The Reward for Saving The World is a Husband - Chapter 12
“How dare you talk back to me?”
Surprised that Elias didn’t dodge the slow, deliberate hit, I looked at him in shock.
‘As a child, perhaps, but why still just take it?’
Of course, it probably didn’t hurt much. But isn’t it unpleasant to be hit in the face or head!
Elias’s gaze went over Beric’s shoulder, towards me. Unknowingly, at the moment Elias was hit, I had gotten off the bed and approached Beric from behind.
I lowered my fist, which had been raised to chest height, and took a step back.
Because the look in Elias’s eyes, as he saw me, was serious. It seemed like if I had smacked Beric on the back of his head, potentially leading to his demise, Elias would have locked me away forever.
Beric flinched under Elias’s sharp gaze, even though it wasn’t directed at him, and grumbled as if nothing was wrong.
“If you hadn’t interfered, I could have obtained important information about the dragon.”
It seemed only after delivering a hit did Beric remember that Elias was no longer the powerless child of the past.
“Important information, you say.”
Elias’s voice, unlike during their earlier conversation, seemed to drip with iciness.
I wanted to believe his bad mood was due to being hit by Beric, but regrettably, his gaze stayed on me the whole time.
“That’s right. So, you should leave now.”
“….I mean, do I have a reason to leave?”
Elias finally turned his gaze towards Beric and spoke.
“To minimize any discrepancies, it would be better if we all listened together, wouldn’t it?”
“Why are you like this today? The guy who used to follow orders without talking back…”
Beric, laughing incredulously, glanced at me and said,
“Ah, is it because of the woman here?”
“Hyung-nim.”
Elias called out to Beric with a sigh in his voice.
“The dragon’s lair is in my domain, nowhere else. If the dragon returns even today, who will stand at the forefront to stop it?”
“You, of course.”
“Yes, that’s right. And yet, you ask me to leave now.”
It was a suggestion that if Beric wanted exclusive access to the information, he should be the one to face the dragon directly. Beric scowled, seemingly displeased with that prospect.
‘He probably doesn’t want to share any information about the dragon’s location with Elias.’
From what I gathered by snooping into Beric’s memories, the Tenaclade family’s intentions were clear. They aimed to be the first human representatives to make contact with the dragon and monopolize the dialogue.
Beric’s role was likely limited to confirming the exact location, and once progress was made, the head of the Tenaclade family, Elias’s grandfather, would step in personally.
All while offloading any risk onto Elias and his domain.
“Huh, do you think interfering like this will benefit you?”
“Please consider it a rational decision for the protection of the domain.”
“Nonsense! Your insolent behavior today will be reported to grandfather!”
Seeing no way to exclude Elias from the conversation, Beric left the room, stomping away in frustration.
‘I don’t like this at all.’
As far as I was concerned, that poisonous frog-like creature was a particularly despicable member of the Tenaclade family. If Elias wished, I was fully prepared to start with that scoundrel and meticulously avenge those in the family who played a part in tormenting him.
‘…Of course, even if he doesn’t wish for it, I have no intention of letting them off easily.’
I just need to ensure my involvement isn’t evident.
As I was intently contemplating how to deal with the poisonous frog-like creature for maximum satisfaction, I glared at the closed door.
“Did you propose to him too?”
“…..?”
I turned my head to look at Elias, doubting my ears.