Chapter 79: First night

Wait, what’s going on here? Where am I? Am I dreaming?"

Rin could barely make sense of anything.

Only moments ago, he had been somewhere completely different. Now he was standing in a place he didn’t recognize, surrounded by an atmosphere that felt completely unnatural.

Before Rin could figure out what was happening, the man standing in front of him slowly approached.

His movements were calm. Far too calm.

There was no hesitation in his steps, no concern about what was happening around him. It was as though nothing in this world could possibly threaten him.

But before he could reach Rin, another voice suddenly spoke.

"Your wish has been granted. Now it’s time to pay the price," said the God of Games with a smile.

Rin turned toward him. The words barely registered before the man in front of him answered.

"The price?"

Kaelith’s expression changed. His eyes became cold, and his voice carried a chill that seemed to freeze the very air.

"Oh, right."

He looked toward the God of Games.

"I’ll pay it right now."

With a wave of his hand, everything happened in an instant. The God of Games fell. Rin’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t even seen Kaelith move. Before Rin could understand what had happened, Kaelith stepped forward and crushed the fallen God’s head beneath his foot.

Rin froze. His breathing stopped for a moment.

It had happened so quickly, but he had seen it clearly. The head of that man—or God—had been destroyed beneath Kaelith’s foot.

And now the same man was calmly looking down at him.

"Is this price acceptable?" Kaelith asked sarcastically.

He didn’t even seem bothered by what he had just done.

"Since when have the gods become so full of themselves? Do you really want me to pay you another visit?"

High in the heavens, the Gods trembled. They had heard him. And they bitterly regretted ever trying to deceive the God of Calamity.

Nobody answered. Nobody dared. Rin stared in horror at the figure before him.

What is happening?

He couldn’t understand any of it. A God had just been killed. The people above were apparently terrified of this man.

And now that same man was walking toward Rin. Rin wanted to run. He really wanted to run. But his body wouldn’t cooperate.

Kaelith stopped in front of him. His blood-red eyes fixed themselves on Rin.

"So..."

His gaze moved slowly over Rin before returning to his face.

"Are you my destined wife?"

Rin swallowed.

"I... I don’t know what you’re talking about..."

Kaelith raised an eyebrow. His interest seemed to grow even stronger.

"Oh."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You can talk."

He looked at Rin carefully.

"You’re the first one to do so."

Rin didn’t understand.

The first one?

What did that mean? Who were the others? Where was he? And why was this man acting as though Rin was someone he had been searching for?

Kaelith tilted his head.

"What’s your name?"

Rin hesitated.

"Rin Lee..."

"Rin?"

The instant Kaelith heard that name, his expression changed. A sharp pain struck his head. Kaelith raised one hand toward his temple.

Something had awakened. A name. A name he had forgotten for so long. A name buried beneath countless years of memories.

A name that had somehow survived even when everything else had disappeared. Rin.

Kaelith’s eyes widened. Yes. It was him. RIN.

His eyes began to shine with overwhelming emotion. That was right.

It was Rin. Rin had returned. He was here. After everything... after all those years... after everything Kaelith had destroyed... he was finally here.

Kaelith smiled.

"Come with me."

He reached out and grabbed Rin’s hand.

"From today on, you’re mine."

Rin immediately struggled against him.

"Let me go! Let go of me!"

Kaelith didn’t release him.

"WHO ARE YOU?!"

Rin’s voice echoed.

"Where the hell am I now?! Do you expect that after seeing what you’ve done, I’ll come with you like a little puppy?"

Kaelith’s patience was already beginning to disappear. Yet seeing Rin struggle against his grip seemed to amuse him.

"So, what can you do about it?" Kaelith asked.

There was amusement in his voice. But Rin didn’t hear it that way.

To him, Kaelith sounded like someone giving him a final warning. It sounded as though if Rin refused to obey, he would be killed immediately.

But what could Rin actually do? He had awakened in a strange place. A God had been killed in front of him. A terrifying man had claimed him without asking whether he agreed.

Any normal person would have reacted exactly the same way. Rin continued struggling.

"Oh?"

Kaelith’s expression changed.

"So you don’t want to move?"

Rin’s body stiffened.

"Then should I simply eat you here?" Kaelith asked coldly.

Eat me?

Rin stared at him.

What is that supposed to mean?

Before he could think any further, another voice interrupted his thoughts.

"King, the Divine Army and the army of the Western Kingdom are preparing to attack. What do you wish us to do?"

Kaelith finally looked away from Rin.

"Hmm."

He considered the question.

"Good question."

Then his eyes returned to Rin.

"But I’m busy right now."

He gave his order without hesitation.

"Take this man and get him ready for the wedding night."

Rin froze.

Wedding night?

His mind went completely blank.

Wait... what?

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rin thought desperately.

What is happening here?

Kaelith continued speaking as though he had just given an ordinary order.

"You guys take care of the rest."

His expression remained completely indifferent.

"I don’t care who dies and who survives."

He paused.

"But I’ll still stop by to take a look."

His eyes became cold.

"When I get back, everything has to be ready."

Rin’s thoughts raced.

Wedding night? Why me? Who is this man? Why does he know my name?

He desperately wanted answers. But then he realized something.

He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t move. Fear had frozen his entire body.

"Yes, sir."

