My Strange Savior - Chapter 62

Chapter 62

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine…”

“Hmm.”

In response to the habitually uttered words of being okay, Gia seemed displeased as if she couldn’t stand the sound of it.

“Really. Gia, you are helping, aren’t you?”

Taller than the average adult male and well-built, Kalion would be lying if he said he was light. With his armor on, the weight must have felt like double that. Gia stood steadfastly as if she could take all of Kalion’s weight without effort.

Those impressed by Gia’s stamina were not only Kalion. Other members silently walked with thumbs up in admiration of Gia’s tireless endurance.

Even the most severely wounded commander was walking next to Gia, so who are they to show their pain?

So the knights and Gia were walking down the endless mountain, supporting each other. As Gia calculated how long it would take, something caught her eye.

“Huh?”

Kalion turned his head to the side at Gia’s voice as she supported him.

“What’s going on?”

“Isn’t that a person?”

Even after looking, Gia seemed to find it unbelievable, shaking her head. She wasn’t sure of her words, but it was undoubtedly a person. Gia’s eyes, which were better than those of ordinary people, gleamed and sparkled.

The people coming up through the dense trees under the dark forest became more visible. At Gia’s words, the members stopped and squinted their eyes.

“Uh, um… a… person.”

The desperate voice was filled with relief.

“A person from the Morreta Territory!”

A flag with the symbol of Shenanigans, hanging behind the person at the forefront of those mountaineers at a fast pace, became visible. A member who recognized the small flag shouted with joy.

The expressions of Kalion and Gia, who supported him, brightened at the words of the relieved member.

“But how…?”

Gia looked puzzled. She hadn’t expected any support. The unexpected turn of events made the situation surreal.

The people also noticed the group and raised their hands.

“Please wait a moment!”

They waited without moving, like statues, in response to the words saying they would come up.

Those mountaineers approached in an instant.

“The lord sent us.”

“The master?”

“Yes. The lord is currently coming up with the rear guard.”

Gia, not the only one who couldn’t understand their words, asked the person in front.

“How do you know?”

“Lord Spencer arrived three days ago.”

“Three days?”

If he arrived three days ago, it meant it took only two days to descend. That was an unbelievable speed.

“Does that make sense? It means he went down in just two days…”

“That’s right.”

Kalion, finding Gia’s words hard to comprehend, also sympathized. Oscar’s soldiers in front of him shook their heads in confusion, then looked at the wounded Kalion.

“First, we will provide emergency treatment.”

Climbing the mountain and providing emergency treatment were both familiar tasks for them. They quickly set up a makeshift tent and created a treatment room inside. Impressed by their speed, Gia pushed Kalion into it.

“Get treatment quickly for now.”

“Understood.”

Knowing Gia’s anxious feelings every time she looked at the injured ankle, Kalion did not refuse and received treatment first.

The makeshift tent was set up very convincingly for an emergency treatment center.

“Very professional.”

Kalion extended his injured leg and looked down at the man sitting in front of him.

“Yes. We specialize in professionally patrolling the mountains even in the Morreta Territory. Patrolling the mountain is our main duty.”

“I see… One question. Is it possible to descend from the summit to the territory within two days?”

“Well… even for us who specialize in patrolling the Hagria Mountain Range, it’s impossible.”

Kalion, revealing his puzzlement with an answer that asked about possible things, stroked his chin.

‘How on earth did Spencer descend from the mountain in such a short time?’

Unable to unravel the mystery, Kalion’s expression stiffened abruptly. It seemed like he needed to meet Spencer directly to get answers.

“Ugh.”

“Please endure the pain.”

In response to the pain, Kalion unintentionally made a groaning sound.

“If we had been a little late, it would have been a real disaster.”

How he descended from the mountain with this leg. The person in front, making an expression that he found it impressive, looked at Kalion’s swollen ankle.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Fortunately, we arrived on time… Really lucky.”

Even while treating Kalion’s leg, he sighed intermittently.

“What is your name?”

“Joseph.”

Joseph’s hands moved busily as he treated Kalion with care.

“Thank you.”

Regardless of what had happened, Kalion expressed gratitude to those who had come up to the harsh mountain in the middle of winter to rescue them. Apologizing for the trouble, Joseph waved his hand.

“We should have accompanied you in the first place. I apologize for making Lord Kalion carry so much of the burden alone.”

After the news of the dragon capture spread secretly among the lord’s direct soldiers, it quickly spread faster than light since Oscar didn’t particularly enforce information control. 

Lord Oscar, the ruler of the territory, was not an oppressive figure like other nobles. He wielded a sword, but it was for justice, and he always created an atmosphere where everyone could freely express their opinions.

