My Strange Savior - Chapter 150

Chapter 150

“Go with him. They also have someone there, so when you hear news of his arrival, you can meet him soon.”

At the Duke’s words, a glimmer of hope lit up in Kalion’s eyes. Perhaps there was a chance to cure Gia. Kalion, who had grasped a slender strand of hope, bowed his head in gratitude to the Duke.

“Thank you.”

“Go.”

As Kalion rushed out, his cloak fluttering, the Duke frowned, casting a dark expression.

“Ah…”

The guilt of deceiving his son weighed heavily on his shoulders. 

The night before, Gia had cautiously revealed her secret. She would soon turn into a rampaging entity, incurable by anything in this place. She even mentioned wanting to end her own life before that happened. 

Gia had conveyed her final request, unable to tell her beloved the cruel news with her own words.

“Please divert Kalion’s gaze elsewhere. Perhaps with news of finding a mage or something…”

Gia’s eyes, proposing specific examples, trembled. The guilt of deceiving her loved one painted a rueful expression on the Duke’s face as he stared at her.

Having silently acknowledged her demands, the Duke didn’t press further. He knew his remaining son would fall into despair and sorrow, but he had a duty to protect the citizens of the empire. 

The damage from just Morrison alone was immense, with half of the elite knights perishing. Gia’s voice, predicting that she would become even more monstrous than Morrison, was hauntingly hollow.

She seemed devoid of any remorse, yet the Duke understood. He could see that Gia was suppressing her boiling emotions. Though blood stained his tightly sealed lips, the Duke deliberately averted his gaze. It was the last kindness he could offer to Gia.

How much did her heart struggle to reach this decision? 

The Duke’s scrutinizing eyes observed Gia’s trembling fingertips. Veins protruded on her small hand, clenched tightly on the sofa leather.

The Duke sighed. The two of them couldn’t simply be happy. It was regrettable, but the decision had to be made. 

Knowing the meaning behind Gia’s talk of rampage, the Duke cautiously asked Gia if there was anything she needed.

“Take care of Kalion… Please.”

The bright brown irises, seemingly on the verge of shedding tears at any moment, wavered. She deeply loved Kalion. The Duke could understand why she didn’t want to show her end to Kalion.

“Where… are you planning to go?”

The Duke asked Gia, who had already made up her mind. 

Even if she chose to end her life, he wanted to find her body and give her a proper farewell, even if it meant leaving her in an unknown place.

“Why would you…?”

“Being alone in an unfamiliar place would be lonely. Kalion wouldn’t want that either.”

In response to the Duke’s question, Gia’s gaze lowered. After a moment of contemplation, she struggled to open her lips.

“I want to go to the place where I first fell.”

Understanding that he would ask later to retrieve her body, Gia forced her trembling lips to move.

“That’s where I first met Kalion.”

“Understood.”

Even though tears seemed ready to fall at any moment, Gia didn’t let them. Folding her waist and bowing her head, Gia thanked the Duke.

“I’m sorry for burdening you with this.”

“No need.”

Knowing that Kalion would react if he found out he had been deceived, Gia apologized in advance. The Duke engraved in his memory her confident and unyielding figure as she turned away without hesitation.

That was the event from the previous evening. 

The Duke’s tongue held the words advising them to spend at least one day having a date like lovers and staying a bit longer. 

The Duke let out a bitter laugh. Would that make their departure a bit lighter? Perhaps it might make it even more unbearable. It was fortunate that he didn’t add unnecessary words.

Swallowing his bitterness, the Duke stood by the window. Watching Kalion, who had left the imperial palace with his attendants, the Duke carried the burden on his shoulders.

“Fate is truly cruel.”

The Duke’s heart was not at ease either. 

What should he say to his wife, who regarded Gia as her daughter-in-law? 

His mind became as complicated as his feelings.

* * *

When Gia arrived near the mountains much faster than when she confidently ascended the capital by carriage, she raised her sweaty head. 

Would Kalion be searching for her by now?

As soon as Gia confirmed Kalion’s direction toward the palace, she mounted her horse and left the Duke’s residence without a single word. Gia stroked the mane of the horse eating grass and wiped the sweat off her palm.

Summer was just around the corner, and that fact was pressing on Gia’s throat. 

Even if a mage could miraculously heal her body according to Kalion’s wishes, it would be of no use if it didn’t happen now. Symptoms of the impending berserk, such as poor blood circulation and tingling in her hands and feet, became more frequent.

“Ah…”

After running non-stop for more than ten days, Gia felt a warm sensation on her nose. 

When she wiped her nose with her hand, blood was thickly clotted and sticky. Touching the blood with her fingers, a sense of despair overwhelmed her. 

