My Strange Savior - Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Realizing this ability was a coincidence. 

Morrison, who needed to consume human flesh even for his decaying body, targeted a man who was alone. Thinking he was alone, Morrison’s plan was disrupted as the personnel who rushed in upon hearing his screams doubled.

When Morrison’s plan faltered, his eye twitched. There’s no time to be taken away here.

His body was in such a mess that enduring day by day became difficult. Morrison raised his hand to quickly finish and take care of the remaining two.

Morrison, who twisted the neck of the guy caught in his grip first, groaned in pain as his severed finger was bitten off. Sharp.

The man who had swallowed Morrison’s severed finger clattered away. Determined not to miss the target, Morrison exerted all his strength to kill the three men rushing at him.

Even weakened, it took quite a while for Morrison to deal with these bugs. Blue blood dripped from the severed part.

Although it healed quickly, Morrison’s murderous method became more brutal, leaving him feeling dirty.

Morrison’s eyes, who had mutilated the bodies of the three men, glowed strangely.

Certainly, fatal injuries are enough to cause death. Only the one who had eaten his body among the three chuckled and stood up from his place.

Morrison, who confirmed with his eyes that new flesh was growing on the torn shoulder, looked at his missing index finger.

No way.

Morrison’s hand ruthlessly pierced the man’s shoulder once again. The background sound of spreading screams accompanied the continuation of cruel experiments within Morrison’s merciless grip.

Stabbing, slashing, cutting—no matter what, the man’s body repeated regeneration.

Morrison’s wicked laughter echoed.

I see.

Morrison’s eyes, enlightened, sparkled more than ever.

To grant the wish, Morrison focused his mind. Just thinking about the severed finger made it move around in his body.

Morrison’s eyes, covered by a murky film, held curiosity.

Thud.

Morrison’s finger, piercing through the man’s heart, was now resting near his chest. As Morrison lifted the finger and reattached it, his index finger seemed to have never suffered any injury, returning to its original state.

It was different here from the previous world. Saliva or blood couldn’t infect. But if a part of his body was fed, it was possible.

Morrison, who quickly realized his newfound ability, pondered how he could gain an advantage with this power.

To find the heart of the dragon, infiltrating the palace was a priority. Now powerless, entering the heavily guarded palace posed a significant risk.

Roaming near the capital, Morrison’s ears caught wind of a hunting competition taking place. The news that even the Emperor would participate made Morrison’s ears perk up. 

His contemplation deepened upon hearing that foreigners would also be part of the hunting competition. If he were to encounter Gia in his current state, what would be the probability of his victory? His eyes, calculating the odds, intensified.

He couldn’t afford to delay time like this. Rather than infiltrating the palace, using the hunting competition seemed more likely. Since Morrison had targeted only the Emperor from the beginning, his actions were relentless.

Everything was unfolding according to Morrison’s plan – from the collar placed around the Emperor’s neck to the dragon’s heart now in his hands. Morrison’s lips traced a sly smile.

Now, all that remained was Gia’s life.

How should he cruelly kill her? Morrison’s eyes gleamed. As he entertained thoughts of tearing Gia apart in thousands of ways, Morrison’s lips joyfully curled. His mouth, filled with sharp teeth, was stained with blood. 

The Emperor, witnessing this grotesque sight, bowed his head in disgust.

“Oh dear.”

As the Emperor’s knees touched the table, the teacup trembled. As if acknowledging something pitiful, Morrison approached the Emperor.

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

Morrison’s blood-stained hand seized the Emperor’s shoulder.

“Are you trembling?”

As Morrison’s blood-stained hand reached around from behind, the Emperor hastily shrunk his body.

Tock, tock. Morrison’s hand that comfortingly rested on the Emperor’s shoulder seemed to offer encouragement.

“Didn’t I promise to give you the power that won’t disappear and the life that will never extinguish?”

“Yes, you did.”

“As long as you don’t betray me.”

Morrison’s hand fiercely gripped the Emperor’s shoulder.

With the force of the strong grip, the Emperor’s face contorted. Watching the Emperor, who tried not to utter a groan, Morrison, amused by the effort to suppress the sound, released his hand.

As Morrison moved away, a frightened breath escaped lightly from the Emperor’s lips.

* * *

The reception was prepared more quickly than expected. 

Upon returning, as soon as Gia appeared in front of the jewelry and clothes left for her, the smell of the stagnant air accumulated her anxiety inside.

Remembering the coldness of the surgery table that touched her hot body sent a chill down her spine. It was even hotter than today. Was it right after spring passed and summer arrived? Gia’s eyes wavered precariously.

Biting her lips, she looked at the clothes filling the room. She couldn’t maintain a completely happy expression. An open reception at a time like this, amidst the uncertain situation, was not something to be overly joyful about.

Everything in the room, from one to ten, was extravagant. It was clear at a glance how sincerely the family thought of her.

