Chapter 86: A Deal with the Demon King

After dinner was finally over, Rin turned his attention toward Kaelith. There was something he had been wanting to say for a while now.

"You know... I would like my own room. I don’t want to keep sleeping in the same room as you."

"Absolutely not."

Kaelith answered without even giving him the slightest chance to argue.

"But—"

"No."

His voice was cold and final. Rin stared at him.

"Have you finished eating?"

"Yes, I have. Why?"

The moment the words left Rin’s mouth, Kaelith moved. Before Rin could even understand what was happening, Kaelith leaned toward him, grabbed him, and lifted him over his shoulder. Exactly like a sack of potatoes.

"HEY!"

Rin’s face immediately turned red from both embarrassment and anger.

"Put me down!"

Kaelith completely ignored him and began walking toward their bedroom.

"Kaelith! Listen to me!"

"This is the first and last time you tell me something like that."

"What are you talking about?! Listen to me! You always do this! Stop!"

Rin struggled against him, but Kaelith continued walking as though he couldn’t hear a thing. Then his voice came.

"So what exactly am I supposed to listen to?"

Kaelith’s voice was colder now.

"How you want to leave with Sol?"

Rin stopped struggling for a moment.

"How you want to abandon me again?"

Kaelith finally stopped walking. His eyes were red. Not merely red in color. They were filled with an obsession that made Rin’s entire body tense.

"Do you really think I will accept everything happening again?"

Rin’s anger immediately returned.

"That is exactly why I told you to come with me!"

Kaelith slowly lowered Rin back onto the bed. Rin immediately turned toward him.

"How do you expect me to develop feelings for you when you behave like this? Do you want to keep me locked inside this place forever?"

Kaelith didn’t answer. For a few seconds, he simply stood there. Then his head lowered. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.

"If you leave again..."

Rin’s expression changed slightly.

"If you go searching for the world again... for mysteries, secrets..."

Kaelith’s hands slowly tightened.

"You will disappear again."

His voice trembled.

"Why can’t you understand that I can’t lose you again?"

Silence filled the room. Kaelith had endured too much. After countless wars. After countless battles. After every time Rin had disappeared from his life, again and again and again... He simply couldn’t endure it anymore.

"Is it really so difficult to love me?"

Kaelith’s voice cracked.

"Is it really so difficult to accept me as I am?"

He looked at Rin.

"Who am I supposed to be? Isn’t my love enough?"

His eyes began to fill with tears.

"Do you really have to put yourself in danger every single time?"

Rin stared at him. For some reason, his chest tightened. Why do I feel like this? Rin lowered his gaze.

These feelings aren’t mine... Or at least, that’s what he kept telling himself.

"I can’t answer those questions."

Rin’s voice was quieter now.

"But you need to understand me too."

Kaelith remained silent.

"Ever since I was summoned here, I’ve been thrown into one situation after another. I don’t understand this world. I don’t understand what happened to the Rin you knew. And I don’t understand what happened between us."

Rin took a breath.

"But there is one thing I can tell you clearly."

Kaelith looked at him.

"I care about you."

Those words surprised even Rin. He continued anyway.

"You were once my favorite person."

Kaelith’s eyes widened slightly.

"And that’s exactly why I want you to come with me on this journey."

Rin looked directly at him.

"I can promise you one thing."

His voice became firm.

"I won’t disappear."

For a moment, Kaelith said nothing. Rin was being sincere. He really did care about Kaelith.

Kaelith had been his favorite character for a very long time. Seeing the character he had once admired reduced to someone so broken and desperate made Rin’s heart ache in a way he couldn’t explain.

Finally, Kaelith spoke.

"Then... you must do exactly what I tell you."

Rin’s expression became cautious.

"And if I ask you to retreat, you will accept."

His eyes darkened.

"The moment you break this agreement between us, I will bring you back to the Demon Kingdom."

Kaelith paused.

"And you will remain here."

There was a trace of madness hidden inside his eyes. The pressure inside the room seemed to change. Every instinct Rin possessed screamed at him to run.

Leave. Get away from this place. But Rin chose to stay.

"Fine."

He answered quickly, almost afraid that Kaelith might change his mind.

"We’ll do it your way."

A brief silence followed. Then Kaelith added,

"You will have to call me ’husband’ from now on."

