Rin did not sleep.
Well… His body slept.
His brain, however, had apparently subscribed to twenty-four-hour customer service.
He spent half the night staring at the stone ceiling.
"Tomorrow I'll fight a demon."
Pause.
"I have never won a fight against a mosquito."
Another pause.
"Actually... one mosquito won. ...I'm going to die."
[Negative thinking detected.]
"Oh, NOW you're worried about my mental health?"
[Host survival rate decreases by 8.7% when morale is low.]
"That's somehow less comforting."
The System remained silent.
"...Rude."
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
Someone—or rather, something—was pounding on Rin's bedroom door.
"Rise." said Kaelith.
Rin buried himself deeper beneath the blanket.
"No."
"It is dawn."
"I reject dawn."
"..."
"I'll file an appeal with the sun."
The door opened anyway. Rin shot upright.
"...Do people knock in this world just for decoration?!"
Kaelith stood in the doorway, already dressed in black armor trimmed with crimson. His long cloak rested over one shoulder, his horns catching the pale morning light filtering through the narrow windows.
Even at sunrise... He looked unfairly attractive. Rin immediately smacked both of his cheeks.
"Nope."
Kaelith raised an eyebrow.
"...What was that?"
"Nothing."
"You hit yourself."
"I was resetting my brain."
"...Did it work?"
"Unfortunately not."
For the tiniest moment... Kaelith smiled. A real one. Small. Barely there. But unmistakable.
Rin froze.
Oh no. He's smiling now. That's character development. Character development kills people.
The training grounds were enormous.
Circular.
Surrounded by high stone walls filled with watching soldiers and commanders.
Word had spread. Apparently, everyone wanted front-row seats to watch "the General's mysterious human consort" get flattened.
"...They're here to watch me die."
"They are here to judge you," Kaelith corrected.
"That somehow sounds worse."
"It is."
"...Thanks."
The arena floor was made of smooth black stone etched with glowing crimson runes.
As Rin stepped inside, hundreds of eyes landed on him. Someone snorted. Another laughed.
"He looks tiny."
"Is that really the General's partner?"
"He'll last one strike."
Rin sighed dramatically.
"I miss anonymous office life."
"What is an office?" Kaelith asked.
"A place where people slowly die emotionally instead."
"...Curious."
"No, actually."
Selara stepped into the center of the arena. Her voice carried effortlessly.
"Today's trial determines whether the human summoned beside General Kaelith deserves protection under the Demon Army."
The crowd quieted.
"You need not win."
Rin blinked.
"...Really?"
"You need only survive ten minutes."
"...WHAT?"
The arena erupted with laughter. Rin looked horrified.
"Ten minutes?!"
He pointed wildly around the stadium.
"Against WHO?!"
A massive gate opposite him began opening.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the arena. Then...Someone emerged. He was enormous. At least eight feet tall. Gray skin. Two enormous horns.
Muscles that looked capable of bench-pressing castles. A gigantic war hammer rested casually over one shoulder.
"..."
"..."
Rin slowly looked toward Kaelith.
"...You hate me."
Kaelith remained expressionless.
"He is holding back."
"...THAT'S HOLDING BACK?!"
Selara announced,
"Champion Vorak."
The giant slammed his hammer into the ground. The impact shook the entire arena.
Rin whimpered.
"...Can I change opponents?"
"No."
"...Can I change worlds?"
"No."
"...Can I get HR?"
"No."
"...Figures."
[Quest Updated.]
[Objective: Survive the Trial.]
[Reward: +100 Reputation.]
[Failure: Death.]
"...I REALLY HATE HOW CASUAL YOU ARE ABOUT THAT!"
A horn echoed. The match began.
Vorak charged.
"...OH MY GOD!"
Rin immediately ran. Not strategically. Not heroically. Just...ran.
The crowd burst into laughter.
"He's fleeing!"
"I've never seen someone run that fast!"
"Is this his technique?"
Rin zigzagged wildly as the enormous hammer smashed into the ground behind him.
BOOM.
Stone exploded. Dust filled the air.
"I DON'T WANT TO BE A PANCAKE!"
Another swing. Rin barely ducked.
The hammer flew over his head.
"...Too close!"
Very. Very close.
Kaelith watched silently from the sidelines. One commander scoffed.
"Pathetic."
Another crossed his arms.
"He has no training."
Selara remained thoughtful.
"...Watch carefully."
Rin's lungs burned.
Think.
Think.
"I can't overpower him."
Another swing.
"I can't block him."
A third swing shattered part of the arena wall.
"I DEFINITELY can't tank him!"
