Beric couldn't believe it. He got hit again. While practicing with the elite knights earlier, none of them were able to leave even a single scratch on him yet this puny and weak thing managed to hit him so many times.
This just made him mad.
But as he stared at those firm and unmoving eyes, he couldn't help but wonder. Those eyes were the eyes of someone who didn't fear death. He… wasn't scared of him.
This was the first time he was seeing a human being who didn't shriek in fear after staring into his murderous eyes. Even that time at the prison cell, he didn't shriek and even went as far as tackling him down.
"Quit staring at me like you've seen a ghost." Yeon Jin said. "Or did that hit make you forget your aim?" He tilted his head. "You're here to kill me, right? Then get on with it. I already thought it through, living in this foreign world where I know nothing and no one, I would be better off dead. Maybe if I died here, I would go back to my world. And even if I don't, well," he shrugged with a mean and mocking gaze. "I'm sparing myself from getting repeatedly tortured by a lunatic like you."
Beric's grip on his shoulders tightened.
Yes, he was there to kill him. He was there to kill the damn spy from the holy empire but somehow, that urge to kill, which had always been there, wasn't there anymore. He didn't feel like killing the spy. He didn't feel like torturing him either.
What was this? Was it part of his powers? He was capable of nullifying his powers on him so was he also capable of silencing that constant killing drive he inherited from the devil after being possessed and bestowed power?
As his grip tightened more, Yeon Jin winched. That really hurt and it felt like his bones would break.
"Hey, don't just break my bones, just kill me already." He said but Beric's thoughts were far off
The feeling of not having to kill, not wanting to kill, it made him feel different. He was like an entirely different person. Now, he couldn't help but wonder why exactly he derived pleasure from killing.
"Hey." Yeon Jin snapped his fingers, finally bringing Beric's mind back.
"Alright." Beric said, confusing Yeon Jin. Were they having a conversation that required such an answer?
He looked up at Yeon Jin and said,
"You said you would help me find out what the holy empire is planning. I am going to use you so prepare to be a double agent."
"What?"
As confusing as that conclusion was, Yeon Jin found himself not dying in the tyrant's hand, not being tortured and definitely not being held hostage. Even the collar was removed.
"Hah." Yeon Jin sighed in relief, rubbing his bruised neck.
The collar had left a red mark around his pale neck, making it evident that he was once a person under the custody of the prince with a prisoner label.
"But what exactly is that lunatic thinking?" Yeon Jin found himself wondering. "Wasn't he going to kill me?"
He looked in the mirror and stroked the bruise on his neck. And then, he remembered when the prince found him in the garden. He could've sworn the killing intent was huge and he had even lifted his sword. So why did he hesitate?
"I was sure he was going to kill me. And now, I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing." He said.
Wasn't it better to die now, even if the chances of going back to Daniel were slim? He didn't want to get caught up in this war between the Holy Empire and an empire whose name he was still pretty oblivious to.
"But it's kind of exciting though." He added, smiling in an amused manner. "I'd like to know just what is going on around here. Even if this is a dangerous task, I believe I'll end up dead with or without it so why not just look around? Death won't find me so fast, right?"
That was Yeon Jin's conclusion. His aim wasn't survival but rather, exploration. After seeing one or two things, he would finally embrace death.
There was no guarantee that he would return after death because he didn't die before coming to this world so maybe if he looked around, he would find traces that would lead him back to his world… So he thought.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and several maids marched in, startling Yeon Jin.
'What's this?' He wondered, keeping his guard up and a middle aged lady walked out from the maids lineup.
"His highness has put you under our care so we will now groom you to look dignified." She said and snapped her fingers.
The maid approached Yeon Jin who was a bit creeped out and also suspicious. He took a step back and said,
"Stay away." His defensive words went unheard and they kept advancing towards him. "Hey, I said stay away. Do you think I'm joking?"
His harsh and loud tone of disapproval finally got through to them and they stopped. He looked at them, from one to the other.
Yes, he decided to accept death whenever it came but not when he was just at the beginning phase of his exploration. So, there was no way he was giving in to any form of danger.
Anything could happen with these maids. One of them might be someone sent to kill him and while attending to him, they might just whip out a knife and stab him.
"What's going on here?" Beric asked as he entered the room and the maids were immediately stricken with fear. They quickly bowed their heads in respect, not daring to look up at his frightening figure.
Beric saw Yeon Jin at high alert and his eyes scowled.
"Why are you just standing there?" He asked him.
"Are you kidding me? Do I look like a pushover to you? I can't trust people blindly." Yeon Jin said. "For all I know, your plan to kill me might still be in motion."
"You better comply. These are my own people." Beric said but Yeon Jin refused to move. This ticked him off and he took out his sword, cutting off the head of the nearest maid. Yeon Jin flinched. "You can go ahead and be stubborn. Each time you refuse me, a head will roll down these floors."
Yeon Jin looked in anger. Despicable. Now he was going to threaten him with other people's lives?
No, he knew this ploy better than anyone. If he showed that it bothered him, he would continue using this tactic on him and more people would have to die. He shouldn't be moved by this.
"I don't care." He coldly said. "Go ahead and kill everyone here, I don't care. I want to bathe alone and that's final."