My Strange Savior - Chapter 126

Chapter 126

“That…”

Beep-boop. 

The sound echoing through the mountains was both dazzling and fierce. When Gia hastily raised her head at the sound, there was a satapi preening its iridescent feathers in that spot, emitting a cry with an unimaginable force.

The satapi sat on the cliff like a majestic hawk, with the moon as its backdrop.

Gulp. 

Gia swallowed her saliva and moved silently, suppressing all sounds. Following the carefully planned route she had drawn, Gia moved swiftly. 

Her body moved swiftly along the path she had accurately traced, without making a sound even when stepping on the grass. If someone had seen her, they might have thought her shadow was lagging.

“Hoo.” 

Gia breathed out slowly, regulating her breath as she nocked an arrow on her bow. Confidently, she pulled the bowstring, aiming at the target that was now within an easily shootable range even with closed eyes.

As the drawn bowstring tightened, the bow bent to its limit. Gia, who was focusing on her breath to precisely hit the target’s head, released the bowstring from her hand.

Swoosh. The arrow released from Gia’s hand flew quickly towards the target.

Thunk. She was sure she hit it, but the arrow was lodged at the edge of the distant cliff.

“Kkyeok.” 

Perhaps realizing the threat belatedly, the satapi spread its large wings into the air. As it did, its adult-sized body seemed even larger. The red eyes of the satapi, turning to the direction where the arrow flew, glowed intensely.

As if responding to the challenge of the approaching fight, the satapi flapped its wings in the air. It ascended, displaying a sharp beak and claws directed at Gia.

“Uh, ugh.” 

Gia, unaware of the satapi’s combat power, rolled on the ground to avoid the rapidly approaching attack.

The sharp beak turned the ground Gia had been on into rubble, and the battle-worn armor was torn apart as if cut by a sword.

“Wow… look at this.”

An uneasy premonition crossed her mind. In terms of attack power alone, it seemed to surpass the earlier beast. It must have survived in this dangerous forest for hundreds of years.

The satapi emitted a cry while flapping its wings, and a strong wind blew. This was not an artificially generated wind caused by wing flapping alone.

As the satapi cried out into the air, a red light emanated from the magical orb on its neck.

“Ah, no, you didn’t mention it had this kind of ability, Lady Duchess!”

Gia, calling Audrey with resentment, rolled her body forward. As she did, the flames carried by the wind impaled the spot where Gia had been.

The flames emitted by the satapi grazed the area, and the grass in that spot turned pitch black, burning. 

Hissing. The warmth was still felt on Gia’s cheek.

If it had hit, it would have been fatal. Gia looked at the satapi with disdain in her weary eyes. At that moment, the satapi spread its large body majestically and looked down at Gia with its red eyes.

“What an arrogant creature.”

The gaze towards a mere beast seemed too arrogant. Gia gritted her teeth and gripped the dagger in her hand.

“You’re done for.”

A smirk deepened on Gia’s face as she toyed with her dagger on the back of her hand.

* * *

It was a hunting contest that only one member of the family was allowed to enter, but the exception to the rule grasped the reins gracefully.

“She disappeared?”

“Yes.”

The eyes of the servant who reported the loss were deeply filled with fear.

The Emperor’s face hardened.

“The fact that someone as renowned for their speed as you missed her…”

As if looking at a mere ant, no emotion was revealed in the Emperor’s eyes as he sat tall in the saddle, clicking his tongue.

“Does that woman possess such remarkable skill?”

The Emperor’s hand, caressing the well-groomed mane of his white horse, was incredibly gentle.

“It implies a lack of skill on my knight’s part.”

“I-I apologize.”

The man in black clothing bowed low as if digging into the ground.

“Instead of apologizing, wouldn’t it be better to find her quickly? I’m not a patient person.”

At the Emperor’s sharp words, the body of the Emperor’s knight rose abruptly.

“I will find her soon.”

“That’s what I want to hear. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Yes.”

He dashed away like an arrow, followed by six subordinates. Watching the disappearing knight, the Emperor clicked his tongue as if displeased.

“This, this. Is there no talent in the palace?”

Sensing the Emperor’s discomfort, the chancellor hurriedly caught up and held the reins.

“May I inquire about your thoughts if we happen to discover that woman from another world?”

The right hand of the Emperor, almost like a second in command, politely asked, bending at the waist.

“What can I do? I just want to confirm that woman’s skill with my own eyes.”

Answering as if without any intention, the Emperor spoke slowly. The aide was closely following him, and a group guarding the Emperor surrounded them widely.

