My Strange Savior - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

“Ah, ah.”

“Commander!”

“Hmph… Commander….”

The members who had been waiting for the Commander with bated breath at the promised location approached with tears in their eyes. 

It was a tearful reunion of separated family members. 

The expression of the member saved last by Kalion appeared to be the brightest. Tears welled up in his small face, and his robust figure trembled.

“Commander.”

Zaffin, who couldn’t even come close and was crying with his mouth covered, looked out of place next to his bulk.

Kalion, who had been receiving the members’ welcome, gradually approached Zaffin.

“It’s okay.”

Kalion patted Zaffin’s shoulder and then disappeared as if he passed by. Zaffin looked like he could collapse at any moment, like the tragic heroine.

Passing by Zaffin, someone grabbed Gia’s arm.

“Huh? Hey, why are you crying? Who hurt you?”

Spencer, his nose turning red with sadness, tightly gripped Gia’s clothes. Tears filled his eyes as if they could spill at any moment. 

Who hurt him? When Gia asked with wide eyes, Spencer just shook his head vigorously without saying a word.

“Hush. Oh… uh…”

Spencer, who seemed like he would burst into tears if he opened his mouth, bit his lips and kept quiet. 

Gia was worried that something might be wrong.

“No… why…”

“I, I was worried.”

“Huh?”

Gia raised her head to listen closely to the sound of swallowing from inside.

“I was worried.”

His voice, barely audible, was filled with concern for Gia. 

Had someone ever worried about her like this before? It had been so long since Gia had received such concern, and she didn’t know how to respond, so she just rolled her eyes.

‘Why are you worrying about me?’

Gia, who had been looking around as if she was being watched, pulled back slightly. The other members’ gazes were also fixed on her.

‘Why… why is this happening?’

Gia, who was accustomed to being treated as if she didn’t exist, hunched her shoulders, unsure of how to handle people’s attention. She had never really adapted to being the center of attention, especially when people looked at her for less than noble reasons.

Without even realizing it, her body instinctively contracted defensively, as the resentment and anger she had received in the past resurfaced. She couldn’t muster the courage to ask why they were staring at her so intently.

‘I-I’m scared…’

She didn’t like feeling so small under the gaze of others. She hesitated and hesitated, and unconsciously, her feet tried to distance themselves as if running away. 

Gia didn’t care about the expressions people wore; she just wanted to escape from this place right now.

“Everyone… was worried.”

“Huh?”

Gia, with a foolish expression, barely stopped her steps from moving away.

‘Everyone?’

‘Everyone’—who could they be talking about? Gia widened her eyes and looked around, trying to find the subject of Spencer’s words.

It was only then that she noticed the emotions in the gazes directed at her and their expressions.

The warmth conveyed by the emotions and the fact that they had been worried began to melt Gia’s stiff shoulders.

“They’re… worried about me?”

Rockt approached Gia, who stood there with a dazed expression. He conveyed his apology to Gia, who never hesitated to sacrifice herself when it was dangerous.

“I was really worried.”

“Oh…”

“The other members too… all of us.”

The members who had once cast judgmental looks at Gia for being a woman now gazed at her apologetically.

Gia’s gender, which didn’t matter to them anymore, despite knowing the dangers she faced while fearlessly throwing herself into the fray, was finally acknowledged with a bit of humility. They also recognized her as a formidable person, far beyond gender bias.

She possessed incomparable skills, combined with a modest demeanor. Her bravery, even at great risk, and her sound judgment further highlighted her remarkable qualities. Regardless of gender, she deserved admiration, and she worked hard to protect them.

Once they realized this, the members were filled with remorse and guilt for underestimating her. “Oh… it’s, it’s alright.”

The uneasy expressions of the people who had been trying not to look at her by force showed that they were wrestling with guilt. Everyone was afraid to confront her as if she would resent them if they did.

Gia, seeking a protector like a confused child, turned her gaze towards Kalion, her eyes filled with uncertainty, as if questioning the truth of their concern. 

Kalion, who was watching from the sidelines, smiled and nodded in response.

Seeing Gia accepted by the members, Kalion felt a greater sense of pride and satisfaction than the day he had been knighted. 

“I’m truly… grateful that you both are safe.”

Rockt said, clasping his hands together earnestly as if in prayer.

“Oh… we’re okay.”

Gia echoed Kalion’s words as if it had become a habit for her. 

Rockt, seeing that Gia was uncomfortable under the scrutiny of those around her, dispersed the members.

“Phew…”

Gia seemed to have sweat forming on her forehead due to tension. She thought that receiving such gratitude wasn’t justified, considering that fighting Jose in the forest was nothing compared to battling goblins. She exhaled softly.

“Everyone, return to your positions, check your gear, and prepare for dinner.” 

Rockt instructed, and everyone slowly moved away. Meanwhile, Spencer was the only one who stood by Gia, persistently sobbing.

“Stop… crying.”

“Okay. Yes.”

