My Strange Savior - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“Let’s go.”

“Sure!”

Gia pushed past Kalion, who was at the top of Spencer’s list of people he admired and picked herself up.

Gia and Spencer moved their bodies to the agreed-upon place, hiding in the forest. 

“Come out slowly!”

With noise from both sides of the goblin horde skillfully driving the members into a corner, two people suddenly emerged. 

Gia and Spencer watched the goblins falling bit by bit with their eyes, keeping a little distance, so if they could just create a gap for the members surrounded to come out, their role would be done. 

The attention of the goblins was drawn to the two people causing a commotion. Was it a success? Gia, who had good eyesight and was far away, sent a signal to Spencer to move away. 

Even though they called it a predetermined signal, it was nothing special. It was a very primitive method of using an iron shield to strike a sword. 

“Kek.”

“Keeek.”

Gia, who was slowly moving her body back while looking at the goblins who simply turned their heads in the direction of the sound, did not forget to take out one by one as if lifting slightly. 

Simple goblins went wild and charged even more when they lost their comrades right in front of them. 

As the goblins raised their shields threateningly and waved their swords, it seemed that they were slowly closing the encirclement net around Gia. 

Knowing that, Gia, who had prepared an escape route in advance, moved her body back like a water strider. 

“Do you think I’m a dummy? Getting hit again.”

Without forgetting to check on Spencer and Kalion, several angry goblins rushed toward Gia, who had been opening up a gap now and then.

“Whoa.”

Surprised, Gia moved her body backward and put strength on her legs, firmly raising her shield. 

Clang, clang, clang. 

If she hadn’t moved her body backward, her head would have been crushed by that ignorant iron hammer instead of the shield. 

“Are you pissed?”

Gia, with her mouth agape, vigorously raised her head above the shield, blowing raspberries. 

“Keeeeeek!” 

It seemed like the goblins’ hands became more vicious because they couldn’t kill her. When about twenty of them left her side and the gap opened, Kalion led the way and cut through the goblin horde.

“Didn’t manage to kill them, huh?” 

The shield that had blocked the attacks remained warped, and her wrist had a bruise.

Without missing the opportunity, she lowered her body and swung the sword down, sweeping the goblins’ ankles exposed mercilessly.

“Gia!” 

At Kalion’s voice, Gia stepped back and stood her ground. The Knights’ fortunes had reversed.

Gia’s wide grin and lips twisted sarcastically. 

“You pests, it’s my turn now.” 

The goblins, who had previously only rushed in anger as if they were just watching, hesitated and stepped back when Gia unleashed her fierce attack.

“Where are you going?” 

Swiftly, Gia, who had closed the distance thanks to her short dagger, pushed herself into the weapon’s range the goblins were holding. The goblins swung their weapons towards the foolishly approaching woman, but they were so close that their weapons hit their kind instead.

Ignoring the infighting among their own, Gia swiftly positioned herself behind the goblins. 

“Keeek!”

The goblins watching Gia smoothly slipping away from them as if she were coated in oil had fierce eyes. As they raged and leaped at her, it was an opportunity for Gia. 

Watching them hit each other and get angry seemed like watching a slapstick comedy. How fortunate intelligence was. 

During this chaos, Gia moved in all directions, beginning to take down more than twenty goblins. The feeling of slicing the goblins over the palm of her hand as they were swept away was palpable. 

How much more blood would need to be shed?

How much longer would this unpleasant act need to continue? 

But, to survive, blood had to be spilled. 

Unbeknownst to her, her expression had turned terrifyingly rigid, as she forgot all humor and reveled in the green blood on her hands.

[Unfamiliar Things]

Thunk.

The blade lodged itself in the gap between the goblin’s skull, following Gia’s movement, only to be pulled out in a meaningless cycle.

Gia’s face was devoid of expression, her visage wiped clean of any emotion. The green liquid had splattered onto her cheek, but she left it there, unbothered. 

It was pointless to wipe it off, given that she was already drenched in the monster’s blood from head to toe, and she didn’t bother to make any fuss about it.

How many had she killed? She had lost count after surpassing twenty. She absentmindedly clenched and unclenched her numb palm.

“Whew…”

Gia exhaled heavily as she surveyed the scattered corpses. The pungent smell of blood in the air caused her brow to furrow and form deep creases.

Her eyes, filled with a gruesome curiosity, scanned the area as if she were searching for any remaining comrades amidst the carnage.

“Gia…”

Kalion, who had quickly sorted through the dozens of goblins, approached her.

“Are you hurt? Is there anywhere you’ve been injured?”

The area was so dreadful that it wouldn’t be strange if corpses were piled high enough to form a small mountain. 

Gia’s silhouette, gazing towards that location, carried both a sense of desolation and gloom. When she heard his question about her injuries, her fist clenched tightly. How accustomed she must be to such sights.

“I’m fine. Thanks…”

From head to toe, Kalion’s eyes, looking at Gia, drenched in the monster’s blood, gradually sank.

