Yeon Jin looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Was he serious?
"Wow, it took you to chapter twenty two before you realized you didn't know my name?"
"I couldn't be bothered to find out." Beric nonchalantly stated and turned his gaze to look straight.
"And what about now?" Yeon Jin asked, moving his head to his front to see his expression. "Now that you find me useful, you want to know my name? Is that it?"
Beric was silent. Was it really a good idea to get involved with someone whose tongue was unrefined and disturbing? He was an oddball and could make a lot of trouble.
Why exactly was he so concerned now? He was confident in his own skills but he couldn't tell why he was so concerned in taking this one in?
It might be the fact that he was the first person to ever over power him.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Yeon Jin asked.
"I agree that you're a foreigner from another world but you should stick to the customs of this world because now you live here." Beric stated and Yeon Jin fell silent. He looked like he was thinking about it.
Then, he twisted his lips and said,
"Don't feel like it." He shrugged. "Besides, it's not like anyone's going to kill me for speaking rudely."
"There are aristocrats who will send you to your death just for speaking out of place." Beric's eyes looked strict and Yeon Jin could tell he was serious but he couldn't be bothered to care.
"Really? I'd like to see them try."
"What?"
"You couldn't kill me even when you tried. I'd like to see if there's anyone out there who can accomplish the feat you couldn't." He smiled, clearly taunting him and walked away.
Beric's hands trembled in anger. He just got mocked. He was starting to think, in the near future, he would regret his decision of taking him in.
"Hey, let's keep this strictly business, okay?" Yeon Jin said and leaned on the pillar up front. "On the surface, I am one of your people so I don't think anyone would blindly mess with me. But if they do, just swoosh in and save me."
"And why would I do that?"
"I'm your spy in the holy empire, who else is going to do a better job than me? I might not die but I can still be detained. But with a single word from you," he snapped his fingers. "... I'll be instantly released."
'Maybe I will join hands with whoever you displease to off you.' Beric thought, looking like he couldn't care less.
"Hey, you're not thinking of joining hands with whoever I displease to kill me, right?" Yeon Jin suddenly asked, which surprised him. "Don't worry, I don't read minds. It just says so in your expression. But seriously, you're going to do that? If you are then I see no use for this cooperation."
Beric gritted his teeth. Forget about the near future, he was already regretting it. Not only was he chatty with an unrefined tone, he was fearless and also quite on point with his words which was very annoying.
Never had he come across a human who treated him with so much discourtesy, it made him mad. He was mad at the discourtesy and also the fact that he couldn't do anything about it.
'Forget his archery skills, maybe I should just lock him up somewhere.'
Yeon Jin observed his expression and frowned. He walked up to him and folded his arms.
"And now you're probably wondering where to lock me up."
Beric's eyebrows furrowed and Yeon Jin sighed.
"I guess I'm being a nuisance." He said in a solemn tone. "Well, there's nothing to do other than get out of your hair. Don't worry, once I leave, you will never set your eyes on me."
"You're not going anywhere." Beric declared with a serious tone and Yeon Jin squinted his eyes. He was so close to getting away from the castle walls. "I already said it, you're going to be my guard from today onwards."
"Then stop giving me the feeling like you'll kill me anytime soon." Yeon Jin complained. "I can't die but I can still feel fear."
"I don't believe that. You look like you're not scared of anything." Beric said and Yeon Jin paused, his expression suddenly turning glum.
"Ah, is that how I seem to you?" He asked and looked up, giving a bitter smile. "Then I guess I'm doing a better job than I thought."
These words confused Beric but he couldn't be bothered to ask about it so he moved on with the topic.
"Later, Stein will show you your room." He said and Yeon Jin paused.
"What? Am I moving out of the previous room?" He asked.
"You're my guard now, not a guest so you have to sleep where other servants and knights sleep."
Beric's words struck Yeon Jin like lightning. He completely forgot about that part.
"Wait, you mean a public room? I'm going to share a room with those... " He pointed back in the direction of the knights. "... muscular men. You want me to stay with them?"
Beric remained silent, and Yeon Jin blinked thrice in disbelief.
"No. No, no, no. I can't. I won't accept it." He shook his head frantically and Beric watched him, feeling exhausted.
"Knights can't live outside the palace while having a royal under their protection." Beric stated.
"Are you trying to talk about rules with me? I said no. I am not going to stay in a public room and share a public bath with..." The thought of it made him shudder and he felt goosebumps. "Brrrrr, no way."
"There is nothing I can do. If I let you stay in a room by yourself, your position will look suspicious." Beric reasoned and this gave Yeon Jin an idea.
"Then I just won't stay alone." He said and a wide smirk played on his lips, giving Beric a really bad feeling. "Your highness," he inched closer. "...I think the best place to stay while 'protecting' you would be right next to you, don't you think? In other words, why don't we share a room, huh?"