My Strange Savior - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

The Emperor, who was once revered as a sage, was not an ordinary human being, judging by how he swiftly brought Myers down from grace. 

He was a persistent and tenacious individual, willing to use any means necessary to obtain what he desired, regardless of the consequences.

The hypocritical Emperor was cunning as well. 

He excelled in promoting all achievements under his name and had a skill for stirring the emotions of the dull-witted imperial subjects. Exploiting public sentiment, the Emperor carried the people on his back and manipulated them.

Even the prestigious families, who had earned recognition, couldn’t afford to ignore the Emperor’s influence. The renowned Duke Bowers was no exception. If Duke Bowers’ standing were to rise further, the Emperor’s sword would inevitably change its direction.

“If we had not succeeded in capturing the dragon, my master would have been entangled in charges of treason as well.”

Their relationship was entangled with motives upon motives. Knowing that his mentor was not someone who would act solely for Gregory, Kalion nodded.

Kalion had trusted and supported Oscar. Moreover, he had revealed Gregory’s weakness.

“If you think that way, thank you, Kalion.”

“Master, what do you plan to do now?”

Kalion looked at Oscar with a worried expression. The mentor’s steps were more radical than expected, causing concern.

“If we try to hide, His Majesty will easily find out. In that case, let’s announce it widely. Even if it’s a bit regrettable to disclose it before His Majesty takes action. I’m sorry for making you do this, but…”

“Surely…”

“Gia. It seems we’ll have to borrow that woman’s hand.”

“Master.”

Kalion straightened up his slack body. Oscar had a taste for mentioning Gia’s name.

“If we openly step forward, His Majesty will eventually not let you, my family, and even others who are swayed here go unpunished.”

“Master, even so, this is not right. She’s just a foreigner. If she had not caught Morrison and pretended not to know, we would have suffered without knowing anything. But Gia did not do that. She did not pretend not to know when she could.”

Kalion’s voice, relentlessly accusing, was filled with anger.

“She offered to help capture Morrison without avoiding her responsibility. We cannot burden her with political baggage and responsibilities even though she did not turn a blind eye when she could.”

Kalion, who had been loose, immediately straightened up. Oscar had seen through Kalion’s reaction when Gia’s name was mentioned.

“It’s not that your thoughts are wrong, Kalion. But considering the current situation, let’s go a bit more roundabout. If we step forward right now, we’ll not only fan the flames of suspicion in His Majesty’s heart but also pour more oil into it. Moreover, even to protect the dragon’s heart that His Majesty is eyeing, this method is the best for now.”

Instead of answering, Kalion grasped the poorly made handle of the chair.

Creak.

The dust of what was a chair until a moment ago fell from Kalion’s hand.

Refusing to pass the responsibility onto that woman, Oscar, who had been watching the falling dust, looked at Kalion with surprised eyes. 

The expression on Kalion’s face, struggling to contain himself had a profound impact.

Oscar, who was witnessing Kalion’s angered expression for the first time in a while, was momentarily taken aback by the unsettled look in his eyes. Ever since reaching maturity, or even before that, Kalion had always been calm, never revealing his emotions recklessly. It was uncharacteristic for someone his age.

Oscar, after a moment of surprise at his disciple’s resistance, soon came up with a hypothesis.

“Hehe…”

Oscar burst into laughter rather unexpectedly, observing Kalion’s heated face. Upon reflection, Kalion realized he might have acted too impulsively, neglecting proper etiquette towards his mentor. The dust in his palm was an afterthought.

“Kalion.”

“Yes, master.”

Seeing his disciple, who seemed somewhat calmer, Oscar reached out and patted the reddened back of the hand.

“I’m not suggesting we exploit her. I’m just saying, let’s divert attention for a moment. Eventually, His Majesty won’t be oblivious to our presence. But if this woman from another world captures a dragon and warns about Morrison… His Majesty will find it difficult to formulate a plan regarding the nobility and imperial subjects who are in turmoil.”

Kalion, understanding Oscar’s intention, sealed his lips. 

He had momentarily been angry, thinking about using Gia prominently, but now he felt embarrassed in front of his mentor. 

Why had he been so upset? Kalion brushed off the remnants of the chair still on his palm, pretending not to notice.

“Let’s leave it at that for today. Go back and rest. We’ll discuss the rest tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, understood.”

Kalion, with a stern face, rose from his seat and left the barracks with rough movements. Oscar, watching his disciple’s retreating figure, had a gentle look in his eyes.

“That lad.”

He was quite a manly man.

When had their relationship become so deep? 

Oscar, who had lived for many years, could easily read where Kalion’s emotions were headed.