When Joseph, who had already heard the situation directly from Oscar when forming the vanguard, scratched his face with his finger, it was entrusted to the knights, outsiders, to bear the responsibility for what happened in the beloved and cherished Morreta. Moreover, it was too much to hear gratitude.

“Now that we’re here, don’t worry. We will safely escort you down the mountain.”

Kalion silently nodded in response to Joseph’s sincerity. After Joseph carefully bandaged Kalion’s leg, treating the remaining injuries one by one, he stood up.

“Now, I will treat the other members.”

“Sure.”

Though it was emergency treatment, Kalion, who felt much more comfortable, got up from his seat and walked outside the makeshift tent. As soon as he stepped out, Gia, who had been waiting in front, stood in front of Kalion chirpily.

“How are you? Are you okay?”

He didn’t need to tell her the story that he could have been unable to use his leg if they had been a little late. He didn’t want to convey even that to Gia, who was more worried than him.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Really?”

Even with the repeated questions, there was still concern in her voice.

“Yes, really.”

“Phew… That’s a relief.”

As if truly relieved, Gia swept her chest with a gesture.

“By the way…”

“What?”

“Were you worried?”

“Of course. Naturally.”

The corners of Kalion’s eyes curved up at Gia’s questioning tone as if it was obvious.

“Why are you smiling?”

Gia blushed at Kalion’s laughter. Wasn’t it unfair for him to smile like that with that face? Gia playfully hit Kalion’s forearm without causing any pain, rubbing her hand over her pounding heart.

“I’m not such a mean person, you know.”

“I know.”

“You know, so why ask?”

“I just wanted to hear it.”

Seeing Kalion and Gia giggling in their own world, the other members, who had been concerned about the commander’s health, gave up asking and quietly entered the makeshift tent.

Jacob, who had lived a solo life and was forcing himself to open his eyes wide to avoid frowning at the couple’s affectionate behavior, finally entered the tent for treatment.

“When we go down this time… for sure, for sure…”

Jacob resolved and stepped into the tent to receive treatment.

‘It’s a good time.’

So, the secret romance of the two continued, unbeknownst to everyone else. The members, unsure of how long they had to keep up the pretense, started pretending they didn’t see or hear, even when they did.

“But isn’t it really strange?”

Gia, who had brought Kalion into the small tent built for resting, asked.

“Yes. I was thinking the same thing.”

Even if Spencer is an exceptionally skilled knight, it is nearly impossible for him to descend from the mountain in two days. What could have happened? Kalion, led by Gia and sitting on a folded blanket, stroked his scruffy chin.

“What on earth happened?”

Naturally, Gia’s gaze lingered on Kalion’s injured leg. In the place where the loosely wrapped bandage had been removed, there was now a professionally treated wound.

“Well… The only way to find out is to meet Spencer… Why are you doing this?”

Kalion, naturally, started speaking but paused as Gia’s hand gently touched his leg.

“I mean, I was just worried you might be in pain.”

“I’m fine now.”

“All you know is ‘I’m fine.'”

“I’m really fine now.”

“You’re not fine. Got it?”

Still concerned, Gia’s hand continued to comfortingly stroke over the area.

“Then just keep an eye on me until I’m completely healed.”

“That was the plan anyway.”

“Really?”

In addition to nagging, Gia had decided to stick close until his leg was completely healed. Looking at Kalion with triangular-shaped eyes, she teased him.

“Don’t get mad just because it’s bothersome.”

“Why would I get mad at you? And why would I find you bothersome?”

“Because I’m going to nag you like crazy every time you use your legs.”

“It doesn’t bother me at all.”

“Don’t talk to me about it later.”

Gia grinned, finally feeling a little more at ease, and turned teasingly to Kalion.

“I won’t.”

Kalion, who always kept his word once spoken, solemnly accepted it. Gia, who always found his seriousness amusing, chuckled.

At first, such a serious Kalion was frustrating, but at some point, Gia had gotten used to it. She found him reliable, and it seemed like he wouldn’t be bothered even if she followed him around all day nagging.

Leaning her cheek on her folded knees, Gia looked up at Kalion.

“I’m serious. You might bleed from your ears listening to my nagging.”

“Yes. I really am fine.”

Looking into Kalion’s deep red eyes, Gia felt a sense of calm she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

She’s really glad he didn’t die.

How many times had she worried about Kalion possibly dying while facing Morrison? If Kalion, who had barely survived, couldn’t use his leg, he might have to end his life as a swordsman. How could she take responsibility for Kalion?

All her thoughts ended up being about Kalion. It was so natural that her mind was filled with thoughts of him without her even realizing it.

With numerous worries and sleepless nights, Gia’s eyelids gradually drooped.

“Are you tired?”

“Uh… no.”

While saying she wasn’t tired, Gia was defenseless and falling asleep. 

Before she could say a comfortable farewell to sleep, Gia’s eyes closed first.