Then... Something clicked. Back in his old world... Rin had never been athletic. But he had spent years solving programming bugs. Watching patterns. Finding weaknesses. Vorak wasn't random. He had rhythm.
Three heavy attacks.
Pause.
Reset.
Three attacks.
Pause.
"...Wait."
Vorak charged again.
Hammer.
Left.
Right.
Overhead.
Pause.
"There!"
Instead of running away... Rin ran forward. The audience gasped.
"What is he doing?!"
Vorak looked confused for exactly one second. That was enough. Rin slid underneath the giant's arm. Reached behind him. And... Smacked the back of Vorak's knee. Not hard. Just enough.
The giant's balance shifted.
"...Whoa."
Vorak stumbled. One knee hit the ground. The arena fell silent.
"..."
"..."
"...HE KNEELED?!"
Rin stared.
"...I did that?"
Vorak quickly stood again. Not angry. Smiling. A huge grin.
"Hahaha!"
His booming laughter echoed through the arena.
"You are clever!"
"I prefer 'desperately improvising,' actually!"
Vorak laughed harder.
Kaelith's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Interesting."
Selara smiled faintly.
"He noticed."
The battle resumed. This time... Vorak stopped underestimating him. His attacks became faster. Sharper. Rin barely escaped each one.
He rolled. Dodged. Slid beneath another swing. At one point...
He accidentally climbed onto Vorak's back.
"...THIS WASN'T INTENTIONAL!"
The crowd roared with laughter.
Vorak spun in circles trying to grab him.
"Hold still!"
"I WOULD IF YOU STOPPED TRYING TO KILL ME!"
Eventually Rin slipped off—
—and landed face-first in the dirt.
"...Ow."
Everything hurt. Everything. He pushed himself up—
Only to realize... Vorak's hammer was inches from his face. The giant could have ended it.
Instead... He lowered the weapon.
"...Time."
A loud horn sounded across the arena. Ten minutes. Rin had survived. For a heartbeat... No one moved.
Then... Applause. Slow at first. One soldier, then another soon...the entire arena echoed with clapping.
Not because Rin had won, because he hadn't given up, because he'd survived through wit instead of strength.
Vorak extended one enormous hand.
"You are weak."
"...Thanks?"
"But..."
The giant smiled warmly.
"You are brave."
Rin laughed tiredly.
"I was terrified the whole time."
"Courage is acting despite fear."
"..."
"...That's actually really nice."
Vorak pulled him effortlessly to his feet. The audience applauded again.
[Quest Complete.]
[Reputation Increased.]
[Demon Army Respect: +15]
[Kaelith Favorability: +10]
"...Why did YOUR affection go up?"
[The Male Lead appreciates intelligence.]
"I literally got chased around like prey!"
[Intelligence remains attractive.]
"...You're impossible."
As Rin limped toward the edge of the arena, his legs threatening to collapse beneath him...Someone caught him. Strong arms steadied his balance before he could fall. Kaelith was there.
"...Easy."
"I'm fine," Rin lied.
"No."
"I can still feel my legs."
"Barely."
"...Fair."
Without another word...
Kaelith slipped one arm around Rin's waist to support him.
The movement was practical.
Natural.
Yet... The entire arena noticed. Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.
"The General..."
"He's worried."
"I've never seen him touch anyone like that."
Rin felt his ears turn red.
"...Everyone's staring again."
"They may."
"...Can you let go?"
"I could."
"...But?"
"You are injured."
"...That's annoyingly reasonable."
Kaelith looked down at him.
For just a second.
"You exceeded my expectations."
Rin blinked.
"...Really?"
"You adapted."
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"...Ouch."
"...Yet," Kaelith continued quietly, "I am pleased."
Something warm settled in Rin's chest.
It wasn't the System.
It wasn't embarrassment.
It was... Different.
Before Rin could figure out what that feeling meant—
The System chimed.
Bright. Almost excited.
[Hidden Route Unlocked.]
[New Character Interest Detected: Champion Vorak.]
"..."
Rin stared blankly ahead.
"...Excuse me?"
[Love Interest Count: 2.]
"..."
"...KAELITH."
"...Yes?"
"I THINK YOUR DATING SIMULATOR JUST ADDED A DLC."
Kaelith frowned.
"I do not know what those words mean."
"...Neither do I anymore."
Somewhere across the arena, Vorak waved enthusiastically.
"Oh no."
The System chimed one last time.
[Congratulations, Host.]
[The Reverse Harem Flag has been activated.]
Rin's horrified scream echoed through the fortress.
Again the BL system won't let me rest !