My Strange Savior - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

The members of the group had no idea what Kalion, who couldn’t even imagine what they were thinking, was doing, as he held onto Gia’s wrist and moved closer step by step. 

Gia, too, had her mind in shambles, so she didn’t even bother to pay attention to the fact that Kalion was keeping her close.

They were a bit away from the others, standing under a big tree. To acknowledge this, they both had their reasons occupying their minds. 

Kalion struggled to come up with a reason as to why he found it hard to endure that moment, pestering his innocent face diligently.

When they lowered their gaze, they finally realized that their breaths were close enough to touch. When did they get this close? 

Attempting to step back hesitantly, they found it difficult as their backs were blocked by the tree. It was embarrassing, but Kalion didn’t dislike it, as his face turned red.

‘Why… am I like this?’

He couldn’t figure out the reason. 

In the dangerous forest where monsters could attack at any time, Kalion felt like his mind was falling apart as if a screw had come loose in his head. It was as if he had completely forgotten the fact that he was soon to face a man named Morrison, as mentioned by Gia. 

He felt like a fool who couldn’t distinguish between heaven and earth.

While deep in thought, Gia’s dark eyelashes, buried in her thoughts, were slowly observed by Kalion. He gently slapped his cheek.

‘You’re crazy.’

At the loud exclamation, Gia’s light brown eyes, which had been looking down, turned towards Kalion.

“Why?”

“Yes?”

“No, why? Why are you hitting your face?”

“Oh…”

Kalion turned his head to the side, avoiding Gia’s gaze, who was looking at his cheek.

“Oh, it’s just… there was a… bug…”

“Ah… So, what do we do now?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Gia, who was expecting to discuss losing the sniper rifle, instead raised her eyebrows in response to Kalion’s questioning tone.

“I mean the gun…”

“Ah… Yes, yes…”

There it was. Kalion finally realized the seriousness of the situation. He had even forgotten that he was holding Gia’s wrist. Kalion let out a sigh.

Gia’s body trembled as Kalion’s heavy breaths reached her. Kalion, not one to be sensitive to others’ expressions and moods, reacted keenly to the trembling of Gia’s hunched body.

“It’s not just because of you.”

“No, it’s all because of me…”

“Why is it because of you?”

Kalion raised his voice rarely. While holding Gia’s slender arm, he lowered his head to meet her gaze.

“Do you regret saving me?”

In response to his serious question and intense gaze, Gia vigorously shook her head.

“Of course not.”

“But then, why is it your fault? Why do you blame yourself for everything?”

Frustrated by Kalion’s words, Gia huddled her body. Kalion’s eyes, looking at the shrinking Gia, showed signs of discomfort. 

This wasn’t the Gia he knew. The Gia he knew was always confident and cheerful.

Kalion leaned in close, almost as if they were going to touch foreheads.

“If you don’t regret saving me, then please, stop blaming yourself.”

“Still… without that gun…”

“There must be another way. Besides, we have those mana bullets made with dragon magic, don’t we?”

Kalion, holding onto the shrinking Gia, tried to comfort her by speaking uncertain words, but then he fell silent.

‘We’re out of options….…’

It was an uncharacteristic move for Kalion to utter uncertain words, as he only wished that Gia wouldn’t blame herself. He believed there was weight in words, and this was unlike him.

“Actually…”

Kalion, who had been lost in thought, lifted his head as Gia spoke.

“Is there another way?”

“Uh… There’s one method we could try.”

“What is it?”

Gia hesitated for a moment, then opened her lips. Could it work? It wouldn’t be easy, but they had no other options.

Breathing out slowly, she looked at Kalion, who was close to her face.

“If it’s you…”

It seemed like he might understand this reckless plan.

“With a pistol…”

Gia quickly whispered to Kalion, and as he heard her plan, his eyes lit up.

“Is that possible?”

“In theory…”

Gia’s words, as hopeful as they could be, were somewhat relieving. Kalion’s brow furrowed as he worried about what to do if they had to face the dragon without any means of defense.

After a brief moment of thought, he nodded, indicating that he would follow Gia’s plan.

“Are you sure about this?”

“I came prepared to make sacrifices.”

Their intense gazes met, and a palpable sense of determination was exchanged. Amidst the heat of their convictions, Gia’s lips trembled. She had become overly emotional since coming here, but the struggling Gia clenched her jaw.

It was nothing special.

Kalion’s comforting words, his concerns, and the trust of others had lifted Gia’s spirits. Even though the lives of the group and Kalion were at stake, they had entrusted their life so easily to Gia.

“We’ll succeed for sure.”

“Yes, please make sure it’s a success.”

Kalion responded with a smile, and at that moment, the tension that had stiffened Gia’s shoulders finally relaxed.

“Let’s eat… I’m hungry.”

Brrpp.

Embarrassment flashed across Gia’s face at the timely beeping of her belly clock.

“Yes.”

Kalion cleared his throat and followed Gia as she moved away.