It was so concentrated that it couldn’t be called human blood. Was this really the end?

Gia wiped away the blood on her sleeve and ascended the mountain. She hadn’t expected to climb this hated mountain again. 

Dismissing any thoughts about the mountain, Gia swiftly climbed.

Upon reaching the middle, she saw the entrance of the cave where she and Kalion had stayed together. Memories of when she first met Kalion flashed through her mind like a fleeting lantern.

The times they treated each other like madmen, yelling at each other, felt vivid as if it had happened just yesterday. If she had a little less patience, she might have struck Kalion. 

Gia chuckled at the past events.

Back then, they didn’t know they would become so deeply entwined, exchanging heavy and profound emotions. Truly, you never know with people. Even Yu Gia, famous for not showing affection, had perished.

With unnecessary thoughts, Gia entered the cave. She glanced around the cave, now filled with pitch-black darkness.

“What’s this?”

Creak.

Can’t even choose a place to die properly. In the brief time, the cave was empty, the sound of growling animals echoed from the end.

Not wanting to die just yet, Gia blew wind through her lips. Suddenly, her bangs lifted in the breeze. As she waited for the animals to come out, Gia leaned her shoulder against the cold cave wall.

Creak.

A large black bear revealed itself. Fortunately, it didn’t have six legs or some grotesque appearance.

“Hey.”

Creak, creak.

“Get out. I’m giving you a chance.”

Feeling quite irritated, Gia pointed her finger outside. A bear three times larger than Gia immediately moved as if it was about to attack.

“Scat. Go away.”

The bear writhed in pain, grabbing its head and sprawling on the ground. Gia approached and kicked the bear’s torso. The large bear easily rolled out of the cave.

Seemingly resentful, the bear’s black eyes glanced at Gia.

“Shoo.”

As Gia swung her fist into the air as if to hit the bear, it fled with its tail between its legs.

“Come back when I’m dead.”

Gia sat down on the ground, leaning against the cold wall. Despite the bright sunlight outside, the cave was cold and damp. Chills were felt from her buttocks touching the ground.

Thunk.

Pulling out a pistol from her holster, Gia aimed and pulled the trigger. A blue light emanated from the gun barrel. Gia, who never expected to use the gun like this, touched the gun barrel with her fingers.

If she aimed precisely at her forehead and pulled the trigger, her tough life would end here.

Gia looked down at the gun emitting a blue light. 

“You know this is the best choice.”

The barrel shook uncontrollably along her trembling fingertips. Even her determined heart couldn’t stop the shaking. Alone now, weakened by the realization, emotions seeped in.

“It’s unfair.”

In truth, it was unfair. Was it really unfair? Would the people she had killed unjustly think so? 

Gia reminisced about her past actions, ruthlessly killing people under the pretext of protecting the shelter.

Was this the retribution she was receiving now, or was it an atonement for the world destroyed by her father’s virus? She couldn’t believe she had done something wrong enough to deserve this ending.

Biting her pursed lips, the trembling intensified. 

She wanted to see Kalion. What expression would Kalion have upon seeing her now? He would probably rush over, pull her to the ground, and they would cry together. He never knew how to console her by saying she was blameless.

He was that kind of a person. It wasn’t unreasonable for her to fall for him.

Creak.

Ignoring the fierce growls from the entrance, Gia spat out.

“Come back when I’m dead.”

Wanting to quietly face the end of her memories with Kalion in the remaining place, Gia sighed.

Creak.

The fierce snarls from the entrance reached Gia’s ears, but she didn’t turn her head.

“Come back and live when I’m dead.”

Facing the harsh reality, Gia exhaled heavily.

Creak.

The forceful exhale from the entrance reached even the hair on Gia’s head.

“Geez.”

In the frustrating situation, as Gia turned her head in discontent, a massive cow blocked the entrance and slowly walked inside.

“Huh…”

Gia’s eyes widened. The all-black, muscular cow with red eyes looked down at her. When had it approached so closely?

The cow’s breath covered Gia’s face as it leaned down. The red eyes stared at the gun in Gia’s hand.

“What…?”

“Krrr.”

As if annoyed, the cow snorted. Then, without warning, it suddenly swung its massive front hoof, accurately knocking the gun out of Gia’s hand.

Rolling away, the gun landed far from Gia before she could react. Startled, Gia hadn’t even picked it up before the massive hoof of the cow shattered the gun.

“You…you…you!”

Despite Gia’s angry voice, the cow seemed unfazed. It crouched down, placing its large hindquarters next to Gia, and sat down as if nothing had happened.