The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 252: A Taste Of Real Food

His voice was rough.

It sounded unused.

Rem took a moment to let the name settle in his mind before nodding. "Cairn, huh? Alright." He then gestured lazily towards Selene. "I’m Rem. The troublesome woman next to me is Selene."

Selene huffed. "I have a name, you know."

Rem shrugged. "I already said it."

Cairn remained silent, his gaze flickering between them briefly before lowering once more.

Still, at least he had answered.

That was enough for now.

But there was another issue.

The kid didn’t reek, per se, but he had the scent of someone who had been stuck in a cage for too long.

Dirt clung to his silver hair, and the clothes — if one could even call them that — were barely more than rags.

Rem let out a small sigh and abruptly changed course, steering them toward a different section of the city.

Selene raised a brow. "Where are we going now?"

"Bathhouse."

She blinked. "Seriously?"

Rem didn’t bother responding.

Within minutes, they arrived at a well-kept establishment tucked between larger buildings.

The bathhouse had a wooden sign with steaming water carved into it, and the faint scent of clean linen drifted from inside.

Rem stepped forward, pulling Cairn along.

Selene snorted. "You have fun with that. I’ll wait here."

"Didn’t ask."

She rolled her eyes, leaning against a nearby wall as Rem pushed the door open, guiding Cairn inside.

The bathhouse was warm, steam curling through the air.

The attendants barely reacted to Rem’s entrance, only sparing a brief glance at Cairn before gesturing towards the back.

Rem didn’t waste time. He pulled Cairn along, ignoring the nervous glances from the other patrons. Once they reached a more secluded area, he let go of the boy’s wrist and crossed his arms.

"Strip."

Cairn blinked up at him.

Rem sighed. "You stink."

The boy hesitated, looking unsure, but eventually, with sluggish movements, he pulled off his ragged shirt.

Beneath it, his body was even worse than Rem had thought.

Thin.

Too thin.

His ribs were visible, his skin marred with faint scars — some old, some new. His arms looked like they barely had the strength to lift anything.

Rem frowned.

This kid had really been left to rot.

Without another word, he turned and grabbed a bucket, filling it with warm water. He then set it down and grabbed a bar of soap.

Cairn stared at him.

"...Wash."

Cairn didn’t move.

Rem sighed again and crouched down, dipping the soap into the water. "You don’t know how, do you?"

Cairn’s fingers curled slightly.

Rem shook his head. "Fine. Hold still."

For the next several minutes, he worked quickly, scrubbing away the layers of grime that clung to Cairn’s skin. The boy barely reacted at first, but when the warm water poured over him, he flinched.

Rem’s movements slowed slightly.

"...Been a while since you had a bath?"

Cairn hesitated, then nodded — just once.

Rem didn’t press further.

He simply continued.

By the time they were finished, the silver in Cairn’s hair had returned, now clean and shining under the soft glow of the lanterns.

His crimson eyes looked brighter, more alive, though his expression remained blank.

Rem stood, grabbing a towel and tossing it to him. "Dry off."

Cairn obeyed, though his movements were sluggish.

Rem rolled his shoulders before pulling out a spare cloak from his inventory. It was plain, buttoned down the front, but it was better than nothing.

He draped it over the boy’s shoulders and fastened it.

"We’ll get better clothes later."

Cairn simply stared at him, his expression unreadable.

Rem didn’t expect gratitude.

He turned and walked towards the exit, motioning for Cairn to follow.

Once outside, Selene raised a brow as she looked the boy over. "Well, he looks slightly less pitiful now."

Rem ignored her and started walking again, Cairn trailing silently behind him.

As they moved through the streets once more, Rem noticed something.

Cairn’s steps were still hesitant. Still slow. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

But now...

He was looking around.

Taking in the city.

For the first time, he noticed his surroundings.

And Rem smirked.

’Good.’

The streets of Sorin bustled with life as Rem led the way through the winding paths, Cairn trailing behind him with slow, uncertain steps.

The boy’s new cloak swayed slightly with each movement, though it was still a little too big for his frame.

His malnourished form hadn’t gone unnoticed by Rem.

He was still far too thin.

Even after the bath, after scrubbing away the grime that clung to his skin, Cairn still looked fragile.

His body lacked the strength to stand firm, his movements hesitant, as though he was ready for someone to strike him down at any moment.

