Chapter 88: The Golden Lily

By the time the three of them finally reached Kieve, Rin had already decided that the city was going to be a problem.

Not because there was anything wrong with it. Quite the opposite. There was too much to look at.

The streets were crowded, colorful banners hung between the buildings, merchants shouted about their goods, and people moved in every direction. Compared to the Demon Realm, where Rin had spent the last few days, Kieve felt almost unreal.

It was alive. And Rin was fascinated. He barely noticed the people around him until a cheerful child’s voice suddenly called out.

"Welcome to the City of Love, Kieve! Young master, do you have somewhere to stay tonight?"

Rin stopped. He turned around and looked toward the voice. A small boy stood there.

He looked around eight or nine years old. His clothes were torn and worn, and he had no shoes on his feet. Despite that, he wore a bright smile. The boy approached them and asked again.

"Young master, would you like to come to our inn?"

Rin crouched slightly so he could look the boy in the eyes.

"What is the name of your inn?"

"The Golden Lily! We’re very popular with newlywed couples!" the boy answered happily.

Rin froze. Slowly, he turned his head toward Kaelith. The Demon King completely ignored his expression. Instead, he calmly said,

"We made an agreement, wife."

"Ah. Of course. Whatever you say," Rin muttered, clearly annoyed.

Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

"Whatever I say? Didn’t you forget to add something?"

Rin clenched his teeth.

"...Husband. Whatever you say."

Kaelith nodded with satisfaction. Rin silently cursed him. Then he turned back toward the little boy.

"Could you show us the way to your inn?"

"Of course! Of course! Please follow me!"

The boy immediately turned around and began walking.

Rin and Kaelith followed. Sol was with them as well, although since he had no physical form, the little boy had no idea that another person was traveling alongside them.

After a few moments, Rin looked at the child.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Kaan, young master. I live in the slums and work for the Golden Lily Inn."

Rin’s expression slowly changed. He looked at the boy again.

He was thin. Too thin. His clothes were torn, and despite his young age, he was already working.

Is this really okay?

Rin stopped walking.

"Wait."

Kaan immediately stopped. The cheerful expression disappeared from his face, replaced by panic.

"Young master... did something happen?"

"No, don’t worry."

Rin turned toward the nearby food stalls. Only then did he realize something very important.

I’m completely broke.

His face fell. At that exact moment, the System spoke.

(Host, I suggest acting affectionately. You will receive money immediately.)

Rin’s eyebrow twitched.

This System really has no problem putting me into the most humiliating situations possible.

Still, he needed money. So, with absolutely no shame left in his body, Rin turned toward Kaelith.

"Husband... I’m hungry. I want something to eat."

His voice became sweet. Far too sweet. He looked exactly like an extremely spoiled wife.

Kaelith stared at him for a moment. Then, without hesitation, he pulled out his money pouch.

"We’ll take everything."

Rin’s eyes widened.

"Wait! That’s too much!"

"Didn’t you say you wanted to eat?"

"When could I possibly eat all those chickens?!"

Rin pointed toward the food stall, where an entire selection of roasted chickens was displayed.

"You have all the time in the world, wife," Kaelith said sweetly.

At the same time, he placed a hand around Rin’s waist and pulled him into an embrace. Rin’s face turned bright red.

"Children! Children are watching!"

He immediately turned toward the food stall.

"Sir! Four chickens, please!"

He held up four fingers. The stall owner rubbed his hands together, clearly delighted.

"Of course! Would you like them packed or eaten here?"

"Packed, please! And hurry!"

Kaelith looked down at Rin, who was struggling to escape his embrace. For some reason, the sight reminded him of a wild cat.

When it was hungry, it became extremely cute. And the moment it got what it wanted, it immediately tried to run away.

"Behave yourself, wife," Kaelith whispered, clearly amused.

"Of course, husband. Of course. Now let me go! Kaan is looking at us!"

Sol, who had been watching the entire scene, almost burst out laughing again. This time, however, he managed to keep quiet so he wouldn’t frighten Kaan.

Eventually, Rin received his four chickens. The price he had paid for them, however, had been far too high for his mental health.

I’m never doing that again.

The System immediately appeared in his mind.

(Host, I would like to remind you that you are BROKE.)

Rin silently raised his middle finger. The System remained silent. Rin smiled triumphantly. Then another message appeared.

(Inappropriate behavior detected. Host’s penalty will be activated.)

Rin raised his middle finger again. He decided to ignore it. Instead, he turned toward Kaan and handed him the four chickens.

"Here. Eat these with your family."

Kaan stared at him.

"Pardon?"

"You look really thin, I thought if you ate something good, you’d have more strength. Sorry if I offended you." Rin explained awkwardly

"Ah... ahhhh! Young master, you didn’t have to!"

Kaan looked terrified. Kaelith calmly stepped forward.

"My wife wanted to give you these chickens. Where we come from, we offer something to the person who guides us to our lodging. Since you are taking us to the inn, he considered it a proper gesture. Take them."

Kaan looked at Kaelith.

At first, the man appeared simply to be the husband of the kind young master. Then Kaan saw his red eyes. His blood seemed to freeze. He immediately lowered his head.

Fear spread across his face. He could have sworn he had seen that terrifying man smile at the kind young master. But that had to be his imagination.

"Thank you very much, young master. Let’s go. We’re almost there." Kaan said quickly.

Rin noticed Kaan’s fear. He glanced at Kaelith. Then at Kaan. Then back at Kaelith.

"Husband, if you stop looking like the final boss an entire army has to defeat, I’ll hold your hand." Rin said quietly

Kaelith immediately lost his terrifying aura. In less than a second, he looked like the sweetest husband in the world.

