My Strange Savior - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

As if people’s lives were all the same, he handed her a red bracelet made by twisting several layers of thin thread.

“Wow… Thank you.”

Not one to turn down something free, Gia placed the red bracelet on her palm.

“Is there anything else you want to eat?”

“Hmm… Candy now!”

“Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

Just in case she might lose it, Gia pulled up the hood she was wearing and carefully placed the bracelet in the pocket of the combat pants.

Grabbing Rey’s hand again, they excitedly wandered around, shaking their bodies and stirring up the surroundings.

If Gia were a puppy, her tail with lush black fur would have wagged vigorously like her hair, for sure.

Kalion thought as he walked closely, not to lose the two getting farther away.

His mind was a mess, contemplating whether to convince the members or to challenge the seemingly hopeless task with Gia alone.

Oddly, his heart felt at ease.

After handing Gia his hoodie for fear she would look strangely in her unusual attire, Kalion watched the two buy cotton candy in the distance.

What’s so great about those sweet sugar lumps made of white?

Looking at Gia standing in front like a child waiting, and Rey, who was truly a child, Kalion’s eyes softened.

“Do you want some too?”

She asked and Kalion shook his head.

“You really won’t have any?”

He nodded, and Gia reached out into the air, clenching her fist tightly with her elbow pulled in.

The money was saved. Nice.

Why were those thugs standing there foolishly wasting their time when they couldn’t earn much anyway?

With the pocket feeling lighter than expected, Gia rejoiced.

She had clearly said she wouldn’t eat it, right?

Eyes shining, Gia bravely stepped forward, weighing the pocket and the food scattered around.

Maybe she can try a bit of each.

Although she had just eaten, Gia’s appetite was quickly piqued.

The skewers laid out enticingly seemed to tempt her to take a bite.

As tempting aromas wafted through the air, her nose twitched involuntarily.

Indeed, snacks at the market were incomparable.

She stared at the skewers, each one threaded with various meats and vegetables, so intensively that it felt like her eyes would catch fire.

Her mouth watered incessantly, and she couldn’t help but swallow from time to time as she gazed at the rising smoke.

“Ahaha…”

The shopkeeper at the skewer stall burst into laughter at that look.

“Sir, how much longer does it need to cook?”

At this point, they seemed well-cooked. When Gia asked the person still grilling, he shook his head.

“Eating raw meat can upset your stomach.”

At his suggestion to wait a bit longer, Gia quickly wiped away the drool that had formed.

“Sis, are you hungry?”

Even though they had just eaten, Gia, still salivating, looked at Rey, who was smiling brightly.

“Yeah… My stomach is like a bottomless pit…”

“Wow…”

Is that true? Rey had an air of believing whatever Gia said.

“All done…”

“Thank you!”

Although it would be scalding hot, the man saw the woman eating eagerly and thought, ‘Well, it could happen,’ and diligently grilled another skewer.

As the skewers vanished one by one, the shopkeeper looked at Gia eating with relish, thinking that business was doing exceptionally well today.

“One more!”

“Another one, you say?”

The merchant’s face froze in astonishment as the wooden skewers reached an impressive total of ten.

“Th-that’s enough, please.”

“Oh… did I eat too much?”

“Yes… that’s correct.”

If Kalion hadn’t intervened, Gia, with the momentum of finishing all the skewers available, would have regretfully emptied them all.

“Don’t you need to have dinner as well?”

“Dinner!”

Seeing Gia persuaded with the word ‘dinner,’ the merchant burst into laughter.

“That’s right, miss. If you keep eating like this, you won’t be able to have dinner later and might get an upset stomach. It’s better to listen to your companion.”

While it would have been better for business to sell more, the merchant, who had never seen a young lady standing on the street eating something so seriously, placed more skewers in a paper bag for Gia.

“This is my token of gratitude for enjoying the food.”

Thinking she was not his girlfriend, Gia hesitated but eventually accepted the bag he offered.

“Oh my, this kind of thing… Thank you.”

Despite her words, she accepted the bag from the merchant, who then smiled and finished the transaction.

“That will be 12 tar.”

In the end, Gia, who managed to finish twelve skewers, satisfied, pulled out money from her pocket, wearing a contented expression.

“Thank you!”

Thanking the merchant, Gia, holding Kalion’s somewhat absent-minded arm, left the alley filled with food with Rey.

“Wow… so much food…”

“Wow… Sis, that’s like the famous wishing fountain I hear about.”

“A wishing fountain?”

Gia looked at the fountain placed in a central square-like area.

It has seven layers, and the water flowing from the top is surprisingly refreshing.

“Yes! The brothers, who went to play in Moretta Territory, told me that if you put a coin at the top, luck will come to you!”

“Oh… luck.”

Perhaps luck was exactly what she needed right now. Gia, who was rummaging through her now lighter purse, turned to look at Kalion, who seemed absent-minded for some reason.

