My Strange Savior - Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Gia’s lips trembled. 

Her hand, waiting for Kalion to move away from her, tightly grasped his clothing. As if it were a lifeline. 

She clung to him as if she would die if she let go.

“No… not at all. Not at all. I didn’t know you were going through so much. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Gia was puzzled by why Kalion was apologizing. She didn’t understand, but hearing those words, she felt even more relieved and couldn’t comprehend her tears. It seemed as if someone had been waiting for those words.

“Going through it alone… I’m sorry for not knowing about your struggles.”

While embracing the crying Gia, Kalion apologized.

“Why are you… why are you sorry?”

“Because I didn’t know about your difficulties.”

Kalion hurriedly embraced Gia, whose voice was soaked. Just like Gia, who seemed to beg for her life if she let go, Kalion behaved the same way.

“I’m sorry, Gia. I’m sorry.”

“Hmp…”

Eventually, sobs flowed from Gia’s mouth. In the dark dawn, the two embraced each other in the training ground, pouring out the emotions they had kept in their hearts.

Kalion cautiously wiped tears from Gia’s wet face.

“I was wrong. I…”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I made it difficult for you alone. I just… I didn’t appreciate the fact that you were the only one who survived in that destroyed world. I didn’t understand your speed.”

It was a Kalion-like answer. Gia sniffled, gently hitting Kalion’s broad chest with her fist to avoid hurting it.

“So, I’m the bad one, Gia. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Even though my father created the virus?”

“That’s your father, not you, Gia. And Morrison, not your father, spread the disease, right?”

“But, but… people blamed me.”

The memory seemed painful, and tears welled up in Gia’s large eyes again. Kalion clenched his lips in a distressed expression.

“Those people were wrong. You haven’t done anything wrong. So, you don’t have to feel guilty.”

If Gia’s eyes were to be avoided, a gentle touch softly brushed across her face. A thick thumb pressed against her eyes, wiping away the flowing tears.

Kalion’s gaze caught the red lips pressed by upper teeth.

“You haven’t done anything wrong, Gia.”

Did she want to hear those words? At that answer, Gia’s face blushed. A burning sensation, like flames, surged from her throat, and tears streamed down her eyes.

Despite her efforts to endure, the floodgates of emotions that had already opened poured out all sorts of things.

“How lonely and difficult it was alone.”

Kalion’s comfort made Gia’s small shoulders shake.

“You’ve suffered a lot at a young age.”

The chunks in her heart, seemingly scrutinized by a dignified gaze, broke apart, and one by one, they popped out of her mouth.

“Thank you for enduring.”

Kalion’s red eyes glistened with moisture and sparkled. Even in such a difficult situation, the fact that Gia hadn’t made extreme choices and had endured until now seemed commendable. Kalion’s large hand gently cupped the back of her head as if to say she did well.

“So, thank you for coming to me.”

“Hmm.”

“Thank you.”

The shattered moonlight seemed to be embedded in Kalion’s eyes. The glistening red eyes, moistened with tears, looked beautifully like a lake. 

As Gia stared intently, Kalion’s forehead touched Gia’s forehead.

“Gia.”

“Yeah.”

“I like you. More than you think.”

As Kalion confessed, Gia, who had been crying uncontrollably, gradually calmed down. Kalion’s confession filled Gia’s view with only his sincere gaze.

‘You’re so kind… that’s probably why.’

Gia swallowed the one confession she couldn’t utter. It was the last, the very last thing she couldn’t confess.

The fact that without the half-dose cure, she would turn into a zombie would probably be left behind as a cowardly letter when she leave. Gia suppressed the sadness of the impending departure.

“I… I like you too.”

Enough to dream about a future with him without even knowing the topic.

Gia, who swallowed the rest of her words, grabbed Kalion’s collar. As she gradually pulled him closer, his body came along without resistance.

Their breaths touched each other’s faces. 

Kalion, holding Gia’s tense shoulders, kissed her lips in one breath.

Wanting to cherish and protect, he had endured, but it was no longer possible. 

Kalion decisively kissed Gia’s lips.

* * *

Even during his busy schedule, Kalion consistently stayed by Gia’s side. 

Thanks to him, Gia, who had improved a lot, energetically stood up from her seat.

“Today is the day of the hunting competition, right?”

In Rey’s bright tone, Gia nodded. With Kalion’s help, Gia quickly became accustomed to the bow, and she straightened the wrinkles in her combat attire.

“You’ll handle the work, Sister.”

“Really?”

Rey’s eyes sparkled like stars. To Rey, Gia seemed more impressive than any idol. When Rey playfully teased her, Gia shook her head, and Rey emphatically denied it.

“Of course, Sister will handle it!”

“As expected.”

Ruffling Rey’s hair, who was on her side, they went outside, and as always, Kalion was waiting for Gia in the corridor. Gia approached him, and beside Kalion, who stood emitting charm from head to toe, she looked like a model from a magazine.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course. I’ve got everything covered.”

