The fortress erupted into organized chaos. One moment, Rin had been peacefully discussing training schedules with Vorak.
The next—
BWOOOOOOOM!
Another war horn shook the sky. The cheerful atmosphere vanished as if someone had flipped a switch. Soldiers sprinted across the courtyard.
Servants hurried children indoors. Mages rushed toward the walls carrying glowing staffs.
Above it all, the black banners of the Demon Army unfurled in the wind.
"...Okay."
Rin blinked.
"I officially miss spreadsheets."
Vorak was already moving. His warm smile had disappeared completely, replaced by the expression of a seasoned warrior.
"Stay behind me."
"...You're making that sound like the safest place in the world."
"It is."
The champion picked up his enormous war hammer from a nearby rack as though it weighed nothing. Rin watched him effortlessly swing several hundred kilograms onto one shoulder.
"...I struggle carrying groceries."
Another explosion echoed. Dust rained from the fortress walls.
The System chimed.
[Main Story Quest Updated.]
[Proceed to the Eastern Wall.]
[Reward: Survival.]
"...You know," Rin muttered while running after Vorak, "I'd really appreciate a reward that isn't just 'continue breathing.'"
[Future rewards may include deluxe breathing.]
"...You're developing sarcasm."
[Learning from Host.]
"I've created a monster."
The closer they got to the eastern wall, the louder everything became.
Steel clashed against steel. Orders echoed through the fortress.
Smoke drifted into the sky. When Rin finally climbed the stairs leading onto the battlements...
He froze.
"...Whoa."
An army stretched across the plains below.
Not hundreds. Thousands.
White banners bearing a golden sun fluttered above rows of armored soldiers.
Knights. Archers. Mages. Priests.
Massive siege towers rolled steadily toward the fortress while catapults launched blazing stones through the air.
It looked like something out of an epic fantasy movie.
Except... This wasn't CGI. This was real.
"...They're huge."
Vorak nodded.
"The Holy Kingdom."
"They really don't like demons."
"No."
"...Do demons like them?"
"...Also no."
"Well."
Rin sighed dramatically.
"Communication has clearly broken down."
Kaelith stood atop the central wall like the eye of a storm. His black armor gleamed beneath the morning sun.
His crimson cloak whipped violently in the wind. Every commander nearby instinctively looked toward him.
Waiting. Trusting. He drew his sword.
The blade itself seemed forged from darkness, crimson veins glowing beneath its surface.
The battlefield grew strangely quiet. Then Kaelith spoke.
His voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be.
"Hold the walls."
Three simple words. Yet they spread across the entire fortress.
Morale surged instantly. The soldiers roared.
Rin blinked.
"...That's it?"
Vorak smiled.
"He doesn't waste words."
"I gave a presentation once that was longer than that."
Suddenly—
A brilliant golden light exploded from the enemy ranks.
Rin had to shield his eyes.
"What now?"
The Holy Kingdom's army split apart. Someone rode forward alone.
A white horse. Silver armor. A flowing blue cape.
Golden hair that practically sparkled in the sunlight.
"..."
"...Oh, come on."
The man looked like he'd walked straight out of a fantasy romance novel.
Even from this distance, he radiated heroic energy. The soldiers around Rin began whispering.
"The Saint's Sword."
"Commander Lucien."
"The strongest Holy Knight."
Vorak's expression hardened.
"He is dangerous."
Rin stared.
"...He's also ridiculously pretty."
Vorak looked confused.
"...Pretty?"
"I have eyes."
The knight stopped his horse between both armies.
He removed his helmet.
Long blond hair spilled over polished silver armor. Bright blue eyes surveyed the fortress calmly.
Then—
Those eyes stopped. Directly on Rin.
"..."
"..."
Rin pointed at himself.
"...Me?"
Commander Lucien continued staring. Without blinking.
"...Why is he looking at me?"
Vorak slowly followed Lucien's gaze.
"..."
"...Interesting."
"What?"
"I recognize that expression."
"What expression?"
Vorak looked strangely sympathetic.
"...The same one I had yesterday."
Rin's face slowly lost all color.
"...No."
The System chimed happily.
[New Target Identified.]
"...NO."
[Potential Love Interest Detected.]
"NO!"
Vorak winced.
"...You truly are speaking to invisible beings."
Across the battlefield... Lucien couldn't look away.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
The intelligence reports had described the Demon General's mysterious companion as dangerous.
A manipulator. A seducer.
Someone who had bewitched Kaelith himself.
Instead... Standing awkwardly atop the fortress wall... Was perhaps the most expressive person Lucien had ever seen.
The young man was visibly panicking about something.
His face cycled through confusion, horror, disbelief, and existential crisis in under five seconds.
"..."
Lucien blinked.
"...He's adorable."
One of the knights beside him coughed.
"Commander?"
Lucien didn't answer.
"..."
"...Commander?"
"...Hm?"
"You've been staring."
"...Have I?"
"...For a concerning amount of time."
Lucien cleared his throat.
"I was... assessing the enemy."
The knight looked toward Rin. Then back at Lucien.
"...Respectfully..."
"Yes?"
"...I don't think assessments usually involve smiling."
Lucien immediately stopped smiling.
