My Strange Savior - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“How much longer will it take?”

Gia, who had completed her training, looked around the room she had been staying in for almost a week, running her hand through her hair.

As she had just finished washing, steam rose from her hair, curling slightly.

It was about time for things to work out or not, but if it didn’t, it seemed like she might have to use her bow, or perhaps even plunge a knife in herself.

Gia roughly dried her hair and headed out of the room. 

She was looking for Gregory, who had been stuck in the laboratory Oscar had prepared.

“Is it here?”

Even though it was in the same building, it was a separate three-story mansion, so she couldn’t search randomly.

Frowning at the difficulty, she looked around to see if anyone was passing by, and in the distance, she saw Kalion.

Whether they had finished their training or not, Gia rushed towards Kalion, who was returning to the room.

“Kalion!”

“Ah… what’s the matter?”

Kalion, who had just come in last after taking care of the members who had not completed their training, was startled and instinctively moved back as Gia rushed toward him.

“Where is the laboratory? I heard it’s in the same building.”

“Why are you looking for it?”

“Just curious.”

Kalion, also curious about the progress, readily invited her to come along.

“Let’s go together.”

“Okay.”

Gia followed behind Kalion, who was walking ahead.

“But what if alchemy doesn’t work either? Gregory’s words seem to make sense; charging in with a bow or a sword might not be the best approach.”

Kalion was also in agreement, acknowledging the concern about being too close. They needed to handle this carefully. They couldn’t afford to waste the only mana bullet they had in such a reckless manner. 

Without a clear solution, Kalion was also feeling uneasy.

“Let’s go and assess the situation once we get there.”

Kalion was also puzzled because there was no clear plan.

It was the third day since Gia participated in the training. The fact remained that people were still not looking favorably at Gia.

Whispers and sharp glances, whether intentional or not, were a common occurrence as they passed by. It was intriguing to Kalion to see Gia just quietly listening without reacting, considering she knew a different Gia who would have immediately put those gossipers in their place.

The Gia he knew would have likely flattened the noses of those who spoke disrespectfully.

However, Gia didn’t show any anger or frustration at all.

“Why are you holding back?”

The tone suggested disdain for being a woman. Even though it was clear that she had saved their lives, the members still looked down on her.

The knight order, having spent a long time closed off and engaged in rigorous training, had a certain closed-minded nature.

That’s why even the leader, Kalion, found it challenging to mediate among them.

If he pushed further, there could be resistance. Since this went beyond Kalion’s role as the leader, he had no choice but to wait until Gia earned their respect on her terms.

“Why? Am I supposed to turn everything upside down?”

She knew, even though she pretended not to.

Kalion stopped in his tracks, looking at Gia in amazement for holding back despite being aware.

“No……. I didn’t ask for that……. I just thought you were being uncharacteristically quiet.”

“What? Uncharacteristically quiet? That’s me…….”

Gia could sense how Kalion viewed her from his words. She suppressed the urge to argue.

‘Well… considering how I’ve been showing that attitude, I guess it’s not surprising?’

Remembering her frequent belittling and openly disdainful behavior, Gia, still feeling the discomfort in her feet, twisted the still-damp ends of her hair.

“If my words were rude, I apologize.”

Kalion’s apology was delivered neatly, causing Gia to purse her lips in response.

‘Well… it’s not like he’s wrong.’

Feeling the sincere apology from Kalion, Gia waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. I don’t have the time or the desire to nitpick about those things and get upset over them. Well, people have their ways, I guess?”

Intrigued by Gia’s unexpectedly nonchalant response, Kalion raised an eyebrow.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah… it’s not like it’s just once or twice.”

“Was it the same in your world too?”

Kalion found it puzzling that Gia, who was certainly lacking in knighthood etiquette but possessed strong skills, received such treatment.

“Well… probably? It must have been annoying for a young girl to be assertive.”

Everyone disliked Gia, an enhanced human because they didn’t want to see the daughter of the man who made this world the way it was.

It was only later that she was recognized as a colleague. It couldn’t be said that this was an instant result.

“I see.”

Kalion nodded expressionlessly and looked down at Gia.

A truly strange woman.

She flared up like fire at certain things and remained indifferent to others.

Thinking about her unpredictable personality, they arrived at the place where Gregory was without realizing it.

“Here we are.”

Kalion stood in front of the door, knocking with courtesy.

“Who is it?”

Gregory’s faint voice could be heard. When Kalion stated their purpose, permission to enter was granted.

In just a few days, how could a person deteriorate to such an extent? Seeing Gregory, who looked far from human, both Gia and Kalion clenched their lips.

“Are you alright?”

“Master Bowers.”

“Yes.”

His face was pale as if he hadn’t seen sunlight for days, and shadows hung heavily under his eyes. He didn’t look this sharp and sensitive when Gia first saw him, but now his face looked lifeless.

Even with one glance, it was clear that things were a mess. 

Gia observed Gregory, noting that he had indeed been working hard on his research. She didn’t feel the need to criticize him, but she decided she shouldn’t push him further.

“Master Bowers… Master Bowers…”

‘Why is he like this?’

It was somewhat scary how Gregory called for Kalion, burying his face in his hands on the table as if sobbing. 

Kalion and Gia hesitated, momentarily stepping back from Gregory’s inexplicable behavior.

“Are… are you alright?”

“Ah…”

At Gia’s follow-up question, Gregory suddenly raised his head.

