My Strange Savior - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“I will follow you, Commander.”

“Rockt, no, Vice Commander.”

“Anyway, someone has to do it, right? If we pretend to not know and leave, a bigger disaster will likely strike.”

It would be even better if they could catch this person named Morrison on top of it, but if they could present any evidence—even just capturing a dragon—it might change the situation.

No matter how doubtful the Emperor might be, he wouldn’t just let this pass.

Seemingly in sync with Kalion’s thoughts, Rockt met his eyes and nodded.

“I have no intention of forcing our members. If they don’t want to participate, I won’t hold them responsible even if they withdraw from this matter.”

“Commander…”

Kalion, who always preferred a horizontal relationship rather than a vertical one, focusing on the members, made Rockt look appreciative.

This was why the members respected and looked up to Kalion.

Unlike other high-ranking nobles who only sought to fill their pockets, Kalion was a true noble who fulfilled his duties and knew how to care for the people below him.

Unlike other nobles who despised being out of the Emperor’s favor, Kalion didn’t mince his words.

Already unwanted by the Emperor, who always wanted to push Bowers, a trusted figure and a stickler for legitimacy, aside, Kalion was a thorn in the Emperor’s side.

Handing over command of the Imperial First Knights to Kalion was not the Emperor’s will. It was a decision made after considering public opinion around him, even if he was a formidable general.

Since Bowers was already admired by the people of the territories and the empire, the decision was made to keep him close and observe. It was not a decision to completely strip him of his position.

“However… if the members withdraw en masse now, wouldn’t even the slim possibility diminish? Especially in a situation where we can’t be certain where this person, Morrison, has gone. If we further disperse our forces in such an uncertain situation…”

“Enough… there’s no need to burden them too.”

“Commander.”

In the face of Kalion’s firm determination, Rockt lowered his eyes.

“As you said, have the members been assembled?”

“Yes.”

With the answer, Kalion wasted no time and left the room.

As he walked, embracing the cold night air, Kalion’s face became noticeably grim.

‘If they don’t accept, there’s nothing I can do…’

He was resolving in his mind, but in truth, Rockt’s words were not wrong. Finding Morrison, whom they didn’t even know where he was, was urgent, and encountering monsters during the expedition was inevitable.

It was a task that required giving up one’s life, enduring the dishonor of treason, and facing it without anyone’s recognition.

It wasn’t an order from the Emperor. Kalion couldn’t push the members based on his personal opinion. 

His face, focused on the security of the empire, was shrouded in darkness.

Passing through the annex, Kalion saw the small lodgings that Oscar had provided for the members.

As he opened the door and entered a warm breeze brushed against Kalion’s face.

Approaching the members, who were arranged in disciplined positions, Kalion opened his mouth with a heavy expression.

“Rockt has probably informed you of the situation already.”

The members, with determined faces, looked at Kalion as they swallowed nervously.

“From now on… what I’m doing is not coercion or pressure, but a suggestion. It’s your choice, and there’s no need to worry about appearances or accept it if you don’t want to. Understand?”

A resounding response echoed at Kalion’s words. It seemed like they were already mentally prepared, likely due to Rockt’s prior briefing.

Looking at the members who displayed burning determination, Kalion seemed to signal the beginning, and Rockt behind him distributed papers.

These were individuals who were required to stay in Morreta’s territory for at least a month, even if they didn’t participate. 

As leaks could occur outside, the members dispersed after Rockt’s instruction to monitor their conversations.

Looking at the now quiet reception room, Kalion picked up the stack of papers and stepped outside.

“You should rest too.”

“I understand.”

“And… don’t forget to apologize to her.”

“Yes.”

Kalion, emphasizing again, faced the cold wind as he returned to the annex room.

He had arranged for everyone to submit their responses in writing, as openly asking for their participation might lead to reluctant acceptance due to pressure and scrutiny. Kalion did not want participation driven by coercion and scrutiny—it was the outcome he least desired.

[Alchemy and Gregory]

Returning to his room, Kalion let out a faint sigh. 

Regardless of the outcome, he knew he had to accept it, but being human and controlling one’s emotions was never easy. Despite trying to control his emotions and be fair, there was no avoiding personal feelings creeping in.

Kalion, placing the papers on the table, looked through the responses with sunken eyes. 

“This is…” 

He couldn’t believe the results. He glanced at the participation responses again, unable to hide a smile. He covered his dignified lower face with his large hand, perhaps to conceal his smile.

As he ran his fingers through his hair and continued to dry his face, Kalion was aware of the situation; they had to go after the dragon soon.

Everyone was participating. Every single one of them responded as if making a collective decision, almost like voting.

Despite being in a position where they had to go catch a dragon, Kalion’s face was gentle as he continued to dry his face.

