Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 116 - Please Reconsider

"Anyway," Belial grumbled, leaning back in his chair at the tavern. "Me and my maid are gonna find someplace to settle."

"Oh? You won't have to look far, young lord," Ami said, just as Van emerged from the restroom.

"There are two apartments here. You and Van are friends, right?" She gestured toward the staircase. "There's another room upstairs, though that one's only for rent, not for sale. But I doubt Galdo would mind..."

Her words trailed off as Galdo, the burly dwarf who ran the tavern, passed by, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Right?" she asked, throwing him a pointed look.

Galdo sighed, rubbing his temple. "You got coin, I hope?"

"Nah, fuck that. I'm crashing here for free," Belial said with a grin that bordered on insolence. "My money and comfort are way more important than—"

"THEN HURRY UP AND SCRAM BEFORE I—!" Galdo's booming voice shook the room, his face reddening like a coal about to catch fire.

Before he could finish, Arnolt stepped in, placing a calming hand on Galdo's shoulder. "Easy, Galdo. The kid's just like that with people. He'll pay whatever you ask."

Mirias, Belial's maid, clenched her fists, her simmering rage carefully masked.

'To speak on Lord Belial's behalf so dismissively... He must be furious—'

Her gaze flicked to Belial, who wore a delighted, childlike smirk as he watched the dwarf nearly burst a vein.

'Never mind. He loves being dismissed. And he was probably hoping the dwarf would blow up, too.'

Galdo exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "Coin upfront."

"Mirias. Toss him the bag," Belial said casually, waving a hand.

Without hesitation, Mirias threw a bag of coin toward Galdo. The heavy pouch landed with a solid thud in the dwarf's hand, nearly weighing it down.

"Shit..." Galdo muttered, eyes widening. 'That's a fuckton of coin.' He rolled the bag in his palm, feeling its hefty weight. 'Either he's paying off his attitude... or he's just got that much to burn.'

His gaze flicked to Ami, who stood watching with quiet approval.

'Oh well. Coin is coin.'

He tucked the bag into his waist pocket and grunted. "Come to me for the key. Rent's bi-monthly. Don't be late."

With that, Galdo turned to leave, but his gaze lingered on Van as he approached the table.

Van sat down beside Ami, and she immediately cuddled into his arm, her warmth clinging to him like a familiar scent.

Galdo narrowed his eyes. 'That armor... He's the new tenant from yesterday.' His jaw tensed as he glanced at Ami's soft expression.

'That girl shouldn't be so quick to trust someone like that.'

With a quiet scoff, Galdo shook his head and walked off, already planning to have a word with Van later.

"Hey, girl."

Belial's voice cut through the air like a blade, his eyes narrowing on Ami.

Ami stiffened at his tone, her hold on Van's arm instinctively tightening. "...What is it?"

"Stay the fuck away from him," Belial said coldly. "That arm's only for my cousin."

The atmosphere at the table froze. Every gaze flicked between Belial and Van, tension thickening with each passing second.