"Of course, wife. Whatever you wish."

He took Rin’s hand.

"Please, show us the way."

Kaan stared at him. A moment ago, this man had looked like the King of Hell. Now he looked almost angelic.

Men in love are terrifying, Kaan thought.

About ten minutes later, they finally arrived. The Golden Lily Inn stood before them.

It was much larger than Rin had expected. Several women stood near the entrance, dressed in rather revealing outfits.

Rin stared.

"...This is the inn?"

"Yes, young master. Welcome to the Golden Lily. I’ll take you to your room immediately." Kaan said with a smile.

Rin stared at the building.

This is an inn? It looks more like a brothel...

Before he could say anything, a woman’s voice greeted them.

"Welcome to the Golden Lily."

"Hello. We’d like two rooms, please. And do you happen to have a bathtub? We’d like to wash." Rin replied politely.

The woman looked at the two handsome men. Then she noticed Kaan.

"Hm? Kaan, don’t you usually bring married couples?"

Kaan looked confused.

"Ah..."

Rin panicked.

"Ahhh! It’s for my brother!"

He quickly pointed toward Sol’s general position, even though Sol couldn’t be seen.

"My husband and I are married. He’s my brother."

The woman nodded.

"Ah, I understand. I understand. Of course, a newlywed couple can’t sleep in separate rooms. Haha!"

Rin’s face turned red.

"So I’ll give you the newlywed suite. And your brother?"

"What about him?"

"Does he have a partner?"

"Ah, no. He’s single. He came alone."

"Very well. Kaan, take our guests to Room 69. His brother can stay in Room 72. There is a bathtub in the room, so you can bathe comfortably."

"Payment?" Rin asked.

"Right, right! I almost forgot."

The woman smiled brightly.

"How many nights would you like to stay?"

"Seven," Kaelith answered without hesitation.

"Then that will be six hundred yuri."

Rin froze. He had no idea what a yuri was worth. So he silently asked the System.

(1 yuri = 2,000 won. Therefore, 600 yuri = 1,200,000 won.)

WHAT?!

Rin nearly screamed. Before he could protest, Kaelith casually threw a pouch of money onto the counter.

It contained around one thousand yuri. The woman’s eyes practically turned into coins.

"Thank you very much for your payment!"

Her smile became even brighter.

"We’ll prepare something special for you ! And tonight, we also have a performance by the Black Butterfly dancers."

Rin could have sworn the woman’s eyes had literally transformed into money.

Never mind.

He decided to follow Kaan. When they reached Room 69, Rin and Kaelith entered.

Sol’s voice came from behind them.

"I’m going to rest. See you later."

He yawned. It was around six in the evening.

After spending four days sleeping in the forest, Rin genuinely believed Sol was exhausted. So he entered the room with Kaelith.

Then he stopped . His eyes widened.

Red room? Am I inside some kind of fantasy version of Fifty Shades of Grey?!

A chill ran down his spine. Kaelith calmly inspected the room.

"It seems humans have become quite specialized over the last thousand years."

"I..."

Rin looked around.

"I have no words."

He sighed.

"I’m going to wash."

"Oh, certainly," Kaelith replied mysteriously.

Rin raised an eyebrow. For some reason, he had expected Kaelith to say he was coming with him.

But before he could finish that thought, he noticed something else. A bathtub.

Right in the middle of the room. In the middle of the room.

Rin stared at it in disbelief.

How am I supposed to wash like this?!

Kaelith noticed his expression.

"Are you embarrassed, wife? It’s not as though I haven’t already seen you."

"Shut up!"

Rin’s face turned red.

"And absolutely do not turn around!"

"Fine, fine. Anything for you, dear wife. But if you need help washing your back, call me."

"You wish."

Rin quickly took his clothes and entered the bathtub.

The water was perfect. Warm. Comfortable. The tension slowly left his body.

"Ahhh... this feels so good..."

Kaelith’s expression changed slightly.

"I suggest you stop making sounds like that if you don’t want me to turn around."

Rin ignored him completely.

Then—

A red message appeared before his eyes.

(Host penalty begins now! Make love with Kaelith.)

Rin’s expression froze.

(Host, you must complete the assigned mission.)

His heart skipped.

(If the host refuses, his hearing and vision will be sealed for three months.)

What?!

Rin stared at the System window.

You have got to be kidding me.

Before he could say anything else, a terrible fever suddenly spread through his body. Rin clenched his fists.

He recognized the sensation. It was the same strange effect he had experienced after taking those two pills.

What do I do? What do I do?!

-----------------

Five minutes passed.

Kaelith had heard nothing from Rin.

No movement. No words. Nothing. His expression immediately changed.

"Rin?"

Silence. Kaelith turned around. The sight before him made him freeze.

Rin’s entire body was flushed, and he looked exhausted. Kaelith immediately rushed toward him.

Without caring about anything else, he pulled Rin out of the bathtub and carried him toward the bed.

"Husband ..."

Rin’s voice was weak. Kaelith froze.

What was happening? Was his patience being tested again? Then Rin gave him another shock.

"Kaelith... I want you..."

His voice was barely a whisper. Kaelith stared at him.

"Are you sure?"

Rin nodded weakly.

"Yes..."

Kaelith remained silent. The room seemed to grow heavier.

And then—

"Kaelith... hurry..."

Rin’s voice was faint.

"Let’s..."

He paused. The scene faded into silence before anything more could be seen or heard.

Outside the room, somewhere beyond the closed door, Sol sighed.

Tonight was clearly going to be another unforgettable night in Kieve.