My Strange Savior - Chapter 117

Chapter 117

The hand of Spencer, who held the box, turned white upon knowing that it was a precious memento of his mother, cherished by Vice Commander Rockt. 

“Uhmp….” 

In Spencer’s voice filled with sorrow, the members suppressed their cries.

“Thank you.”

Rockt’s father held the heirloom in his hand, his shoulders trembling. Soon, the commotion in the hall subsided as nobles rose for the emperor’s procession.

The emperor, standing on the platform, continued his speech with a face full of sadness. 

“Let us all mourn for the knights who fought to the end to protect the empire.” 

The old emperor raised his head and wiped his eyes with a towel, fully aware that this was just a well-scripted drama, as Kalion looked at him expressionlessly.

After the exaggerated mourning speech, their funerals took place. The commoners were moved by the emperor’s proclamation that he would take care of Morrison to alleviate the sorrow of the members. 

‘Long live the emperor’ erupted here and there. Eventually, it became clear that the members were being used as political tools. Kalion clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm.

After the overly dramatized emperor’s eulogy ended, and their funerals took place, Kalion’s eyes, wishing Rockt and the members a peaceful rest, sank into deep determination. He vowed to execute Morrison and bring peace to their souls.

Following Kalion’s determination, a sense of determination appeared on the faces of the members. 

‘For the price of our brothers’ deaths, for the revenge of blood.’

Although not spoken, the members’ eyes revealed a strong desire for revenge against Morrison.

As the evening approached, the official funeral proceedings came to an end. However, Kalion and the members, like a stone statue, remained in their places until evening.

As if announcing the arrival of spring, dark clouds gathered in the dark sky, and raindrops began to fall. Raindrops landed on Kalion’s shoulders. The spring rain, imbued with life, showered the earth. 

However, Kalion’s members had gone to a place they could never return. Tears fell like raindrops on Kalion’s face.

One drop, two drops, the rain that started to fall intensified. The crowd gathered for the memorial and hurriedly left in the rain. Only Kalion and the members remained at the funeral. 

Despite Audrey and Ariana’s persuasion to go back before the rain, Gia, who refused to leave, stood at a distance, looking at Kalion. Unavoidably, cold rain fell on Gia’s shoulders.

“Kalion.”

“Gia.”

Gia, approaching with her soaked black dress dragging, stood in front of Kalion. Kalion’s eyes focused on Gia, who saw her lover getting soaked in the rain.

“Let’s go.”

Gia extended her hand to Kalion.

Rainwater collected in Gia’s outstretched palm. Kalion, who had been watching intently, slowly took Gia’s hand. Despite the chill taken away by body heat, Kalion’s heart was warm.

Kalion, who was pulled towards Gia, comforting him with her mere presence, embraced her petite body. Gia, leaning against Kalion’s large frame, gently stroked his back.

“It’s okay… The members must have gone to a good place.”

“Yeah.”

“They are good people. They will undoubtedly be in a good place.”

“Yeah.”

It was a simple consolation, but when Gia said it, it felt like it would come true. After releasing Kalion from her embrace, Gia carefully caressed his wet face.

“If you want to cry, you can.”

“For Morrison…”

“Yeah.”

“I won’t cry until he’s captured.”

“Alright.”

Gia brushed Kalion’s forehead, where strands of wet hair were sticking, and their eyes met.

“Let’s go.”

Gia lowered her hand, covering Kalion’s tightly clenched fist.

“Let’s go to our home.”

At Gia’s words, Kalion’s seemingly immobile body moved. With a nod to Spencer and Jacob standing behind, Gia signaled with her lips.

‘Everyone, go inside.’

Understanding Gia’s words, Spencer and Jacob moved their stiff bodies, dispersing the members. Gia, supporting Kalion in the pouring rain, headed towards the carriage. The coachman quickly approached with an umbrella as they approached.

Even if they used an umbrella now, it wouldn’t change much. Gia pushed the thoroughly soaked Kalion into the carriage. Following her, Gia quickly wrapped a blanket given by the coachman around Kalion’s shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“No. I’m not okay.”

Seeing Kalion express his feelings honestly, Gia felt a pang of emotion. It was both painful and, at the same time, she wanted to bear that pain for him. Gia used a towel to wipe Kalion’s wet hair.

“Yeah… Of course, you’re not okay. I asked something unnecessary.”

Carefully wiping away the moisture in Kalion’s hair, Gia’s embrace transformed into a shelter as Kalion’s large body collapsed.

“Hold me.”

Already nestled in Gia’s arms as if it were a given, Kalion spoke. Responding to his request, Gia opened her arms wide and pulled Kalion tightly into her embrace.

“Just for today, I’ll show you an ugly sight.”

“It’s okay even tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and every day.”

“I don’t want that.”

