Chapter 16 (Beast Complex)

**The Spotted Seal and the Wolf** (アザラシとオオカミ, *Azarashi to ōkami*?) is the sixteenth chapter of *Beast Complex*.

## Synopsis

While they were going back to Beast Apartments from the bathhouse, Legoshi and Sagwan discover an octopus waving its tentacles to communicate something. Sagwan translates what it says and reveals that the octopus's daughter was kidnapped by land creatures, so they both dedicate themselves to find her on their own. However, just 10 minutes later, they both find that she was already cooked in a roasted octopus walking stand. Legoshi argues with Sagwan about how they should explain this to her mother but Sagwan says that getting angry won't bring her daughter back. It has already happened and they cannot be changed. Sagwan buys all the octopus meat at the stall and eats it voraciously. A bewildered Legoshi tries to stop him, but Sagwan reminds him that in the ocean, everyone eats or is eaten and assures that the mother will feel relieved if he is the one who eats her daughter, rather than a random land creature.

Back with the mother octopus, Legoshi walked further away from Sagwan than usual, while Sagwan began to play with a puddle that he found on the way (being something he likes to do). Legoshi would not normally say this out loud, but maybe if they had left the bathhouse earlier, they might have been able to save her daughter, but they were unable to do anything. Sagwan reveals to Legoshi that they are both invited to the funeral and asks if he wants to go.

Afterwards, Legoshi and Sagwan attend the funeral completely naked and Legoshi asks if clothing is completely non-existent in the sea. Sagwan assures him that anyone who wears clothes at a sea funeral is considered a pervert. Sagwan is grateful that the funeral venue is on the cove to make it easier for them to participate. Sagwan translates the words of the octopus who thanks them for not only finding, but also eating her daughter, and tells them to make themselves at home. Sagwan tells Legoshi that during a sea funeral, a lot of lights are usually left on by letting the plankton, the ones at the bottom of the food chain, to perform photosynthesis, with the basic idea to promote the continuous development of the marine food cycle. Legoshi claims that he gets that, but it doesn't really feel like a funeral.

After this comment, Legoshi is dragged into the water. Sagwan affirms that it is a sign of him being welcomed and enters the water as well. Legoshi witnessed the underwater funeral firsthand and although his whole body screamed after feeling the cold sea, after a few seconds, it became soothing. Once inside, it is as if he had become one with the sea and it felt so nice, ensuring that in the ocean when a sea creature dies, a part of their world dies with it. After the funeral, Legoshi asks Sagwan to thank her for the invitation to the funeral and after this he feels her tentacles on his hand. Legoshi wanted to feel her emotions, but couldn't and he feels that perhaps it was arrogant on his part. Sagwan alleges that the octopus mother was truly grateful to see him at the funeral. Legoshi apologizes to Sagwan for thinking badly of him for eating the octopus meat earlier, but Sagwan didn't even hear his apology because he went to play with a puddle. Legoshi stares at him until he finally joins in. They both get to know each other little by little.

## Trivia

* This is the second chapter of *Beast Complex* that makes a direct continuation of the story of *Beastars*.
* This chapter reveals that the consumption and sale of the meat of marine creatures already seems to have been legalized and normalized in society. To the point where it can be sold for stalls in public places and even by some herbivores.
	+ At the same time, poaching for sea creatures does not appear to have legal repercussions.