For some reason, looking at Gia felt like dry grains of sand rolling around in his mouth. Without her… could he have endured all of this? The answer was ‘no.’ Even with Gia solely as bait to keep the trolls away, she was surrounded by countless goblins.

To protect the knights from the trolls, Gia had volunteered to be the bait and distanced herself. Just that alone weighed heavily on Kalion as if he had become entirely dependent on Gia.

They needed to quickly eliminate the encroaching goblins. Killing one goblin only meant two more took its place. The elite forces were easily cornered. The results of overconfidence were clear.

Swords had rusted, and the unprepared knights were in disarray. Even the knights who prided themselves on honing their skills daily were in this state. The situation was even worse for other knight orders.

Instead of being a help, they had become a burden. Was it right for the knights to follow her into a situation where their lives were on the line? He almost used the magic stone Gregory gave him in a place like this.

He had to be careful how to use it, as it was disposable. It wasn’t a common stone that could be found everywhere, and Gregory’s alchemy made it even more precious.

Kalion couldn’t shake off his bitter expression as he continued his thoughts. 

“Why do you make that face? Have many of our comrades been injured?”

At Gia’s question, Kalion lowered his head. Fortunately, thanks to her, they had faced numerous monsters, but not a single casualty had occurred.

“But why?”

“I… I couldn’t be of help to you.”

‘You couldn’t be of help to me?”’

Gia looked at Kalion quizzically, her expression suggesting that something had just occurred to her. 

Why is it so difficult to find the words as if stuck in his throat? Kalion pursed his lips and rolled his eyes.

“Hmm?”

“Uh… never mind.”

Gia, watching Kalion speak hesitantly, shrugged her shoulders, but it seemed that something had come to her mind.

“Oh… right.”

“Why ?”

“The sword you gave me…”

It’s expensive, and she’s not going to be able to use it anyway because of the trolls, so she might as well say she lost it. Gia’s round eyes flicked upward and rolled from side to side.

“It’s fine. You being safe is enough.”

Gia seemed to be surprised by Kalion’s words and raised an eyebrow. 

“By the way, is your hand okay?”

Upon seeing Gia’s distinctively reddened palm, unlike the monsters’, Kalion acted quickly.

He urgently grabbed her hand and held it up before him. Between the torn gloves, he could see the still-healing blood.

“Is this…?”

“Oh… it’s fine.”

The wound was healing quickly. In confusion, Gia pulled her hand back, but Kalion held it tightly in his large palm.

“Are you… are you okay?” 

Gia’s face turned red under the gaze that seemed as if he could see through her even if her hand had been pierced.

‘What’s wrong… why is he like this?’

Gia thought to herself. Although it hurt, the wound was easily regenerating for Gia, who had become an enhanced human thanks to the zombie virus treatment. Kalion, who didn’t know about it, had a concerned look in his eyes.

“You’re not okay.”

Kalion said as he gently held Gia’s hand and led her away from the place filled with goblin corpses.

Even in Kalion’s absence, the squad members, following Rockt’s orders, had already settled in a slightly more distant clearing, tending to their injuries.

He placed Gia on a comfortably smoothed rock and stood up to fetch the medication the injured were using.

‘It’s just a minor wound, anyway…’

Gia was hesitant to refuse treatment due to her unnecessary embarrassment.

At that moment, as she was about to decline treatment, Spencer, waving his hand from a distance, called out Gia’s name.

“Lady Gia!”

It was unusual to hear someone calling her so familiarly. He must be an outgoing rookie. 

Regardless, Gia was relieved that he was unharmed. Before Gia could even ask if he was okay, Spencer, panting heavily, came to her side.

“Lady Gia! Lady Gia!”

“Stop calling me… You’ll wear out my name.”

With a friendly tone, Gia scratched her cheek, and Spencer held out something he had in his arms. Inside the container emitting hot steam were well-cooked bandages.

“Give me your hand. I’ll treat you.”

His eyes sparkled with innocence as he stared blindly at Gia, oblivious to Kalion in front of him.

“Spencer.”

“Yes, Commander!”

Spencer responded cheerfully as if only now he noticed that the commander was there, which left Kalion dumbfounded.

“I’ll treat you!”

Sitting down in front of Gia, Spencer knelt and lowered the container he had in his lap.

“Huh?”

Gia’s hand, which had been holding Kalion’s, was snatched by Spencer. As Spencer gently pulled away, trying to remove the black gloves Gia was wearing, he heard Kalion’s low voice.

“Spencer.”

“Yeah?”

“Since I’m here, please take care of the other comrades.”

“But…”

“I don’t want to say it twice.”

Spencer’s gentle eyes were filled with reluctance, but Kalion being, not just any superior but the commander, he couldn’t refuse the order. He slowly got up from his seat.

“Leave that behind.”

“Alright.”

With shoulders slumped like a defeated puppy, Spencer glanced at Gia before turning his head.

Gia’s hand, which had been hanging in the air, found its place once again as it curled into Kalion’s large palm.