tail bristling in terror.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrs2t7tLh5
Kouya stopped, frowning.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZYIew8e5Q
Who the hell was this guy?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ju8nJYhGh
Had she really managed to summon some kind of “dark creature”? No—there was no magic coming from him. Just an ordinary human.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXH82jZWIW
The scene was strange. An empty street. A quiet night. A trembling girl. A silent man on a motorcycle.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xymT1ugon
Kouya suddenly remembered the news—stories of young girls going missing while walking home alone.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQatjZxLBt
Could this be one of those scumbags? And Rikka his next target?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1pOEAX5yM
The thought made Kouya’s blood turn cold. His eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the shadows.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v70Omguca
"Move," the man ordered, voice hoarse and low like an owl crying in a graveyard.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTha7OI5U2
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqMbu47vlF
Kouya was ready to act. His body tensed, heart steady.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4At7HA2RsR
Then—a sound broke through the night.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSSSoDF8Mf
Footsteps. Fast ones. Accompanied by heavy panting.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuzPzcGM2l
Kouya turned, his face twisting into disbelief.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Mck5rsMDL
A husky came bounding out from the alley, tongue lolling, tail wagging, and without hesitation, jumped gracefully onto the motorcycle’s front pedal.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh64KiK751
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWSoSNmzGy
"……"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqMPn40TL4
The air froze solid.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvshba2baKl
The silence was so thick it was painful.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uDylpF3AX
Then, the motorcycle rumbled, spewing exhaust, and vanished down the street in a blur of taillights.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3VtCIZkqO
Kouya just stood there, lips parting, words failing him entirely.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4uIoqYO9v
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzlJ6B87pg
Kouya sighed deeply and walked over.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MtiBMjnrd
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvDLisEJPR
"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!"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghUKnnA7CL
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdddxQaWwrP
After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Why were you out here alone so late?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdNBdwSvTW
"B-Because… I was searching for dark creatures…" she whispered timidly, still clutching his sleeve.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioTmYaSHb9
"And your sister? Doesn’t she watch over you?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSo5QYINxS
"My sister’s the head chef at a hotel. There’s a big banquet tonight… she’s not coming home."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY47WgzjayC
Kouya sighed again. "Then stop wandering around at night. Come on, I’ll walk you back."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKc5lftiS6
"Mm…" Rikka nodded, her teary eyes reflecting the streetlights, still damp but full of trust.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICt42yZEBv
They started walking slowly toward the apartments. Rikka clung to him tightly, her grip firm, as if afraid he’d vanish.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB3ORBf12z
"Let go," Kouya muttered, glancing down.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl6MEelY2U
"N-No!" she said immediately, pressing closer. "If I let go, the hero might disappear!"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkJ63DaSGv
You think I’m some teleporting angel who just goes ‘biu’ and vanishes into thin air? Really?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWNlMScOxH
"Hero…"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK5kHouTZI
"What now?" Kouya asked, raising a brow.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKvfDy39i7
"Kouya-kun," she said softly, puffing her cheeks like a pouting child. "Walk me all the way home, okay?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDP6ulypy6
"No."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZri2blJeg
"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!"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfc9Nt5ik8
Weren’t you the one challenging dark creatures ten minutes ago? Now you’re scared of walking home?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtTIEXlg0B
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK38BRErMlS
As soon as he stepped into his room, his phone rang, cutting through the silence.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFUpgzaCO4
He answered—and a frantic, panicked voice came through—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2HzOok6T9
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