My Strange Savior - Chapter 122

Chapter 122

“Just… I want to live together with you for a long, long time. That’s why I have these thoughts.”

After killing Morrison, the target of her revenge, Gia thought she wouldn’t have any lingering feelings in life. Even if she died, she had a small wish to die like a human.

However, the world Gia had briefly envisioned expanded through Kalion. Along with him, she felt the desire to live together for a long time.

In a world where you don’t know when you’ll die, Gia’s desire to give affection to someone became her greatest fear. Gia found solace in Kalion’s embrace. How long had it been since they shared their hearts? Kalion had become endless within her heart.

She kept wanting more. After killing Morrison, she thought she could peacefully disappear while staying by Kalion’s side. The resentment she once harbored had disappeared. The more she spent time with Kalion, the more she wanted to be with him, not just for now but also for the distant future.

She yearned for a normal life like an old couple, growing old together and quietly passing away. If she could stay with Kalion until his 30s, 40s, and until the end of his life, how wonderful would that be?

She wished for it foolishly.

As her desire to be together intensified, uncontrollable emotions blossomed. Gia feared her feelings becoming more selfish. The stronger her desire to be together, the more difficult it was to control these overwhelming emotions.

Kalion was unaware that the same virus as Morrison ran through Gia’s body. He only knew that she experienced pain as a side effect. Gia deceived Kalion once again, concealing the fact that she needed regular doses of the cure. Feeling guilty, she closed her lips.

A fearful look filled Gia’s eyes as they shook intensely. Would it be alright to be like this? To be so selfish…

Kalion firmly grasped Gia’s hand. 

“I want to envision a future with you. Is that a wrong desire?”

His eyes, solely filled with her, touched her deeply. Even if she was like this, saying that it was okay, the gaze in those eyes made Gia’s heart sway like a flame in the wind, insignificant and useless.

“Why would that be a selfish desire? Why?”

His eyes, completely understanding her, reassured Gia. Even if the world turned its back on her, she was certain that Kalion wouldn’t. 

“I love you, Gia.”

“Kalion…”

“It’s a deeper feeling than that. So, Gia… Don’t hurt alone like this. It hurts me more to see you like this.”

With a gaze more pained than hers, Kalion looked at her compassionately. Even if she behaved selfishly, it seemed okay. 

Kalion comforted Gia, gently caressing her shoulders with a look of deeper pain than hers.

[Hunting Contest]

Since that day, the world has remained calm, but for Gia, it was not the same. 

Days of emotional turmoil and uncertainty continued as her mind swung between extremes. What allowed her to endure it all was the reliable support of a pillar named Kalion.

The dreams of people hanging on, questioning whether she was the only one who survived, became less frequent. Resentment from those who accused her of living selfishly without any regard for others intensified, and as the nightmare repeated endlessly, Gia’s heart became worn.

It wasn’t towards the people screaming and lamenting with their legs caught, and no matter how loudly she shouted or justified herself, nothing changed. 

The next day and the day after that, it just kept repeating.

[Who caused the world to perish?]

The blame of the people was directed at Gia.

[It’s because of your father.]

[But are you living happily?]

[Do you want to be the only one, the only one to cure the virus and live well without any problems?]

The faces of comrades who had once lived harmoniously in the shelter twisted like monsters as they accused Gia.

It was just a dream, but the guilt invaded Gia’s subconscious. Day by day, living with the burden of guilt, Gia’s conscience became overwhelming.

No matter how she struggled, the fact remained that her father created the virus. Even if Morrison was the one who spread the virus, the creator was still her father. This fact ate away at Gia.

The realization that the world had perished was initially shocking, and then it became an indelible guilt swelling within her heart.

Could she be happy alone in a world filled with good people seemingly created just for her? The warmer the world became for Gia, the more vivid and cruel her dreams became.

Memories of growing up amidst people’s resentment resurfaced, and pretending to forget seemed futile. Regardless of what she did, the unchanging fact continued to suffocate Gia.

[I didn’t… I didn’t create it.]

Even the grief she spat out in her dreams seemed unheard by those turned into monsters. No matter how much she denied it, to them, Gia was still the child of the one who created the virus.

It wasn’t her choice. Her father’s sins had been passed down to Gia.

On nights when nightmares plagued her dreams, Gia would wake up and come to the training ground to dance with her sword. She had to exert herself physically to prevent the nightmares from recurring. 

