Chapter Text
Kabru knew that the key to survival inside a dungeon was eating and resting well.
That’s what his party always told him and that’s what Laios Touden was telling him now as he stood hunched over, dry heaving.
“When was the last time you ate?” Laios asked. “You don’t look too good, man.”
Kabru released shaky, shallow breaths as Laios stood in front of him. He’d heard stories about the Touden siblings before and he knew that they weren’t the kind of people he wanted to get involved with, regardless of how much he was struggling.
His party had gone God knows where and he was left alone, in the middle of the dungeon, ready to throw up. Except there was no food in his system so he couldn’t.
Kabru didn’t like to eat. Eating made you fat and that was the last thing he wanted to be. He needed to stay healthy and strong while he explored the dungeon. He couldn’t afford to be eating just anything.
He followed a system.
He would eat three days out of the week and fast for the other four. This was the optimal way for him to keep himself alive and in shape.
He was on his third day of fasting and he knew he couldn’t eat just yet, no matter how pushy Laios was being.
“I ate a few days ago,” Kabru said. “I’m fine.”
Laios stared at him blankly.
“A few days ago?” he asked. “Senshi says you’re supposed to eat every day, multiple times a day to stay healthy.”
Kabru didn’t know who Senshi was, nor did he care. He had a system and that system clearly worked. He felt stronger than ever. Whoever Senshi was, he had clearly never met Kabru before.
“I’m fine,” Kabru repeated. “I just need to find my party. I don’t need to eat yet. I just felt a little sick since I’ve been fighting so much.”
Laios furrowed his brows.
“Listen,” he said. “I don’t know you so maybe I’m wrong for saying this, but you need to eat. If you’re going to be exploring the dungeon then you need to stay strong. This whole “not eating” thing will only get you so far.”
Kabru didn’t know why Laios was being so pushy, but it was annoying the shit out of him. If he didn’t want to eat, that was his business. He didn’t need a Touden sibling telling him how bad it was.
“I don’t want to eat,” Kabru said. “So leave me alone.”
Yet despite his words, Kabru couldn’t help but feel his mouth beginning to water at the scent of freshly cooked food nearby. It smelled so enticing that he momentarily forgot his system and wanted to find the food and demolish it all in one sitting.
“My party is cooking nearby,” Laios said. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind having you join us. We’ll even help you look for your own party after. Just please eat.”
Kabru hesitated.
He wanted to find his party, but he didn’t want to be forced to eat on one of his fasting days. It would mess up his whole system and he would have to fast an extra day next week to make up for it. Still, maybe just one day of eating wouldn’t hurt him. Maybe he would feel stronger afterwards.
He took a shaky step forward, still feeling weak after his attempt to throw up.
He was probably going to regret this.
“I’ll go with you,” he said. “But only because you’re going to help me find my party.”
Laios grinned, looking vaguely like a puppy as he slung Kabru’s arm over his shoulder.
“I’ll help you walk,” he said. “You’re still looking weak so let me know if you need me to carry you instead.”
Kabru’s cheeks warmed up at the sudden touch. Laios was strangely affectionate toward someone he’d just met. Most people in the dungeon wouldn’t look twice at Kabru yet for some reason, Laios Touden did. Laios Touden with his golden eyes and gentle touch. Laios Touden, the one guy that Kabru had always wanted to avoid at all costs.
That Laios Touden.
He couldn’t help but look at Laios as they walked back to his camp together.
What the hell was up with this guy?
Laios had found Kabru hunched over, about to vomit, and decided that the smart thing to do was invite him back to his camp for a meal? None of it made any sense. Most other adventurers would have left Kabru right where they found him.
When they made it back to Laios’s camp, the scent of grilled meat hit Kabru’s senses and his mouth began to water. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until that moment. Still, he didn’t want to eat so he would have to exercise some self control. His system worked. He needed to remember his system.
“Hey, who’s this?” a bearded dwarf asked. “He doesn’t look so good.”
Laios pointed at him.
“Hey, Senshi, this is…” he trailed off as he realized he didn’t know Kabru’s name.
“Kabru,” Kabru finished for him. “My name is Kabru.”
“Yeah, this is Kabru,” Laios said with a wide smile. “I brought him here because he looks a little weak. Do we have enough food for him?”
“Yeah, we have enough,” Senshi said. “Take a seat, Kabru, I’ll fix you a plate.”
