My Strange Savior - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

[Hmm…]

Soldiers stared at the woman in front of them with a strange expression, unsure if she was crying or laughing.

[Where… Where did she go?]

Her face changed rapidly, like flipping a palm. Her trembling body seemed to be possessed, shivering and swaying.

[No, don’t go… Don’t go!]

The veins on the woman’s face turned a deep crimson as she frantically ruffled her hair, like a madwoman.

[I told you not to go!]

The once clear and affectionate eyes were now lost in the cloudy haze. What descended upon the woman charging towards her with vacant eyes was…

Thud.

A death sentence.

Thump.

The fallen woman couldn’t get back up.

Gunshots echoed through the city. The sounds of the monsters reached them through the emergency stairwell.

[Hurry, get on!]

Led by the soldiers, they boarded the helicopter, and when they finally turned their eyes back, the rooftop was filled with transformed people, and among them was the woman lying on her back, looking at the sky.

The gap between her eyebrows and the scarlet blood streaking her hair like paint.

Even though the helicopter was moving fast, Gia had no idea that the woman on the rooftop would fall.

The soldiers and the pilot’s radio chatter. The dull noise of the propeller. The chaos all around.

But amid all this, Gia’s gaze was fixed on the woman who lay dead, unable to even close her eyes.

[You wicked woman.]

Gia’s body, which had been motionless, suddenly jolted.

She was dead.

[A good-for-nothing woman.]

The woman’s eyes, her only moving parts, blamed Gia with a red glare.

[Ungrateful.]

Her blood-smeared lips moved as she cursed Gia.

[Like a beast.]

“Gia!”

“Hah.”

The warmth of the hand gripping her shoulder made Gia’s body jump upwards.

Thump-thump.

The sound of her racing heart echoed in her ears, just like the sound of that propeller from back then.

“Were you standing here the whole time?”

Kalion, with a pale face and cold sweat trickling down, looked at Gia. In his hand, he held the sniper rifle case and the armor that she had thrown away earlier.

It was too high for him to reach, so he had no choice but to climb a tree. Kalion had taken off his heavy armor, leaving him with only leather protection and a shirt on his upper body.

“Why are you sweating like this…”

A warm hand came down on Gia’s forehead, drenched in cold sweat, like someone who had witnessed something they couldn’t bear to see.

“Why are you not going back?”

Was there something wrong? Kalion’s pupils dilated significantly as he reached out with his hand to check if she was injured.

The hand with a bandaged back that had been rubbing her knuckles gently. Kalion carefully set the case on the ground as Gia struggled to reach him in any way possible.

“What happened…”

“Wait, just… just a moment…”

Gia approached Kalion, who had been standing a step away. Her pleading expression was so intense that Kalion couldn’t help but stay where he was.

When he heard the urgent tone, he tightened his grip on the hand he held.

What could have happened in that short time?

He wanted to ask, but Gia looked like a newborn baby searching for her mother’s embrace, like a child who had just had a terrifying dream.

“Just a moment… just… a very brief moment.”

With a fading voice, Gia weakly approached and gently rested her forehead on Kalion’s broad chest.

Seeing Gia’s body sag limply against him, Kalion’s shoulders slumped as well.

Kalion watched Gia’s series of actions, leaning against him and breathing slowly, with calm, subdued eyes.

During the time he had been absent, what had happened to Gia? Why was a woman who was unafraid of anything now appearing so fragile? Numerous questions raced through his mind.

He knew she was stronger than anyone, but at this moment, she appeared more fragile than ever. More precarious and uncertain than a candle flame swaying in the wind.

Seeing her delicate shoulders trembling, the strength left Kalion’s fingers, which were gripping the armor.

Clank.

The heavy iron armor fell to the ground with a sharp metallic sound.

With one hand still holding the lifeline, Kalion’s other hand gently rose and wrapped around Gia’s back.

Gia closed her eyes tightly, finding comfort in the soothing touch that didn’t cause pain.

It was impossible to distinguish between reality and illusion. The thought that she might turn into a zombie always lurked at the edge of her imagination.

After all, who would survive in a post-apocalyptic world without a harrowing story to tell?

Even though she knew it wasn’t reality, Gia found herself struggling with it.

The shimmering surface of the water appeared transparent and clear as if you could see the bottom, but stepping into it, you’d realize its depth was immeasurable.

Gia’s subconscious felt the same way. She had only dipped her toes, but water filled her mouth and nostrils.

Just like someone genuinely submerged in deep water, her lungs struggled for air, seeking fresh oxygen.

Although Kalion might not have expected to play the role of oxygen.

As her disoriented mind settled, a sense of unease washed over her.

‘Ha… Why am I like this, really?’

After countless years of being thrown into a changed world and repeatedly coming back to her senses, it wasn’t particularly challenging to put on a poker face and reassert herself. At least, it wasn’t in the world she had come from.

