Chapter 186: A Sense of Loss
The next day.
Kaito draped a wide, black cloak over his shoulders and walked the streets of Iron Fortress Territory with Bochi. In the bustling crowd, the outfit looked somewhat strange. Passersby cast curious glances, but their attention was quickly stolen by other novelties.
A patrol of the Punishment Legion marched from across the street. The leading skeleton soldier spotted the suspicious figure instantly. According to the Empire's security regulations, individuals intentionally concealing their faces and acting suspiciously were meant to be intercepted and questioned.
But just as they prepared to move, a presence that resonated deep within their souls radiated from the cloaked figure. The Punishment Legion's footsteps halted. Instead of approaching, they stopped in perfect unison, brought their weapons to their chest plates, and performed a standard military salute.
Kaito nodded slightly in return. The soldiers turned and continued their patrol as if nothing had happened.
Kaito paid no mind to this; his attention was entirely on the sights lining the street. The entire Iron Fortress Territory was overflowing with a near-frantic vitality, especially among the Dragonkin who had just joined the Empire. These massive creatures clearly hadn't adapted to the rhythm of the Empire's industrious populace. After exchanging the treasures they brought from the Dragon's Nest for Imperial currency at The Sunflower Merchant Guild, they immediately threw themselves into a spending frenzy.
Street-side luxury shops, high-end restaurants, and entertainment venues were practically bursting at the seams. They had no interest in real estate or practical tools; their eyes were fixed only on things that were shiny, delicious, or fun. Kaito even saw a brawny man in dragon-man form at the entrance of The Succubus's Dream, shoving a massive bag of gold coins into the hands of a succubus attendant.
"You hear me?! Tomorrow! I'm coming back tomorrow! That 'Return of the Dragon King' dream theme I customized—make sure it's scheduled! Rush order!"
The succubus was slightly dazed by the sheer volume of gold, but her professionalism kicked in, and a sweet smile bloomed on her face. Nearby residents watched the spectacle, emitting sounds of envy and jealousy.
"That's some extravagant spending," Kaito murmured, his soulfire flickering. He had already begun calculating this month's tax revenue. The higher the income, the higher the tax. These Dragonkin, by themselves, had pulled the average consumption level of the entire Empire up several notches. They were perfect, high-volume taxpayers.
"Guchi?" Bochi shifted on his shoulder, its tiny tentacles brushing against his cloak. Kaito looked down to see Bochi staring longingly at a nearby dessert shop. The sweet, heavy scent wafting from the shop—a mix of cream and fruit—had the little slime trembling with desire. Having seen the Dragonkin gorging themselves along the walk, its appetite had clearly been piqued.
"Want to eat?" Kaito asked.
"Guchi! Guchi!" Bochi nodded its small, gelatinous head vigorously.
"Fine."
Kaito entered the shop, titled 'Sweet Home.' It wasn't crowded, the decor was cozy, and the air was thick with sweetness. He found a corner table by the window. The server was a young cat-ear girl.
"Guest, what can I get you?" Seeing Kaito's attire, she spared an extra look of curiosity before politely handing over the menu.
Kaito didn't look at the menu, instead pushing it toward his left shoulder. Bochi cheered in excitement, sliding off his shoulder onto the table. It extended two small tentacles, poking excitedly at the menu pictures of various desserts like human fingers. It ordered a king-sized strawberry cream pudding mountain, three plates of honey-toasted bread smeared with butter, a large platter of caramel egg tarts, and a cup of mint-infused fruit special.
The cat-ear girl's mouth twitched, but she maintained a professional smile as she took the absurd order. Soon, the desserts arrived, piled up like a small mountain.
Bochi let out a happy guchi, diving its entire body into the pile of toasted bread, which was larger than the slime itself, and began to devour it. It was incredibly happy, its blue body puffing in and out, covered in cream and breadcrumbs, emitting satisfied purrs.
Kaito watched it quietly. Seeing Bochi enjoy the food triggered a long-lost sense of nostalgia. Once upon a time, he had been just like that—able to savor the taste of food, feeling the joy of sweetness blooming on his tongue. He subconsciously picked up a small spoon from the table, scooped up a morsel of the egg tart core, and brought it toward his mouth.
However, he forgot. He was a skeleton now. The egg tart passed right through his hollow jawbone and landed on the floor with a soft plop, covered in dust.
"..." Kaito's movement froze, his bony hand still held mid-air. He looked down at the pudding on the floor, then at the empty spoon in his hand. A sense of loss he couldn't put into words hit him instantly.
He set down the spoon and let out a soft sigh. Even though he had accepted his current identity, occasionally, in moments like this, his human emotions would surface unbidden.
Just then, he noticed Bochi, which had been rolling in the food, had stopped. It crawled out of the plate, cream still clinging to its body, and cautiously used its body to balance the plate of pudding it had meant to save for last. It tried its best to lift the plate high, pushing the pudding toward Kaito. It even managed to contort its gelatinous face into a clumsy, smiling expression.
Kaito was stunned. He looked at Bochi, at the pudding it was holding aloft. "Eat it, I have no interest in these things." Kaito reached out with a bony finger, gently poking Bochi's head.
But Bochi didn't move. It could feel its master's mood. It didn't know why its master was unhappy, but it knew that eating something good made one feel better. This was its simplest understanding as a slime.
And so, it pushed the plate—the one it considered the most delicious—with all its might toward Kaito.
"Guchi..." Its voice held a hint of pleading.
Watching its persistence, the sense of loss in Kaito's heart suddenly dissipated quite a bit. He didn't refuse again. He picked up the spoon, scooped up the pudding, and delivered it, spoonful by spoonful, into his empty, hollow mouth.
With every spoonful, the food passed through the gaps in his bones and fell to the floor. He could taste nothing; he could feel nothing. But seeing Kaito 'eat' it, Bochi became happy. It rocked back and forth on the table in joy, as if performing a comical dance, emitting happy, bubbling sounds.
Kaito watched Bochi's joy, the soulfire in his eye sockets turning calm and gentle once more. He reached out and petted Bochi's head again. Perhaps being able to watch this quietly was, in itself, a form of happiness.
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