My Strange Savior - Chapter 100

Chapter 100

“The servant who coveted the Emperor’s possessions will eat until his stomach bursts, as he wished, and die.”

The Emperor’s cruel smirk drew a curve.

“Granting even the wish of a lowly servant like a beggar. Life is truly amusing, isn’t it?”

To think that stealing just a few snacks would lead to eating until bursting and dying. The pupils of Aira shook in all directions.

“Why? Do I seem cruel to you?”

A dark smile was directed at Aira. Aira could only shake her head in denial.

A few days later, news reached Aira that the servant had died. After boasting of receiving the Emperor’s favor, he was found dead at home, a cold corpse. It was said that the regurgitated food, due to overeating, blocked his esophagus, leading to his death.

In the end, it happened just as the Emperor had said.

* * *

Gia sat on a low fence, swinging her feet in the air, waiting for Kalion. 

When she spotted the shining figure in the distance, Gia stood up and raised her hand.

“Have you been waiting long?” 

Kalion asked affectionately, and Gia shook her head. They were supposed to leave the next day, but it got postponed by a day due to Oscar’s hangover. Thanks to this delay, Gia couldn’t hide her joy at being able to have a secret date with Kalion.

Kalion, still stylishly wearing a dull brown hoodie, looked as handsome as ever. He carefully adjusted his hood over Gia’s head and then extended his hand.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Although it bothered Gia to leave Rey alone, she thought that if not today, when would she have a comfortable date with Kalion? When Gia hesitated and made up an excuse about having something to do, Rey surprisingly agreed quite easily.

Gia placed her hand on Kalion’s sturdy palm, intertwining their fingers. Kalion, surprised by her boldness, trembled slightly.

“Why? Don’t you like it?” 

Gia looked at Kalion, who blushed and held onto Gia’s hand tightly. The warmth from their intertwined hands filled Kalion’s heart.

“Let’s go.”

As their intertwined fingers touched, Kalion felt like they were floating above the clouds.

Suppressing his excited feelings, Kalion looked around the changed world after just one day. Everything was tinted in a light pink shade as if a tingling spring breeze was blowing.

Realizing that Gia felt the same way and was accepted as a lover, his perspective of the world changed. The chirping of birds, which he had previously ignored, now sounded like a melody. 

The world seemed richer thanks to Gia. Kalion’s face, in love, sparkled as if he possessed the whole world.

As they stepped outside the gate, they saw people bustling about. Gia’s eyes moved busily, taking in the numerous people, fitting for a commercial city.

Kalion, with a soft laugh, turned his gaze following Gia’s busy head movements.

The moment of looking at the same thing and feeling the same thing unexpectedly overwhelmed the heart. Could the simple act of watching people be so meaningful? If Gia hadn’t been there, Kalion would have never experienced these emotions forever.

“There are a lot of people.”

It felt more vivid than what they saw through the carriage window. As Gia squinted her eyes and walked with Kalion, they entered a bustling street. There was much more to see than in Morreta, which Oscar ruled.

“Oh, what’s that?”

“It’s a specialty of Straburk. Fried husks from sorghum… Would you like to try some?”

Gia exchanged glances with Kalion as if asking what he was talking about. When Kalion took out the money from his pocket, Gia’s eyes brightened. She cautiously extended her palm to Kalion.

Holding the turquoise-colored coin in her hand, Gia shook her hand excitedly.

“Let’s try it.”

“Yes.”

In response to Gia’s suggestion to try street snacks they had never tasted before, Kalion readily agreed. Gia, with excessive enthusiasm, aimed to conquer each street vendor. Kalion, who had no intention of resisting, laughed and followed Gia.

Just watching Gia stroll through the streets, filled with curious and amazing things, brought happiness to Kalion. His usually ordinary dating life was now filled with joy. Gia’s passionate goal of conquering street vendors one by one seemed to be the source of his happiness.

As Gia and Kalion roamed around, the satisfied glances of the merchants fell upon them.

“Looks like you came out on a date with your sweetheart?”

“Yes.”

Gia confidently nodded, looking up at Kalion wearing a hood. Kalion’s smooth lips parted, and he gave the same answer as Gia.

“Yes, we came out for a date.”

“Young people look good together. Enjoy your romance.”

With the merchant’s jesting words, Gia burst into a bashful laugh. Kalion also embraced the same smile as Gia.

Having explored every nook and cranny of the city of Straburk, Gia, and Kalion stopped in front of a tent.

“Oh, there’s fortune-telling in this world too?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s give it a try!”

“Really?”

Kalion, who had never believed in fortune-telling, held Gia’s hand and entered the tent. Kalion wanted to do anything for Gia if it would make her happy. As they opened the tent and stepped inside, they saw an old woman with a mysterious violet hood.

With wrinkled hands, the old woman touched a colorless crystal ball and gestured toward the chair in front.