“Phew…”

Seeing Spencer cry due to worry, Gia grabbed his sleeve. Although smaller than Kalion, Gia still managed to pull Spencer’s head close and gently pressed her thumb against Spencer’s teary eyes.

“Enough… stop.”

“Yes.”

“Thanks to your concern, we made it safely.”

“What did I do…”

With a bent waist, Spencer obediently placed her face in Gia’s hand. Tears welled up in Spencer’s eyes again.

“You’re crying again.”

“Because you keep moving me.”

“Ugh…”

Gia’s wrist, wiping Spencer’s face like comforting a younger sibling, was suddenly grasped by a large hand.

“Huh? Kalion?”

“Commander?”

Gia and Spencer both expressed their confusion at Kalion’s sudden appearance.

“Ah…….”

Unable to spit out the rest of the sentence, Kalion made a dumbfounded sound, grabbing Gia’s wrist and rolling his eyes.

‘Why did I…’

Upon seeing Gia tenderly holding Spencer and wiping his face, Kalion found himself moving instinctively. Thoughts came later.

“Is there a problem?” 

Gia asked, causing Kalion’s head to turn swiftly.

“Oh… Wait, there’s something I need to discuss separately.”

In response to Kalion’s serious tone, Gia let go of Spencer, who was wiping his tears. 

She wondered if it was about the gun. She can’t believe she’s letting herself relax like this, not when they’ve lost the gun and they’ve had no other plan for dealing with Morrison.

Gia shook her head at her complacency and followed Kalion’s lead.

Spencer, who had been venting his sorrow while clinging to Gia, watched the two of them disappear into the distance.

“What’s going on? What could it be?”

Spencer’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Kalion walking away, still holding onto Gia’s wrist.

“I don’t know. It’s strange.”

“What’s strange, you rascal?”

“Ah! You startled me!”

Spencer cried out and recoiled, which caused Rockt’s eyebrows to crinkle as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“If a gap opens…”

“Vice Commander!”

Spencer suddenly cut off Rockt’s nagging and gestured towards the two.

“What’s wrong? Why are you acting like this?”

“Uh… just look at that.”

“Well…”

Rockt’s eyes, which were a bit away but not too far, also narrowed at the sight of the two standing there.

“Vice Commander…”

Is there a feeling that something’s not right?

Spencer’s hopeful expression conveyed it all. With a single glance at Kalion’s hand, still not letting go of Gia’s wrist, and the closeness that their breaths shared, suspicion arose.

“Did you sense something between them?”

Spencer seemed to be prompted for confirmation, and Rockt sighed heavily and scratched his chin as if in deep thought.

“Hmm…”

Rockt’s hand, which had been fiddling with his beard as if contemplating, suddenly shot out to smack the back of Spencer’s head.

“Quit that nonsense! Go and do your job. Stop bothering about unnecessary matters. Are you really that idle these days, huh?”

“Jeez! Seriously. Okay, I’m going, I’m going!”

Amid the nagging that seemed to echo, Spencer sighed. Rockt, who had been giving Spencer a hard time, pressed his lips together and furrowed his brow.

“Mmm… definitely…”

Rockt, who had spent more time with Kalion than the other members, raised an eyebrow. The commander had been unfazed even when the lovely ladies flirted with him in front of them.

Watching the commander talking to Gia in the distance, Rockt’s mouth watered.

“Really… there’s something there.”

Rockt, who was self-proclaimed as a master of the Knights of Love, became curious.

“I can smell it, a scent.”

Rockt sniffed the air and observed the man and woman. Kalion’s expression, which only knew how to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the lovely ladies, seemed much more varied in front of Gia.

Seeing the reserved Kalion openly expressing his emotions to Gia, sent an undeniable feeling.

Kalion was a member of the unit, just like Rockt, and he was not someone who easily expressed his emotions to anyone. However, seeing Kalion’s actions, which were so prominent even from a distance, and the way he gestured with his hands while explaining, Rockt narrowed his eyes.

Although it wasn’t their place to interfere in what was happening between the two, Rockt couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the commander, whom he was seeing for the first time.

“The commander is in love…”

Just thinking about it sent shivers down Rockt’s spine, making him squirm in place like a worm stepped on.

“And… with Gia?”

Love blossoms on the battlefield. What kind of fateful love was that? 

Rockt, now in his mid-30s, observing someone else’s romance, felt a gust of wind blow through his heart.

“They say everyone has a mate…….”

The other members behind Rockt pretended not to look and secretly stole glances at Kalion and Gia in the distance. 

They had known from the start that the commander had a different attitude toward Gia compared to other women, but they never dreamt he would openly engage in a romantic relationship.

Despite showing their betrayal and reluctance towards the commander, who had left the ranks of singles, they had no choice but to accept it, nodding their heads.

Indeed, he’s their commander. The unit members, who had concluded that Gia was a worthy match for their commander, congratulated them wholeheartedly.

It was the moment when a new couple was born.