CHAPTER 147: GRANDSON OF THE DEMON KING!

Rin stretched his arms high above his head as he walked toward the brothel. His smile refused to leave his lips, no matter how much he tried to tone it down. His cheeks still felt hot from everything Lucien had said earlier, and his chest buzzed like he had swallowed lightning.

"I proposed to a man..." he muttered, dragging his palms down his face. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

But the second he thought about Lucien’s answer... Yes. I would love to marry you... His whole body tingled. He replayed the sound of Lucien’s low voice, the gentle weight of his arms, and the way he looked at him as if Rin was the only person left in the world.

He almost skipped on the cobblestones. His steps carried him faster, straight to the brothel door.

He paused in front of it, sucking in a breath. "Okay... time to tell Aunt Lirien before I explode. First, I’ll have to apologise for almost beating her up, I mean, killing her, then tell her about my choice to marry Lucien. And finally, the bonding. That’s all! She’ll say yes, right?"

He sighed once. Twice. A million times. Then, with a determined grunt, he reached out and grabbed the door handle.

But his hand met nothing.

"...Huh?"

The door was gone.

Rin blinked and looked again. The brothel, with its warm lanterns and faint sound of drunken laughter, had vanished. The smell of cheap perfume and smoke that always clung to the place had disappeared too.

"What the..." He turned around quickly, but the street behind him wasn’t there either. The cobblestones were gone, replaced by black grass that swayed without wind. The sky above was red and gold, like fire frozen in the heavens. The air pressed heavy on his skin, thick with the scent of ash and iron.

"...What the actual fuck?" Rin muttered, taking a step back. His stomach flipped.

Before he could move further, his chest tightened. He felt something crack open inside him. His nails lengthened, his eyes glowed faint gold and crimson, and his horns curled slowly from his head.

He wasn’t even trying. His demon form came out on its own.

"What the hell is happening?"

The ground rumbled. Flames erupted a few paces away, rising high and then folding into the shape of a throne. It was enormous... carved from blackened stone and fused with fire that never went out. And on that throne, casually sitting as if he had been waiting for centuries, was a man.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and terrifyingly beautiful in a way that made Rin’s stomach twist. His hair was dark as night, spilling over his shoulders. His horns curled like crowns. And his eyes... red and gold... burned so deeply that Rin almost looked away.

The man leaned forward, lips curving into a cold grin.

"We finally meet again... grandson."

Rin froze. His mouth opened but no sound came out.

"Uh...Excuse me?" He pointed at himself.

"Are you talking to me? Me? Grandson? No, no, no. You’ve got the wrong guy."

The man tilted his head slightly, amused.

"Do you see anyone else here?"

Rin turned in a circle, desperate to find literally anyone else. But it was only them. Behind him were endless shadows and flames flickering far away.

His stomach dropped. "Oh, you are talking to me. I’m sorry, but where am I, sir?"

"Sir?"

The man rose from his throne, the sound of fire crackling with each step. His face, so sharp and commanding, softened unexpectedly. He walked closer, stopping right in front of Rin. Then, without warning, his large hand came down on Rin’s shoulder.

Rin tensed, convinced his arm was about to be ripped clean off. He could feel the heavy and warm hand on his body. He shut his eyes.

But instead, the man’s face twisted... not with anger, but with sadness.

"...Why won’t you call me grandpa?"

Rin blinked. His jaw dropped. Of all the terrifying things he expected to hear, that wasn’t on the list.

"W-What?" he stammered.

"Grandson," the man repeated, his voice low and strangely desperate. "You are mine. The blood of Elyria runs through you. Why... why won’t you call me what I am?"

Rin’s brain short-circuited. He stared at the Demon King... the freaking Demon King!... and saw not a monster but... a grandfather obsessed with family titles.

"This is insane," Rin muttered under his breath.

The man’s eyes narrowed. Rin panicked. Quickly, he scratched the back of his head, forcing a nervous laugh.

"Ahaha... um... g-g-grandpa?"

The Demon King froze. Then, slowly, his lips curled into the most delighted smile Rin had ever seen. His red-gold eyes softened, almost glowing with pride.

"There. That wasn’t so hard."

Rin’s face heated.

’Did I just... call the Demon King grandpa?’

This was not how he pictured demon kings. Where were the scales, the fangs, the monstrous roars? He had read too many manga, clearly.

Before Rin could gather himself, the Demon King snapped his fingers.

