My Strange Savior - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

At the moment, setting off towards the mountaintop was the priority. 

‘What on earth was that cow?’

The cow, moving confidently as if it knew where to go, briskly led Spencer down the mountain, then suddenly disappeared.

Maybe he was dreaming, but the large footprints on the dry ground were too vivid to dismiss as a dream. 

Without mentioning the story, Spencer, who had conveyed everything else, looked at Oscar with anxious eyes.

“We need to depart quickly.” 

It was necessary to organize an expedition to retrieve the dragon’s corpse. 

Spencer’s urgent voice became a bit louder. Oscar, who had been silently listening to Spencer’s words, furrowed his wrinkled forehead. 

“I understand. I get it.” 

Oscar, who had been pacing around, suddenly stood up, uttered those words, and slammed the door open. 

“I’ll go too.”

“Even the alchemist?” 

They need to climb the rugged mountain quickly. Suspicion reflected in Spencer’s eyes as he scanned Gregory up and down. It seemed like Gregory wouldn’t be able to move well at all. 

Seeing the tall Gregory, Spencer pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.

Gregory, who saw Spencer’s calculating eyes, raised an eyebrow, seemingly understanding. 

“What’s with that expression?”

“As I mentioned before, time is pressing to climb the mountain.” 

Gregory stared fiercely at Spencer’s words, implying interference. 

“That’s something you…” 

Gregory, with his fiery personality, opened his mouth to say something but then closed it.

He could see the nervousness on Spencer’s face as he sat in front of him. He didn’t know what was on his mind. He could feel his impatience to get going for his comrades, whether they were alive or dead.

After Myers went to the Imperial City and hadn’t returned for several days, it probably felt similar. After Gregory took a deep breath and exhaled, he restrained his words as much as possible.

“There are few people on the continent who know the dragon’s anatomy, and I’m one of them. If we don’t properly retrieve that large dragon, there’s a high probability that everything we’ve done so far will be in vain.” 

It was necessary to recover the dragon without damaging it as much as possible. For that, it would probably be more helpful for Gregory to go than knights who did not know about dragons.

After deep contemplation, Gregory looked at Spencer, who was fidgeting in front of him. 

“And it’s likely to be less hindered than what you’re thinking.”

Unlike other alchemists who only researched from the inside, Gregory, who had not hesitated to go out and explore, gave a somewhat kind explanation.

“Is that so?” 

Gregory elegantly raised the now cold teacup to his mouth.

Click. Gregory, who had placed the teacup on the saucer, looked at Spencer, who had been in a mess after descending from the mountain without proper rest for days.

‘Hmm…’

Gregory, trying to swallow the question he wanted to ask, ended up spitting it out. 

“Gia… that person…”

“Yes?” 

Either not hearing the quiet voice or ignoring it, Spencer repeated his question.

“Gia. That person, humph.”

“Yes, Gia.”

“That person…”

Did she die, or is she alive? Though hesitant to ask, Gregory deliberately maintained a cold tone. Spencer’s face blurred at Gregory’s question.

“I don’t… know well.”

As if acknowledging the pathetic nature of uttering such words, Spencer lowered his head.

“Still.”

Spencer’s voice, which had been endlessly subdued, grew louder.

“If it’s Gia… she should be alive with the other colleagues. Definitely… she should be.”

In Spencer’s voice, filled with some certainty, Gregory also hoped for the same while placing the teacup down. Gia was a strange woman, lacking in manners and etiquette, but Gregory wished she hadn’t died.

Expectations for people had been thrown away on the day when alchemists were executed. After witnessing people turning their backs in an instant, Gregory vowed never to harbor such feelings again. Yet, he found himself feeling that way once more. Gregory bit his tongue as if his own emotions were bothering him.

‘Just… I’m just curious because she came from another world, that’s all.’

As if not allowing even a hint of liking, Gregory firmly defined the shape of his feelings.

“Spencer, it would be good for you to take a short rest.” 

Gregory awkwardly suggested, gesturing towards the shadows under his eyes that looked puffy.

“But…”

“What more can you help within such a state? Grandpa will take care of the preparations; focus on replenishing your stamina.”

Once again, sharp words that Gregory couldn’t seem to avoid popped out of his mouth. Despite the cutting remark, Spencer didn’t seem to take offense and promptly stood up.

“Indeed, I’ll probably just be a burden in this state. I’ll take a moment to reorganize and come back.”

Rather than taking offense, Spencer accepted the words at face value and reached for the doorknob. 

“Thank you for your consideration.” 

Gregory watched Spencer leave, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth. 

Normally, he would have been in a bad mood. But seeing Spencer stride out without any sign of being bothered, Gregory couldn’t help but poke his tongue out in response.

* * *

“We’re departing.” 