While Gia pretended to be fine in front of Kalion, he, like a ghost, noticed her true state. If she engaged in self-destructive actions disguised as training in the middle of the night, he somehow knew and came after her.

Even in the pitch-black dawn where shadows were barely visible, Kalion followed Gia and handed her a warm towel. He gently wiped away the dripping sweat, wrapped her shivering body due to the chills, and stood silently by Gia’s side without asking any questions. 

He behaved as if he would stay by her side until everything was okay.

Whenever the warm body temperature surrounded Gia, she questioned if she deserved to receive such care. Was it okay to linger by Kalion’s side, pretending everything was fine?

“It’s okay.”

Kalion, standing by Gia’s side as she panted heavily once again today, handed her the towel with a gentle expression.

“Is it okay?”

“Yes.”

“Living selfishly like this, being the only one to survive. Is that really okay?”

“Gia.”

Kalion, who had been gazing at Gia’s jewel-like eyes shaking under the moonlight for a while, approached slowly. After three hours of Gia running in the training ground, Kalion, who had stopped her, embraced her small body in his large arms.

“It’s not your fault.”

‘No… You don’t know.’

Gia, who had hidden the unspeakable secret within her, rested her chin on Kalion’s shoulder. She feared that revealing the fact that her father created the virus would make Kalion never look at her again.

“No… It’s my fault.”

“Gia, I… I don’t know what you’re hiding from me.”

Gia’s body stiffened, not just containing the secret but letting the searing darkness within her engulf her. The inescapable misery rose from deep within, making her feel nauseous.

Did he catch on? Did he realize that her father created the virus? Or did he discover that she had to receive a predetermined treatment every month to cure the virus? Such dirty thoughts filled her mind first.

Even in this, she was selfish. She didn’t want Kalion to know this fact as much as she wanted to keep it hidden from him.

“Even if I don’t know what you’ve hidden… Gia, I… I, on the contrary…”

Kalion released a heavy sigh and slowly separated from Gia. With calm red eyes, he looked down at her intently.

“I think it’s fortunate that you survived.”

“Kalion…”

“That’s why… I’m grateful that you survived, met me, dreamed of a future together… So, I think it’s fortunate. I only feel a small regret about your world perishing. What’s more precious to me is you.”

Kalion confessed his feelings to Gia with a troubled expression on his face.

“Am I being selfish?”

Kalion asked with a face that seemed to be boiling inside.

“Do you dislike me now, in this state?”

“Well… how could I.”

Gia uttered as if her voice would break. There was no way she could dislike Kalion. As if acknowledging that, she nuzzled into Kalion’s embrace, burying her face against his chest.

“I feel the same. There’s no reason for me to dislike you under any circumstances.”

“Even if I killed someone?”

“I know better than anyone that you’re not someone who would harm others without reason.”

The heart that had been in turmoil at Kalion’s words, as if he knew Gia well, slowly settled. If it were Kalion… then, maybe it would be okay to talk about it.

She now wanted to let go of the burden deep within her heart.

“In truth…”

As if waiting for Gia’s words, Kalion simply embraced her small body. He covered her shoulders with a blanket to prevent the cold wind from shaking her even a bit.

“The person who created the virus is… my father.”

Even as she confessed with a sigh, Kalion continued to embrace Gia tightly. With trembling shoulders, Kalion hugged Gia with all his might.

“Mother passed away due to illness, and after that… Father researched to cure the disease, and the result of that research is the zombie virus. Surprising, right…”

Kalion raised his head, sensing Gia’s hesitant voice.

“Father argued that the virus was dangerous and insisted on disposal, but Morrison, who was researching with him, secretly proceeded with experiments. Father tried to stop it somehow, but by then, it was already too late.”

“I see.”

“At first, people thought Father created and spread the virus, so they confined me in the shelter underground and poured resentment on me. They tormented me in place of Father, who had died by Morrison’s hands.”

“Gia…”

“So… it feels even more… like that. It seems like Father contributed to the world’s demise. But trying to find a way to live happily, considering that… it’s just too…”

Gia tightly closed her eyes. As she did, the suppressed tears poured down, trailing down her cheeks endlessly. A burning sensation rose in her esophagus as if something repulsive was flowing back.

“It’s disgusting, isn’t it?”