"I was not smiling."
"...You absolutely were."
Back on the fortress wall—
Rin grabbed his own hair.
"Oh no. Oh no, no, no."
"What?"
Vorak looked concerned.
"He's looking at me!"
"...Yes."
"Why?!"
"...I do not know."
"I already have TWO accidental romance routes!"
Vorak tilted his head.
"...Routes?"
"I DON'T NEED A THIRD!"
The System chimed.
[Correction.]
"..."
[Fourth.]
"..."
"...Fourth?"
[Kaelith.]
[Vorak.]
[Unknown System Route.]
[Commander Lucien.]
Rin stared into the distance.
"...There's an UNKNOWN one?!"
[Information locked.]
"...I want a refund."
A trumpet sounded. Commander Lucien urged his horse forward.
He stopped within shouting distance of the fortress.
"I seek General Kaelith!"
His voice carried effortlessly across the battlefield.
Kaelith stepped forward.
"I am here."
Lucien's expression became serious once more.
"General."
"Holy Knight."
"Must we truly fight today?"
Kaelith's answer came without hesitation.
"You crossed my border."
"You harbor dangerous powers."
"You invaded first."
Silence.
Rin blinked.
"...Wait."
He looked between them.
"...You two know each other?"
Vorak nodded.
"They have fought for years."
"...They're rivals?"
"Yes."
Rin's eyes widened.
"...OH MY GOD."
"What?"
"This isn't just fantasy."
"What?"
"It's enemies-to-enemies!"
Vorak had absolutely no idea what that meant.
The conversation below continued. Lucien sighed.
"I had hoped diplomacy remained possible."
Kaelith answered evenly.
"It was but you attacked our scouts."
"They trespassed."
"They were investigating."
"They carried weapons."
"...Fair point."
"..."
"..."
Rin blinked.
"...They're arguing like an old married couple."
Vorak coughed suspiciously.
"I... suppose they have known one another a long time."
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"They've got unresolved tension."
"..."
"I can FEEL it."
Suddenly—
Lucien looked back toward the wall.
Toward Rin. Again. Then he smiled politely.
He actually waved. A small, courteous wave.
Rin, running purely on instinct and social conditioning, waved back.
The battlefield went silent. Absolutely silent.
Kaelith slowly turned his head.
"..."
"...Rin."
"...Yes?"
"...Why."
"I PANICKED!"
Lucien looked pleasantly surprised.
Then—
He smiled wider.
The Holy Kingdom soldiers began whispering.
"Did... did the demon's companion just wave?"
"The Commander smiled!"
"I've never seen him smile during negotiations."
One elderly priest gasped dramatically.
"...Could this be destiny?"
Another priest elbowed him.
"Wrong genre."
The System practically vibrated with excitement.
[Major Relationship Event Triggered.]
"Oh, absolutely not."
[Cross-Faction Romance Flag Activated.]
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
[Host initiated first greeting.]
"I WAVED!"
[Greeting acknowledged.]
"IT WAS MANNERS!"
[Manners successful.]
"..."
"I hate coding."
Kaelith walked toward Rin.
Very. Very slowly.
"...Who."
He asked calmly.
"Taught you to wave at enemy commanders?"
Rin immediately raised both hands.
"My mother!"
"..."
"...She said it was polite!"
Kaelith closed his eyes.
For exactly three seconds.
When he opened them again—
"You are forbidden from being polite."
"...That's a weird sentence."
"Yet apparently necessary."
Before Rin could defend himself—
A brilliant flash of golden light erupted from Lucien. Holy mana exploded around him.
His horse reared. His sword pointed toward the fortress.
"I challenge General Kaelith!"
The battlefield erupted into cheers.
A duel. Champion against champion.
The outcome could decide the entire battle.
Kaelith stepped forward.
"I accept."
The air itself seemed to tense.
Mana gathered around both commanders.
Darkness.
Light.
Two overwhelming forces preparing to collide. Rin swallowed.
"This feels serious."
"It is," Vorak answered quietly.
Very serious. Just before the duel began—
Lucien unexpectedly raised one hand.
"One request."
Kaelith frowned.
"...Speak."
Lucien's blue eyes drifted upward. Straight toward Rin.
"...After our duel..."
He called loudly.
"...May I speak with your companion?"
...
...
......
The battlefield forgot how to function.
One archer dropped his bow.
A priest choked on his own prayer.
Three demon soldiers simultaneously said, "What?"
Rin pointed at himself again.
"...WHO, ME?!"
Lucien smiled.
"If he is willing."
Kaelith's grip on his sword tightened. Very slightly.
Just enough for Vorak to notice.
"..."
Vorak looked at Kaelith. Then at Lucien. Then at Rin.
"..."
He sighed.
"This is becoming complicated."
The System, meanwhile, sounded positively delighted.
[Congratulations, Host!]
[Love Interest Count: 4.]
[Achievement Unlocked:]
How Did We Get Here?
Rin looked toward the heavens.
Then screamed with all the strength he had left.
"CAN SOMEBODY LET ME HAVE A NORMAL TUESDAY?!"
The war paused for exactly three seconds.
Mostly because everyone was trying to figure out...
...what a Tuesday was.