Chapter 88: Rikka’s Tears123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4xYBjTmV3
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpFBOFEOuu
"Hahahahaha!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxlYkDLWVA
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!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTSDJEAEBe
"Eh? P-Pervert?" lucoa froze, her face turning red.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWeE2AAomr
"Hmph! A woman who uses her massive boobs to tempt men into sin is a pervert, obviously!" Kobayashi declared proudly, still kneading without shame.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKyHbYz1Cq
Don’t say that! You, who’s fondling someone else’s chest like that, are the real pervert here!123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ete8z34Ki
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdSgYc8lTh
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaxYFvHYFU
But amusement wasn’t happiness.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zw7tpN6ji
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZytccgauq
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?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4BKvTzsCx
When the clock neared nine, Kouya finally stood up. "Tohru, I’m heading out."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsytqHhGf3M
"Please take care, Kouya-sama." Tohru bowed politely, her tail twitching.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVlOFNGsYH
He waved her off and stepped into the night.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqeq8Dkq9f
The wind outside was crisp and cool.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxiXHRfWUv
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswUOAu7fgW
But as he neared his apartment complex, something caught his eye—a familiar silhouette standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gaZUtIBJV
A petite girl with a single ahoge fluttering in the breeze, dressed in a gothic outfit she had clearly stitched herself—123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qVJuWcf5C
Takanashi Rikka.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8bW9Iw1A6
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkHCdV9OTN
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."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80MjUf9Qzd
"Eh?" Kouya froze. Then he immediately shook his head. Nice try.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9bKrk0zSl
You think I’d fall for that twice?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG61HeAGyIN
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KP46xVIQF
Kouya sighed and decided to follow quietly, keeping a few steps behind.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlcYr3fFqa
She reached a narrow alleyway, stopped, and lifted her chin, smiling faintly. "Creature of darkness, are you too afraid to reveal yourself?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZybi0Scu2
The alley was empty. Only the soft wind stirred dust and leaves.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tUG5xqnri
Of course, her dramatic lines went unanswered.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXwTgUR63b
"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGN4UOnKMp
Fight my ass! You’d just trip on your own umbrella swing!123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0stPuy5UnR
Who does this in the middle of the night? Alone, talking about ‘destiny battles’? Her chuunibyou was in full bloom tonight.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbvl8fcVSL
Expressionless, Kouya turned to leave. Following her had been a mistake.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh1bfmNY0R
Then the sharp roar of a motorcycle shattered the silence. The headlight flared, and with a screech, it stopped right in front of Rikka.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWsiu5DxJJ
"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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIBQn0nHNh
Rikka froze. Even her ahoge shot straight up, like a cat’s tail bristling in terror.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWFTRQqP7z
Kouya stopped, frowning.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapAXEHBQpw
Who the hell was this guy?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAjQpYRDKC
Had she really managed to summon some kind of “dark creature”? No—there was no magic coming from him. Just an ordinary human.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8gbTqFJVH
The scene was strange. An empty street. A quiet night. A trembling girl. A silent man on a motorcycle.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS2J1q2xGM
Kouya suddenly remembered the news—stories of young girls going missing while walking home alone.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxx4fOV1yk
Could this be one of those scumbags? And Rikka his next target?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOJVOFCckw
The thought made Kouya’s blood turn cold. His eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the shadows.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRt26xDXh5
"Move," the man ordered, voice hoarse and low like an owl crying in a graveyard.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg2gDuBL4J
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49pWYzWadJ
Kouya was ready to act. His body tensed, heart steady.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fYlYIq4At
Then—a sound broke through the night.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa6g87LhVf
Footsteps. Fast ones. Accompanied by heavy panting.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT7Gf6Yx4x
Kouya turned, his face twisting into disbelief.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDz3x6KbHn
A husky came bounding out from the alley, tongue lolling, tail wagging, and without hesitation, jumped gracefully onto the motorcycle’s front pedal.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXS1i3ZtyK
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSSZmdmSI1
"……"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv83jqDY5gS
The air froze solid.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XTvcVd1IN
The silence was so thick it was painful.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUcCHXNK08
Then, the motorcycle rumbled, spewing exhaust, and vanished down the street in a blur of taillights.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3N4M5N3Jk
Kouya just stood there, lips parting, words failing him entirely.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnShUHrDeL
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc6RAFK7K2
Kouya sighed deeply and walked over.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8xF4Yhewb
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY1XDuNRMl
"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!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDMUNOterV
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi74Y3v5Kw
After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Why were you out here alone so late?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf34GIK4pV
"B-Because… I was searching for dark creatures…" she whispered timidly, still clutching his sleeve.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1SRL4eisc
"And your sister? Doesn’t she watch over you?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttqPpvurqp
"My sister’s the head chef at a hotel. There’s a big banquet tonight… she’s not coming home."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18mnToAL1Z
Kouya sighed again. "Then stop wandering around at night. Come on, I’ll walk you back."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAmhANZxru
"Mm…" Rikka nodded, her teary eyes reflecting the streetlights, still damp but full of trust.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAV65SWPhkT
They started walking slowly toward the apartments. Rikka clung to him tightly, her grip firm, as if afraid he’d vanish.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKDPyRLc2E
"Let go," Kouya muttered, glancing down.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCkRrYEXiV
"N-No!" she said immediately, pressing closer. "If I let go, the hero might disappear!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThJel9OjJ2
You think I’m some teleporting angel who just goes ‘biu’ and vanishes into thin air? Really?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7twgfCmYcz
"Hero…"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35QbYzYraM
"What now?" Kouya asked, raising a brow.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq2sDH4X0O
"Kouya-kun," she said softly, puffing her cheeks like a pouting child. "Walk me all the way home, okay?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPcc8kakZK
"No."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKXKW41GGW
"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!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡircSY2FnVQ
Weren’t you the one challenging dark creatures ten minutes ago? Now you’re scared of walking home?123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn5JTJrMLC
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.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rzitw8F2g
As soon as he stepped into his room, his phone rang, cutting through the silence.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93zjtyjNBi
He answered—and a frantic, panicked voice came through—123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUBr8LfYdp
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