My Strange Savior - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The color was so much like pouring blue dye that Gia was certain.

Morrison, that guy, had come over here.

“But this alone isn’t enough to be certain.”

“No, I’m sure. Morrison’s blood is blue.”

“Blue, you say?”

Upon Gia’s confident statement, Kalion didn’t press further. Though not spent a long time, he could tell Gia wasn’t someone to confidently state uncertain matters like this.

“I followed him right away, but the blood had already dried up. It was as if a significant time had passed since he fell.”

Gia manipulated the map with her thumb and index finger, then pointed to a specific spot.

“That’s where I first saw Morrison. The mountain where he tamed the dragon.”

Thinking back to the dragon spewing crimson flames, Gia pointed to the spot where she had encountered it. Kalion nodded, assessing the indicated location.

“It’s just my guess, but there aren’t many places where a large dragon can hide.”

“Could it be?”

“I think he might have gone back there.”

A tiny lead, yet Gia’s hands moved anxiously. She hoped he would be there.

“However, considering the treacherous terrain, it would take about ten days to climb. And factoring in facing monsters along the way… let’s say a month. It should take about a month.”

“I see…”

It was taking too long to catch up. Yet, since it was a task she couldn’t handle alone, Gia rested her chin on her hand, taking a deep breath.

“What about the members?”

Gia, who roughly knew Kalion’s worries, asked.

“Have you decided whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate?”

“We’ve decided to embrace both fortune and misfortune.”

“If it’s fortunate, it’s fortunate. But what about misfortune… You think too much.”

Gia said, looking at Kalion’s dark face. Despite having a large body, his head seemed small in proportion, yet filled with so many thoughts. Of course, Gia was not oblivious to Kalion’s demeanor of not taking the lives of those following him lightly.

Though it hadn’t been long since she got to know him, it was clear that he was truly upright and honest.

In a fallen world where kindness had become a weakness, such a kind of person was rare. In a world where only instincts remained, it became natural for people to do anything for their benefit. 

Even one’s family became a place of mistrust and discord.

Attaching the pretext of betrayal made it quite plausible.

It was a rare sight of humanity she hadn’t seen in a long time. Kalion, who lacked flexibility and showed little emotion, was likable to Gia precisely because he was unlike others she had met.

Feeling that she had burdened Kalion’s shoulders with too much, Gia patted his solid, muscular shoulders with a sense of apology.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Pardon?”

“With you and your comrades… I’ll do my best to ensure you all survive.”

That’s not what he meant. Suddenly feeling warmth coming through, Kalion fell silent.

“Alright, accept this.”

“What is this…?”

Earlier in the day, it was a red bracelet twisted with red thread that Rey received in exchange for a hairpin. When he saw this, Kalion’s eyes came to mind first.

Red. A red bracelet just like Kalion’s. Of course, she got it for free, but she thought it would suit him well as soon as she saw it.

“It’s a gift.”

“Why would you… give this to me?”

She just wanted to give it to him. Gia couldn’t come up with a reason and stammered around without a clear explanation.

“Well… Let’s just say it’s a gift for a comrade I entrust my life to.”

At Gia’s reply, Kalion stared at the bracelet intently.

“Take it. Quickly.”

Gia, still holding Kalion’s unmoving arm, pushed the bracelet onto his thick wrist.

“It suits you well.”

Some men wore jewelry, but Kalion, who had never worn such things during his lifetime, looked at his wrist awkwardly.

Should he say thank you? It felt awkward, having never received a gift like this, especially from someone, and in this manner. He looked at the red bracelet resting on his healthy, tanned skin.

While gazing at Kalion, Gia smiled bashfully and turned around.

“Oh, right, we’re comrades now, aren’t we?”

A blush crept onto Kalion’s face, who had drawn lines of separation on the first day they met.

“Yes… we are.”

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. You should rest too. Don’t ponder alone again.”

“Understood.”

Smiling, Gia patted his shoulder once and left the room. She truly was an unpredictable woman.

Gia, who was so different from the young women he knew, felt both awkward and unfamiliar in a way.

What on earth is this woman?

Kalion touched the bracelet lying on his thick wrist.

If he didn’t like it, he could simply remove it. But the problem was that he didn’t want to. Kalion, caressing the bracelet with one hand, tidied up the cluttered table.

The sensation of the bracelet dangling from his arm felt peculiar.

“It’s strange… really.”

* * *

Gia, who had been playing with Rey, looked up at Kalion’s call.

“Just a moment…”

“Rey, keep playing. Sister will be back soon.”

“Yes!”

Leaving Rey, who energetically nodded and waved as a sign to come back, Gia came over to Kalion.

“Oh. You didn’t take off the bracelet?”

“I just…”

Not knowing what to say, Kalion hesitated, caressing the bracelet on his wrist.

“If I were to return to the original world by catching Morrison…”

It was the same corridor leading to Oscar’s office as yesterday.

“Before I go, I’ll give you something better.”

“No, this is enough.”

“Well then. A gift is given as comrades who’ve shared each other’s lives.”

At that point, the things she brought wouldn’t be needed. If given to Kalion, he might use them quite effectively. Gia walked energetically, envisioning a distant future.

“I’ll go in.”

After receiving permission to enter, Kalion opened the door first.

As Gia went in and Kalion closed the door, a stranger sitting on the sofa caught their eye.

