My Strange Savior - Chapter 130

Chapter 130

“Ah, no… No.”

The emperor muttered, and a harsh sound flowed from his lips. Blood rose from a scratched throat, and a bitter taste lingered in his mouth.

“Darn it… Kkufgh.”

The emperor’s clothes, as if hit by rain, were soaked with cold sweat.

Feeling a foreign sensation at his fingertips, the emperor cautiously pulled up his robe.

“No, it can’t be… No. No way. It can’t be true.”

With closed eyes, the emperor’s wrinkled eyelids dripped sweat. 

Gulp. Swallowing saliva, the emperor, trying to reassure himself, took a deep breath. It must be his imagination. The emperor mentally insisted.

The emaciated emperor removed his clothes with care. As he did, his belly protruded strangely, as if something alive was moving inside, and the skin continuously undulated like waves.

Witnessing it yet unable to believe it, the emperor’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Sp- speak… I can’t… even speak…”

Words broke off, and the emperor’s breath almost seemed to choke. The urgency in his breath was accompanied by the emperor’s pupils shaking as if an earthquake had occurred.

Squelch.

An object from inside the belly pushed against the intestines, leaving an imprint on the skin.

“K-Kkufgh… Ugh.”

The emperor, unable to scream, trembled as he covered his abdomen with trembling hands. Then, as if nothing had happened, the imprint disappeared.

The emperor, soaked in cold sweat, lay lifelessly on the bed.

“Am I mad? Have I… have I…”

Muttering in a disarrayed mind, the emperor suddenly realized that there was no other way but to wait, lifeless until it arrived. There was no other choice until it came for him.

As if stepping on a landmine, his body contorted increasingly, seemingly escaping the grip of a dreadful nightmare. Even within the tormenting nightmare, the emperor’s eyes shone brightly.

“Will I crumble like this because of something like me?”

An old tiger growled, glaring into the air. Even if all his teeth for chewing meat were gone, he remained a beast.

It was crucial to conceal what he had done to his body. He had said he would come soon, so all he could do was wait. 

The emperor, with a heavy sigh, covered himself with a blanket and closed his drooping eyelids.

* * *

“Was it ultimately canceled?”

In response to Gia’s words, Kalion nodded with a disappointed expression.

“How unfortunate. The dress prepared for you won’t even be worn.”

“Why is that a pity? It’s not a big deal…”

After the hunting competition, the grand ball scheduled to take place triumphantly was indeed canceled due to the emperor’s deteriorating health. Gia seemed unfazed, but it appeared that Kalion was more disheartened than her.

Recognizing that they were alone in the room, Kalion’s actions became bolder. Seated in a chair, he reached for Gia’s waist while gently brushing his forehead against her flat stomach.

This is just adding more charm.

Gia, appreciating Kalion’s well-being, ran her fingers through his black hair and raised the corners of her mouth.

“I’m really okay.”

“I am not.”

Unable to wear the dress crafted with care, Kalion expressed his disappointment with a furrowed masculine brow.

“I’ll show it to you. How I look in the dress.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

At those words, Kalion, who had his upper body embracing Gia’s waist, stood up abruptly.

“You must show me.”

“Okay.”

The more they were in love, the better it became. Could this improvement have an end? 

Gia, as if it were a habit, touched Kalion’s earlobe.

“Gia.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Didn’t you plan to visit Gregory today and then leave immediately?”

“Uh-huh.”

Responding to Kalion’s words, Gia reluctantly released her hand, which seemed glued to his, trying to hide her disappointment.

“We should go… We should. It’s a great opportunity.”

Everyone knew that the emperor was bedridden due to illness. The rumors swelled with every passing day, and baseless whispers spread quickly in all directions.

The princes aiming for the next throne and the nobles supporting them became busy. The situation was as chaotic as the eve of a storm.

Silently, like waiting for the day the emperor ascends, their movements were as graceful as the legs of a swan under the water. 

Quiet and discreetly. The fight for the one imperial throne had begun.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Gia and Kalion planned to visit the shelter discovered by Myers.

According to Kalion, it would take three days to reach Mount Yotun. It wasn’t too crowded with monsters, as knights often went there for training.

If it were a dangerous journey, they would have to travel with others, but luckily, it was a place they could easily reach on their own. The noisy movement might attract the attention of the emperor, who was already keeping an eye on them.

At the point when the emperor lay helpless, the two quickly put their plans into action. Time was of the essence.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Kalion urged, and his forehead playfully touched near Gia’s belly button as if throwing a tantrum.

Contrary to his words, Kalion seemed to have no intention of releasing his hands wrapped around Gia’s waist. Gia, too, found it challenging to detach herself from such a Kalion.

Was Kalion always this playful? Gia never thought he had such a side when she first met him.

She perceived him as straightforward and inflexible. However, the Kalion who became her lover was unabashedly expressive about his feelings, to the point of being blunt.