It was a confirmation of having led the knights well all this time, a moment of reassurance. He was grateful to the knights who had followed and trusted him. Even though the path ahead could be a thorny one where they might not achieve anything, it was not an easy choice to stake their lives.

Knowing it was not an easy decision to sacrifice their lives, Kalion’s lips were about to relax into a smile, but he quickly composed himself, straightening his expression.

He knew that giving up their lives was not an easy choice, so he slumped his shoulders under the weight of responsibility, making sure not to lose his composure.

‘Even so…’

Kalion looked down at the paper he held in his hand, and his weary eyes followed the warm handwriting.

‘I don’t feel entirely bad.’

Despite agonizing all day, the unanimous result made Kalion sink deeply into the sofa.

While convincing Morrison to come, persuading the master and the men under his command was crucial, crossing this enormous mental hurdle had drained him.

The time was short, a month at most. They had to show results within that time.

At the moment of revelation, he had to present irrefutable evidence to the Emperor, a man full of distrust towards others.

If the word “doubt” could be personified, would it be the Emperor?

His head was already throbbing, but he didn’t have time to dawdle like this. He didn’t even have confidence that Gregory, Oscar’s grandson, would willingly provide the mana bullet.

Would he readily offer something so valuable? It was a question.

It was still uncertain whether the alchemist, who had been oppressed by the Emperor, would continue Myers’ legacy to benefit people.

However, Kalion decided not to despair and instead focused on what he could do in his position.

Carefully placing the paper he was holding, he unfolded a large map depicting the terrain of the Hagria Mountains.

The map was so large that it covered almost half of the substantial table.

Just by looking at what was drawn, he could tell how rugged the terrain was.

Kalion, squinting and examining the map, traced the area with his finger.

‘Here…’

Morrison woke up the dragon in hibernation, and the highest peak in the Hagria Mountains, Mount Noflan, was where it happened. Investigating from this point was crucial. The large dragon was most suitable to reawaken, considering the rarity. Reasoning logically, it made sense for the dragon to return to where it had originally awoken.

As Kalion thoughtfully surveyed the potential locations where the dragon might be hiding, a knocking sound startled him.

“Are you asleep?”

Gia made a sarcastic comment about being awake in the middle of the night.

“Gia?”

“Yeah… The lights were on.”

Gia, too, couldn’t sleep and was wandering around the annex, trying to kill time.

Seeing that the light in the room where Kalion was staying didn’t go off, she had come to check.

“Aren’t you sleeping?”

Kalion, speaking in a stiff tone, was taken aback by Gia’s sudden appearance.

She glanced at the desk filled with documents.

“Then you?”

“I was just making educated guesses about where this person named Morrison might be hiding. Would you like to come in?”

Kalion hesitated, feeling it was a mistake to invite her at this late hour, especially considering the unusual circumstances of a man and a woman being alone together. But he managed to justify it under the pretense of a mission briefing.

“Wow… Hagria? Is this a map of the mountain range?”

Gia, skimming the map on the narrow table, asked.

“Yes. Do you happen to know where you fell?”

“Just a moment…”

Although she didn’t expect much, Gia casually turned the dial on her wristwatch, trying to figure out where she had fallen. The update was not complete yet, but she hoped to get a rough idea. She rotated the dial, and as it reached 20 percent, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Wow… what is this?”

“What’s the matter?”

The update, which had stalled at 10 percent, was now progressing. Satellite connectivity? Did that even make sense? Gia, a novice in this field, scratched her head in bewilderment at this absurdity. She rotated the dial again, trying to understand.

“Is this…”

Light emanated from Gia’s wrist and projected a holographic map in the air. Anyone would be astonished, and Kalion was no exception.

“Is this a map of where I live?”

“Well… not perfectly yet.”

Gia raised her hand to the holographic map without hesitation, pointing at the locations that were still incomplete. Fortunately, the map was being reconstructed with a focus on the place where she had fallen.

“Unbelievable… Does such technology exist?”

Kalion’s eyes widened at the sight, as if 80 percent of his facial muscles moved for the first time.

“Uh… I don’t know how it works…”

Gia, ever the giver, scratched her head and zoomed back in on the Hagria Mountains.

“I fell somewhere around here.”

As Gia pointed with her finger, Kalion turned his gaze toward the map on the table.

“You’re sure about this?”

“I do. I found his bloodstains where I fell.”

In the same spot where she had fallen, Gia could easily identify. Since she was the one who last attacked Morrison and caused the injury, it was unmistakable.

If it were human or animal blood, it should be red. Over time, if exposed, it might turn a deep crimson, but it wouldn’t be blue. It wasn’t normal for it to be blue.

Neither the dark black of a zombie nor the red of a human—it was a distinct shade of blue.