“It’s Gregory.”

A lean man with shoulder-length wavy hair neatly tied back behind his head, dressed in formal attire, nodded at Oscar’s words.

“He knows alchemy, but he doesn’t know anything about social life.”

Oscar’s forehead wrinkled at the sight of Gregory not being polite to a nobleman of higher status than him. Still, he tried his best to defend him, perhaps wanting to wrap him up under the guise of being his grandson.

“It’s fine.”

Kalion comfortably sat on the sofa since he wasn’t one to hold grudges and blame himself for such things. Gia, sitting next to Kalion, stared intently at Gregory, the alchemist sitting across from her.

“It’s impolite to stare like that.”

Upon Kalion’s remark, Gia turned her gaze away. So, is this guy like a hermit in this world, never having seen a ray of sunlight? Gregory, with a spotless face, as if he had never seen the sun, looked at Gia with curious eyes.

He probably had been briefed by Oscar in advance.

Gia, who came from a different world, seemed intriguing to Gregory, and the scholar’s inquisitiveness gleamed in his green eyes.

“Hmp hmm.”

To change the subject, Oscar cleared his throat.

“You probably heard roughly.”

“Are you asking me to release the mana bullet made of Dragon Heart?”

In response to Gregory’s straightforward words full of sensitivity, Oscar hastily shut his mouth.

‘Oh, that guy… his temperament…’

Oscar, who resembled his father, looked at Gregory and let out a deep sigh.

“To put it simply, yes.”

“I don’t like it.”

“What?”

“Why should I willingly hand over what my master left behind?”

“You!”

Oscar, who had a pleasant expression, slammed the table and made a fuss.

“I mentioned it yesterday!”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“What?”

“Who deems alchemy as mere gambling and tells you to quit?”

“That time… the oppression was severe, so how would you fare…”

“I don’t want to hear anymore.”

Gregory cut in sharply and stood up from his seat.

“I considered refusing at the Divine Tower, but I came here to tell you directly in consideration of my grandfather’s time.”

The one who restrained Gregory, who seemed like he would leave at any moment, was Gia.

“Why don’t you care?”

“What do you mean, you.”

To the known yet asked question, Gia stood up as well.

“Why ask when you know? Wasn’t it because you looked at me?”

Gregory chuckled at Gia’s words.

“I only looked because you were dressed differently.”

“Where did that come from.”

Gia narrowed her eyes at Gregory, who was much higher up, as she rubbed her temples.

“And why don’t you care? If we can’t capture that bastard, this world will be destroyed.”

Clenching her fist as she spoke, Gregory’s face contorted as if he were astonished.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why? Do you think you’ll escape the destruction? Who are you?”

“This girl.”

With each spat word, Gia’s actions seemed to provoke a dispute. Gregory’s gentle face twisted harshly in response to Gia’s confrontational behavior.

“Enough… please, stop.”

Kalion, who had been watching, grabbed Gia. They couldn’t force him to give it up, and they didn’t know where it was or how to use it.

He was the only one capable of handling the mana bullet. Convincing Gregory to release the mana bullet himself was the best option for now.

Rather than persuading Gregory, Gia was provoking him without restraint.

“You’re too excited.”

Knowing Gia’s fiery temper, Kalion spoke to soothe her.

As Gia exhaled, her neatly arranged bangs fluttered in the breeze caused by her breath.

“You have a similar temperament… Cut it out I’ll endure it.”

Gregory bristled at Gia’s muttering.

“Temperament? Do you even know anyone without a temperament?”

“Oh, temperament. Well said. Seems like you have a strong one. A very petty one, too.”

With her fist clenched, Gia pressed her thumb against the tip of her index finger.

“Is it this much?”

“What?”

“Stop!”

Putting an end to the childish argument that seemed to ignite a second round, the eldest among them, Oscar, stepped in.

“Enough, everyone, please sit down.”

With a Confucian influence, Gia sighed and slumped onto the couch.

Gregory, also roughly sitting on the leather couch, as if it might sink in.

‘Why are there crazy women like her?’

Gregory looked at the sarcastic woman, mocking her with a sneer.

‘What’s bothering you? Relax.’

Gia spread her index and middle fingers, flicking her wrist in a gesture that indicated she’d poke someone’s eyes out. Of course, unbeknownst to Oscar.

‘I, I… this crazy woman…’

Gregory was lost for words at Gia’s provocative actions.

He had his reasons. Due to the Emperor treating alchemy as if it were sorcery and suppressing it with strange reasons, the authority of the alchemists now made no sense.

People seemed to have forgotten to praise Myers, who had made their lives prosperous, and gratitude seemed to have disappeared. Not even the way people looked at them was pleasant.

In a world they already disliked, to be asked to give up their precious possessions for them was absurd. 

Gregory’s grumpiness twisted at the absurdity of being asked to give it away as if they’d left it behind.

“Gregory.”

“Yes.”

In response to his grandfather’s call, Gregory answered somewhat unevenly.

“This is not a simple matter of giving or not. Don’t you know that too?”

“But…”

Oscar looked at Gregory, who had just crossed the line, with affection and pity in his eyes.

To continue the family line, he forced his son to become a knight. When his son refused to take that path and offered no alternative, he left home.

Looking back now, as an old man, he realized he was like that too, but his son’s stubbornness was not to be underestimated.