Laios smiled at Kabru and the two of them sat next to each other.
“After we eat, I’ll help you find your party,” Laios said. “I swear, Senshi’s food is so good. You’ll love it, Kabru.”
Kabru liked the way Laios sounded when he said his name. He said it so sweetly that it almost made Kabru feel special.
Almost.
“Here you are, Kabru,” Senshi said as he handed him a plate. “It’s grilled kelpie meat.”
Kabru took the plate then looked around at the other party members, a blonde elf and a half-foot. Neither of them seemed particularly fazed by the fact that Senshi had cooked them monster food so this must’ve been a common occurrence.
It was gross but Kabru didn’t want to be rude so he decided to at least take a bite even though he knew it would mess up his fast. He picked up his fork and stabbed the grilled meat before hesitantly taking a bite.
Strangely enough, it was actually pretty good.
But Kabru knew he couldn’t eat any more than just a bite. It would ruin his carefully cultivated physique.
“It’s good,” Kabru said with a smile.
Laios smiled, seeming relieved at the fact that Kabru had eaten something. Then he turned to his own food and began to eat.
“So, Kabru,” the blonde elf said. “I’m Marcille. Sorry you have to see me like this.” She motioned to herself. Her body was bloodied and she looked a bit sick. “I’m low on mana after being attacked by a monster.”
Kabru widened his eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“She’ll be okay,” the half-foot said. “I’m Chilchuck.”
“Is this your entire party?” Kabru asked. “It’s small.”
He didn’t realize how rude it was to say until Chilchuck glared at him.
“We have something important to do and it’s a task a lot of people aren’t up for without upfront payment,” Chilchuck said. “We’re trying to save Laios’s sister.”
Kabru nodded slowly.
He shuffled his food around on his plate, spreading it out so it looked like he was eating. No matter how good it actually was, though, he still didn’t want to eat it.
“How’s the food, Kabru?” Laios asked.
“It’s pretty good,” Kabru said. “I’ve never had kelpie meat before.”
“Kelpie meat is incredible!” Laios said excitedly. “Did you know that—”
He went off on a tangent about various kelpie facts, but Kabru wasn’t really listening. He was too busy watching Senshi stare at him.
“Kabru,” Senshi said after a while. “You don’t eat very much, do you?”
Laios stopped talking upon hearing this. Turning to Kabru, he looked down at his plate and noticed for the first time how little Kabru had actually eaten. Of course, Kabru didn’t blame him for not noticing, not even his own party noticed when he didn’t eat. Why would Laios Touden, someone he barely even knew, notice?
“No, I don’t like to eat,” Kabru said, finally.
Senshi stared at him thoughtfully.
“I’ve seen this before,” he said, “and I’m telling you right now that you aren’t going to make it very far in the dungeon if you don’t eat enough.”
Kabru knew it was true yet for some reason, he still didn’t want to eat.
What was wrong with him?
“I can’t really explain it,” Kabru said. “It’s like eating makes me feel guilty. I always try to eat as little as possible and save food for my party members instead.”
Laios looked at him, an unreadable expression on his face.
“Kabru,” he said softly. “You deserve to eat too.”
Kabru felt his shame rising as his cheeks burned.
“You barely know me, Laios, you can’t tell me that I deserve to eat.”
“Everyone deserves to eat,” Marcille said.
“Don’t be like that, Kabru,” Chilchuck said. “If you care about your party then you’ll start eating more. They deserve someone who’s strong and healthy, not weak and emaciated. What good are you if you can’t even stand up without getting dizzy because you’re hungry?”
Kabru felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn’t really considered the effect it might have on his party if he continued to not eat. He thought that by starving himself, he was keeping self discipline and leaving enough food for everyone else. He thought that it would keep him in good health and with a strong physique. He didn’t think it was making him weaker like Laios’s party was saying.
“Listen,” Laios said, putting his hand on Kabru’s shoulder. “I’m sorry if it feels like we’re attacking you, but we just want you to eat and be healthy.”
Kabru furrowed his brows.
Why was Laios Touden being so nice to him?
“Stick with us for a while,” Senshi said. “We’ll help you find your party after you eat a full meal. How about that?”
Kabru hesitated.
He really didn’t want to but it didn’t look like he was going to change their minds so he reluctantly agreed.
“Fine,” he said.
He looked down at the plate of kelpie meat and heaved a sigh.
He definitely had his work cut out for him.