The Psychopathic Beast Emperor-Chapter 78: A Hungry Man is an Angry Man

The meeting with Elder Hakar had ended unceremoniously.

By the time Bahamut finished the last squat, his legs were vibrating like they were trying to escape his body and seek asylum in another plane. Sel looked only marginally better, with sweat running down his jaw, his clothes clinging to him like it had regrets.

Ren sat on Bahamut’s shoulder, his paws crossed, and his ears twitching like he had flies swimming in them.

"You know," Ren whispered in a helpful tone, "if you collapse and die, I’m not dragging you back. You’re heavy."

"Noted," Bahamut muttered, straightening slowly. The suppressors pulsed again, as if offended by his existence. "I’ll die somewhere convenient."

Elder Hakar dismissed them with a wave and a look that said survive or don’t, it’s educational either way.

Their assignment came to Bahamut via the system panel. The system had recorded it like the "good" helper it was.

[Outer Sect Duties Assigned]

- Primary Task: Locate and register unstable training zones within the male Outer Sect district.

Time Limit: A week

- Secondary Task (Penalty): Full-day patrol of the Outer Sect male residential area.

...

Bahamut stared at it...

"So we’re hall monitors," he said to Sel.

Sel adjusted his clothes and sighed. "That’s what the elder said... Elite hall monitors. This is more of a mission to get us killed by our seniors."

With no choice, they began the long walk toward the residential district, the Citadel stretching endlessly around them. Morning training had fully kicked in now. The clang of weapons echoed from courtyards, beast roars thundered from sealed arenas, and formation arrays hummed beneath the stone, as if the sect had a pulse.

Ren hopped down from Bahamut’s shoulder and walked beside them, paws tapping the stone.

"I still don’t understand why you have to patrol," Ren said. "You look like a war crime waiting to happen."

"That’s just my face," Bahamut replied. He didn’t bother toning down. Sel had already discovered that Ren could talk.

They didn’t make it ten minutes before it happened....

GRRRRR!

The sound was deep, resonant, and almost offended.

Sel stopped walking.

Ren froze.

Several passing disciples turned their heads.

Bahamut placed a hand over his stomach like it had betrayed him personally.

"...I haven’t eaten since yesterday," he said quietly.

Ren stared. "That explains so much."

Sel looked ahead. "Sect eatery is two turns that way. Free meals for outer disciples."

Bahamut’s blindfolded head snapped in that direction.

"Lead."

They hadn’t even reached the main food avenue when voices drifted toward them, loud, confident, and just a little too pleased with themselves.

A group of five outer sect disciples blocked part of the stone path ahead. Fresh arrogance. They were laughing, one of them spinning a wooden practice spear idly.

"Hey," one called out when he spotted them. "Didn’t see you at the assembly earlier."

Another smirked. "Late sleepers, huh?"

Sel stopped. His expression was neutral as he stared at them calmly, his hands behind his back.

Bahamut stopped because Sel stopped.

Ren’s ears flattened.

"We were... delayed," Sel said evenly.

The spear-spinner snorted. "Figures. You two look lost."

One of them leaned closer, eyes flicking over Bahamut’s blindfold, then Ren.

"...Is that a pet?"

Ren bristled. "I will bite you."

"Did it just..."

"It didn’t," Sel said smoothly.

Bahamut hadn’t spoken yet.

His stomach did again.

Grrrrrrrrr.

The group laughed.

"Oh wow," one said. "You hear that? Poor guy’s starving."

"Maybe he should beg," another added. "Or crawl."

Sel’s jaw tightened slightly. Just slightly.

Bahamut tilted his head.

He inhaled.

The world narrowed.

Smell: cooked meat, grain porridge, oil. Close. So close.Sound: five heartbeats. All relaxed. None prepared.Pressure: suppressors grinding, hunger gnawing, patience at zero.

He smiled.

Slow, sharp, and Unpleasant.

"I was planning," Bahamut said softly, "to walk past you, eat, and continue my patrol like a good disciple."

He took one step forward.

"But I’m hungry now."

The spear-spinner scoffed. "And what exactly are you going to..."

Bahamut moved.

No flair. No technique name. Just violence compressed into motion.

He was on the speaker before the sentence finished, shoulder slamming into the boy’s chest hard enough to knock the air out of him. The spear clattered away uselessly.

Another lunged.

Bahamut twisted, elbow snapping back into ribs with a wet crack. He grabbed a collar, headbutted blindly, and felt teeth give way.

Sel stepped aside, calm as ever, making sure none of them reached Ren.

Ren covered his eyes with one paw. "I warned them. This guy is a freak when he’s hungry... not like he’s normal either."

One tried to retreat.

Bahamut’s hand shot out, fingers closing around the back of his shirt, and yanked him down face-first into the stone.

Silence.

Five bodies, all groaning and whimpering. One unconscious.