Rem clicked his tongue.

The kid needed food. Real food.

Sure, they could’ve gone back to the inn and gotten a free meal — courtesy of the innkeeper’s generosity — but that took away from the nostalgia of the moment.

A proper meal, away from obligations, just for the sake of it.

That had its own value.

Selene, of course, had questions.

"Why not just head back to the inn?" she asked, walking beside him, her silver hair catching the light of the afternoon sun. "Would’ve been cheaper."

Rem didn’t even glance at her. "Didn’t ask."

Selene rolled her eyes. "You’re so stubborn."

Rem ignored her as they reached a restaurant at the corner of the street.

It was nothing too extravagant — wooden beams supported an open-air dining area, and the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread drifted into the streets, drawing in customers.

The place was packed. A sign that the food was good.

Rem stepped inside, glancing around before spotting an empty table near the corner. Without hesitation, he made his way there, guiding Cairn to sit before taking a seat himself.

Selene dropped into the chair across from him with a lazy smirk.

A waitress approached, placing menus in front of them. Rem picked his up, scanning the options before sliding one toward Cairn.

"Pick something," he said.

Cairn hesitated, his crimson eyes flickering between Rem and the menu. His fingers twitched slightly before he finally pointed at a dish.

Rem followed his gaze.

Meat skewers, vegetable soup, fresh bread, and some kind of fruit parfait for dessert.

He raised a brow. "You sure?"

Cairn nodded.

Rem smirked slightly.

But then Cairn pointed again.

And again.

And again.

Rem’s eyes followed each selection, his smirk widening as he realized the kid was just pointing at random things.

Some were normal. Others? Very expensive.

Selene let out a low whistle. "Damn. Kid’s got an appetite."

Rem didn’t hesitate.

He turned to the waitress. "All of them."

She blinked, eyes widening slightly. "All of them...?"

"Yeah."

Selene arched a brow. "You’re really paying for all that?"

Rem sighed, rubbing his temple. "You’re annoying." He waved a hand dismissively. "Just order whatever you want."

Selene grinned. "I thought you’d never ask."

She immediately grabbed her menu, skimming through it with a look of exaggerated concentration before picking a meal of her own.

Once their orders were placed, the waitress nodded, scribbling everything down before leaving them alone.

Cairn was still silent, sitting with his hands in his lap.

Rem leaned back in his chair, watching the boy with an unreadable gaze.

"You ever eaten a proper meal before?"

Cairn hesitated, his fingers twitching slightly before he shook his head.

Rem exhaled through his nose, leaning his elbows on the table. "Figures."

Silence stretched between them for a moment, the distant chatter of other diners filling the space.

Selene tapped her fingers against the wooden surface. "So, what exactly are you planning to do with him?"

Rem glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

Selene gestured lazily toward Cairn. "You bought a kid. A malnourished, half-dead beastkin, at that. What’s the plan?"

Rem shrugged. "He’ll get stronger."

She raised a brow. "That’s it?"

He nodded.

Selene huffed, crossing her arms. "You’re really a pain in the ass sometimes, you know that?"

Before Rem could respond, the waitress returned, carefully balancing several trays of food.

Cairn’s eyes widened.

Dish after dish was placed in front of him — warm, steaming, real food.

The scent of roasted meat and spices filled the air, making his stomach let out a low, involuntary growl.

Selene snorted. "Guess that confirms it. He was starving."

Cairn, to his credit, didn’t immediately lunge for the food.

He hesitated.

As if waiting for permission.

Rem simply picked up his own fork, stabbing into a piece of meat before glancing at the boy. "Eat."

That was all the permission Cairn needed.

His hands moved quickly, grabbing at the bread first, then the skewers. He took careful bites at first, but the moment the flavors hit his tongue, restraint melted away.

He devoured the food.

Rem watched him with a smirk, not commenting on the speed at which the boy was eating.

Selene, on the other hand, propped her chin up with one hand, amusement dancing in her silver eyes. "I don’t know whether to be impressed or concerned."

Cairn ignored her, focused entirely on his meal.

As the boy ate, something about his posture changed.

The hesitation from before? Gone.

For the first time since they met, he looked like he was here. Like he was alive.

And Rem — watching this unfold — let out a slow exhale, leaning back in his chair.

Yeah.

This was the right choice.