CHAPTER 140: LET RIN SUFFER!

Shards scattered across the floor like a pool of silver teeth. Rin’s scream still echoed in his ears, throat raw as he stared at the ruined mirror.

His hands trembled, his chest rose and fell too fast. But worst of all wasn’t the broken glass.

It was the whisper that lingered in his ears... like it was mocking him as it repeated over and over like a chant.

"Found you." ’"Found you," "Found you,"

Rin clutched his head, his crimson eyes wide. He didn’t need anyone to tell him who that voice belonged to. He knew. He had always known.

"Asmodeus..." His voice was a low growl, like saying the name itself was poison. "How did that bastard...?"

He staggered back against the desk, dragging his hands down his face. That smile in the mirror, that twisted grin, had been no trick. It was a message.

No... it was a warning.

’That bastard isn’t far,’

Rin’s mind spun.

’It would take days. Maybe less. Asmodeus was coming... for me,’

"Shit!" Rin kicked at a shard, watching it clatter against the wall. His thoughts spiraled, frantic. "Maybe I should’ve suggested a panic room beneath the brothel. A safe bunker where everyone could hide when this demon apocalypse crap kicks in. But noooo, of course this medieval world doesn’t even know what a panic room is."

He groaned, gripping his hair and pacing. "Brilliant, Rin. Fucking brilliant. You had one job... just one fucking job and that’s to survive... and you’re doing a piss-poor job of it."

He was still mid-rant when the door slammed open.

"Rin!"

Lirien stormed in, skirts swishing, her sharp eyes already narrowing at the mess. She didn’t come alone... two nervous workers hovered in the hallway, whispering that Rin had screamed loud enough to shake the rafters.

But Lirien didn’t care about them. She grabbed Rin by the shoulders and shook him so hard his teeth clacked.

"You had a meeting without me?! With both the Vortellion heir and the Crown Prince?" she snapped, shaking him harder. "Are you insane? Do you want me to die of stress before the demons even arrive?"

Rin’s head lolled back and forth like a rag doll. "Okay, okay, I get it, stop shaking me before I puke!"

Lirien froze only when she saw how pale he was, his crimson eyes bloodshot. Something had shaken him far worse than her scolding.

Rin pouted up at her weakly. "I’m sorry, Aunt."

Normally, the word softened her like butter. But not that day.

Her lips pressed thin. "Don’t ’Aunt’ me this time. Tell me everything. Now."

Rin sighed, rubbing his face. He dropped onto the bed, motioning half-heartedly for her to sit. And he told her... about the meeting, about Caspian and Lucien’s bickering, about the map and the demon threat. Then, voice dropping to a whisper, he confessed about the mirror.

Lirien’s expression hardened with every word. By the time he finished, she was already walking toward the ruined glass.

"So it’s true." She crouched before the broken frame, eyes dark. "That wasn’t just a vision. If Asmodeus can send his will through an object here... then he has far more power than we anticipated."

Her fingers grazed a shard, her face grim. "This fight will not be easy."

Rin swallowed hard.

"Then what can I do? There has to be something. I’m not just going to sit here while the bastard strolls in and wrecks the place."

"You’ll do nothing," Lirien snapped, whirling on him. Her voice cracked, softer for once. "I won’t risk you. Not in this war. Not when your mother..."

"I’m already involved," Rin cut her off, standing. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, sharp as blades. "He’s coming for me. You think hiding me under a bed is going to change that? I’ll fight. I’ll help kill him."

He could use this opportunity to complete mission two. But as his words faded, his system chimed.

DING!

[Reminder: Mission Two cannot be completed unless Mission One is completed first.]

[Killing a male lead before marriage will be considered invalid.]

Rin’s face twisted. "...What?"

DING!

[Marriage unlocks the kill route. Failure to do so will nullify progress.]

Rin groaned loudly, throwing himself back on the bed like the world had personally betrayed him. "This system is a sadistic little bitch. First, it says marry someone, then it says kill someone, now it’s locking routes like this is some visual novel from hell."

"Rin?" Lirien’s brows furrowed at his tantrum. "What’s wrong?"

Rin sat up, raking his hair back. His voice was flat. "...I’m ready to get married."

Lirien blinked. "You what?"

"I said," he grumbled, "I’m ready to get married."

For the first time that night, her face lit up, relief softening her features.

"That’s... wonderful, Rin. I thought you’d never say those words." She sat beside him, taking his hand warmly. "Who is it? Tell me who you’ve got in mind."

Rin made a face like he’d swallowed a lemon. "...Well... I’ve got options. Prince Caspian. Lucien Vortellion. And, uh... Evan Vortellion."

The joy drained from Lirien’s face. Her grip tightened.

"Absolutely not. Never! All three of them are a no."

"What?" Rin whined, slumping back. "But I don’t have a choice! It has to be one of them! It’s a must!"