Oscar, who had completed the preparations for the personnel and the rest in less than a day, took the lead. Several large carts, which needed to carry the dragon, followed closely behind.

A different atmosphere enveloped them compared to when the Kalion’s party set out. 

Rumors of the dragon’s death seemed to have spread, as the faces of the soldiers under Oscar’s command were filled with anticipation and excitement. They were oblivious to the many sacrifices that had occurred.

Not long after Kalion’s group climbed the mountain, the movements of the monsters that had caused a riot ceased as if it were a lie.

Oscar, who had been observing the situation for a while and maintaining the troops as they were, put his worries to rest. He thought that this strange occurrence might be related to a person named Morrison.

As he grew older, strangely, his intuition seemed to align with reality more often. Believing that monsters wouldn’t rampage any longer, he left only a minimal force and gathered everyone.

The Lord of Moretta, who was entrusted with the important task of guarding the outskirts, would be absent, but there was no large kingdom that would invade beyond the rugged Hagria mountain range, a natural fortress.

Looking at the mountain range spread out behind the grand castle, Oscar urged the people.

An advance party had been sent out yesterday to rescue Kalion and his men, composed of only the fittest and most familiar with the mountains, but Oscar was as anxious as Spencer.

“Kalion… please come back alive.”

Thinking of Kalion, the only person he poured affection on after his son left home, Oscar’s eyes welled with tears. Having experienced losing a loved one, Oscar didn’t want to go through that sense of loss again.

“Do you have to go together?”

“Yes.”

Oscar’s eyes, looking at his stubborn grandson following along, were filled with concern. Gregory, sensing his mood, fiddled with his glasses strap and softened his words.

“It’s… alright.”

“It will be harsh and dangerous, unlike other mountains.”

Seeing Oscar’s eyes full of concern for his only remaining grandson, Gregory’s sharp nerves softened. Concealing his usual attitude, Gregory casually spoke.

“I explored ruins alone without any problem. So, don’t worry.”

Doing his best to round off his words, Gregory handed Oscar a cloak adorned with high-grade mana stones.

“You’re not young anymore… Watch out for colds.”

“Thanks… my boy.”

Although he said so, Oscar’s eyes, knowing his warm grandson, wrinkled with emotion.

“Wear it gratefully.”

Nodding bluntly, Gregory kicked off the words and stepped forward. Behind the hood of Gregory, who was leading as if urging them to follow, the emblem of Shenanigans was engraved prominently.

A black ox, as if ready to leap forward at any moment. It was the symbol of Shenanigans, which had been established in this territory for a long time.

The choice of a cow as a symbol, the animal closest to humans, was related to the legends of Moretta Territory that had been passed down for a long time.

They called the cow ‘Apheus.’ Below the mountain range was filled with monsters, and the land was very harsh for people to settle. Nevertheless, people established themselves in this territory because they had nowhere else to go.

As they struggled to continue their lives, the expected attack of monsters followed. They resisted, but they were no match for the monsters’ strength.

At that time, foreseeing the downfall of the tribe, a furry ox descended and saved the people. It was a legend, but the people of Moretta believed in it. They believed that Apheus would appear and save them.

Oscar didn’t truly believe in the legend, but this time, he prayed that the mythical being Apheus would save his disciple and his companions like a figure from a legend.

Thinking that Oscar had figured everything out, he lowered his head. His desperation was so great that he wanted to rely on such a tale.

Oscar interrupted his long thoughts and looked at Gregory who was walking ahead. The boy who usually didn’t care about anything related to the family now seemed to have taken care of such things.

Looking at the now-mature Gregory, Oscar turned his head slowly.

“We’re departing.”

Oscar’s voice was full of strength, not like that of an old man. At his words, everyone moved as one towards the mountain range.

* * *

The endless downhill path, wearied even as they descended, sapped the energy and spirits of the people. Moreover, everyone needed sufficient rest, so the pace was far from brisk. Among them, the only one in good condition was Gia.

None of them were in good shape, and among them, Kalion was the worst off. Watching him, Gia inwardly sighed with worry.

‘If things continue like this, what will happen?’

Staring at the ankle that urgently needed treatment, Gia lowered her eyebrows. It would be a dishonor to be a sword-wielding knight if he limped for the rest of his life.

Worried for Kalion’s future, she squared her shoulders more firmly to keep the weight off his injured foot.

In her heart, she wanted to just pick him up and carry him down. However, Kalion was too tall for that. Not just tall, but excessively tall.

‘Why are his legs so long?’

Even if she tried her best to carry him, it felt like Kalion’s legs would drag on the ground. Then, what was the point of carrying him? The only thing she could do was to serve as a support for Kalion’s injured foot.

It felt like she had become a human crutch.