With Gia’s enthusiastic words, Kalion smiled contentedly and gently stroked her soft hair. The relationship between the two, who had become even closer, looked like lovers to anyone who saw them. It seemed futile to hide their relationship, despite the advice from the duke. The more their relationship burned, the stronger and more intimate it became.

As they descended, Gia, participating as the representative of the duke’s family, was greeted by family members and chefs. Gia raised her thumb as she looked at Audrey and Ariana, who had become even more stylish.

“You look even more beautiful today.”

“Oh, stop it, you’re making me blush.”

Even with Gia’s compliment, Audrey laughed and said she liked it. Gia, feeling even better with Audrey’s girlish smile, shrugged her shoulders.

“Sister, you look great today too.”

“Thank you.”

As if waiting for the greetings to end, the duke and Derek stepped forward.

“Let’s depart.”

With his weighty words, the family members all began to move. It seemed they would ride carriages to the hunting ground, as two carriages were parked in front of the entrance. 

Everyone climbed onto the carriages with the duke’s emblem, and as soon as they did, the carriages smoothly moved towards their destination.

“Sister, are you nervous?”

“Not at all.”

Gia responded nonchalantly. It was her most confident event, and she had no reason to be nervous. When she was in the shelter, hunting wild animals to procure food was one of Gia’s main tasks.

“But still, don’t overdo it.”

Gia pursed her lips as she looked at Ariana, who spoke as beautifully as her face.

“If I catch prey, I’ll give it to you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I mean it.”

“Oh, Gia.”

Audrey covered her lips with her palm in surprise at Gia’s words. Audrey, with lace-adorned elegant gloves complementing her delicate hands, shook Gia’s hand and laughed cheerfully.

“Usually, the prey from the hunting competition is dedicated to a lover. Would it be strange to give it to Ariana?”

“Oh, really? I haven’t heard that story.”

Gia asked with a grin at the first time she heard this.

“What about people without… lovers?”

“Then, it goes to the next priority, the family.”

“Then… it wouldn’t be a problem to give it to the Duchess and Ariana, right?”

“Oh my.”

Audrey and Ariana were moved by Gia’s words, and they covered their cheeks with an expression of appreciation.

“Because you’ve made it comfortable for me to stay here.”

Gia replied with a slightly embarrassed voice, and even after saying it, Gia fidgeted with the pocket of her combat attire, perhaps feeling shy.

“In that case… would it be okay to give it to you in that sense?”

“Of course.”

“Naturally.”

Audrey and Ariana chimed in, expressing their approval.

The hunting competition was traditionally considered a male prerogative. Women set up tents in designated areas, waiting for the success of the family’s men in hunting while engaging in social activities. Women participating in such hunting competitions were unusual.

The news of a woman participating in the competition piqued the curiosity of the previously indifferent nobles. Furthermore, the fact that the participant came from another world added to the spreading of rumors.

“This year, the number of participants is extraordinary.”

It seemed like every relative and friend of the local nobles had mobilized for the event. Gia looked out of the window at the impressive procession of carriages, playfully sticking out her tongue.

After the carriages came to a stop, members of the Bowers family descended one by one. Akin and Yuria had separately departed on their family carriages, so they could meet at the hunting grounds.

When Gia exchanged a nod with the neatly adorned Yuria, her bright eyes briefly glanced at Gia. 

Akin, representing the family, was gathered with nobles of similar age, possibly going to the hunting competition.

As Gia headed towards her assigned tent, curious gazes filled with interest followed her. Despite the excessive attention, Gia flashed a confident smile and entered the tent to hide.

“Phew, it’s stifling in here.”

Inside the tent, only Gia remained while members of the Bowers family were outside exchanging greetings with other nobles. Although there was no need for her to feel nervous, Gia, subdued by the people’s stares, stretched her body and began to do some stretching exercises.

“If I can’t show my skills, then this… will be a complete disaster, right?”

As the people gathered to assess the skills of someone from another world, the pressure on Gia became even more intense. She wondered if she should catch a bear or something. 

Gia flicked the paper on the table. The paper listed scores for different prey, with illustrations and corresponding numbers.

There were some animals she had never seen before, as well as those she had encountered in her previous life. Animals similar to bears had relatively high scores. Perhaps she should focus on hunting carnivorous animals.

She wanted to challenge herself, even if it meant taking on a group, but all Gia had was a makeshift wooden bow, a gift from Kalion.

Examining the bow that Kalion had taught her to use during their time at the Bowers’ estate, Gia suddenly felt a sense of unease. She thought about challenging herself to hunt with a bow, but doubt crept in.

Gia, playing with the bow, turned her gaze away from it when she sensed someone approaching. At the other end, Kalion was standing.

“Gia.”

“Yeah?”

As Gia, who was fiddling with the bow, felt Kalion approaching, he gently took her hand.