My Strange Savior - Chapter 149

Chapter 149

The knights under the emperor’s command approached Gia, who was nestled in Kalion’s embrace, hesitatingly.

“Stop.”

At Kalion’s low voice, the knights halted, their armor clinking. An indomitable aura emanated from Kalion, causing the emperor’s knights to step back hesitantly.

“What are you doing? Hurry up, that woman, woman… Ugh.”

“Your, Your Majesty?”

“Ugh, kukk.”

Suddenly, the emperor, who had his neck seized, kneeled on the ground. The knights surrounded the emperor.

“Summon the healer!”

In a rush, a servant ran to call the healer.

“Ugh.”

The emperor, now on the floor, scratched the carpet with his fingers. Rolling on the floor, the emperor eventually lifted his upper garment.

Gasps.

The knights gasped at the bizarre sight. The emperor’s abdomen elongated, gradually taking a defined shape.

“Is that… is that…”

“A, A palm of a hand?”

“So, why is that inside His Majesty’s belly?”

A knight, somewhat taller, couldn’t conceal his bewilderment as he asked, but he had no words to respond. He just covered his mouth with his hand to endure the disgust.

Inside, something was happening; the emperor’s belly twisted and turned, revealing the unmistakable shape of a palm. In pain, the emperor, twisting his body, locked eyes with a nearby knight.

“Give me a knife! Ugh.”

“Your, Your Majesty.”

“Right now!”

Like a madman, the emperor threw off his upper garment and stood up, revealing a pale and soft torso with no visible muscles. Holding a strange gaze, the emperor approached a knight.

The emperor took the dagger the knight was carrying. With a strange look in his eyes, the emperor aimed the pointed end at his own abdomen.

“Ugh. This… this kind of thing… Ugh.”

The emperor’s hand holding the dagger trembled. However, unable to let go, the emperor moved the handle of the dagger to his belly.

“Your Majesty!”

The knight’s loud voice echoed in fear, knowing not what the emperor was attempting.

Thud.

The emperor’s knees buckled as he ruthlessly stabbed his own belly. Blood trickled from the slashed abdomen as the emperor, peering at his open belly, crumpled to the ground.

“Ugh, ugh.”

Crash.

The dagger fell to the ground, and the emperor groped his own belly. Blood flowed from the torn abdomen. Meanwhile, the emperor inserted his hand into the wound as if searching for something, astonishing the knights into breathlessness.

“Argh.”

Seemingly having found what he sought, the emperor chuckled and pulled his hand out from his belly. 

In his hand was Morrison’s other hand. Separate from the deceased Morrison, the hand moved independently, wriggling like a freshly caught fish.

Fingers, as if adorned with eyes, moved like spider legs, exploring the surroundings and crawling over the dining table in search of a hiding place.

“Your, Your Majesty!”

“Ugh.”

The emperor’s body collapsed to the ground. His vivid blood pooled on the red carpet.

With each gasp from the emperor, the color of the pool deepened. The knights flipped the emperor’s body, attempting to staunch the bleeding, causing a commotion.

The emperor’s self-destruction seemed dreamlike and hazy. Were it not for the blood on Gia’s palms and the warmth emanating from Kalion’s embrace, Gia might have thought it was all a dream.

Other members slowly began to regain consciousness, rising from the floor.

‘Thank goodness. It really was a paralysis potion…’

Gia swallowed her breath, glancing at Morrison’s hand that moved amid the chaos. She needed to clean up. Everything related to Morrison had to be erased as if he had never existed. 

As Gia stood up, Kalion naturally stuck by her side.

Gia, struggling, effortlessly pulled the dagger lodged in Morrison’s head. At this, Morrison’s lifeless body twitched. Gia looked at it with indifference.

Knowing Gia’s intentions, Kalion patiently waited. Gia confidently walked over and precisely plunged the dagger into the center of Morrison’s hand, still moving like a coiled spider leg.

Squelch.

The fingers, entwined like tentacles, wriggled persistently.

“Just as tenacious as your master.” 

Gia flicked the dagger while Morrison’s corpse struggled.

Gia lifted the torch from the table and, separating the bottom part, casually sprinkled the oil-filled container over Morrison’s body.

She rubbed her fingers together, diligently identifying the slippery texture of the oil. Without hesitation, Gia threw the candle she held onto the ground.

Whoosh.

Morrison’s corpse, having received the final treatment, burned vigorously. Having dealt with Morrison, Gia felt a strange mix of relief and the need to laugh in triumph. 

But why were tears welling up? The flames reflected in Gia’s eyes.

“Gia.”

Kalion approached Gia. Holding her trembling shoulders, Kalion pressed Gia’s head into his chest.