The person involved, Kalion, remained oblivious, but Oscar, who had been teaching him since he was young, couldn’t be fooled.

He used to be so indifferent to women.

Oscar chuckled upon hearing occasional gossip about Kalion’s social life. Then he thought about his disciple falling for a woman.

‘She’s quite special.’

Oscar’s wrinkled mouth drew a line at the peculiarity of his disciple’s taste.

‘Bowers’ heir is in love; that’s a development.’

In the freshness of Kalion’s infatuation, Oscar momentarily forgot about the weighty problems.

* * *

Gia let out a low breath as she carried a sobbing Spencer into the open barracks.

Spencer’s distorted expression, like a child who lost their parents, was pitiful to see.

“Are you okay…….”

Gia swallowed the question she was about to ask. 

Was it really okay? She almost asked a pointless question. She sat Spencer, whose lips were rolled inward, with a weak face, in a chair.

What comforting words should she say? As Gia was choosing her words internally, Spencer spoke first with a trembling voice.

“Vice Commander…”

“Yeah.”

“The last…”

“His death was incredibly honorable. Like the other members, no doubt about it.”

Even without hearing it all, Gia knew what question Spencer wanted to ask. Kneeling in front of him, Gia looked up at Spencer.

“He fought to the end without running away.”

Moisture filled Gia’s clear eyes as she looked at Spencer.

“Is that true?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Looking at Gia with clear eyes, Spencer’s question was evident. With a single nod, Gia weakly smiled, looking at his red nose.

“There won’t be another person as brave as him. I wish I could be a little comfort to you.” 

With that feeling, Gia comforted Spencer with warm words, patting his trembling hand.

“That’s enough.”

Gradually stopping his tears, Spencer looked down at the hand of Gia, who was softly holding his hand.

“Thank you.”

“Me? What did I do…”

“For safely coming back.”

In response to Spencer’s gratitude, Gia closed her lips, suppressing the trembling. 

Faced with Spencer’s unexpected words, Gia twisted her face in embarrassment, unsure of what to say.

Or was it embarrassment? Gia, who was unfamiliar with such treatment, had a perplexed look in her eyes, not knowing how to react.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Gia.”

“Th-thank you…”

Gia, stuttering as she expressed her gratitude, scratched her cheek in embarrassment. Uncertain about this atmosphere and whether she deserved such treatment, Gia’s eyes flickered in confusion.

“By the way, there’s something I want to ask.”

Gia, who was uncomfortably sitting down and looking up at Spencer, cautiously spoke to resolve the lingering questions.

“You…”

“Yes.”

Seemingly calmer, Spencer wiped his red eyes with the back of his hand.

“How did you…”

“Gia.”

As the tent flap lifted, Kalion entered, seemingly having finished talking with Oscar.

“Oh? Is the conversation already over?”

Gia, who hadn’t realized that a lot of time had passed while comforting Spencer, blinked her eyes.

“Yes. But why…”

His heart twisted at the sight of Gia crouched beneath a sobbing Spencer in a chair, her arm resting on his thigh. 

Kalion, standing with narrowed eyes and straightened shaky legs, grabbed Gia’s forearm. When he exerted force as if telling her to stand up, Gia, responding with a hesitant “uhh,” got up with his assistance.

Kalion, who had seated Gia on a nearby chair, then unfolded a folded chair next to it with one hand. Kalion’s dignified expression, sitting right next to Gia, finally relaxed slightly, as if expressing satisfaction. 

In a brief moment, Gia sat down on the chair, she blinked with a somewhat bewildered face.

“Uh… uh…”

“What were you talking about?”

In response to Kalion’s question, Gia, who was fidgeting, stopped and earnestly corrected her expression.

“Oh, right. I was trying to ask Spencer how he came down from the mountain so quickly.”

“Is that so?”

Kalion’s gaze turned towards Spencer. Responding to the pressure to answer, Spencer, who had stopped fidgeting, strengthened his gaze in his swollen eyes.

“You might not believe it.”

“What?”

What could they not believe? 

As Gia looked at him with a puzzled expression, Spencer, hiding his trembling hands, continued.

“A black, large cow with red eyes. The cow brought me down to the mountain.”

“That cow….”

Trying to carefully articulate the thoughts he had guessed, Spencer, who had slowly let out the unbelievable story, continued.

“Ever get that feeling of déjà vu? But I realized it for sure after arriving.”

Gulp.

Spencer, who swallowed the overflowing saliva, continued speaking, unable to suppress his still uncertain feelings.

“It’s the symbol of Shenanigans.”

“If it’s a symbol.”

“Yes… Apheus.”