Chapter 69: The Romance System Returns

The fortress had been unusually peaceful since Rin, Sol, and Noctis returned at least, by their standards.

The strange barrier problem had been contained for the moment. The doorway in the forest remained closed.

The silver key sat safely in Rin’s room and nobody had discovered another mysterious ancient object overnight.

Rin considered that a victory.

He was sitting in the dining hall with Kaelith, Sol, and Noctis when a familiar presence suddenly appeared inside his mind.

[HOST.]

Rin stopped eating. He stared at his plate.

"...No."

Kaelith looked at him.

"Something wrong?"

"No."

Rin continued eating.

[HOST.]

Rin sighed.

"I heard you."

[I HAVE FINISHED ANALYZING THE CURRENT SITUATION.]

Rin slowly put down his spoon.

"Which situation?"

There was a pause. Then the System answered.

[ROMANTIC SITUATION.]

Rin stared into empty space.

"...Excuse me?"

Kaelith raised an eyebrow. Sol looked confused. Noctis immediately smiled. Rin already knew that smile meant trouble.

[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]

Rin waited.

[ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT: EXTREMELY LOW.]

Rin’s face went blank.

"What?"

[7%.]

Rin nearly stood up.

"SEVEN?!"

Kaelith looked amused.

"Seven what?"

"Nothing."

[HOST HAS SPENT AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME INVESTIGATING CURSES, RUINS, DIVINE SECRETS, MYSTERIOUS DOORS, ANCIENT MEMORIES, AND OTHER PROBLEMS.]

Rin frowned.

"They are important."

[THE SYSTEM AGREES.]

Rin paused.

"Oh."

[HOWEVER, HOST HAS SPENT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS TIME DEVELOPING HIS ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP.]

Rin’s face slowly became red.

"I don’t have a romantic relationship."

Kaelith looked at him. Rin looked away. Kaelith smiled.

Noctis covered his mouth to hide his laughter. Sol simply continued eating.

[DENIAL DETECTED.]

Rin pointed toward absolutely nothing.

"Stop analyzing me."

[THE SYSTEM HAS DECIDED.]

Rin’s eyes widened.

"No."

[THE MYSTERY CAN WAIT.]

Rin froze.

"What?"

[ROMANCE CANNOT.]

Rin slowly lowered his hand.

"No."

[ROMANCE SYSTEM: REACTIVATED.]

Rin dropped his head onto the table.

"No..."

Kaelith laughed.

"What is it?"

Rin lifted his head.

"The System is back."

Kaelith’s smile widened.

"I thought you missed it."

"I absolutely did not."

[FIRST MISSION.]

Rin closed his eyes.

"Please don’t."

[HOLD KAELITH’S HAND FOR FIVE MINUTES.]

Silence.

Rin slowly looked at Kaelith.

Kaelith looked at him. Then Kaelith extended his hand.

Rin stared at it.

"You are enjoying this."

"A little."

"Traitor."

Kaelith smiled.

"Come on, I think you need to hold my hand."

Rin sighed.

He took Kaelith’s hand.

[MISSION STARTED.]

Rin immediately looked toward the ceiling.

"Five minutes."

[CORRECTION: FOUR MINUTES AND FIFTY-NINE SECONDS.]

"...You didn’t have to correct me."

[ACCURACY IS IMPORTANT.]

For the first minute, Rin tried to ignore everyone. That lasted about ten seconds.

Ji-ho suddenly appeared at the dining hall entrance.

He stopped. Looked at Rin. Looked at Kaelith’s hand. Looked back at Rin.

"...What did I miss?"

Rin closed his eyes.

"Nothing."

Ji-ho walked closer.

"You’re holding hands."

"No."

Ji-ho pointed.

"Your hands are literally connected."

Rin looked down.

"...Unfortunately."

Ji-ho grinned.

"Interesting."

Noctis immediately called out:

"Don’t."

Ji-ho looked at him.

"Don’t what?"

"Whatever you’re thinking."

Ji-ho smiled.

"I’m not thinking anything."