“Sit down quickly.”

Gia pulled Kalion, who was standing hesitantly after she sat down smartly.

In response to Gia’s insistence, Kalion sat next to her. Even the large Kalion made the small tent feel cramped.

“Love fortune?”

“Well… Can you tell that too?”

Without answering, the old woman suddenly reached out her hand towards Gia. Was she asking for money? Instead of Gia, Kalion searched his pockets while chuckling. The old woman laughed heartily as Kalion, instead of Gia, searched his pockets.

“Give me your hand, miss. Just your hand.”

“Sure.”

Gia extended her hand, and the old woman’s wrinkled hand overlapped hers.

“Place your hand on the crystal ball. You too.”

Kalion’s large hand overlapped Gia’s hand on the crystal ball. Even though they had been holding hands all day, this felt different. 

Gulp. Kalion swallowed his saliva nervously at the unfamiliar fortune-telling.

After a while, light emanated from the crystal ball, and the powders inside scattered. Gia’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, although she had no idea how this worked.

“Oh…”

“Why? Why?”

Unable to contain herself, Gia stared intently at the old woman’s expression, which was now tense. The old woman, with an unreadable expression, suddenly leaned towards the crystal ball.

“Hmm…”

As she examined the falling powders, the old woman furrowed her forehead.

Is she trying to convey something unpleasant? Perhaps a fate that they should part ways immediately, as seen on television. 

An anxious Gia stared intently at the wrinkled lips of the old woman.

“It seems like a fate swept up in a big event, miss.”

“Me?”

Attempting to seek love and fortune, Gia was taken aback when the old woman suddenly started talking about fate.

“I’ve never seen such fortune-telling. One who holds the fate of the world in their hands…”

As the old woman’s contemplation deepened, Gia’s tension rose. She worried that the fortune teller might say something negative. Kalion, standing stiffly beside her, took out the money and placed it on the table.

“Gia, let’s go.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just go.”

It seemed uncomfortable for the newly-minted couple. Kalion, not bothering to hide his displeasure, pulled Gia’s hand.

“She seems like a person but not quite. What’s your true identity?”

Gia’s body stiffened as unexpected words came out of the old woman’s mouth. She had thought it was just a simple scam, but now the words from the fortune teller seemed to imply something else. 

Did the fortune say she was something neither human nor zombie? Shocked, Gia tightly gripped Kalion’s hand.

The strength transmitted through the grip made Kalion’s expression stiffen too. He wished Gia hadn’t heard that. Ignoring Gia’s wishes, Kalion abruptly stood up.

“Consider it as paying for the fortune. Is this enough?”

Kalion’s usually polite voice sank low. In the face of Kalion’s angered actions, the fortune teller spoke.

“You take good care of this poor lady.”

Kalion, who had been about to leave with Gia, froze at the fortune teller’s words.

“You don’t need to say it; I’ll protect her.”

The fortune teller nodded in response to Kalion’s firm voice.

“Fine, that’ll do.”

Not bothering to stand up, Gia’s hand was gently pulled by Kalion.

“Let’s go, Gia.”

“Uh, okay.”

Unable to shake off the uneasy feeling from the fortune teller’s words, Gia, guided by Kalion, turned back to glance at the fortune teller as they exited the tent.

The fortune teller, as if reassuring Gia, pointed with a casual gesture and smiled kindly, nodding her head.

‘Everything will be fine.’

The fortune teller conveyed her words to Gia without Kalion’s hearing. Even with the kind words, Gia’s expression remained dark.

“Did I suggest looking at the fortune for no reason…”

Gia’s voice diminished with regret.

“No, not at all.”

Despite Kalion’s attempt to console her, Gia’s face remained gloomy.

“Do you like alcohol?”

“Alcohol?”

Gia, who had been walking arm in arm with Kalion, asked. Gia’s eyes widened at the sudden inquiry about alcohol. She hadn’t known if Kalion liked alcohol.

“Oh, I don’t have any.”

Gia, who used to be quite a drinker, looked at Kalion with surprise. Kalion, pondering for a moment, changed direction toward a building with a shop.

“I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”

Recalling a place he had somewhere in mind, Kalion opened the door of a shop that was still open despite the noon hour. People gathered, chatting and enjoying simple drinks.

“Wow… what’s this atmosphere?”

Seeing Gia satisfied with the more casual atmosphere than expected, Kalion, familiarly, found a seat and guided Gia.

“How about a simple drink?”

“Of course.”

Gia, shaking her body as if she were excited, looked at Kalion. Kalion, who went to place an order at a bar-like counter, returned with two large glasses in his hands.

Seeing the full glasses of beer, Gia’s throat felt dry. It seemed like a perfect time to drink when she was already feeling parched. 

Ignoring the fortune teller’s words from earlier, Gia laughed happily as Kalion raised the offered glass.