The world shifted again. Rin suddenly found himself seated on a cushioned chair across from the throne. A low table appeared between them, neatly set with tea and a plate of snacks.

"...Okay, that was... creepy," Rin muttered, glancing at the steaming cup in front of him.

"Eat," the Demon King said, smiling warmly. "You must be starving,"

Rin hesitated, then poked at a cookie. It was soft, sweet-smelling, and suspiciously human-made. He raised an eyebrow.

"So... snacks in the underworld, huh? How do you even make these down here?"

"Make these?" The Demon King chuckled. "I stole them."

Rin smirked. "I see! How... good of you, grandpa!"

’Of course. They’re demons. What was I expecting?’

He popped one into his mouth anyway. His eyes widened.

"Holy shit... this is good."

The Demon King looked pleased.

But then Rin remembered where he was and stiffened. It wasn’t the time to be enjoying cookies and sweets when he got dragged here.

"Wait. Why am I here? Did you bring me?"

The Demon King sipped his black tea calmly.

"Yes."

Rin frowned. "Why?"

"Because," the Demon King said, setting down his cup, "you keep hiding your true self. It’s hard to reach you when you refuse your own power. But the moment you let it out... I finally had the chance. It’s been a long time since we met, child,"

Rin’s eyes widened. "You mean... the last time I turned into my demon form? When I burned down that mansion?"

The Demon King nodded.

"Yes. That was the last time we met. Have you already forgotten?"

Rin’s stomach twisted.

"Of course, he had no memory—because he wasn’t the original Rin. He was just... filling the role. He knew about it because he saw it in a dream and also, thanks to Asmodeus and Lirien,’

He forced a laugh so he wouldn’t look suspicious.

"Right. Totally. I... forgot. My bad."

The Demon King studied him for a moment but said nothing. Instead, he stood and reached out, grasping Rin’s hand firmly.

"Come with me to the demon world. You will stay with me and become the next Demon King."

Rin’s heart almost exploded out of his chest when he heard that. For him to become the demon king. First, he was brought to this world to become gay and now, a demon king?

’What the hell do you want from me? To become a gay demon king? What a combo!’

He turned to his grandfather.

"W... What?! No! I can’t..."

"You can," the Demon King interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "I cannot trust my sons. They hunger for my throne. Only you, Elyria’s child, carry both bloodline and strength enough to rule."

Rin swallowed hard.

"Hold on, sir... I mean, grandpa! Do you... know about Asmodeus?"

The Demon King’s face darkened. He nodded.

"Of course, I do. He plans to overthrow me. He thinks conquering the human world first will give him leverage,"

"Can you help get rid of him? He’s trying to kill everyone,"

The demon king shrugged.

"Help? The humans purged us long ago. I cannot move against him there."

Rin’s chest tightened.

"Then, I’m afraid I can’t come with you. I... I have people to protect."

"Then bring them to the demon world. I’ll make it comfortable for them here," the Demon King said simply.

Rin shook his head firmly.

"No. That’s not their home. I’ll find Asmodeus myself and I’ll stop him."

For the first time, the Demon King looked... tired. He sighed, then pulled Rin closer, staring at him deeply.

"You look just like Elyria," he murmured. "Your mother. The same fire in your eyes. The stubbornness,"

Rin’s throat tightened when he heard his mother’s name. He hesitated, then asked softly,

"...Do you know where she is?"

The Demon King’s gaze dropped. He shook his head.

"She cut ties with me long ago, before leaving for the human world. She never came back."

Rin rolled his eyes secretly.

’Great. No answers again,’

He forced a polite smile.

"Thanks, Grandpa. But... I need to go back."

The Demon King studied him in silence. Then, slowly, he conjured a small ring... a dark band crowned with a tiny skull bearing sharp fangs. He slipped it onto Rin’s finger.

"If you ever wish to see me, pierce your finger with its fangs. Let your blood fall into the skull. It will call me."

Rin stared at it, suppressing a grimace.

’Yeah, I’m not sure that would be happening,’

Still, he nodded.

"Got it. Thanks."

The Demon King waved his hand once, smiling faintly.

"Until we meet again, grandson."

The world twisted again. Rin blinked and suddenly found himself standing in front of the brothel once more, his hand raised as if about to open the door.

He froze, staring at the familiar wood.

"...How the hell did that just happen?" he muttered, his heart hammering.

The night wind blew, carrying the sound of laughter from inside. But Rin’s chest felt heavier than before.

"I’ll have to tell Lirien about the demon king also,"