“Since luck is said to come, why not…”

When Gia straightforwardly expressed her desire, Kalion, displaying a refined manner, delved into the inside of his coat, displaying an air of sophistication.

“Oh… it’s gold.”

“It’s a touca.”

“A touca?”

“One touca is equivalent to 100 tar. Is this amount of luck acceptable?”

“Hmm…”

Paying the value of a hundred skewers for luck that may or may not come felt a bit painful, but since it wasn’t her money, Gia readily accepted the coin placed on her palm.

“Alright. Is everyone ready with their wishes?”

“Yes!”

Rey’s wish was clear even without being spoken. He undoubtedly wished for the safety and well-being of his parents. Gia gently stroked Rey’s brown hair, understanding this.

“Kalion, you.”

“I’m ready.”

“Ah… Fine. I’ll grant your wish as well.”

Gia, merging her palms with a touca inserted between them, wished, imbuing even Kalion’s heart into it.

‘May you enable the capture of Morrison… Above all, please add a bit of luck to ensure Kalion’s world remains safe.’

Though the wish wasn’t desperately fervent, it became earnest as she prayed. Gia, squinting her eyes, looked at the last tier of the slightly larger fountain than usual one.

“I’m going.”

The golden touca, released from Gia’s hand, traced a perfect arc.

Splash.

“Wow! Sister, it went in! Maybe my wish will come true.”

“Nice shot.”

Gia, watching the smoothly thrown coin land precisely, smiled with a refreshing feeling.

“I prayed for your wish too.”

“…Thank you.”

“Of course, you should be thankful.”

“Sister, you’re the best!”

With a bright smile, Gia looked at the fountain and turned away without a trace of regret.

* * *

After spending the day like that, it was already getting dark into the evening. 

Kalion, wandering around with Gia, knew it was now time to make a decision, endlessly pondering in his mind.

Knock, knock.

At the sound of the door being knocked, Kalion finished his brief invitation for the person to enter.

“Commander…”

Rockt, entering with his large body and a somewhat subdued look, had only spent a day away. Seeing him cautiously, as if realizing his mistake, Kalion exhaled softly.

It wasn’t a pleasant sight to see a senior officer older than oneself wandering around looking crestfallen.

“Have a seat.”

When Kalion gestured to the opposite side, Rockt sat down cautiously.

“I apologize.”

“To me? For what?”

The person he should be apologizing to isn’t him. As Kalion furrowed his thick eyebrows, Rockt held out his hand.

“I’ve hurt the commander’s pride. Of course, I will apologize to the person who came with you as well.”

Kalion’s anger softened at the somewhat contrite response he heard.

“She…”

Kalion spoke as if squeezing the words out of his lungs.

“It’s not her fault. Don’t you know that too?”

“I do. In a moment, I found myself resenting without knowing. It’s hard to believe the absurdity, but when I thought that someone from that person’s world could disrupt the world, I couldn’t bear it. I know it’s an excuse… but at that moment, that’s how I felt.”

Rockt, lowering his head and admitting his mistake, didn’t seem at ease with the speed of his confession. He also felt shame for not living up to his age and rank.

“The reason I called you today is…”

Kalion flicked his clean forehead with his finger. Does he even have the right to give such an order? No, the question of whether taking these people to battle just because he’s the commander is still troubling.

“Whatever the commander says, the members will probably accept it. I feel the same way.”

Eyes showing a firm determination came into view.

Even if they succeeded, they couldn’t predict how the Emperor would judge. There was plenty of room to accuse them of rebellion just for not obeying orders by catching a minor detail. 

The Emperor had never ordered a battle against an unknown entity; he emphasized conquering monsters.

Knowing that the Emperor valued his authority the most, Kalion’s expression darkened.

While Kalion was carrying Bowers on his back, he couldn’t be sure of the hardships the knights beneath might face, even if he remained unharmed.

Kalion’s actions could be seen as a challenge to the Emperor’s authority.

The Emperor was not one to overlook such a precedent.

He was not the Crown Prince, but he was an Emperor who was as ambitious as anyone. He had pulled his brother down with his own hands and sat on the throne wearing a golden crown. 

It wasn’t just because he wasn’t the Crown Prince that he couldn’t sit on the Emperor’s throne. The Emperor lacked legitimacy.

Being a bastard, he had no intention of passing the throne to the current Emperor.

The Emperor, who stained the throne with betrayal and seized it, was incredibly cruel and was not someone to tolerate a challenge to his authority.

Even if there were plausible reasons.

“Thank you.”

Kalion looked at Rockt, who sent unwavering support and began the serious discussion.

“So, does this Gregory possess a mana bullet? And not just any, but a mana bullet made from the heart of a white dragon?”

“That’s right.”

“Is this a good thing…?”

Rockt’s brow furrowed at the mention of mana bullets. He would have given up and gone home if there was no hope, but the weapon gave him a reason to fight.

Even if he went back and told the truth, he doubted the Emperor would accept him as he was.

As the lord of Moretta had said, only hard, irrefutable evidence would change the Emperor’s mind.