Chapter 47

Before, he just needed one arm and one leg. Now, he needs to devour fingers and torso as well to return to his senses.

The more he moved, the more he wanted compensation for the strength he exerted. However, the more he wanted it, the more he lost himself.

“I can’t stop here. Isn’t that right, Yongyong?” 

Morrison said, rising as he looked at the dragon.

Purr.

The dragon, moving its head from side to side like shaking off a mane, elegantly spread its large wings as if it had never been afraid of its owner’s gentle voice.

With the crimson membrane spread wings, the dragon stood upright and opened its jaws. Morrison, seemingly pleased with the thunderous roar pouring out from within, pulled his lips.

“After all, time and fate are on my side.”

* * *

After the dragon’s roar, the once quiet mountain range now embraced the scent of winter. 

As they ascended, breathing became difficult, and the temperature plummeted rapidly.

“Hah.”

A mist rose as a sigh escaped, obscuring the path ahead. How much more must they climb? 

Kalion furrowed her brow at the heavy feeling that seized her with each step as if sinking into a swamp.

‘Darn it.’

She silently observed the struggling members who barely contained their curses as they climbed. Even as a reinforced human, it was challenging for her; she wondered how others coped. Her worried gaze lingered on one person at the front.

Kalion, walking silently, glanced briefly at Kalion, and Spencer stuck close to Kalion’s side without reservation.

“You’re worried about him, aren’t you?”

“Hey!”

Kalion scowled at Spencer’s voice, which intruded as if seizing an opportunity when Kalion was momentarily distracted.

“What did I……. What, you think I’m worried about Kalion?”

“It seemed like you’re concerned.”

Spencer raised an eyebrow, pressing Kalion with his gaze.

“Otherwise, why are you acting like you were caught sneaking a peek?”

“W-What! When did I… huh?”

“Right now.”

Under the stare, as if she wasn’t doing it now, Kalion coughed unnecessarily several times.

“And Kalion!”

Was she being accused of secretly watching again? Kalion had clearly said it was fine, so what did it matter? Kalion retorted, and Spencer stopped her by shutting her mouth.

Spencer, who had been waiting for Kalion’s follow-up, wore a curious expression.

“Commander? Why? Why?”

“Ah, forget it.”

“Why? Why? What’s going on?”

Kalion raised her eyebrows and pushed Spencer’s forehead with her hand as he approached.

“Ah, stop it.”

Seemingly aware of something, Spencer grinned and wriggled his eyebrows like caterpillars. Kalion turned away in irritation.

“Oh, come on. I already know everything.”

“What?”

“You can talk to me. This Spencer, the one who swears by our family name and keeps our secrets…….”

“Shut up, please.”

Scrambling to keep up with him, Kalion elbowed Spencer in the side.

“Ouch.”

“While others are closing their mouths and walking because it’s hard to breathe, why do you keep your mouth alive?”

From Kalion’s perspective, she thought she had gently nudged him, but Spencer bent over and groaned, holding his lower back.

“Stop exaggerating.”

“It hurts.”

“If it hurts, walk more carefully. Don’t swagger around.”

“Ugh.”

Now somewhat relieved, Kalion chuckled at Spencer, who was complaining without reserve.

Nevertheless, it’s not boring or monotonous. If she tried to think differently, Spencer made sure to intervene at her side.

Maybe that’s why the pace of her mind, which had been spinning with Kalion and spinning with Morrison, had slowed down a bit, and she was able to distract herself.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

The other members, who had become somewhat acquainted, urged Kalion and Spencer to move forward.

Since that day, Kalion has become an integral part of the group. She’d never asked to join the Knights, and though she felt embarrassed, she didn’t mind.

It felt genuinely like being part of a team. Everything about them was different from the men she’d fought alongside in her previous world.

‘It’s fascinating.’

Because everyone was too friendly to her, Kalion hid her face under the large cloak that Kalion had draped around her.

She would be cold too, but the advanced material of the military uniform kept body temperature well. Kalion, who had initially tried to refuse, had unconsciously accepted the cloak. 

Sniffle.

With every breath, the warm scent of Kalion surrounded Kalion more than anything else. The coziness enveloping her entire body made her wonder if this was how it felt to be inside a womb. She couldn’t be sure, but it might be something like that.

‘Nice.’

Feeling that Kalion would protect her no matter what happened, Kalion sensed a reliable shield. She realized how long it had been since she felt such mental comfort.

Squelch.

Even as the snow beneath her feet emitted a faint sound, Kalion blushed as if it tickled.

‘Am I being too weird?’

Kalion might be horrified if he found out. Kalion lowered her head further, burying her face between the folds of Kalion’s cloak.

Is she revealing too much? Although she had only used Kalion’s sleeping bag for a few days, it felt refreshingly clean.