Resting his chin on Gia’s shoulder, Kalion muttered. Despite Kalion’s weak appearance, Gia’s heart became heavy yet warm. Kalion showing such vulnerability only to her made Gia feel content.

“I want to show you only impressive moments.”

“You’re impressive even now.”

Gia chuckled softly and pulled Kalion closer. Despite the difference in their sizes, even as Gia tried to embrace him, Kalion buried himself deeper, seemingly content with the situation.

“I want to show you only impressive moments.”

Kalion complained.

“People can’t always be impressive. You’re already enough. What if you become more impressive from here?”

Playfully saying so, Gia teased Kalion, causing him to laugh. A bit lifted in spirits, Kalion’s face became much lighter than before.

Gia wiped away the moisture flowing down Kalion’s face with her hands. The wet faces of the two gradually approached each other. The more they approached, the more the veins on Kalion’s thick neck became noticeable. Kalion’s face, now close to Gia’s nose, filled her field of vision.

This wasn’t what Gia had hoped for. In the plausible atmosphere, Gia lowered her eyes without resistance. Kalion seemed to be holding his breath, his chest visibly swollen with a heavy burden.

Gia barely swallowed her breath. As Kalion’s face came closer, Gia’s understanding of even the way she breathed became blurry.

Tingling.

It felt as if electricity was passing through their gazes as they locked eyes. Gia’s mouth dried up, and the wave in her chest grew stronger. The more it happened, the more she could hear her heartbeat in her ears.

It felt like there were only two of them in the world. Gia slightly nibbled her lower lip. Kalion’s wet gaze made it abundantly clear what it followed. Gia’s wet palm became sticky again with sweat.

Anticipating what would happen next, Gia tightly gripped the edge of her skirt. The tension wasn’t only on Gia, as the leather of the sofa under Kalion’s hand made a distorted sound.

Thump, thump.

“We will depart now.”

The coachman’s loud voice startled Gia, causing her to jolt. Kalion was no different. Kalion almost broke the promise he made to take it easy for a day, not even lasting a full day.

“Hm, hmph.”

An awkwardness lingered between the two, who were now a bit distant from each other. Why was this situation so amusing? Unable to hold it in, Gia burst into laughter.

Amid Gia’s clear laughter, Kalion wiped his forehead and loosened the tense expression.

“Please stop laughing.”

“Yeah.”

Even with the request to stop, Gia’s laughter didn’t cease.

* * *

“Ha, huck.”

Morrison, holding the limp figure, moved deeper into the dense forest. Could it still be called a person? The facial features were already unrecognizable, nowhere to be found.

As Morrison dragged the corpse deeper, a bluish glint shimmered in his eyes. 

“Damn.”

He tried to endure, but three days were the limit. If Morrison didn’t consume a person every three days, he transformed into a zombie-like state driven purely by instinct. He lost control of his body, feeding on people indiscriminately.

Morrison meticulously stored the changes in his body like data in his mind. Staring at the long stretch of bloodstains, Morrison wiped his hands. It was all because of Gia, that persistent woman.

Staring at the blood on his hands, Morrison found a suitable spot, crouching down. 

“I need to recover the dragon’s corpse quickly.”

Convinced that his current situation was related to the dragon, Morrison sat down and began to consume the meat in his mouth with gusto. The thrill of the juicy taste filled his decaying body with shivers.

Swallowing the meat in his mouth whole, Morrison’s mouth emitted a foul smell. The scent of rotting flesh hung around Morrison. Whether it was the smell of the corpse he was eating or his body’s cells slowly dying, even Morrison found it hard to gauge.

Morrison opened his mouth wide, and his jaw dropped lower. Morrison, who had indifferently wedged his jaw under his chin, suddenly transformed into a grotesque figure. The rotten skin fell off as soon as he exerted force. Morrison explored the hole-ridden mouth with his tongue.

“Damn.”

He couldn’t lose consciousness anymore. On top of that, his decaying body was drying up day by day, as if the regenerative power of the zombie cells had been lost.

In desperation, Morrison hastily shoved the corpse into his mouth. Crouched on the ground, covered in blood from head to toe, Morrison’s face twisted grotesquely as he scanned his surroundings vigilantly.

“No different from a corpse.”

Looking down at the corpse that was barely maintaining a human form, Morrison strengthened his grip. It seemed almost pointless, considering his state.

Morrison tightened his grip on the figure, thinking that he needed to address the issue of supplying corpses before losing consciousness completely.

“To reach the capital… it will take at least a week.”

Having learned that Gia and her group had arrived in the capital, Morrison, with sharp teeth, tore into the flesh without mercy.

With each angry bite, the flesh of an unknown man was mercilessly torn away. 

Now, just as spring was arriving, blood scattered over newly sprouted green leaves.