Sol sighed.

"That’s what worries me."

Ji-ho pulled up a chair.

"I’m staying."

Rin glared at him.

"Why?"

"Entertainment."

"Leave."

"No."

Two minutes. Rin looked at the clock. It had somehow only been two minutes.

"This is taking forever."

Kaelith laughed.

"You could just relax."

"I’m relaxed."

"You’ve been staring at the clock for thirty seconds."

"I’m checking the time."

"Every five seconds?"

"Yes."

Kaelith smiled. Rin looked away.

Then Kaelith gently squeezed his hand. Rin looked back.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Rin stared at him. Then smiled.

"You’re annoying."

"I know."

Three minutes. Ji-ho leaned toward Noctis.

"How long has this been going?"

"Three minutes."

Ji-ho nodded seriously.

"Impressive."

Rin glared.

"I can hear you."

Ji-ho smiled.

"Good."

Sol looked at Rin.

"Does the System actually give you rewards?"

Rin hesitated.

"Sometimes."

"What kind?"

"Usually something ridiculous."

Ji-ho became interested.

"Can it give me missions? I thinki will be funny."

Rin immediately answered:

"No."

[SYSTEM HEARD THE REQUEST.]

Rin froze. Ji-ho looked around.

"What?"

Rin pointed at the empty air.

"Nothing."

[SECOND SYSTEM DETECTED.]

Rin’s eyes widened.

"...What?"

A strange pause followed.

Then:

[NOT RELEVANT TO CURRENT ROMANTIC OBJECTIVE.]

Rin stared.

"Wait."

Ji-ho frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Rin’s attention returned to the mission but somewhere inside the System’s strange interface, something had clearly noticed Ji-ho.

Rin didn’t know what that meant and he wasn’t going to investigate it.

Not now. The System had already caused enough trouble.

Four minutes. Kaelith leaned slightly closer.

"You’re counting."

"No."

"You are."

"Maybe."

"Why?"

"Because I want this mission to end."

Kaelith smiled.

"Do you?"

Rin looked at him. For a moment, neither spoke.

Rin realized something. He didn’t actually mind holding Kaelith’s hand.

The annoying part was knowing the System had ordered him to do it.

That was different. He looked down at their hands. Kaelith’s fingers were warm.

His grip was gentle, there was no pressure.

No expectation. Just...comfort. Rin’s expression softened.

Maybe the System wasn’t completely ridiculous.

Maybe.

He immediately rejected the thought.

"No."

Kaelith laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

[MISSION COMPLETE.]

Rin immediately released his hand.

"Finally."

Kaelith looked at him.

"You survived."

"Barely."

[REWARD CALCULATING.]

Rin waited.

[REWARD: ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT +1%.]

Rin stared.

"That’s it?"

[YES.]

"One percent?"

[CURRENT ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT: 8%.]

Rin groaned.

"That’s terrible."

Kaelith laughed.

"At least it’s progress."

Rin looked at him.

"You are not helping."

The System wasn’t finished.

[SECOND MISSION.]

Rin immediately shook his head.

"No."

[SAY SOMETHING GENUINELY NICE TO KAELITH.]

Rin sighed.

"That’s easy."

Ji-ho leaned forward.

"Let’s hear it."

Rin glared at him.

"Nobody asked you."

"I’m invested now."

Rin looked at Kaelith. He thought for a moment.

Then said:

"You’re reliable."

Kaelith smiled.

"Thank you."

The System remained silent. Rin waited.

"...Is that enough?"

[INSUFFICIENT.]

Rin’s eyes widened.

"What?!"

[HOST SPOKE THE TRUTH BUT DID NOT FULLY EXPRESS HIS FEELINGS.]

Rin’s face became red.

"Why are you doing this?"

[BECAUSE HOST IS TERRIBLE AT ROMANCE.]

Ji-ho fell backward laughing. Noctis covered his face. Sol was trying not to smile. Even Aiden, who had just entered the dining hall, stopped at the door.

"What did I miss?"

Ji-ho pointed at Rin.