Receiving such things should make her happy, but Gia couldn’t display an entirely bright expression. Unable to resist the urging of the two women who had been diligently preparing for the reception since the morning, Gia bit her lip while choosing her outfit.

It was only three days. However, time seemed to be chasing Gia to death. It felt like even a moment couldn’t be spared.

If only the reception to honor the goddess of spring had been held as it should have been, it would have taken only two days. But instead, there were consecutive receptions, honoring the knights and Gia. Three days.

As the stickiness flowing down her back persisted, her anxiety deepened.

Three days should be okay.

Colorful dresses were hanging all over the room. When she reached out, the soft fabric brushed against her hand.

In a situation where an explosion could happen at any moment, a reception was being held. Relentless reluctance followed the dress.

Gia’s eye corners drooped as her forced smile crumbled.

People said it was the time to enjoy such things, and even praised her fortune according to her horoscope. Yet, at the same time, they comforted Gia, saying it might be okay.

Imagining herself in this beautiful dress, dancing alongside Kalion, her heart felt bitter. She wanted to stand next to him. Too much. She wanted to be by Kalion’s side so much that it felt like she would die. Her distorted lips trembled.

Could she not have peace for just three days? Thinking of it as the last chance, Gia would concentrate on chasing Morrison afterward. After catching him, she would go to an unknown place and die. That’s what she would do. So, please allow these last three days.

She didn’t know who she was pleading to. Blinking her eyes covered by a transparent film, her eye area quickly became moist.

Like the trembling leaves of a willow tree, her hands, shaking like aspens, reached for the last dress. Kalion said it was a dress he ordered.

The dress in shades of blue seemed to have required a lot of effort, and just looking at it made admiration spontaneously arise.

Knock, knock.

Hearing the sound, Gia quickly wiped away her tears. Looking in the mirror, she touched her face and the tip of her nose with her hands.

“Yes.”

“May I come in?”

Upon Audrey’s voice, Gia quickly went and opened the door.

“Have you decided on the dress?”

“Um, not yet.”

Fortunately, Audrey seemed not to have noticed that Gia had been crying, as she cheerfully entered the room. Following Audrey, maids carried trays full of makeup tools.

“Oh my, it’s so beautiful.”

As soon as Audrey entered, she didn’t spare any compliments for the dress Gia was holding in her hands.

“Kalion ordered it, right?”

“Yes…”

“I think it would be better to wear it on the last day, don’t you?”

Gia, who still had no particular thoughts, shook her head.

“Can I help you choose the dress, Lady Gia?”

“Yes, of course. Feel free.”

Observing Audrey’s back as she fervently chose her dress, despite being busy with her own preparations since morning, was appreciated by Gia. What was she thinking? Gia, who had forcibly raised her eyes, looked at Audrey choosing the dress for her. Audrey, who was looking at the dresses, laughed cheerfully like a girl, commenting on why this was pretty and that was beautiful.

Audrey busily moved around the room, deciding on jewelry. The maids accompanying Audrey naturally accepted the dresses as they followed her.

“How about this for today? What do you think?”

“Sure.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

When Gia smiled and agreed, Audrey confidently asserted that she would look beautiful.

“Then, when you’re ready, come out. I’ll be waiting.”

“Yes, understood.”

With an excited expression, Audrey left the room. As Audrey turned around with a swaying hand and smiled, the door closed.

A few maids that Audrey brought remained standing beside Gia.

“Shall we start preparing, Lady?”

Gia moved along with their touch. As she tried to suppress the melancholy inside, her expression awkwardly stiffened.

“Lady Gia, could you relax your face a little?”

“Ah…”

She didn’t even realize she was tensing her face. Gia, as if realizing it just now, made an effort to relax. As the maids gently touched her face, the makeup became delicately complete.

“Oh, you’re so beautiful.”

After briefly closing her eyes and opening them again, Gia saw herself in the mirror, adorned with splendid makeup.

The makeup she used to do in the dressing room before was really simple. Compared to now, where her black hair, gathered meticulously, looked pretty. Adorning her braided hair was the butterfly-shaped gem Kalion had given her.

“Would you please come this way?”

A maid politely led Gia behind a curtain. In her hands was the dress chosen by Audrey, a pale pink color. Initially, the thought of pink being childish and tacky came to mind, but the dress chosen by Audrey was nothing like that.

The dress, adorned with frills and revealing the neck and chest lines moderately, was dyed with shades of pale pink in various places. The harmony of white and pink blended seamlessly without any clutter.

Gia removed the thin robe she was wearing. Once the maids finished dressing her, a different woman stood in the mirror.

One by one, jewelry was added, and finally, white shoes were placed.

The cold sensation of the shoes touched Gia’s bare feet. 

Snugly, as if they were custom-made, her feet smoothly slid into the shoes.