He seemed to be following, but Kalion left, saying he would discuss the matter with Rockt.

Of course, both Vice Commander Rockt and the other members had to be informed, so Gia, with a resigned sigh, stopped her steps toward where her backpack was.

“Uh…”

It was only now that she realized her backpack had also fallen.

“Oh… Wow… darn…”

The accident came to a halt for a moment. Thoughts of what was inside it filled her mind, and Gia’s eyes showed a hint of sadness.

‘My sleeping bag…’

Her all-purpose backpack, filled with various items from the world she originally came from, including her sleeping bag, had disappeared.

As Gia stood there, Spencer, who had been waiting for an opportunity to approach her, came closer.

“Gia, what’s going on…? Oh my. What’s wrong?”

Spencer, seeing Gia’s serious expression, inquired.

“It’s nothing…”

“Yes?”

Gia’s voice, quivering with sorrow, broke through the murmuring words as Spencer lowered his head.

“My backpack…”

“Your backpack?”

Come to think of it, neither Gia’s black bag nor the large, elongated one she used to carry were in sight.

“I don’t have any food left, and my sleeping bag is gone… What should I do?”

Spencer, seeing Gia’s teary eyes, exaggeratedly waved his hands.

“It’s okay! The other members have food with them!”

“What about my sleeping bag?”

“There are some members with extra sleeping bags, so don’t worry!”

To comfort the dejected Gia, Spencer reassured her with a loud voice.

Unbeknownst to them, other members nearby also perked up their ears, but Gia, feeling disheartened, followed Spencer’s lead with weak, hesitant steps.

“For now, we can share my rations for dinner… Oh? Zaffin?”

Spencer, who had no idea when Zaffin had arrived, raised his head as he faced Zaffin. 

Zaffin, who already had a fierce appearance, raised an eyebrow, and the atmosphere grew tense as he furrowed his brows.

“W-what…?”

As Spencer tried to ask, Zaffin suddenly threw something at Spencer’s chest and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

“What the…?”

“What is it?”

Spencer, holding what Zaffin had thrown at his chest, looked at Gia in curiosity. When Gia asked, Spencer opened the old brown cloth.

“Uh…”

“Oh…”

Inside, there were two large chunks of jerky and a delicious-looking cookie.

Spencer’s eyes darted around to see if they had heard that she’d lost her backpack, and then to look for the missing Zaffin.

“It seems he wanted to give them to you. He’s not very straightforward.”

Spencer’s expression brightened as he shook his head. He pushed the contents in his palm toward Gia.

“Can I have this…….”

“Of course!”

“Th-thank you.”

Gia’s heart tingled with the kindness she was receiving. Overwhelmed by the heartwarming gesture, Gia sat down and carefully ate the cookie.

“Oh? What’s…?”

As if forming a line to give something, the members who had gathered around Spencer offered something, as if it were a prearranged agreement, and then disappeared.

As Gia and Spencer looked at the unknown items piling up in front of them, their eyes widened.

“What… what is this?”

“I’m not sure.”

With a bewildered expression, Spencer carefully opened the cloth, which was piled up in front of them.

“Oh, looks like there’s more food.”

It seemed that not only Spencer but also others had secretly brought their rations. When the cloth in front was opened, various snacks spilled out.

The members, along with the supplied rations, shared their snacks with Gia. There were dried fruits and sweet treats like chocolate cookies.

 The amount of food piling up in front of her made Gia wonder if she could finish it all before heading down.

‘It seems like I’ve really been accepted.’

As she swallowed the dried grapes, a tart flavor burst in her mouth, making her salivate involuntarily.

“Tastes good.”

Spencer nodded in satisfaction at Gia’s comment.

“I’m glad if you enjoy it.”

Although it wasn’t a fully prepared banquet, Gia relished the meal more than she would have a feast and patted her filled belly.

Beside Gia, Spencer, who had been sorting and organizing the food like a secretary, opened his own backpack.

“I’ll carry this for you.”

“Isn’t it heavy?”

“Not at all.”

Spencer, after tidying up his backpack, cleared a space on the ground. He moved thick rocks aside and removed weeds before spreading the sleeping bag on the ground.

“Sleep here.”

“What about you?”

“I’m the first watch tonight. I’ll take turns with someone else and sleep in a different sleeping bag.”

Feeling somewhat guilty, Gia was about to refuse but gave in when Spencer insisted she lie down.

If Kalion hadn’t rushed over from a distance, Gia, exhausted and covered in dirt, might have been buried deep within Spencer’s sleeping bag.

“Gia? Why are you here… Ah.”

As Kalion spoke and recalled the fallen backpack with Kayler, Gia’s explanation became clear.

“I don’t have a sleeping bag. Spencer lent me his.”

“I see.”

Kalion frowned at Spencer with a slightly irritated look. 

The thought of Gia sleeping in someone else’s sleeping bag seemed to bother him. 

Instead of praising Spencer for looking after Gia in his absence, Kalion, more irritated than pleased, nudged the sleeping bag with his toe.