Whether it was Kalion-like to charge ahead regardless of who was around, or the overflowing affection was too overwhelming, it was both Kalion-like and perplexing.

However, knowing that he behaved this way only with her, Gia covered her lips with her palm, overwhelmed with happiness.

He was a large man with a cold demeanor, yet knowing how endlessly tender and gentle he was toward her, Gia felt as if she were suffocating with the surging satisfaction.

This man is so adorable and lovable; it drives her crazy.

As Gia tried to close her widening smile, she tightly pulled Kalion’s head, who was coming in for a hug.

“Just five more minutes like this, and then we’ll go out.”

“Alright.”

With a brisk response, Kalion grabbed Gia’s waist and lifted her onto his lap. Seated on Kalion’s knees, Gia, with her arms around his neck, made eye contact.

“Gia, I love you so much.”

“I… love you too.”

“I really, really love you. To the point where I can’t control myself.”

Gia’s face turned red at the expression of affection. As Gia wrapped her arms around Kalion’s thick neck and slightly extended her lips, their soft lips collided.

Warm breaths were exchanged, and their tongues intertwined. After the gradually deepening kiss, Gia’s laughter spread happily.

Gia, holding Kalion’s cheek, finally broke the last kiss.

“Now, let’s go.”

“Yes, understood.”

Kalion’s hand reluctantly left Gia’s waist.

Smiling, as Gia distanced herself, Kalion’s hand naturally entwined with hers.

* * *

Even in the carriage, Kalion’s hand remained intertwined with Gia’s, as if refusing to let go.

A light thud.

The carriage came to a stop, and Kalion was the first to step out. Gia placed her hand on his familiarly outstretched one.

Formidable-looking guards surrounded Gregory’s laboratory. In the face of their piercing gazes, Gia hurriedly withdrew her hand. Kalion shrugged his shoulders in the disappointing warmth.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Having already obtained permission to visit Gregory, no one tried to stop them. As they entered, the scent of chemical materials overwhelmed their noses.

“Gregory? We’re here.”

Gia’s voice echoed loudly in the spacious laboratory.

“Have you come?”

Gregory bent over the torso of a dragon’s carcass, straightened his hunched back, and let out a sigh. Gregory, who had removed his thick gloves, had a face full of soot marks.

“Why is your face like that?”

“Ah… Is it very dirty?”

The more Gregory wiped his face, the dirtier it seemed to get.

“I’m having a hard time cutting the dragon bones. It’s a bit… challenging to entrust it to others. That’s why.”

Approaching Gregory, who was scratching his cheek with his forearm, Gia nonchalantly wiped his face with her sleeve.

“Take it easy. If you have difficulty, ask someone else. Okay?”

“I, I will…”

Gregory’s opinion, as usual, seemed unheard by Gia. 

Kalion’s hand, reluctant to leave Gia’s waist, naturally found its way around her as they distanced themselves, casting a disapproving look at Gregory. Gregory, realizing Kalion’s gaze, cleared his throat and hurriedly went upstairs.

As Gregory moved away, Gia, with her lips stretched, wiped her hands on her thigh.

“Is it awkward?”

“Gia.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t do that again.”

“Do what?”

Kalion suddenly approached, taking Gia’s hand into his. Only then did Gia realize what she had done, and she let out an awkward laugh.

“Hehe. Sorry.”

“I’m jealous.”

“Just like a younger sibling…”

“Don’t do it.”

In response to Kalion’s stern warning, Gia nodded cheekily, indicating she understood.

“I won’t do it. I mean, when I see Gregory working so hard alone, I couldn’t help but interfere, you know?”

Her awkward excuses spilled out incoherently.

“When I see Gregory, it’s like he’s a little brother, and… Haha. Well, never again, of course.”

Gia hurriedly raised her hand in response to the cold gaze of her lover.

“Uh, let’s go quickly!”

Kalion, who had been watching Gia ascend in a hurry, let out a sigh. 

It seemed that Kalion thought it necessary to remind Gia once again of how unique men and women in this world could be.

Chasing after Gia, who entered the room Gregory had gone into, Kalion took a deep breath. Gia opened her mouth wide when she followed Gregory into the room he had entered.

“Are you… out of your mind?”

Gregory scratched his nose awkwardly as he showed Gia the messy room.

“Oh, no.”

Gia denied it and delicately arranged the scattered documents on the table, explaining that it wasn’t his mess but rather Myers’. Gia sat down hesitantly on the sofa, finding the structure familiar, as Shelters’ many scientists’ labs always looked like this.

“Could you come this way?”

At Gregory’s polite request, Gia got up and approached.

“Here.”

“Wow…”

When Gregory opened the adjoining door, familiar weapons were laid out inside.

“These are things I found in the master’s storage.”

Gia pulled out the otherworldly items that Myers had been storing after hearing about the situation.