My Strange Savior - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The wrinkles on Oscar’s forehead deepened, as the response was not satisfactory.

“In fact, with the Empire’s help…”

Oscar, who had been holding his breath, glanced at Kalion. Kalion, who had anticipated what would follow, also looked at Oscar.

“It seems a bit challenging to accept.”

“What?”

Could it be that even in this matter, he couldn’t lend a hand? When Gia asked while looking at Oscar, he sighed as if there was no other choice and tapped his forehead with his finger.

“If we were to discuss this somewhere else, I’d be executed for heresy immediately… But with you, it should be fine.”

Why did he hesitate so much before speaking? Gia expressed her curiosity at Oscar’s behavior, which she couldn’t understand.

Gia thought that if Oscar confirmed the truth and gave a clear answer, they could immediately go after Morrison. However, a sense of unease that she couldn’t shake crept over her due to the situation becoming complicated.

“The Emperor of this Empire won’t move so easily.”

“The Emperor…”

“It took quite some time even to dispatch the Order of Knights to capture the sudden outbreaks of monster groups everywhere. Do you understand what I mean?”

Oscar nodded, as if he had expected Gia to look at him with a perplexed expression, her face showing signs of not understanding.

“His Majesty the Emperor…”

How can he explain the situation to the lady in front of him using words? Gia felt frustrated as Oscar didn’t respond quickly and was stalling for time.

“His Majesty… is a cautious person.”

“What?”

Instead of Oscar, Kalion spoke first.

“The delay in sending the punitive force, dividing the Order of Knights and sending them separately, it’s all for those reasons. His Majesty always keeps rebellion in mind.”

“Rebellion?”

“Yes. There were many disturbances until he ascended to the throne. Some nobles denied legitimacy. Of course, they have all been executed now…”

So, they’re saying that the timid Emperor won’t easily send troops to capture Morrison?

Gia looked at Kalion, wondering if she understood correctly.

“So, you mean the Emperor won’t send the military?”

“Yes. Without concrete evidence or proof… we can’t request reinforcements.”

“Damn.”

From one problem to another, she had convinced Oscar, but now it seemed the Emperor was the issue.

Why is this so complicated? Imperial bureaucracy felt overwhelming to Gia. She scratched her scalp, feeling frustrated, and suppressed a sigh.

“Then what do we do? I am the evidence.”

“It’s not that simple. The moment you mention coming from another world, they might arrest you right away, maybe as an insurgent.”

Oscar remembered the nobles who had quietly disappeared one by one and closed his mouth uncomfortably.

“Why is this so complicated…”

Gia sat in frustration, tapping her foot on the ground. Were they expecting her to just sit here and wait until Morrison revealed himself, not knowing what he might do next?

Even though the synchronization with her watch was not complete, she could see the rough terrain. Most of it was still blurred, but she could tell how vast this continent was.

Gia, who stared at the solar-powered watch with a dry expression, slumped her shoulders like a lost child, unsure of what to do next.

Since she couldn’t flip this vast continent upside down all by herself, Gia clenched her teeth and asked for advice.

“So, what should we do?”

“I think… considering Kalion’s injury, the Order of Knights will likely remain stationed here. This will buy us some time to search in the direction where Morrison disappeared.”

“So, Grandfather’s suggestion…”

Although Oscar was elderly, he rarely heard someone directly refer to him as “Grandfather,” so he raised his white eyebrows in response.

“Lord Oscar.”

“It’s fine.”

Ignoring Kalion’s correction, Oscar chuckled and gestured to Gia as if telling her to continue.

“Anyway… so, if I understand correctly, Kalion suggests that we report his injury and search for Morrison in the mountainous area while the Order of Knights remains stationed here?”

“Yes, that’s correct. It would be even better if we could catch Morrison within that time, but… finding solid evidence is enough. Evidence strong enough to make the Emperor take action.”

Easier said than done. How do they find such clear evidence? She had more than enough evidence as someone who had come from another world. 

How do they find evidence for someone who doesn’t believe and needs convincing? Frustration wrinkled Gia’s face as she closed her eyes.

That’s why politicians are so annoying. It’s always the people at the top who are the problem, no matter where you go.

What’s the lower water doing on this surface? Water from above is coming down.

Regardless of whether one was suspicious or not, it was ridiculous to nitpick and debate amidst a global issue of impending doom.

“How do you determine if the evidence is solid or not?”

Even if they managed to find evidence, it would be futile if it couldn’t move the Emperor to take action.

“Wouldn’t the story be different if it were the monster you said he had tamed?”

Is this old man insane?

“Where does it hurt? Are you okay?” 

Gia, bewildered by the absurd statement, stared at Oscar with her mouth agape.