"He’s being bullied by his System."

Aiden looked at Rin. Then Kaelith. Then their hands. Then back at Rin.

"I see."

Rin sighed.

"Don’t."

Aiden smiled.

"I wasn’t going to say anything."

The System suddenly appeared again.

[AIDEN HAS ENTERED THE ROMANTIC ANALYSIS AREA.]

Rin froze. Aiden blinked. Ji-ho looked at him.

"Did you hear something?"

Aiden shook his head.

"No."

Rin almost laughed. The System couldn’t be heard by them.

Only him. At least that was one problem he didn’t have to explain.

Rin looked back at Kaelith.

"Fine."

Kaelith waited. Rin took a breath.

"You make things easier."

Kaelith’s smile softened.

"When?"

"When I’m with you."

The room became quieter. Rin immediately regretted saying it in front of everyone.

Kaelith looked at him for several seconds. Then he smiled.

"I’m glad."

Rin looked away. The System finally responded.

[MISSION COMPLETE.]

Rin sighed in relief.

Then:

[ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT: 12%.]

Rin’s eyes widened.

"Four percent?!"

[EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN REWARDED.]

Ji-ho laughed.

"He’s actually getting points."

Rin pointed at him.

"Stop encouraging it!"

Aiden sat down. Ji-ho joined him. Sol and Noctis remained at the table.

For the first time in a while, the entire group was together. Aiden and Ji-ho had decided to remain at the fortress after returning from their travels.

Their journey back had been simple enough: they had been investigating unusual disturbances in the surrounding territories, and the disturbances eventually began moving toward Rin’s region.

Rather than continue farther away, they had chosen to return.

Now they intended to stay. At least for a while. Ji-ho leaned back.

"I have to admit, staying here is already more entertaining than traveling."

Aiden nodded.

"You’ve been here less than a day..."

"Exactly."

Sol laughed. Noctis looked at Aiden.

"So you’re really staying?"

Aiden nodded.

"For now."

Ji-ho immediately added:

"Unfortunately, I’m staying too."

Aiden looked at him.

"You don’t have to say unfortunately."

"I do."

"You followed me here."

"Because you would’ve forgotten something."

"I wouldn’t."

"You did."

Aiden paused.

"...Once."

Ji-ho grinned. Rin watched them. There was something strange about their friendship.

They argued constantly yet they clearly trusted each other.

Rin smiled.

"Good to have you both back."

Ji-ho smiled.

"Good to be back."

Aiden nodded.

"I’m glad we returned."

For just a moment, Aiden’s eyes moved toward Kaelith.

Then back to Rin. He said nothing.

The System suddenly returned.

[HOST.]

Rin groaned.

"What now?"

[ROMANTIC ANALYSIS UPDATE.]

"No."

[12% IS ACCEPTABLE.]

Rin stared.

"Acceptable?"

[YES.]

"That’s insulting."

[HOWEVER...]

Rin waited.

[IMPROVEMENT IS REQUIRED.]

"Of course."

[NEW MISSION WILL BE AVAILABLE TOMORROW.]

Rin pointed at the air.

"No."

[THE MYSTERY CAN WAIT.]

Rin sighed.

[ROMANCE CANNOT.]

Rin looked toward Kaelith.

Kaelith smiled. Rin looked toward the ceiling.

"You’re going to make my life miserable."

[THE SYSTEM CONSIDERS THIS A SUCCESS.]

Rin groaned.

Everyone around the table laughed and for the first time since the mysteries had begun piling up around him, Rin realized something.

He didn’t mind having all of them back.

The strange problems. The impossible System. The arguments. The laughter.

Aiden, Ji-ho, Sol, Noctis, all his friends and Kaelith beside him.

The mysteries could wait another day. Tonight, Rin simply wanted to enjoy having everyone together again.

Unfortunately, the System had other plans.

[ROMANCE SYSTEM: ACTIVE.]

Rin closed his eyes.

"...I’m doomed."

Kaelith laughed softly.

"Probably."

Rin smiled despite himself.

"Maybe."