Kaelith looked toward the attendants.

"Be careful how you touch him."

His voice became dangerously cold.

"If you do anything wrong, your heads will roll."

He sounded like a King of Hell.

Everything around him felt cold and cruel. The attendants immediately lowered their heads.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Kaelith finally released Rin. Before Rin could even think about escaping, several people surrounded him.

After being forced to follow several people who looked more like demons than humans, Rin found himself in an even stranger situation.

He had no idea where they were taking him. The corridors seemed endless. The architecture was unlike anything he had ever seen.

Strange symbols covered the walls. Everywhere Rin looked, there were signs that this wasn’t his world.

Eventually, they brought him into a large sauna. Steam filled the room.

Several women approached him and began preparing him. Rin immediately protested.

"Wait a minute! What are you doing? What is this?"

He tried to move away.

"Hey! Where do you think you’re touching me? Hello?!"

Nobody seemed interested in answering his questions. Rin fought desperately for his dignity. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

Only a short time ago, he had been somewhere completely different. Now he was in another world, surrounded by strangers, after watching a God die in front of him.

And apparently, he had somehow become the possession of a terrifying King. Outside the sauna, the attendants began talking.

"Tch. Filthy man. How dare you serve him to the King..."

"Calm down. You don’t even know if the King will touch him."

The woman paused.

"After all, hundreds have tried to enter his bed."

"Not a single one survived."

Rin heard those words. His expression changed.

Not a single one survived?

"But if he manages to satisfy the King... then we’d all be safe..."

"Still, a mere filthy man in the same room..."

There was a pause.

"I want to kill him..."

Rin listened.

Hate. That was all he could hear. Nobody saw him as a human being. Nobody cared about his fear. Nobody cared that he had no idea where he was.

To them, he was simply something that belonged to their King. And Rin still didn’t even know the King’s name. After he was washed, Rin was shackled.

Something resembling a leash was placed around his neck, while his legs were chained to make sure he couldn’t escape. He was given a robe that covered only part of his body.

Rin looked down.

Apparently, proper clothing isn’t exactly a priority here.

He looked around.

But where am I, anyway?

A woman approached him. She had purple eyes and long, bluish-black hair.

"Man, lift your head."

Rin looked at her.

"What?"

"Swallow this."

She held something toward him.

"What? Wait, what is this?"

Before Rin could finish asking, he was forced to swallow a red pill. The moment he swallowed it, an intense heat began spreading throughout his body.

Rin stiffened.

"What did you give me?"

Hatred filled his eyes.

The woman didn’t react.

"As if knowing that helps you in any way."

Her voice was cold.

"Just do your job and endure whatever the King demands."

There wasn’t a shred of empathy in her eyes.

Only cruelty. Only hatred. Then she left.

Rin was alone. He found himself in a large bedroom.

He was restrained near the bed and couldn’t escape. The effects of the pill continued spreading through his body.

He felt hot. Too hot. Rin clenched his teeth.

I need to do something.

I need to think.

I can’t lose control.

He desperately tried to concentrate. But the strange sensation made it increasingly difficult.

He needed something to cool him down. He needed to escape. And above all, he needed to understand what was happening.

When Kaelith returned to his room, he was covered in blood.

Half of his face was stained with it, but his expression remained strangely calm. He walked straight into the bedroom, his footsteps echoing through the silence.

Then he stopped.

Faint sounds came from behind the curtains surrounding the bed. Kaelith’s blood-red eyes narrowed.

Slowly, he reached out and pulled the curtains aside. A man dressed in a white robe was restrained there, waiting quietly.

Kaelith studied him for a moment. The man’s face was flushed, tears gathered in his eyes, and his breathing was uneven. Whatever had been given to him was clearly taking its toll.

For some reason, the sight seemed to catch Kaelith’s interest. He stepped closer and pulled the man toward him.

"It looks like you need some help."

His voice was soft, almost seductive.

"What do you say? Shall I help you?"

Rin had no idea what was happening to him.

His entire body felt unbearably hot. The strange sensation coursing through him made it increasingly difficult to think, and every touch seemed to make the heat worse.

"It looks like you need some help. How about I help you?"

The man’s voice reached him again.

Help... Yes.

Rin desperately needed help. But how? His thoughts were becoming impossible to organize. He needed something to cool him down, something to make the burning sensation stop.

Instead, the man in front of him seemed to have completely different intentions. Rin tried to hold on to the last fragments of his rationality.

Then he heard him whisper:

"Ah... finally, you’re mine."

Rin froze.

"Rin..."

His name.

Again.

"Rin..."

The man repeated it as though he had spent an eternity searching for that single word.

Rin stared at him, confused and frightened.

Why did he know his name? Why did he say it like that?

The man’s expression changed.

"Tonight, I’ll devour you. Call me... HUSBAND! "

There was something deeply wrong in his eyes. Something obsessive. Something that had survived far longer than it should have.

Rin didn’t understand it. He didn’t know this man.

At least... he was certain he didn’t.

Yet Kaelith looked at him as though Rin was the only person in existence he had ever truly wanted to find.

And that frightened Rin more than anything else.

Because somewhere beneath the fear and confusion, there was a tiny, inexplicable feeling telling him that this wasn’t their first meeting.

It was simply the first meeting Rin remembered.