My Strange Savior - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Kalion felt a pang of concern at the sight of Gia’s downcast face, like a rain-soaked puppy. Thinking he had said something unnecessary, he quickly apologized.

“So, are you going to eat?”

As if she were wondering when she had ever made such a face, Gia smiled brightly again and continued eating her meal with gusto.

‘Her cheeks are so full that it’s more than I thought…’

Kalion, who had tried to block his unnecessary thoughts, continued his meal with impeccable manners and composure, as neat as his appearance.

“After the meal, I plan to see the master.”

“Huh?”

“It seems like he has made up his mind.”

Hearing the welcome news during the meal, Gia, who had been happily enjoying her dessert, looked up.

“Can I come too?”

“Yes.”

Oscar, Kalion’s mentor. What decision had he come to? Gia rolled her eyes and licked the ice cream smeared on her lips.

If he gave an unexpected answer, Gia was determined to go back to the mountains alone if she had to. She had to find a solution, even if it meant doing it herself, even if it meant death.

Ironically, dying like this was less terrifying than dragging on for over six months and becoming a zombie. It seemed better to her to fight with Morrison and possibly die in the process.

“I’m done. Let’s go.”

Seeing Gia’s empty plate, Kalion pushed the dessert in front of him toward her.

“Would you like more?”

Gia quickly sat down, faster than her departure from the seat, and without hesitation, she pulled the dessert closer.

“I’ll just have this much.”

Kalion, who had finished his meal, propped his chin on his elbow on the table and looked at Gia. It seemed like he should praise her for being so good-natured, sharing with Rey.

Though it might seem childish to someone else, their dining scene didn’t look so bad to Kalion. He found it quite fitting with the warm sunlight streaming in through the window.

Gia, who had scraped the plate clean, put down her utensils with a hint of regret.

“I can’t have more than three; it upsets my stomach. Right?”

“That’s right.”

Though she doesn’t get an upset stomach. Gia decided to stop eating because she wanted to see if Rey would follow suit. It took him a long time to put his utensils away.

“You’ll be playing with the others.”

“Where will sister go?”

“I had to meet someone here for a moment.”

“I understand.”

Rey nodded and got down from his chair, while Gia, who helped him, followed Kalion out of the dining area.

“By any chance…”

“Yes?”

“If the master doesn’t believe or reacts negatively to this situation, what do you plan to do?”

Kalion’s gaze deepened in response to the question. Gia had asked him the question that kept him from falling asleep, even though his body was in a comfortable bed.

“In that case, what will you do?”

“Me?”

Gia pursed her lips in response to Kalion’s question, which was more like a counter-question.

“I have to go, even if it’s just me.”

“Are you saying you’ll face Morrison alone?”

“That’s the only way… What else can I do? I have to do everything I can, give it my all.”

“Why?”

“Why? It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

Even if he pretended not to know, there was no one here to judge her actions. It was a matter of risking her life for something. Why would it be obvious?

Kalion looked at Gia, who spoke with conviction and shrugged his shoulders.

“Why?”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

As they walked down the long corridor, Gia stopped in response to Kalion’s question.

The sunlight streaming through the arched windows along the corridor was dazzling, and Gia frowned.

“Yes, I am.”

Gia’s candid words struck Kalion’s chest with unease. He didn’t know what Gia was hoping for, but she straightened her posture and faced a man much larger than herself.

“Does that provide any reason to avoid it?” 

He wondered why a woman of such a small stature, who could barely reach his shoulders, appeared so overwhelmingly large.

Kalion gazed at those twinkling eyes for a while, which repeatedly turned bright brown every time the breaking sunlight shone into them. The straight determination within those eyes made his heart flutter. 

Even the corridor’s air seemed to move for Gia’s sake. Despite being someone who had tamed dragons, Morrison was terrifying and intimidating, even if he had killed her father. She should have felt the pressure of wanting to run away, unable to do anything right.

But the woman in front of him seemed indifferent, almost as if it made Kalion embarrassed.

“Alone… I won’t leave you alone.”

“What?”

“I won’t let you bear it alone. I… I promise.”

As if he had made a firm resolution, Kalion’s intense red eyes bore into Gia. 

What was he saying? Without time to think, Gia’s head seemed to go blank due to the unexpected response.

Why is he…?

Fear was a natural emotion. Unlike Kalion, Gia had a reason to kill Morrison. She had to live. 

Unlike Gia, who didn’t want to become a zombie and die, Kalion stared at her with his fiery eyes, as if determined to do something. 

“In case, if the master doesn’t trust you or opposes, I’ll follow you, even if it’s just me.”

