My Strange Savior - Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Seeing other participants gradually returning one by one, anxiety surged within him. 

Could it be that Gia didn’t see the signal?

Unable to stay seated any longer, Kalion stood up and addressed the people. 

“There are still people who haven’t returned. Please shoot the signal flares in succession.”

The second son of the Bowers family wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Not everyone from other families has returned yet. You will see the signal flares with some time intervals. For now, please go inside.”

“How long do you expect us to just stand by?”

Kalion, renowned for maintaining composure in any situation, uncharacteristically raised his voice, glaring at the responsible person.

“Kalion.”

Oscar, calling Kalion’s name, gently urged him.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Now? Is it urgent?”

“Yeah. It’s urgent.”

With no other concerns on his mind, Kalion found it difficult to suppress the desire to leap into the forest right away.

He should have stopped Gia from entering the forest alone. He should have never accepted the Emperor’s request and command in the first place.

She had repeatedly been told not to get hurt and not to act recklessly. How deep into the forest did Gia go that she couldn’t see the signal flares?

Regretting belatedly, Kalion stomped his foot in frustration. As his large frame and firm heels met the solid ground, a cloud of dust rose. 

Kalion, tossing his black hair irritably, followed behind Oscar.

“Is it something urgent? I’m not available right now…”

“It’s about Morrison.”

“Morrison? Really?”

“Yeah.”

At the mention of Morrison from Oscar, it seemed like vitality was returning to Kalion’s face.

“I already informed the Duke.”

Oscar, who originally was supposed to stay at the palace with Gregory, researching dragons, had personally visited the hunting grounds. Kalion knew that it was an urgent matter, avoiding the Emperor’s eyes and exchanging information only through letters.

However, for Kalion, the worry about Gia, who hadn’t come out of the forest yet, surpassed Morrison’s importance.

Despite Kalion’s inability to concentrate, Oscar clicked his tongue.

“Gia is a strong person. She’s not as fragile as you think.”

“Yes, I understand it very well. However… However, I still can’t stop worrying.”

More than any existing knight, Gia might be the strongest person. Oscar was evaluating Gia in this way.

Oscar, who had given a generous evaluation of Gia as someone who could survive even if dropped in the desert, looked at his disciple who worried about his lover while making a fuss. 

When did his emotions become so rich? Oscar’s face, looking at his disciple, became thoughtful.

“Focus and listen. Joseph, who was tracking Morrison’s traces in the mountains, contacted us.”

“If it’s a contact…”

“Morrison is not in the mountains.”

At Oscar’s words, it seemed like the future darkened for Kalion. Could it be that he followed Gia? Kalion’s face became seriously stiff.

“So, where is he now?”

“I can’t confirm that, but he’s certainly near us.”

“How can you be so sure?”

In response to Kalion’s question, Oscar frowned deeply, as if troubled.

“According to Joseph’s report, when he followed the direction where Morrison disappeared, incidents of people going missing occurred one after another.”

“Oh…”

“That guy is harming people and making his way towards the capital.”

At Oscar’s confident words, Kalion wiped his forehead with his large hand.

“If that’s the case…”

“Yeah. It’s not completely certain, but there’s a high chance he’s near us. The last area where people went missing is the Soltra Village.”

“Isn’t that the small village between Straburk and the capital?”

“We’re still following the trail, but… the direction is too clear.”

Kalion, frowning, swallowed the groan that was about to come out, realizing the severity of the situation.

“If it were a few days ago…”

“It happened three days ago.”

“At his speed, he might have already arrived and stayed hidden.”

Kalion, who was discussing behind the tent, turned around. 

“What do you suggest?”

“We need to go into the forest.”

“Not alone.”

“Morrison himself has crawled up here to kill Gia. How can I just stand by?”

Kalion’s voice unusually rose in volume. Oscar, who had been observing his disciple, gestured for him to wait a moment and entered the tent assigned to the Bowers.

Even the briefest moment felt like an eternity for Kalion. He asked with parched lips, wondering how much time had passed. It seemed that all members of the remaining families had returned; the only tent left in the large hunting ground was Bowers.

Restless with thoughts of Gia, Kalion, during this short time, couldn’t help but bite his guiltless lips, continuing his dreadful imagination about whether something had happened. Despite forcing himself to believe that nothing bad could happen, negative thoughts persisted.

The image of Gia, helpless and collapsed during the confrontation with Morrison, flashed in his mind like a haunting specter.

“Damn.”