“Oh! Oh my… you startled me.”

Stammering and full of excitement, Gia met Gregory’s eyes, which were brimming with intensity. He held his heart with both hands, wide-eyed like a rabbit.

“Master…”

“Yes?”

Incoherent muttering made Kalion ask again, and Gregory suddenly stood up from his seat.

“It’s a success!”

At last, the Mana bullet in Gregory’s hand was visible.

Gia’s eyes widened as she saw the bullet that had been extracted from the dragon’s heart and filled with the extracted magic, removing the pre-existing energy.

“Is this the dragon’s mana?”

“Yes. We did it… We succeeded.”

Gregory’s voice cracked at the end.

Whether from the rapidly beating heart or the intense emotions surging, Gregory’s face flushed and the tip of his nose turned red.

“I… I did it.”

Overflowing joy could be sensed at the end of his voice, which seemed to choke.

“Well done…”

Gia patted Gregory’s shoulders carefully as he nervously placed the bullet he held in his hands on the table.

“Have you eaten something?”

Their first encounter wasn’t pleasant, but that was in the past. Gia asked as she glanced at Gregory’s complexion.

“Did you get some sunlight? Did you get some sleep?”

He expected her to nag about the delayed progress, but her affectionate tone woke Gregory from his reverie.

“Are you worrying about me now?”

“Uh… Your face doesn’t look great.”

“Uh……. Hmmm.”

As he stroked his cheek with his palm, he felt it had become stubbly after a few days.

“Good job.” 

Gia acknowledged, and for some reason, Gregory felt his emotions surge and intensify.

He had expected a continuous barrage of harsh words, but the person he thought would criticize him was instead acknowledging his efforts, which stirred a corner of his heart.

The woman who fought fiercely like a dog had acknowledged him so easily, and the strength seemed to drain out of Gregory’s body, which had been ready to retaliate and flatten her nose.

His will to fight wavered, and his body sank, losing its strength.

For three days straight, he hadn’t slept properly or eaten, and his exhausted body slumped in the chair.

“It must not have been easy.”

“It wasn’t easy. Still, it wasn’t as difficult as it seemed. The things from your world and the dragon’s mana… they moved as if they were a perfect match from the beginning.”

Even as Gregory spoke haltingly, Gia’s gaze remained fixed on the bullet emitting an opaque light.

“Well… um… It might have been impossible if someone else had done it.”

Gregory, subtly emphasizing that it would not have been possible without him, rubbed his nose in embarrassment.

“The surface of the bullet was surprisingly tough, so it didn’t break even when I infused it with the dragon’s mana.”

Despite Gregory downplaying it, Gia patted his shoulders again, acknowledging his efforts.

“Go and rest.”

“Really?”

“Eat something, get some sleep, and rest. You look like you’re about to collapse.”

“Well… it’s… I’m okay.”

“What do you mean, okay?”

Seeing that he didn’t seem okay at all, Gia quickly went inside, urging him to rest. She placed her hands under Gregory’s armpits, which were much larger than hers, and lifted him.

“Oof.”

Startled by the sudden lifting of his spirit, Gregory looked flustered.

“Oh, no… I’m okay…”

“Oh dear. Where’s your room?”

“If you go this way… No, I’m fine.”

“This way?”

Ignoring Gregory’s words, Gia, with a nonchalant grip on the bewildered man, leaned on him for support, her arm around his neck, and led him out of the lab.

Amid his confusion, Gregory, now being led by Gia, exchanged a bewildered glance with Kalion.

‘Could you please dry this woman up.’

‘Please come in.’

Eyes filled with different opinions clashed in the air.

Kalion, who had no intention of drying her off, carefully took the bullet and left the lab.

When did they become so intimately attached like that?

Watching Gia pulling Gregory closely toward the room, Kalion, his eyes narrowed, contemplated. He absentmindedly touched the bracelet on his wrist and looked at the two of them.

For some reason, it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I’m o…kay…”

“You need to rest! You’re almost dead, practically dying. How do you expect to do anything with such little strength? A man like you, being this weak?”

Gia, cutting off Gregory’s attempt to say he was okay, looked at him with concern.

“I’m thankful for what you quickly made, but take care of your body. If you collapse, what are we going to do? No one’s going to care even if you do. It’s not like anyone will notice.”

Gregory, who had tried to escape from her embrace while saying he was okay, obediently entrusted himself to her care upon hearing Gia’s words.

Even when given what he wanted, Gregory couldn’t quite grasp Gia’s personality.

The fully grown adult woman casually opened the door to the man’s room. It seemed to startle Gregory alone. Gia led him and gently laid him down on the bed.

“Rest a bit. Understand?”

“Oh… yes.”

Surprised by Gia’s unexpected firmness, Gregory quietly responded, giving in to her intentions.

Gia pulled the blanket up to his neck, covering him snugly, and gently removed Gregory’s round glasses, telling him to sleep.

“No one will take responsibility for hurting your own body. Save it for when you’re healthy. Sleep well.”

As Gregory kept blinking his eyes, still looking, Gia used her warm palm to gently close his eyes.

Rubbing, rubbing.

As he felt his eyeballs rolling, Gia clicked her tongue.

“Tsk. Sleep soon.”

“Yes…”

Feeling the warmth in his eyes before falling asleep, Gregory soon succumbed to drowsiness.

Until he fell asleep, Gia roamed around in Gregory’s mind.

‘She’s really… such a strange woman.’