Tired from the challenging hike, Kalion, whose physical fatigue had set in, couldn’t help but enjoy the warmth of the edge of the cloak.

The scent from the sleeping bag had faded. Should she ask for a change? But that would be too weird. Kalion pondered how she could naturally end up using the sleeping bag Kalion currently used, crafting justifications in her mind.

Kalion estimated the time, looking at the sunset beyond the mountain ridge. They would probably set up camp soon. What should she say to request a change? Now that she had experienced this flavor, Kalion couldn’t go back to not knowing it, and her eyes sparkled.

If she kept going like this, she might ask Kalion for an item with his scent when she crossed dimensions and went beyond with Morrison. The thought made Kalion laugh quietly to herself, making strange sounds.

‘Pervert… I’ve lost it.’

Even in the original world, there were crazy guys obsessed with smells. At the time, she wondered why that guy acted that way.

Zombies weren’t the only ones targeting shelters. It was also a mission to defend the shelter from those who coveted its resources and wanted to invade it. This was twice as tricky as dealing with regular zombies.

If zombies relied on physical abilities, people used their brains. There were occasional challenges where kidnapped people were used as human shields.

‘Ugh… These people are not human.’

It’s easier to kill zombies. Even though they are the same people, when fighting those who don’t seem human, she had to clear her mind even more. If she thinks they’re the same person, she’ll never be able to finish an attack in a heartbeat.

As a result, the probability of other team members dying increased. Even if they were enhanced humans, they couldn’t survive if a hole appeared in their heads.

If given a shelter defense mission instead of a mission to kill zombies, one of the colleagues that Gia knew would always wear the underwear of a woman he had slept with on his head.

When asked about the ugly appearance, he would say it was a lucky item and offer one as if sharing sympathy. The perverted face of the colleague who asked if he could share one, cursing and looking disgustingly, came to mind. Whether bullets pass by the head or not.

The fortunate thing is that he wears a military cap on top of it, so it doesn’t show. Is he crazy? 

Although he had looked at that guy with curses and disgust, now he seemed no different from him.

But still, it couldn’t be ignored. Gia stretched her lips and tightly wrapped her body with a cloak.

She didn’t know it would be this good back then.

Gia, who spit out justifications in her mind even though no one asked, stopped when she received a signal to stop.

“We’re camping here today.”

Kalion’s low voice sounded pleasant. Gia, who had embarrassing thoughts until just now, tucked her neck into her collar at the sound of his voice.

After giving various orders to Rockt, Kalion, who approached Gia directly, asked with a relaxed face.

“Aren’t you cold?”

He would be colder. Who is he worrying about? Gia, who was trying to give a sarcastic remark to take care of his body and nerves, closed her lips in the warm moment.

“Oh, well, thanks to you.”

The embarrassed words didn’t come out smoothly. That’s not what Gia intended to say. Despite Gia’s awkward words, Kalion didn’t mind and took a look at Gia’s sleeping place.

‘What am I… a child?’

Though Gia couldn’t deny that she didn’t dislike Kalion’s care, she couldn’t be completely honest. By the way, she wanted to change sleeping bags. Gia, who was filled with other thoughts, chewed on a tough piece of jerky.

‘I… have I become unable to live without Kalion’s scent?’

What was that so enticing about? Thinking about how she could subtly change to Kalion’s sleeping bag, Gia deliberated while stuffing her mouth full of jerky.

‘Um… yeah, this scent.’

The fragrance enveloping her body was comforting, providing a sense of security.

‘A scent fetish? Is that a thing?’

Gia, now awake to something new, rolled her eyes with her large eyes and looked at the darkening sky.

It seemed they would arrive shortly. Roughly three days, at best two. Gia’s estimate was accurate. She had originally set a fortnight, considering the encounter with the monster.

Since the roar of the dragon echoed, the mountain had been eerily quiet. Thanks to worrying only about the rugged terrain, they ascended quickly, shortening the expected time.

Whether it was a good or bad omen, Gia decided not to dwell on it. No matter how much she envisioned future events in her mind, things wouldn’t go as planned.

Deciding to clear her mind, Gia gently closed her eyes.

‘It’s warm.’

Though the sleeping bag couldn’t entirely block the chilling wind and cold rising from the ground, it didn’t matter. Despite filling her stomach with tough jerky, Kalion’s scent relaxed her tired body from the hike.

She felt like she would fall asleep. The fragrance that gently enveloped her entire body warmed her heart. As her mood improved, Gia’s lips loosened.

Having unzipped the sleeping bag up to her chin, Gia softly closed her eyes. The lush eyelashes descended, and simultaneously, her worries gradually faded.

‘I… I’ll definitely succeed.’