Bahamut stood over them, breathing hard, suppressors screaming, hunger raging.

He leaned down slightly.

"Next time," he said pleasantly, "don’t stand between a man and his food."

He straightened and turned to Sel.

"Eatery. Now."

Sel nodded once, as if this had been a completely reasonable detour.

Ren hopped back onto Bahamut’s shoulder, ears twitching.

"...You’re scary when you’re hungry," Sel commented from the side.

Bahamut exhaled.

"You should see me when I’m full."

...

They reached the sect eatery like survivors crawling toward an oasis.

The building itself was enormous. It was low, wide, and built like a fortress that had surrendered to the concept of food. Thick stone pillars framed a massive open hall, banners fluttered lazily overhead, and long vents along the ceiling carried the scent of cooked meat, spiced broth, roasted grains, and something fried that sounded illegal in three realms.

Bahamut stopped at the entrance and inhaled.

His whole body relaxed, the weight of the suppressor fading into the background.

"I smell salvation," he whispered.

Inside, chaos reigned in the most civilized way possible.

Long stone counters stretched across the hall, each manned by disciples in simple aprons, sliding trays forward with practiced efficiency. Giant cauldrons bubbled, and meat spits crackled. Formation arrays kept food warm, fresh, and, judging by the faint glow... probably spiritually nourishing.

Outer sect disciples filled the place. Some were laughing, others were complaining, while the most arrogant one shouted orders like they were negotiating peace treaties.

Sel moved automatically toward an empty line, but Bahamut did not. His head tilted as his blindfold hummed faintly.

His senses expanded outward as he noticed a familiar presence. And he could see now.

"She’s also here, huh..." Bahamut muttered.

Ren followed his gaze. "What?"

Before Bahamut could answer, a voice cut through the din.

"Are you okay?" It sounded concerned and very worried, making Bahamut raise his eyebrow in confusion.

As for Sel, the moment he noticed that Exildra had approached Bahamut, he completely removed his concentration from them.

Bahamut sighed, "Is there anything wrong?"

Exildra stood in front of him with a tray in her hand. She wore a long, black robe with a grey collar, and the crest of white fang... Elder Iset’s mark. Her long, blonde hair was tied in a ponytail, as her somewhat sharp eyes focused on Bahamut’s body. Funny thing was... she was taller than him, by some inches.

"There’s blood on your knuckles, and some from your nose," Exildra said, her tone not changing once.

"Morning exercise," Bahamut replied. "Very immersive one."

"He almost died," Ren commented from the side, making Exildra’s expression turn bad.

"I’m alright," Bahamut said flatly, not even bothering to look at Exildra.

"You’re clearly not..."

"I said I’m okay!" Bahamut shouted, making Exildra’s eyes water. The next moment, tears flowed freely down her face.

"I’m sorry. I’m just worried..." she said, her voice barely a whisper as she moved away from Bahamut.

"You really suck at dealing with girls... Not like I’m any better," Ren just commented.

Bahamut watched as Exildra took a quiet and lonely seat at the corner of the eatery, sighing softly.

It was now that he had realized what was going on with her, but it was too sudden... for him.

"Are you going to talk to her?" Sel’s voice sounded behind him.

"I messed up... I should apologize, but food first," Bahamut smiled wryly.

"I’m not surprised... At all," Sel smiled back as he passed on his tray to him, surprising Bahamut.

"I don’t know if you are aware of this, but once an elf falls in love with something or someone... they can never let go. It’s like a curse. You’ve become her curse," Sel whispered to Bahamut as he took Ren off Bahamut’s shoulders.

Bahamut just nodded and strolled towards Exildra’s seat, completely ignoring the stares at him and the looming red screen at the corner of his eyes.

Upon reaching her, he cleared his throat in awkwardness and spoke.

"Err... May I sit?"

"Mm." Exildra just nodded without looking up at him, causing the embarrassment he was feeling to multiply.

"Is the food nice?" Bahamut asked, hoping to strike up a conversation, but Exildra just stayed silent.

"I guess it is... hehe!"

"..."

Silence prevailed for a good three minutes, until...

"Exildra... I’m sorry," Bahamut said, while staring at her, or making the action of staring at her.

Exildra raised her head and stared back at him in surprise and a bit of shock.

"Y-You apologize?" She asked, tears still spilling.

"I didn’t mean to," Bahamut said with a wry smile.

"It’s alright. I was..."

"Can you tell me... How do you feel? About me,"

Exildra shivered at the sound of that, her eyes widening in shock.

Who would have thought?

"O-Okay..."

Bahamut chuckled, leaned back slightly, and let out a slow breath.

Outside, the Outer Sect buzzed on; training, rivalries, and ambitions grinding together like tectonic plates.

And somewhere deep in the Citadel, things were already shifting.

Bahamut didn’t know exactly what trouble was coming next.

But for the moment?

He reached for another piece of meat.

And smiled.