Kalion, who was harshly scraping his brow, couldn’t wait any longer. He stepped out of the tent. He needed to go into the forest with a sword. Once the decision was made, he moved resolutely.

“Kalion, wait. It would be much faster to search with the family soldiers…”

“I will go in first.”

Kalion, who had never contradicted his father’s opinion before, acted defiantly. 

The Duke, who was seeing this passionate side of Kalion for the first time, tightly sealed his lips. Watching the anxious face of his son, the Duke nodded as if granting permission.

“Then let’s divide the area and go in.”

The Duke quickly divided the areas by spreading a map on the table. Even just looking at the map, the area to be searched seemed quite extensive. Kalion’s chest felt like it was burning pitch-black.

‘Gia…’

His chapped lips turned white. Kalion, squirting saliva into his dry mouth, stood up.

“Oh, you’re here!”

The tent swung open wide. Bowers’ servant, panting, shouted with relief.

“Lady Gia has returned!”

Upon hearing these words, Kalion threw his sword aside and rushed out of the tent.

“G-Gia.”

Had he ever felt his blood run so cold in his veins? The sensation of losing a minute and a second at this critical moment felt like a deduction of life. 

Kalion moved his legs towards where Gia was in a hurried pace.

“Kalion, I’m back. Hehe.”

Seeing Gia standing there with a joyful face, Kalion felt a surge of emotions welling up from deep within. His throat felt hot as if he had swallowed a burning potato, but soon his eyes moistened, and tears welled up.

“Huh? Why are you crying?”

Gia, looking at Kalion with a face contorted as if he might cry any moment, approached with a dusty face, grinning broadly.

Swish, swish.

As she did, something in her hand clattered to the ground. The family members who followed Kalion out were initially stunned, and then their surprised eyes widened.

“Th-that is…”

“Isn’t that a Satapi?”

Audrey, who followed suit with widened eyes, continued.

“Isn’t that legendary… Satapi…”

“Caught it.”

Gia, covered in dust from rolling around, proudly raised the Satapi in her hand with a sunny smile. Despite its potential weight, Gia effortlessly lifted it, displaying a small bead in her other hand as if showcasing a treasure.

“Tada!”

“That is…”

“Well, isn’t that the magic stone of a Satapi?”

“Descended from legends… Satapi’s…”

Unable to continue their sentences, everyone stared blankly at Gia. 

Gia, holding the Satapi’s leg in her hand, casually shook it.

Thud.

The heavy Satapi was thrown directly to the ground. However, it seemed that wasn’t the crucial point, as Gia approached Kalion, who was displaying a troubled expression.

“But why that expression? Who bothered you?”

Gia’s words made Kalion, hiding the reddened tip of his nose, take another step closer. 

“I was…”

“It doesn’t matter.” 

Kalion embraced Gia tightly. Gia was the only one aware of the adults behind them. What happened? Gia awkwardly smiled, meeting the gazes beyond Kalion’s shoulders.

“I was concerned.”

“Uh, yeah.”

When Gia met Kalion’s worried gaze, Audrey promptly intervened, pulling her husband, who had frozen like a statue, toward the tent. 

“Let’s go, dear.”

“I saw Satapi…”

“Exactly, let’s go inside.”

Audrey led her husband and firstborn into the tent, while Ariana approached Oscar with a questioning look. 

“Would you like to come in?”

“Well, um, let’s do that.”

Everyone cleared the space, and Gia, now with Kalion in the open field, gently caressed his trembling shoulders.

“Why? What happened?”

“They set off several return signals… but you didn’t appear. Did you get lost in the forest? Did something happen? How worried I was… How much…”

Kalion’s words were incoherent but strangely sincere. Watching Kalion pour out his emotions, Gia bit her lip in apology.

“Oh, that Satapi is quite strong… I did see the return signal, but I couldn’t come right away; I was in the midst of a battle. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. As long as you come back safely, I’m okay with that.”

What to do with this big man who was still trembling but said it was okay? Gia smiled and hugged Kalion even tighter.

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“Why did you go to catch Satapi anyway? How terrifying of a monster is it?”

“Oh, it’s not an animal?”

“Yes, it’s a type of monster. It’s rare and unique.”

“No wonder.”

Gia twirled her burnt hair around her fingers. 

“It was incredibly strong.”

“That’s why I told you not to go deep. Didn’t I warn you not to go deep into the forest?”

“Because I wanted to give it to you.”

“What?”

At Gia’s words, Kalion pulled away and looked at her with moist, red eyes.