She stared at him, stunned as he kicked his feet like a sulking child. For once, Rin... the sarcastic, sharp-tongued troublemaker... looked utterly defeated, whining like a boy forced to eat his vegetables.

Lirien sighed, massaging her temples.

"I’ll... handle this. Somehow. But find more options!"

She stood, giving him one last searching look before sweeping from the room.

Rin collapsed backward on the mattress with a groan.

"Marriage? Fucking marriage. To a guy. Me. Rin Elric, lover of boobs and huge asses. My ancestors are rolling in their graves."

But even as he cursed, his heart betrayed him. Because when he thought of the three names, it wasn’t Caspian’s stern face or Evan’s quiet smile that lingered.

It was Lucien. Lucien’s lips.

Lucien’s voice whispering,

’Before we were interrupted... can we continue?’

Rin squeezed his eyes shut, clutching a pillow to his chest.

"No. Nope. Not happening. Denial is a river in Egypt, and I’m fucking drowning in it."

With a groan, he forced himself up, kneeling to gather the shards of glass littering the floor. One piece sliced his palm, but he didn’t flinch. The wound closed instantly, knitting itself together in seconds.

He froze, staring at the faint line of blood vanishing on his skin.

"...Right. Demon blood."

His chest tightened. If he married one of them, if he actually went through with this insane mission, he’d have to tell them. He’d have to confess what he was.

He clenched his fist. "It’s going to be a long journey. But... I’ll do it. Somehow."

.

.

Meanwhile...

Far from the capital, screams painted the night.

The city guards fought desperately, but their blades shattered like glass against the demons pouring through the streets.

And at the heart of the carnage, seated on a throne of broken stone, was Asmodeus.

His long legs draped lazily over the debris, crimson eyes glowing with delight. Around him, fires raged, corpses sprawled, and the stench of blood painted the air thick.

Beside him, Cerberus stood in human form... tall, dark-haired, eyes glowing faintly like embers. His expression was unreadable as he watched the slaughter.

"How much longer are we going to keep doing this?" Cerberus asked, voice flat.

Asmodeus grinned wide, leaning back against his throne of rubble.

"As long as it takes. Every ruin feeds me. My power is destruction, Cerberus. The more I destroy, the stronger I become. Why rush a feast?"

Cerberus’s eyes flicked toward him. "...And Rin?"

The name made Asmodeus still. Slowly, his grin softened, though it remained wide and unsettling.

"Ah, Rin." His voice dropped into something almost reverent. "I saw him earlier. Through the glass. That frightened look... it didn’t suit him. I only gave him my most exciting smile, but he misunderstood."

He laughed, a low rumble.

"I can’t wait to see him again. To hold him. My dear royal kin."

Cerberus tilted his head. "You intend to kill him?"

"Kill him?" Asmodeus’s grin widened impossibly. "No. He’s blood of the demon royal line. He could be strong. Stronger than any human dares dream. Why would I waste that?" His eyes gleamed with hunger. "No, Cerberus. I intend to keep him."

His voice dripped with obsession. "Very soon... Rin will end up in my arms."

The guards’ screams grew fainter as the last were torn apart. Cerberus glanced back at the burning city.

"Access into the capital won’t be easy. The wards..."

"Already prepared for," Asmodeus interrupted, waving a hand. "The priests are gone. Their temples are rubble. Holy wards are crumbling faster than they can be replaced. I’m cleverer than they are, Cerberus. I protect my kin, then I hunt again."

He leaned forward, eyes gleaming in the firelight. "This time, nothing will stop me."

.

In the Capital...

Night cloaked the city, but shadows whispered in hidden corners. One demon slithered through the dungeon, its voice silky as it approached a chained man.

Julian lifted his head, eyes bloodshot.

"What do you desire most?" the demon purred. "Tell it to me and I shall give it to you,"

Julian’s lips curled. "...Revenge. On Rin. I want to kill him. Slowly. Mercilessly. Painfully,"

The demon’s grin spread. "Your wish is my command, my dear contractor."

Elsewhere, in a candlelit office, the infamous Head Enforcer leaned against his desk, his eyepatch shadowing half his face.

"What do you desire? I shall grant them to you,"

"A demon? Huh?" He smirked, his voice gravelly. "The brat who slipped from my grip two years ago. Rin. I want him back. I’ll make him scream while I twist his arms from his body. Grant my wish and I’ll sign a bloody contract with you,"

The demon nodded. "Wish granted...."

And in another shadowed room, Sasha’s eyes gleamed. His voice trembled, but his grin was wide.

"I want Rin. To make him mine. Can you do that?"

The demon’s laughter echoed. "Consider it done."

Far away, Asmodeus sat on his throne of ruin, grinning as if he’d heard every word.

"Grant their wishes," he commanded. "Even if it concerns Rin. Especially if it concerns Rin. Let him see what humans truly are. And when the betrayal cuts deepest..." His eyes gleamed with hunger.

"...he will come to me. And I will accept him with open arms."