Rin froze.

"What?!"

He stared at Kaelith as if he had suddenly grown another head.

"Are you joking?"

"I don’t accept refusals."

"...You’re serious?"

"Completely."

Kaelith’s expression remained calm.

"Even if Sol is the God of Air, he cannot take you outside this castle if I refuse."

He looked directly into Rin’s eyes.

"So?"

His voice softened.

"Do you accept my rules?"

Rin’s face slowly turned red.

"How many times?"

Kaelith blinked.

"What?"

Rin looked away.

"How many times do I have to call you that during the journey?"

Kaelith stared at him for a few seconds. Then, without hesitation, he answered,

"Every moment I’m beside you."

Rin’s eyes widened.

"In other words... always."

"That’s ridiculous."

"You agreed."

"I know, but—"

"Then it’s settled."

Rin covered part of his face with his hand.

"That means everyone will know we’re married..."

"Exactly."

Kaelith’s answer was immediate.

"No one is allowed to try anything with you."

His eyes became dangerously cold.

"If anyone does, I will deal with them."

Rin sighed.

"Of course you will."

Kaelith then added proudly,

"And it isn’t even a lie. We already spent the night together."

Rin’s face became even redder.

"Ahhh! Enough! Enough! I understand!"

Kaelith looked satisfied.

"Good."

He gestured toward the bed.

"Now lie down. We’re leaving early tomorrow morning."

Rin climbed onto the bed, still embarrassed. Then another thought occurred to him.

"Do you know what the humans near this kingdom are like?"

Kaelith thought for a moment.

"No."

Rin stared at him.

"No?"

"I never cared about them."

"Of course you didn’t."

Kaelith continued calmly.

"But I know there are humans who are descendants of the Holy Knights."

Rin immediately sat up.

"There are Holy Knights?!"

Kaelith’s expression turned cold.

"Oh?"

Rin realized his mistake.

"You seem interested." said Kaelith cold.

"No."

Rin immediately lay back down.

"Absolutely not."

Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

"I was only slightly curious."

His voice became awkward.

"But now I’ve lost all interest."

Rin pulled the blanket over himself.

"Good night."

Kaelith watched him silently. Rin’s brown hair spread across the pillow. That familiar brown hair... Exactly as he remembered it. Kaelith had missed this sight for so long.

For thousands of years, perhaps even longer than he could remember. And once again, Kaelith realized something he already knew.

No matter what happened... No matter how unreasonable Rin’s requests became... He could never truly tell Rin no.

Kaelith slowly approached the bed. Rin noticed him.

"What are you doing?"

Instead of answering, Kaelith gently held him from behind and rested close to him. Then he pressed a soft kiss to Rin’s hair. His voice was completely different from before.

Warm. Gentle. Filled with affection.

"Good night, my wife."

Rin’s entire face turned red.

"I already regret agreeing to this..."

Kaelith smiled faintly.

"I love you."

Rin closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure what to say. So he simply remained silent.

Meanwhile, Sol had witnessed the entire conversation.

At first, he had been annoyed. Then he had laughed. Then he had become annoyed again.

And then he had listened carefully when the final decision was made.

The journey was happening. Rin would leave the Demon Kingdom.

And the first destination had already been decided.

The Holy City of Kieve. For the first time in all of Rin’s lives... He would finally leave the Demon Kingdom.

Sol remained silent for a moment. Then he couldn’t help but laugh. Of all the things that could have happened after Rin returned...

This was certainly not what he had expected. The legendary Demon King had spent thousands of years waiting for his beloved. And now that beloved had finally returned.

Yet somehow... Instead of remaining quietly inside the castle, Rin had already decided to travel across the world.

And, somehow, Kaelith had agreed.

Well...Not exactly agreed. They had negotiated. Argued. Threatened each other. And somehow reached an agreement.

Sol couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow would bring.

The Holy City of Kieve was waiting. The human world was waiting. And somewhere beyond those lands were countless mysteries Rin had yet to uncover.

For now, however, the Demon Kingdom was strangely quiet. The Demon King had finally stopped panicking. Rin had finally agreed to leave the castle.

And Sol had finally gained a chance to accompany his older brother.

Tomorrow... Their journey would begin.