Save the World, Reward: A Husband

Chapter 5

The lair was vast enough to house a dragon reputed to be as enormous as a mountain, but the occupant Elias found wasn’t the dragon he had anticipated. Instead, in the center of the chamber lay a woman, sprawled out and seemingly at rest.

Elias approached cautiously. Dragons were known for their mastery of magic, and he speculated that perhaps this one had assumed a human form. However, as he drew closer, it became clear that this was no dragon. She was a delicate figure, almost doll-like. Her small, finely-featured face was so petite it could almost fit in his palm. Her closed eyes were slightly damp, as if she had been crying. Distracted by her strangely captivating appearance, Elias didn’t immediately notice that her black clothing was soaked with blood.

He shook her gently, intending to inquire how she had ended up in the dragon’s lair. Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, revealing eyes as brilliant as the sun. At that moment, Elias was engulfed by an unsettling confusion. Her direct gaze sent a piercing chill through his soul. It felt as if he were plummeting off a cliff without wings to save him. His instincts, honed through countless brushes with death, screamed a warning.

“Stay away from this woman. If you wish to survive, if you want to cling to this wretched existence, you must leave now.”

Yet, he remained. In defiance of Berek’s orders, he decided to bring the suspicious woman to his castle rather than abandon her.

Who is she, really?

Elias knew he would need to consult the mages at the magic tower to see if they had any records of magic like hers—summoning objects from thin air or creating what seemed like illusions. As for her other peculiarities…

“Exactly! I’m proposing!”

Elias sighed deeply, running a hand down his face as he recalled her bright smile as she made that declaration.

“Let’s do it!”

Did she even understand what she was saying? Beyond her strange powers, there were clear signs that this woman had endured significant trauma. Her frail body showed signs of long-term malnutrition, and she had sustained severe wounds that had nearly cost her life. If, on top of that, she had been subjected to sexual abuse…

“Your Lordship!”

The sudden knock and abrupt entrance of his aide, Kallen, interrupted his thoughts.

“What is it?”

“Lord Berek is threatening the guards, demanding to see the woman.”

“What…?”

It seemed Berek, who had stormed off to a neighboring estate after complaining about the state of Elias’ castle, had suddenly returned. Elias’ body reacted on its own before he could fully process Berek’s intentions.

What if she proposes to him too?

His mind filled with worry. It was easy to predict how Berek would respond if the woman were to attempt to seduce him the way she had with Elias.

Damn it.

By the time Elias realized it, he was already standing outside the door to the room where the woman was being kept.

* * *

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed since I began meditating when a disturbance in the hallway shattered my focus. This wasn’t some hidden hideout I had prepared, so I had expected some interruptions.

It could have been worse.

I lightly channeled mana through my body to gauge my condition. I could tell I had recovered quite a bit but was still far from fully healed. It didn’t seem likely that moving around would reopen my wounds. Being in a good environment and having eaten a warm, filling meal must have significantly boosted my body’s natural healing process. With my self-assessment complete, I turned my attention to the commotion outside the door.

“If you don’t move right now, be prepared to lose an arm.”

The irritated voice immediately reminded me of someone.

Is that the toad man? If Elias’ voice was memorable for its sweet tone, the toad man’s voice was unforgettable for its grating rasp. How does someone in a world with such fresh air end up with a voice like that? And is he trying to force his way in here?

The guards stationed at the door pleaded with him to wait, but the toad man seemed to have little patience.

“What are you waiting for? Get rid of these fools.”

He commanded his men to remove the guards blocking the way. Sure enough, the door suddenly burst open. I lifted my chin arrogantly, meeting the toad man’s gaze as he strode into the room. He made a peculiar noise when our eyes met.

“Hum? Is this your first time seeing a noble? How dare a commoner like you look me directly in the eye!”

I had suspected the presence of nobles from the use of the title “Your Lordship,” but this confirmed that nobility and royalty were very much alive here. As irritating as his attitude was, I was quite curious about this world.

“And how can you be so sure I’m a commoner?” I asked.

In my world, distinctions of status had once existed as well. The criteria varied—sometimes strength, other times wealth, or even appearance determined one’s status. Ultimately, none of that mattered in a world where survival depended on completing quests.

So what does this toad man see in me that makes him think I’m a commoner?

“Just look at you. You’re nothing but skin and bones, and your hair is cut short because you can’t afford to maintain it.”

He scoffed, and then his expression suddenly hardened.

“And why aren’t you groveling on the floor? If you speak out of turn one more time, I’ll cut out your tongue!”

His angry huffing made it clear he was frustrated with himself for having answered my question without thinking.

So, he’s judging me by my appearance.

It was true that I didn’t look like someone of wealth or status. Although I had plenty of valuable items in my inventory by my world’s standards, I doubted anyone here would recognize their worth even if I showed them.

If only he knew how easily I could put him in his place.

It wouldn’t take much to knock him around and teach him some manners. However, I hesitated. A weakling like him might actually die if I took action, which could create complications for Elias. I didn’t want to give him a reason to resent me, so it seemed better to play along for now.

“Actually, I am a noble too. I have my reasons for looking like this.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

He was right—it was a lie. But if this approach didn’t work, I had other methods to shut him up.

“Think about it. If I were truly a commoner, how could I stand here, meeting a noble’s gaze and speaking so boldly? Could a commoner be so brazen?”

My calm explanation seemed to confuse the toad man. His eyes began darting around.

“Are you speaking the truth?”

“Of course.”

“If it turns out you’re lying, you’ll pay with your life for impersonating a noble.”

“Fine. Whatever you say.”

I didn’t know who this weakling thought he was, acting so arrogantly, but I was confident that there wasn’t a single person in this world who could take my head without my permission. My confident demeanor seemed to irritate the toad man, but he begrudgingly accepted it for now.

“So, why did you come to see me? I’m guessing you want to ask about the dragon?” I asked.

“Quick-witted, I see.”

The toad man approached the bed and sat in the chair Elias had used earlier.

How dare he sit his filthy ass on that chair?

I felt a flash of irritation at the sight of him using my precious pair’s belongings so casually, but I kept my feelings in check for the sake of my goals. He was lucky that I had a lot of patience.

“Where is the dragon? If you provide me with information on its whereabouts, I’ll ensure you’re rewarded later.”

“Hmm…”

I couldn’t help but wonder what he planned to do if he actually found Ermitar. The humans I had seen outside the dragon’s lair seemed incapable of even scratching the dragon’s scales. Even with a strategy or knowledge of the dragon’s weaknesses, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Someone like Elias would need to form a pair with me to have any hope against the dragon.

But that’s not my problem.

“If you tell me what the prophecy said, I’ll tell you where the dragon went.”

“Do you really know?”

“Of course.”

By now, Ermitar was most likely wandering the afterlife. No one knew that better than I did—after all, I was the one who had slain it.