“I will find a way somehow. So please, don’t give up.”

Despite Kalion’s hopeful tone spreading through the air, Gia couldn’t stop the tears. 

It felt too empty. A sense of futility overwhelmed her from head to toe.

‘Is this my end?’

Gia turned her head, pressing her ear against Kalion’s chest near his heart. As she turned her head, she caught sight of Morrison’s burning corpse, the flames licking at him.

Still, Morrison was taken care of.

‘Now it’s my turn.’

Leaning against Kalion’s chest, Gia, with a vacant gaze, watched the flames rising. The dining table was chaotic, with moans from awakened members and the voices of knights calling for the emperor to merge into a mess.

‘My turn…’

Gia, supported by Kalion, observed Morrison being engulfed by the flames until the very end.

* * *

News of the emperor’s demise reached them. 

It was an expected outcome since the emperor had sliced his own belly. So, the emperor ended up joining Morrison. 

Gia speculated on how the emperor had become entangled with Morrison. Gia lay on the bed, staring outside at the warm sunlight. 

On such a beautiful day, why could she feel so endlessly despondent? She had taken care of Morrison, yet why did her mood sink like this?

“Really… The time has come.”

A deep breath turned into a sigh, filling the room.

Shortly after the commotion, knights from the Duke’s estate and the emperor’s guards rushed in. 

The duke’s expression hardened as he witnessed the unfolding chaos. Following the duke was Gregory, standing there gasping for breath. 

Gia’s assumption was correct. The emperor had taken Oscar as a hostage, threatening Gregory.

Gregory explained that he didn’t know about the alliance between the emperor and Morrison but had felt something suspicious. He mentioned the sudden recovery of the emperor’s health and the emperor’s statement that the dragon’s heart was no longer needed.

In the emperor’s tone that day, Gregory sensed an unknown hostility. He said he would understand when the day came. What day could that possibly be? Gregory’s internal conflict intensified as Oscar was held hostage.

Until the day of the banquet, he was strictly monitored and couldn’t meet his grandfather. 

Strangely, on the last day, everything was quiet. Gregory realized that the last day of the banquet was the day the emperor had mentioned.

He needed to inform someone that the emperor had different plans. 

Oscar, aware of Gregory’s dilemma, nudged him. The old man didn’t care when he died; he was freed from his internal conflict. Thanks to that, the turmoil in the palace could be swiftly suppressed under the Duke’s control.

After the paralysis was lifted, the knights express their apologies to Gia. 

Was it their fault? Ironically, it was just as much Gia’s fault. It was because Morrison had forgotten that Gia could harbor resentment and do anything.

The sudden death of the emperor shook the empire. With Morrison taken care of and the emperor, who had been a significant constraint, resolved at once, Gia enjoyed a rare moment of leisure in her room. 

Despite the inner turmoil, she maintained a calm exterior, not showing any signs.

“It’s hot. It’s really hot now.”

Gia’s muttered words spread through the room. Rey, having made friends with the maids here, didn’t bother to find her and played alone.

Feeling the season change in her body, Gia glanced at the sunlight. Stingy. She complained of pain, closing her reddened eyes tightly, but reality remained unchanged.

So it ends up like this. She knew it, but accepting it brought an endless sense of unfairness that welled up from somewhere deep inside.

The empire seemed in disarray due to the emperor’s sudden death. Despite appearing preoccupied, Kalion did not cease his efforts to find the mage. Looking at Kalion, who still clung to hope even after letting go of his own, Gia felt both pitiful and sorry.

Gia slowly stepped out of the room. The warm air circulated, almost as if announcing that it was time to truly let go of regrets.

Thud. 

The door closed, leaving behind a space.

* * *

“Is that true?”

“Yeah.”

Kalion stood up abruptly. 

Trying to contain his excitement with an expression that seemed overcome with emotion, he paced around the sofa.

“You found the mage? And they’re expected to arrive at the Harbor today?”

The duke, familiar with Kalion’s usual demeanor, raised an eyebrow at his enthusiastic demeanor.

“According to the informant, they’re supposed to visit the harbor this evening, so we should leave right away. Rumor has it that this mage doesn’t stay in one place for long.”

“I’ll go right away.”

Kalion, too, was diligently researching to cure Gia’s illness. While not one to believe in superstitions, there were rumors about Eastern mages having unique abilities within the empire.

Like a wanderer, this person traveled from place to place, using the power of magic to cure even those on the brink of death. He didn’t flinch at any amount of wealth, so they said.

Having received the news he had been eagerly awaiting, Kalion rolled up his sleeves as if ready to leave the palace immediately.

“Don’t be hasty.”

As the duke rang the bell, the informant waiting outside entered.