However, for some reason, she felt embarrassed right now. Gia kept her forehead pressed against Kalion’s solid chest, and with the rhythmic movement of his hand patting her back, she found the right moment to pretend everything was okay.

“Are you feeling better?” 

He asked without missing a beat as if he was asking about the weather.

Gia’s shoulders jerked at the question.

‘Pathetic, Yu Gia…’

Why was she seeking comfort from someone younger than her? The self-disgust made her head throb.

“Uh, well… thanks to you…”

She lowered her eyes in embarrassment and took a step back from Kalion’s supportive gesture. His hand that had been patting her back fell.

“If you’re feeling better, that’s a relief.”

Kalion said, sparing Gia the embarrassment of further inquiry.

“There’s a stream nearby.”

The mention of a stream came out of nowhere, and Gia, on the verge of burying her head in the ground, looked up.

“It’s monster blood.”

Gia examined her own body upon Kalion’s words. She realized that both Kalion and herself were covered in green monster blood, sticky and emitting a pungent odor as it solidified.

‘So, we got into this kind of mess…’

Recognizing her appearance once again, Gia forcefully pulled her lips together.

“Uh, we should clean up…”

“Yes.”

Gia watched Kalion as he carried the armor and the case, and her lungs exhaled a shallow breath.

“It’s embarrassing… seriously.”

Walking alongside Kalion, Gia’s focus blurred absentmindedly. When the fantastical image with a gaping, pitch-black, enormous mouth as if ready to devour everything came to a halt, her heart now began to race, producing a loud thumping sound.

‘Why is it doing this…’

She pressed her palm firmly against her thick vest.

‘Just, be quiet for a bit…’

Gia held her breath as her heartbeat was loud enough for Kalion to hear.

If she held her breath like a hiccup, would the sound go away, she wondered, unaware that her cheeks were flushed red.

Kalion, walking ahead, had a similar expression. He was simply moving his feet unconsciously, and his face, like a mountain range against the setting sun, held the red hues of the descending sun.

Both of them were carrying their burdens, so they couldn’t touch their faces, but Kalion could sense that Gia’s temperature was rising without having to put his hand on her. 

The silent palpitations continued until they reached the campsite, where Kalion’s awkward steps ceased. 

Unlike before, the place was orderly, and there was an unusual tranquility for an area with wounded individuals. It was all thanks to Gia. 

Despite the large number of goblins that had swarmed them, there were no casualties, and no serious injuries, unlike when they had come to clear the area of monsters.

Approaching Rockt, Kalion offered a thick, black bag containing the sniper rifle.

“Commander.”

“Store it safely.”

“Yes, understood. But where are you going?”

Rockt, still holding his stained armor, looked at Kalion with curiosity.

Kalion showed the armor in his hand, as if to explain, and then turned around, holding a basket filled with wet cloths in his other hand.

“Be careful.”

Knowing that Gia would be going with Kalion, Rockt nodded without much concern.

Gia was the woman who had defeated trolls and countless goblins. With unparalleled skills, no one could match them, and together, they could handle anything.

Turning his attention away from the two, Rockt looked at the injured members of his unit.

“Ouch, my leg.”

Rockt kicked the bandage wrapped around the injured soldier’s leg, who was groaning in pain, to indicate he was overreacting.

“Oh, ow. It hurts.”

“Don’t exaggerate. Be thankful you didn’t get hurt worse.”

“Yes, I am. Even though I’m in this state.”

Watching the soldier repeatedly speaking to check if he was still alive, Rockt licked his lips while turning away and accidentally yelled in surprise as the soldier’s face suddenly came close to his.

“Ah! Hey, you bastard! Ugh. Scared me.”

“Vice-Commander! What about Gia?”

Rockt shouted towards Spencer, the soldier who had been searching for Gia, singing her name since a while back.

“Why do you keep looking for her all the time?”

“I have something to report.”

“This bastard…”

Rockt, who was trying to calm his startled heart, became angry.

“She’ll be away with the commander for a while.”

“Where to?”

“If you knew, what would you do about it?”

Rockt continued to check Spencer’s absent pulse, his voice uneven.

“Don’t you know how dangerous this is? You should have stopped her!”

“Danger? What danger?”

Rockt, confirming Gia’s ability with his own body, shivered.

“That’s enough. Are you just going to laze around and do nothing?”

In response to Rockt’s sharp remark, Spencer slowly distanced himself, wearing a bright smile.

“I…that…”

Although his upper body remained motionless, Rockt, who only moved his legs to watch the distancing Spencer, covered his forehead with his palm.

He had been the youngest one, saying things like that.

“Quit being such a drama queen.”

In place of the vanished Spencer, the squad member in front of him received the backlash.