Maybe this grandfather is unwell.

Gia wasn’t the only one taken aback by Oscar’s words; even Kalion remained silent.

The idea was essentially asking her to capture a dragon that Morrison had turned into a zombie.

“Grandfather, are you crazy?”

Could anyone possibly kill that? Even Gia, with her strong spirit, shrank back at the thought of confronting such a creature.

Capture that dragon? Unless she was completely insane. If she hadn’t seen it for herself, Gia might have already rushed into the mountains to fight Morrison one-on-one or in a brawl.

Oscar burst into laughter at Gia’s straightforward response.

He’s laughing?

“Your actions are quite extreme.”

Kalion grabbed Gia’s arm as she tried to get up immediately.

“Master, that’s impossible even for me, even if I were to see it.”

“I understand.”

“But why…”

Why would he talk about something so impossible? Oscar’s intentions were unclear.

“There is a knowledgeable alchemist.”

“An alchemist?”

The phrase that came out of Oscar’s mouth sounded unfamiliar to Gia.

“In simpler terms, it means a profession that creates something flexible with metals and materials that humans cannot easily handle.”

So Gia wondered how this alchemist was related to catching a dragon. Since she didn’t know much about this world, Gia looked at Kalion, who still had a grip on her arm.

‘I won’t hit your master. I’m not hitting him.’

Gia, who had no hobby of committing violence against the elderly, moved her arm, which Kalion had grasped as if it were a fish flapping.

She doesn’t know what he thinks of her.

Kalion, who had removed his hand from Gia’s arm, looked at Oscar with a cautious expression.

“If they’re alchemists, aren’t they almost impossible to find now?”

Due to the Emperor’s persecution, alchemists, people with the profession of alchemy, were almost non-existent. Even if there were any left, they were reduced to criminals who created and sold low-quality items in the underworld, receiving no recognition as they once did.

“Nowadays, when you hear ‘alchemist,’ the first thing that comes to mind is someone who makes things for criminal purposes.”

“There is one true alchemist.” 

Oscar said, giving strength to the speculations that followed. 

“If it’s genuine…”

He nodded as if confirming the guesses.

“He is the last disciple of Myers, who was a great philosopher and a master of alchemy. Among all the things created through alchemy on the continent, none passed through Myers’ hands. As befitting a great philosopher, Myers used alchemy for the prosperity of all people, and as a result, he became a revered figure by everyone.”

Now, Gia thought that alchemy had lost its lineage, but this was none other than the last disciple of Myers. Kalion’s eyes, which had never expected to hear that name here, flickered.

“But… even if he’s an alchemist, he doesn’t necessarily have any combat skills, right?”

No matter how powerful alchemy might be, it seemed unlikely that it could be used to catch a dragon. Oscar shook his head in response to Kalion’s worried words.

“That disciple possesses a mana bullet made from the heart of the white dragon he captured a hundred years ago.”

Dragon heart.

The heart of a dragon, which descended only as a legend. A mana bullet made from it. If they could land just one shot properly, capturing the dragon tamed by Morrison might not be as difficult as they thought.

“What is it? What’s going on?”

Seeing Kalion exchange glances with Oscar as if he had gained some insight, Gia grabbed his thick arm and shook it.

Why did they have something like this in their world?

“It’s a weapon made from the heart of a dragon.”

“Why is that important?”

“Well, with that, it’s not entirely impossible to capture a dragon that Morrison has tamed.”

Kalion’s explanation left Gia wide-eyed. There’s a possibility?

“The heart of a dragon itself holds an enormous amount of mana. Especially the White Dragon is a breed known as a true dragon.”

The White Dragon was of a higher lineage than the Red Dragon tamed by Morrison. It had a lifespan of over a thousand years.

The fact that there were still mana bullets containing concentrated mana left intrigued Kalion.

“If we can use that mana bullet… it might be worth a try. But will he willingly give it up?”

The mere mention of the name made it a valuable item. Furthermore, given his current persecuted status under the Emperor, would he willingly give up the item? 

His hopeful expression faded, and a worried look stained Kalion’s face as he stared at Oscar.

“He will give it up.”

Oscar’s eyes, speaking calmly, became even more serious.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Gregory, the last disciple of Myers… he’s my grandson.”

Upon Oscar’s words, Kalion clenched his fist and widened his eyes.

“I’ve never mentioned this before, so it’s natural you didn’t know.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to burden my apprentice with that knowledge. I couldn’t impose such a responsibility on you, Kalion, the son of the Bowers family, and the leader of the Emperor’s Knights.”

Oscar, who had taught Kalion about righteousness and integrity when he was young, couldn’t bring himself to do so. Especially not in the current situation where the Emperor was capturing Myers’ disciples.