Rin's scream didn't stop immediately.
It echoed across the blackened plains, bounced off distant cliffs, and probably startled at least three unsuspecting fantasy creatures into early retirement.
Kaelith waited. Patiently. Arms crossed.
"…Are you done?" the demon general asked after a while.
Rin inhaled sharply—clearly preparing for round two.
"Don't you dare," Kaelith added.
Rin deflated. "…You're no fun."
"I am a war general."
"Same difference."
They stood there for a moment, the absurdity of their situation hanging thick in the air.
Then Rin pointed accusingly at the sky again. "Okay, listen here, you emotionally manipulative pop-up window—this is NOT happening."
[Clarification: This is already happening.]
"I reject the premise!"
[Rejection noted. Ignored.]
Rin turned to Kaelith. "You heard that, right? This thing is gaslighting me."
"I do not know what that means," Kaelith said really calm , "but if it involves the voice, then yes. I heard it."
Rin dragged a hand down his face. "Great. Fantastic. Love that we're co-victims now."
"I am no victim," Kaelith said flatly.
"Right. You're just the guy who accidentally summoned a boyfriend," add Rin rolling his eyes again.
"I did not—"
[System confirmation: Summoning target = compatible romantic partner.]
Kaelith's eye twitched.
Rin grinned. "Oh, this is gold."
"You find this amusing?" asked Kaelith with a heavy tone in this voice.
"I find your suffering amusing," Rin corrected. "It's helping me cope."
Kaelith exhaled slowly, the kind of controlled breath that suggested he'd like to set something on fire but was choosing not to. "We are not 'falling in love.'"
"Agreed."
"Good."
"Absolutely not happening."
"Correct."
They paused.
Then, in perfect unison—
"…But we still have to pretend, don't we?"
Silence.
Rin groaned. "I hate that we're already on the same page."
Kaelith pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is a tactical inconvenience."
"This is a romantic death trap," Rin corrected.
"Then we will treat it as such."
Rin blinked. "…Wait. You're taking this seriously?"
"You said failure results in your death."
"Yeah, but—"
"Then we will not fail."
The words were simple. Matter-of-fact.
But something about the way Kaelith said them—steady, absolute—made Rin pause.
"…You barely know me," Rin said.
"You are under my responsibility," Kaelith replied.
"That's not the same thing."
"It is enough."
Rin stared at him.
Then looked away quickly. "That's… annoyingly noble of you."
"I am not noble."
"Sure. And I'm not stuck in a supernatural BL nightmare."
"…You are."
"Let me cope."
Kaelith turned and resumed walking. "Come. We are wasting time."
Rin hurried after him again, falling into step.
"…So," Rin said after a moment. "Strategy meeting."
Kaelith glanced at him. "Explain."
"If we have to 'fall in love' to survive," Rin said, making exaggerated air quotes, "then we need a plan."
"I do not 'plan' emotions."
"Yeah, well, congratulations, now you do."
Kaelith frowned slightly. "What kind of plan?"
Rin counted on his fingers. "Step one: fake progress. We act like we're getting closer. Enough to satisfy… that thing." He gestured vaguely upward. "Step two: avoid anything too intense that might backfire. Step three: don't accidentally actually fall in love."
Kaelith nodded once. "Reasonable."
"Right? I'm basically a genius under pressure."
"You are tolerable under pressure."
"I'm choosing to take that as a compliment."
A faint pause.
"…It was not," Kaelith said with a bitter voice.
"Rude."
They walked in silence for a bit longer, the ground gradually shifting into something more structured—paths carved into the earth, dark stone formations rising in the distance.
Civilization.
Well. Demon civilization.
"…So how does this usually go?" Rin asked. "You bring random summoned people back to your base?"
"You are the first."
"Oh. No pressure, then."
Kaelith's gaze flickered to him. "The ritual is ancient. Dangerous. It is not used lightly."
"And yet here I am," Rin said. "Unpaid intern of destiny."
"You speak strangely."
"I cope strangely."
"…That much is clear."
As they crested a ridge, the full view of Kaelith's stronghold came into sight.
Rin stopped.
"…Okay," he said slowly. "That's… actually really cool."
A massive fortress of black stone stretched across the landscape, jagged towers piercing the dim sky. Rivers of faintly glowing lava traced through the surrounding terrain like veins, casting an eerie light over everything.
It looked like the final level of a game.
Or the villain's headquarters.
Which, Rin supposed, was accurate.
Kaelith watched his reaction. "…You are not afraid?"
"Oh, I'm terrified," Rin said immediately. "But I can also appreciate good architecture."
"…Architecture."
"Yeah. Evil, but stylish. Points for effort."
Kaelith huffed softly. "You are absurd."
"And yet, I'm your assigned romantic partner."
"…Do not remind me."
[Reminder: Attend the Demon General's War Council.]
"Oh right," Rin said. "That whole 'war council' thing."
Kaelith's expression shifted—subtly, but noticeably.
More focused. Colder.
"The council will not welcome you," he said with a cold voice.
"Yeah, I figured. 'Hey guys, I accidentally summoned a chaotic civilian who won't stop talking and now we're soul-linked.' That's a tough sell."
"They will question your presence."
"They can get in line."
"They may see you as a weakness."
Rin paused.
"…And do you?" he asked.
Kaelith didn't answer immediately.
"…I see you," he said finally, "as a variable."
Rin blinked. "Wow. Not even a person. Just… math."
"You are alive," Kaelith said. "That is already significant."
"…Your standards are low."
"They are practical."
Rin looked ahead at the fortress again.
Then sighed.
"…Okay," he said. "Game plan update."
Kaelith glanced at him. "Go on."
Rin straightened slightly, trying—and mostly failing—to look confident.
"If your council thinks I'm a weakness," he said, "then we prove them wrong."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
Rin grinned. Sharp. Determined.
"By being the most annoyingly effective fake couple this world has ever seen."
Kaelith stopped walking.
"…Explain."
"Oh, I will," Rin said. "We lean into it. Just enough. Confuse them. Throw them off. Make them underestimate me—us."
Kaelith studied him carefully.
"…You are suggesting deception."
"I'm suggesting survival."
A pause.
Then—
"…Very well," Kaelith said.
Rin blinked. "Wait, that was easy."
"If this 'system' requires emotional progression," Kaelith said, "then we will give it what it wants."
Rin pumped a fist. "Yes! Strategic romance!"
"…That is not what this is."
"It is now."
They resumed walking.
The fortress gates loomed closer.
"…One more thing," Kaelith said.
Rin looked at him. "Yeah?"
"If we are to convince others…" Kaelith hesitated, just slightly. "…there may be moments requiring… physical proximity."
Rin froze.
"…Define 'proximity,'" he said slowly.
Kaelith met his gaze.
"…Close, very close."
Rin turned red instantly. "OKAY, we're adding a step four—STRICT BOUNDARIES—"
[Optional Objective Unlocked: First Embrace.]
"NOPE," Rin said immediately. "Hard pass."
[Reward: +50 Favorability.]
Rin faltered.
"…We'll discuss it," he muttered.
Kaelith sighed.
"This is going to be a long war."
Rin nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "And somehow, the battlefield is romance."
They reached the gates.
And as they opened, swallowing them into the heart of the demon stronghold—
The system chimed again.
[Chapter Progression: 42%]
[Next Trigger: Public Relationship Display.]
Rin had a very bad feeling about this.
"Don't you dare," he whispered to the sky.
The system, of course, said nothing.
Which was worse.