The Reward for Saving The World is a Husband - Chapter 10
How long had it been since I began cultivating mana?
The commotion in the hallway disrupted my concentration. I hadn’t expected complete solitude in a place not of my own devising.
‘This is still manageable.’
A quick manipulation of mana to assess my condition revealed significant recovery.
‘My condition is far from perfect, but…’
Moving around a little likely wouldn’t reopen my wounds.
Having eaten warm food in a good environment, my body’s healing functions must have been activated several-fold.
After assessing everything, I shifted my attention to the unfolding situation beyond the door.
“If you don’t step aside now, be prepared to lose an arm.”
The voice, full of annoyance, reminded me of someone.
“The poisonous frog?”
If Elias’s voice was so sweet that hearing it once would make it unforgettable, the frog-like creature’s voice was distinctly grating to the ear, leaving a memorable impression for entirely different reasons.
How it came to be in such a world with clean air and no toxins to ruin vocal cords was a mystery.
‘Are they arguing to get in?’
The sounds of the guards at the door, fumbling and pleading for just a moment’s patience, came through, but patience seemed to be a virtue the frog-like creature lacked.
“What are you waiting for? Subdue these fools.”
He commanded the group he brought along to clear away the obstruction.
Soon enough, as expected, the door swung open.
I looked up arrogantly, eyeing the poisonous frog-like creature as it strutted in.
“Hmm…?”
The poisonous frog-like creature made a strange noise upon locking eyes with me.
“First time seeing nobility? How dare a commoner like you make eye contact?”
An aristocrat.
I had a rough idea from the title “Your Highness,” but this confirmed that kings and nobles still existed here.
Despite my disdain for the creature’s attitude, my curiosity about this world was piqued.
“How can you be so sure that I’m a commoner, and not nobility?”
Our world too once had such distinctions. Though the criteria varied with the era—sometimes it was strength, sometimes wealth, sometimes beauty that determined one’s class.
Of course, right before the collapse, none of that mattered anymore; survival depended solely on completing quests oneself.
So, what about me made this poisonous frog-like creature think I was a commoner?
“Just by looking at you. You’re so thin from malnourishment, and your hair is cut short not out of choice but because you can’t afford to maintain it.”
The frog-like creature sneered in response, then its expression changed bizarrely before it yelled.
“Why are you not lying face down on the floor? Speak out of turn again, and I’ll cut out your tongue!”
Seeing him fuming on his own seemed to indicate he was even upset about answering my question without thinking.
‘It seems that physical appearance is his standard.’
My current state was far from portraying wealth.
Though my inventory contained items of value in my world, it was doubtful whether he would recognize their worth if I showed them.
‘I could just confront him directly.’
Telling him to mind his manners before knocking some sense into him wouldn’t be difficult.
However, doing so might end up killing this frail creature, potentially complicating things with Elias, who might then resent me. It seemed better to play along.
“Actually, I am nobility too. It’s just circumstances that have led me to this state.”
“Where do you come up with such lies…”
Of course, it was a lie, but I was confident. If it didn’t work, I had a simple way to shut him up, so there was no reason not to be relaxed.
“Listen. If I were really of common birth, could I stand so boldly and converse eye to eye with nobility? How could I dare to do such a bold thing?”
Softly persuading him, the poisonous frog-like creature’s eyes wavered in confusion.
“…Is that true?”
“Of course.”
“If it turns out to be a lie later, you’ll be beheaded for impersonating an aristocrat.”
“Fine. Do as you please.”
I wasn’t sure what backing this weakling had to be so cheeky with anyone, but I was half convinced. There was no one in this world who could take my head without my permission.
My confident demeanor seemed to make the frog-like creature reluctantly accept, though with a displeased expression.
“So, why have you come to see me? Is it to ask about the dragon, as expected?”
“You catch on quick.”
Blinking his bulging eyes, he approached and sat down on the chair Elias had used earlier.
‘You’re just sitting your dirty ass wherever you please.’
A slight irritation bubbled up at the sight of someone carelessly using my precious Pair’s belongings, but I suppressed it for the sake of my goal. My considerable patience was a stroke of luck for the poisonous frog-like creature.
“Where did the dragon go? Hand over any clues regarding its whereabouts, and you shall be rewarded later.”
“Hmm…”
I was inwardly curious about what they intended to do with Ermitar, the Demon Dragon. The forces gathered at the dragon’s lair wouldn’t stand a chance of clipping even one of its claws.
The same would be true even if they knew how to defeat it.
At least someone of Elias’s caliber would need to Pair with me to have a shot at taking down the beast.
‘Well, it’s not my concern anyway.’
“Tell me the content of the oracle, and I’ll tell you where the dragon went.”
“Really, you know?”
“Of course.”
Ermitar would be wandering the afterlife by now. Of course, I, who had ended its life, would know best.