Chapter 20: The Taste of Rest
A bowl of ramen, one drink too many, and the sigh of a demon at rest.
The old restaurant, FūrinKazan, wasn’t exactly a place of prestige.
Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, the air was thick with the scent of hot oil, and the waitresses wore yukata far too loose to avoid the sake puddles on the tatami.
But that night, despite the creaky furniture and the splintered chopsticks, it was a celebration.
— "To Dante, our new recruit who managed to complete his first mission without dying!"
Rowen raised his glass, the expression of a man who’d seen too much blood not to savor the quiet moments.
His black hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, his long coat draped over the back of his chair, and a nearly dead cigarette hung from his lips.
— "I still remember punching a director in the face to get Lexie hired. It’s not about diplomas, it’s about guts, right?"
— "You also torched his car the day before, Row," she replied, mouth full of gyoza.
— "The punch might’ve been the gentlest part of the hiring process."
The whole table burst out laughing. Even Milo, who sat off to the side with a bowl of soba, managed a small smile.