Chapter 16 (Beast Complex)

The Seal and the Wolf (アザラシとオオカミ) is the sixteenth chapter of Beast Complex.

Synopsis
While they were going back to The Hidden Condo 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, so they both dedicate themselves to find it 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 about it will not bring the octopus back to life. It has already happened and that cannot be changed. Sagwan buys 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, instead of any terrestrial 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, maybe they could have saved her daughter, but there was nothing they could do, 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 the concept of clothing is really non-existent in the ocean, Sagwan assures him that anyone who wears clothes at a funeral is considered a pervert, Sagwan is grateful that the funeral venue is in the queue, so that both could easily access from the ground, Sagwan translates the words of the octopus who thanks them for finding her daughter, but also for eating her and tells them to take their time. Sagwan tells Legoshi that at an ocean funeral, many lights can be seen shining thanks to the plankton, with the idea of ​​maintaining the ocean ecosystem in the future, allowing plankton, the bottom part of the food chain, to photosynthesize. Legoshi claims that rational or not, it is a kind of dry funeral.

And after this comment, Legoshi is dragged into the water, Sagwan affirms that it is the sign that he is welcome and enters as well. Legoshi witnessed the underwater funeral firsthand and although he felt the temperature of the ocean, his whole body screamed, after a few seconds, it became relaxing for his body. Once inside, it is as if he had become one with the ocean and it felt very good, ensuring that in the ocean everyone thinks that when a creature dies it is as if they lost a part of the ocean. After the funeral, Legoshi asks Sagwan to thank him for the invitation to the funeral and after this he feels the tentacles of the octopus in his hand, Legoshi wanted to feel her emotions, but he could not and he feels that perhaps it was selfish on his part, Sagwan alleges that the octopus mother was really grateful to see him at the funeral, Legoshi apologizes to Sagwan for thinking badly of him when he ate the octopus meat earlier, but Sagwan didn't even hear his apology because he went off course to play with a puddle Legoshi stares at him until he finally starts playing with him. They both understand 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.

Capítulo 16 (Beast Complex)