At the sight of Gia’s tiny form standing there, Kalion felt something boiling inside him.

Could blood ever run so hot? Overwhelmed by the intense sensation, Kalion clenched and unclenched his fist.

“Why?”

If he’d run away because he was scared, Gia would have understood.

“You could die.”

“I know.”

“Are you sure? It seems like you don’t know.”

What’s the harm in running away? It’s only natural. It wasn’t until the world was on the brink of extinction due to zombies that she realized how selfish and short-sighted people can be. 

Aware of this all too well, Gia gazed steadily at Kalion, who stood resolute.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, it occurred to her that further words would be meaningless. 

Thoughts could change later on, as was often the case when faced with reality. People could change their minds when it came to it. Knowing how difficult it was to overcome instinctual fear, Gia nodded her head.

“Let’s go for now. Go and see, then we can talk.”

“All right.”

Still, she found herself smiling unintentionally, grateful for his willingness to fight alongside her.

‘Kid… Turns out you’re more courageous than I thought.’

Once again, it was a good decision to spare him. Feeling a sense of pride, Gia turned and headed forward.

“Let’s go quickly. He must be waiting.”

“Yes, I understand.”

With these concise words, a quiet silence settled in. It didn’t feel lonely for Gia on the way to Oscar’s place, at least not in her heart. For that much, she was grateful.

As they arrived at what seemed like the same place as yesterday, Kalion led Gia to Oscar’s office.

“We’ve arrived.”

With a sigh, Kalion straightened his robes in front of his office and knocked on the door.

“Master, it’s Kalion.”

“Come in.”

Oscar’s permission was granted, and the door opened. Seeing Oscar, who had aged even more in just one day, Gia felt a pang of guilt and followed Kalion with an unnatural gesture.

Swish, swish.

Oscar, who had been writing something on his desk, got up from his seat and sat opposite the two of them.

“I went to Dervon Village yesterday to verify the truth.”

So that’s why it took this long. Gia nodded in understanding, and Oscar’s expression darkened.

“I wish it had been a lie…”

Oscar clenched his fist with a pained expression. He didn’t doubt his disciple, Kalion, but this was a matter that needed confirmation.

After pushing through the night to reach Derbon Village, Oscar wrinkled his nose at the unpleasant odor that stung his nostrils.

It’s not a lie.

How much Oscar had wished for it to be a lie. The story was unbelievable, but faced with the gruesome scene before his eyes, he couldn’t just ignore it. The fact that a woman of unknown identity had come with them existed.

The heat radiating through their skin still burned fiercely, consuming the village with the undead. The flames crackled and devoured the village, but Oscar could tell it was no ordinary fire. It was as if a wave of fire had engulfed the village. The presence of dragons was evident, with large-scale destruction in various places.

Yet, it had been a village inhabited by over a hundred people, and seeing it turned to ashes, Oscar’s wrinkled brow trembled with a shiver.

“Have you verified it?”

The scent of the early morning air still carried the stench, and Oscar, nodding heavily in response to Kalion’s question, took a sip from the cup placed in front of him. Otherwise, his dry mouth wouldn’t allow him to speak properly.

“As you said, it’s horrific.”

The corpses scattered everywhere. Seeing people who had died without realizing what had happened, eyes unopened, the words in Oscar’s mouth felt as dry as the ashes floating through the village.

On the way back from retrieving the bodies, Oscar’s footsteps, already slow and measured in his old age, seemed even slower, perhaps because he had sensed a heavy burden.

“Did you get any sleep?”

Kalion voiced his concern as he looked at Oscar’s face, which had turned pale in just one day.

“Not sleeping for a day won’t be a big issue at my age.”

He chuckled, but there was no strength in Oscar’s laughter.

“Master…”

In Kalion’s plea, laden with concern, Oscar opened his tired eyes. 

Seeing those sharp eyes, despite his age, Gia began to hope that the situation might resolve more easily than she had thought.

It was said to be Oscar’s domain. With his support, finding Morrison was the only way for Gia to accomplish her mission, whether it meant killing him or taking him back to her world. She couldn’t even entrust that burden to the people of this world, so Gia clenched her dry lips.

A moment of silence settled in the office, and after a short while of contemplation, Oscar finally spoke.

“In your opinion, what are the chances of stopping Morrison if you find him?”

“In reality…”

Gia cautiously looked at Oscar, twisting her parched lips.

“To be honest, I can’t say for sure that I can kill him.”

“I see.”

“But… I will do my best.”

That alone wasn’t enough. There had to be a way to stop him for sure. There had to be a certainty that they could kill this Morrison, the one who controlled and tamed monsters as he pleased.