“To confirm her abilities.”

The Emperor’s gaze dangerously sparkled.

“As the Emperor of the Empire, it is only appropriate to confirm whether that woman will be an asset or a threat to our Empire, isn’t it?”

“You speak reasonably.”

“Have you brought everything prepared?”

At the Emperor’s question, the aide bowed his head.

“Yes. I had everything prepared deep inside the forest in advance.”

“We can’t afford any mistakes.”

The Emperor smiled slyly, looking into the depths of the forest. 

The creatures he had instructed his knights to prepare were none other than Ogres, a formidable opponent even for someone as skilled as Morrison. The Emperor, who had faced difficulty in capturing one of the stronger individuals, wore an ominous expression.

“Indeed… How different could that woman be compared to someone like Morrison?”

The Emperor unilaterally organized the task, not entirely trusting Gia’s words. As he read the reports meticulously compiled by all the members of the knights, his eyes gleamed with greed.

She was described as someone with enough strength to defeat a Troll alone. The common testimony from the knights, who had often been saved by Gia in their last battles, couldn’t erase the Emperor’s doubt.

“What intrigues me is that even Kalion suffered from injuries for several weeks. Yet, that woman roamed around unscathed? Does that make sense? She supposedly suffered such severe injuries that she couldn’t stand, but still, she roamed freely?”

Whether it was due to naivety or because they didn’t expect to be individually interrogated, the enemy knights almost all gave consistent statements. Even excluding the minute details, the knights unanimously claimed that Gia had suffered significant injuries.

The Emperor, who had ordered them to undergo subtly induced interrogations, pressed his lips together thoughtfully.

“I also find it beyond common sense.”

The Emperor, looking down at the chancellor’s bowed head, stroked his chin.

“It seems like a planned interrogation, yet they probably don’t see it that way. They might just think it’s a routine report, but I astonishingly found the hidden gaps within.”

While pretending to be attentive to their plans, the Emperor was not silent during the remaining time. He gathered the fastest individuals and received reports on the minor events happening in the Shannon Empire’s territory.

Disguised as ordinary citizens passing by, undercover informants, who were secretly Emperor’s agents, skillfully obtained information based on the stories of those in Oscar’s Castle.

As simple pieces of information accumulated, they formed a substantial chunk. The Emperor, not missing even the smallest details about Gia, compiled the information in order.

“I still don’t understand. It’s hard to believe she could wander around unscathed after being so injured.”

Muttering to himself, the Emperor decided it was time to put things to the test. The truth these pieces of information were telling was singular—Gia possessed healing abilities.

When asked before, she acted as if she had no abilities whatsoever, but she couldn’t escape the Emperor’s keen senses.

“What do Bowers and Shannon Empire currently know?”

“We haven’t gathered much information yet, but their collective actions are suspicious.”

“I want something definite.”

“I apologize.”

The Emperor’s right-hand man, almost an ear to him, lowered his head deeply, expressing regret.

“It’s clear that they are targeting my throne. So, we need to gather evidence. Evidence of rebellion that cannot be ignored. Before they climb onto my throne with their dirty feet.”

“Yes. I will make sure to instruct the informants we have dispatched more diligently.”

“That’s what I want.”

Wandering through the forest absentmindedly, the Emperor had no interest in the hunt. The purpose was clear, and he pretended to engage in a trivial hunting game, shooting arrows toward the prey brought in by the beaters.

“That one…”

“The color of Bowers.”

A red magical projectile was fired from a rather deep place. 

When had it gotten that far? The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“We shouldn’t take this lightly.”

The Emperor, who was speaking slowly, changed direction. What could she have caught that prompted her to shoot magical projectiles so quickly? Moreover, how did she manage to enter the deep forest in such a short time? The Emperor felt the need to verify with his own eyes.

Guiding his horse hastily, the Emperor turned towards the direction where the magical projectile was shot. However, when he arrived, it was already dark evening. The vast forest was akin to a jungle, as it had been untouched by human footsteps.

“That one…”

The chancellor and the knights following behind him quickly held their breath.

“It’s Galicion, Your Majesty.”

“I’m aware of that. However…”

The Emperor paused. Galicion, known as the fiercest and most aggressive beast on land, had its tongue hanging out, seemingly lifeless.

With a body as massive as a house, Galicion lay there helplessly, and a strap with Bowers’ emblem was tied around its leg, resembling a child’s body. 

The story was that Gia had captured it alone. 

The Emperor swallowed hard, finding it unbelievable even as he saw it with his own eyes.