Save the World, Reward: A Husband

Chapter 4

Elias stood with his lips pressed tightly together. I had to nearly lie down to maintain eye contact with him.

“Let me know if there’s a way I can earn your trust. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove myself,” I said.

“Why should I trust you?”

“Because we’re meant to be a pair.”

His brow furrowed deeper, appearing confused by the term “pair.” I decided to clarify.

“In simpler terms, it means we’re destined to be together for the rest of our lives, like two halves of a whole.”

As he absorbed my explanation, his expression gradually shifted.

“We would also have children together,” I added.

His face went from disbelief to shock and finally to utter confusion, as if he thought I was completely out of my mind.

“Are you… proposing to me right now?”

I tilted my head, flashed a bright smile, and nodded.

“Exactly! I’m proposing!”

It seemed that in this world, “proposing” was the term for forming a pair. I figured it was best to adapt to their customs. I wasn’t entirely sure how pairs were formed either, only that it seemed somewhat similar to making a contract with an elemental or summoned creature. Those contracts varied according to the entity, but one usually had to demonstrate enough strength for them to acknowledge and follow one as their master.

If that approach didn’t work, things could get complicated. One would then need to determine specific conditions through trial and error to finalize the contract. Fortunately, Elias was a human being I could communicate directly with. If necessary, I could simply ask him about the conditions he required.

“So, what do you say?” I asked.

I was confident I had already proven my strength by showing him a memory of how I defeated the dragon earlier.

“Let’s do it! I promise I’ll take good care of you,” I added with another smile.

He stared at me, still bewildered, then rubbed his eyes with his palm. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I blinked.

Was that not the right approach?

I had a feeling that forming a pair might be more challenging than I had anticipated. Listening closely, I could hear a tense conversation unfolding just outside the door.

“Did she tell you anything about the dragon?” someone asked.

There was a brief silence before Elias responded in a stern voice, “Make sure no one enters this room without my permission.”

It seemed he was issuing orders to whoever was guarding the door.

“Yes, Your Lordship.”

“And make sure she doesn’t leave the room. If she tries to talk to you, ignore her and report to me immediately.”

Elias’ voice was tense, as if he were gritting his teeth. Then their footsteps began to fade.

“Did something happen, Your Lordship?”

The voices were growing faint, but I felt I could still catch the conversation if I focused.

“Don’t get me started. She proposed to me,” Elias said with an annoyed laugh.

“Pardon? She must be out of her mind!”

“I don’t think it’s that simple.”

With that, Elias fell silent, and soon the sound of their footsteps disappeared entirely. Once I was sure they were gone, I released the heightened senses I’d been using to eavesdrop. Something felt off. Given the language, cultural, and lifestyle differences between our worlds, perhaps my intentions hadn’t been communicated clearly. Even so, he should have felt the bond I was experiencing instinctively.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of this connection. I had never had a pair before, let alone an elemental or summoned creature. When I first received the message about a reward and found Elias standing there, I hadn’t thought much of it. However, as I spent more time with him—even if it wasn’t long—I was becoming more convinced. Elias must be the reason why I’d woken up in this world. His soul must have drawn me here. The evil dragon, Ermitar, was merely the bridge between our worlds, allowing us to meet.

Maybe he’s just a bit slow to catch on.

However, that didn’t matter. I knew he would eventually understand, even if it took him some time. For now, my priority was to find out if this world had the required resources to restore my comrades’ soul stones. I needed information, everything from the level of this world’s civilization to its resource distribution. To get that, I had to leave this room. I could either gain Elias’ permission or try to sneak out.

Hmm… Neither option seems possible right now.

It seemed gaining his approval would be difficult, given how wary he was of me. And with my mana reserves so low, sneaking out was out of the question. I took out three soul stones from my inventory and held them in my hand.

“Hang in there, guys. I’ll find a way to bring you back.”

Each soul stone, varying in color and shape, flickered faintly in response to my words. They were probably as exhausted as I was. I figured a good rest would do us all some good.

“I’ve found some really delicious food here. Once I bring you back, I’ll make sure you all get to eat until you’re full.”

NO.0’s soul stone flashed sharply before settling down. It was likely his way of reminding me that failing to keep my promise would have consequences. The stones belonging to Yumi and Baeksa, which had been flickering competitively, gradually dimmed as well. I carefully placed them back in my inventory. The message screen remained silent, likely because the balance adjustment was ongoing, and the dimly lit room was perfect for focusing without distractions.

I straightened up but immediately felt a twinge from my unhealed wounds. It wasn’t unbearable. I closed my eyes, turned my focus inward, and began to draw in mana. Fortunately, the mana density in the air was similar to my own world’s. In fact, it seemed purer, of higher quality. At least I wouldn’t have to filter out any toxins.

With these conditions, it shouldn’t take more than a few days.

Clearing my mind of all distractions, I quickly entered a deep state of focus.

* * *

Elias returned to his office and sank into his chair, reaching for the stack of documents piled high on his desk. The first sheet was a request for aid from a village devastated by a demon attack. Nearly half of the never-ending pile were appeals for help from those who had suffered. He tried to focus but found himself reading the same lines repeatedly.

Frustrated, he tossed the pen aside and buried his face in his hands with a sigh. His current responsibilities were overwhelming enough, but it was the prophecy that truly burdened him. It had foretold the arrival of a being capable of either saving the world or bringing about its destruction. It had taken the entire year to decipher the prophecy and pinpoint the location and timing of the foretold event.

As fate would have it, the designated place was within Elias’ own territory, Larkdel. When this revelation came to light, his family, who had long sought to erase his existence, descended upon him without consulting him. They insisted that the mission must be handled under their control. Elias had earned his independence by securing the title of count, yet his family, the House of Duke Tenaclad, was the most powerful on the continent. This had left him with no choice but to comply with their demands. He could clearly picture the smug faces of his uncles, knowing that the remote, harsh land they had banished him to was now of critical importance.

The man they had appointed to oversee the mission was Berek, the eldest son of Elias’ first uncle and the most likely heir to the House of Duke Tenaclad’s title. Berek was arrogant and deeply insecure. Upon arriving in Lardel, he wasted no time making his presence felt, indulging in all sorts of misdeeds. When they reached the dragon’s lair, he ordered Elias to enter alone. With the knights of the House of Duke Tenaclad surrounding his men, Elias had no choice but to comply. However, he felt neither fear nor anger, only acceptance of the situation. Years of suppressing his own desires and thoughts to meet his family’s demands had left him emotionally numb.

And so, with no other choice, Elias had stepped into the dragon’s lair.