Beric glared at Yeon Jin but he did not flinch a bit. Those murderous eyes, he had seen them plenty of times to no longer be scared of them. There was nothing special about this guy.
He was just someone... Something that lived somewhere. He wasn't even sure if all this was real or if it was a fiction of his imagination.
Warm liquid rolled down Yeon Jin's cheek but he dared not to lose his gaze from Beric. From the way his face stung, he could guess that he got a cut while escaping Beric's grasp but that didn't matter.
A cut could not be compared to losing one's life and until he figured out what exactly his situation was like, he was not going to just give up.
"You ..."
"I have a name." Yeon Jin yelled at him. "And don't even think of coming closer else I'll drive this sword through you."
Yeon Jin looked serious while saying that but he did not have a single clue on how to use a sword. He was only being confident now because he knew if he showed a little bit of uncertainty, Beric would take advantage of it and kill him.
"Do you even know how to use a sword?" Beric asked.
"I'm carrying one now, aren't I?"
"This is truly funny." Beric said, looking displeased and Yeon Jin responded.
"Yet neither of us are laughing."
They both fell into a stiffening silence. Yeon Jin wasn't saying anything and Beric looked like he was waiting for him to make whatever proposition since he was the one with the upper hand.
"Aren't you going to flee?" Beric asked. "Or at least beg for mercy so you can run away?"
"Please, I'm not dumb. I'm certain that your men are everywhere so why would I try to escape when I know I'll die? And beg for mercy? If that were a real option, I don't think you would have abruptly killed that maid." Yeon Jin scoffed.
Beric observed Yeon Jin. Because of the blindfold, he could not see clearly the expression he was putting up.
"Then do you believe that you will be able to make it out while using me as a hostage?" Beric asked him, to which he responded.
"I don't plan on going anywhere so stop giving me options to escape."
"You don't plan to leave?" He asked and Yeon Jin shook his head.
Once again, they fell into a stiffening silence. Beric got tired of this and decided to sit down. He sat on the chair next to him and crossed his legs.
"This is getting boring." He said but Yeon Jin had cold sweat rolling down his body. He was scared.
Yes, he was bold when he fought him off just a few seconds ago but he wasn't confident that he would be able to win this guy in a real fight and if the guards were to suddenly walk in through that door, he would be done for.
But wait, why was he taken to this room in the first place? That was a passing thought but he decided to ask. So he called out to Beric.
"Hey."
"How dare you call me with such disrespect?" Beric glared at him but his glares bounced off on Yeon Jin who disregarded his words and continued talking.
"Why didn't you kill me in the prison?" He asked him.
"I don't want to answer your question." Beric declined and Yeon Jin felt irked. "But I might, if you answer one of my questions."
"What is it?"
"How did you nullify my powers and stop them from working on you?" He asked but Yeon Jin was equally oblivious to what he was talking about.
"First of all, I don't even know what kind of powers you're talking about. And even if I did, I don't know how I did it." He answered and Beric stayed silent, observing his expression closely.
He didn't look like he was lying.
"Then let me change the question." He said. "Why were you sent from the holy empire?"
"What?" Yeon Jin tried to search his memories. Wait, if he said he was actually sent by the holy empire, he would have every reason to kill him, right?
But he wasn't certain of that fact yet. And he did not know why they branded him as a spy either. So, he decided to just speak the truth.
"I don't know." Yeon Jin said. "I think I volunteered myself but I... I honestly don't remember much."
Beric looked at him in disbelief.
"Hey, you... I'm not the owner of this body. And as much as you want me to figure out who's after your life or what this holy empire is up to, I want to go home. There's someone waiting for me." Yeon Jin explained. 'What am I saying? It's not like he'll believe my words.'
"Are you talking about that Daniel guy?" Yeon Jin immediately looked up. "You called his name so many times while you were unconscious."
"Yes. I want to go back to him."
Beric was silent.
"I honestly don't care if you return home or not. All I want is to know the schemes of the holy empire." He said.
"And when you do?"
"I'll have a legit reason to wage war against them." Beric stated and Yeon Jin blinked. Right, this guy was a demon tyrant. He shouldn't forget that. "Now don't try to act good and try to stop me, I... "
"I don't care." Yeon Jin interrupted him.
"What did you say?"
"I don't care if you want to wage war or burn down the entire continent, all I care about is returning home to my Daniel." He said. "If you can do that, I'll do anything. Act as your puppet, your eyes and ears... I'll even kill the Pope if you ask me to. Just promise me that you'll take me back once all is done."
Beric stared at the determined and serious Yeon Jin. At first, he thought he would plead on behalf of the nation or even his life. He looked like that type of person. Yet he…
He did not expect him to suddenly say all that.
'Yes, humans are extremely fickle and selfish little things.' a whisper rang in his ears.
'I don't know how to take him back. I don't even know where he comes from. But in the meantime, let me play with him and then when I'm bored, I'll kill him.' Beric concluded in his thoughts, nodding to his smart decision and raised his head. "Alright."
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Yeon Jin suddenly asked, shocking him. "I've seen a lot in life to know that you're not being sincere. I'm not that desperate to jump into my own death."
Beric frowned. So he wasn't all talk.
"Then, what do you want?"
"Sign a contract with me." Yeon Jin proposed.
"A contract?" Beric asked and burst out laughing. "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard." He said. "And who do you think you are, requesting a contract from me?" He laughed more. The idea was silly. "Besides, even if I were to sign a contract, you'd still be at a disadvantage. You have no one to stand in for you so if I decide to break the contract and do as I wish, you can not fight me."