My Strange Savior - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Ku, kuuk. Kk, kkeup.”

“Here’s water!”

Suddenly, seeing Kalion coughing and tapping his chest, Gia urgently handed him the water.

Kalion, who was coughing severely, took the water offered by Gia and gulped it down. Kalion, who had barely settled down after the coughing fit, pondered an unexpected question.

“Uh, a girlfriend? Me?”

“Yeah. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve heard about your girlfriend before.”

Whether Kalion didn’t expect Gia to ask such a question or not, he continued to cough several times, clearing his throat with his still-reddened neck.

“Why, all of a sudden… why are you curious?”

“Hmm…”

Gia raised her eyes.

“Because you’re handsome?”

“Yes… yes?”

“And kind… and also…”

“Ha…”

At Gia’s words, Kalion’s face blushed even more than a bonfire, and he quickly covered the rest of his unblemished hand with the reddened one.

“Why? Is this the first time you’ve heard this?”

“What are you talking about?”

Kalion’s face seemed like it would burst at any moment.

“You’re handsome. Why are you reacting like you’ve never heard that before? You must have heard it a lot.”

Gia looked at the flustered Kalion. She was sure that with a face like his, people around him wouldn’t stay silent.

“Ha…”

Kalion hid his blushing face with his palm.

“Why are you embarrassed? It’s not like you don’t know you’re good-looking.”

“Please… stop.”

“What? Saying you’re good-looking?”

“Please…”

Now even begging, Kalion closed his eyes tightly. Gia couldn’t help but smirk at Kalion’s reaction.

“So, do you have a girlfriend? Did you leave her at the capital?”

Assuming there was one, Gia asked, prompting Kalion to remove his covered hand.

“No, I don’t have.”

“No girlfriend? Really?”

“Yes. I don’t have anything like that. I don’t know why you’re so confidently assuming that I do.”

“Because you’re handsome, so naturally, women wouldn’t leave you alone, right?”

“Please… stop…”

Upon hearing Kalion say he doesn’t have a girlfriend, Gia’s face lit up with a big smile. It was a rare sight to see Kalion looking embarrassed. Gia tilted her head and laughed.

“Really none?”

“Yes.”

Kalion, who stated this firmly, wiped his warm face once and met Gia’s eyes.

“Really none. Then, Gia… what about you?”

“Huh?”

After hesitating for a moment as if in thought, Kalion continued.

“Do you have someone waiting for you back at home?”

“Me? Why? Do I seem like I’d have a boyfriend?”

Gia replied, excited by Kalion’s question.

“Yes.”

For a moment, Kalion’s voice seemed awkward. If she had someone waiting for her, it would likely dampen his mood. It was a question asked without much thought. 

Just as he opened his mouth to cancel the question, Gia’s voice cut in first.

“Why would I have someone? Huh?”

“Well, that…”

“Because I’m pretty?”

With a small hand supporting her chin, Gia tilted her head, revealing her even smaller face. She knew she was making a playful expression, but Kalion couldn’t easily look away.

Gia opened her eyes innocently as if trying to look playful. Her sunny smile continued to captivate his attention. Unable to answer, Kalion could only hold his reddened neck.

“Huh? Am I that pretty? Or is it because I’m cute?”

Gia’s nostrils flared playfully as she smirked.

Twinkling.

With each wide-eyed blink, her elongated eyelashes cast shadows, moving gracefully like the wings of a butterfly.

Kalion couldn’t help but be captivated by her radiant and playful smile. Even though he knew she was trying to play with him, he couldn’t easily tear his eyes away.

“Yes.”

“Huh?”

Kalion’s response caused a surprised note in Gia’s voice. There was no trace of laughter in Kalion’s answer to Gia’s playful question.

“Yes. Because you’re pretty. Because you’re cute. I think there might be someone you’re dating.”

Kalion’s serious, low voice spread throughout the room. 

Gia, who had teased him with a playful question, quickly lowered her hand as her ears turned even redder than burning pieces of tissue.

“Oh, no… What is this?”

“Please tell me.”

Since they had ventured into the conversation, it seemed better to hear the answer through for peace of mind. Of course, the desired response was already decided. 

Kalion’s throat was tense with tension. How could tension reach a point where even the palms of his hands became moist?

“Um… um.”

The stammering red lips hesitated, unable to find the words. 

Kalion kept his gaze fixed on Gia, waiting for an answer.

“Um, none.”

Why did relief wash over him upon hearing those words? Kalion wiped his sweaty palm on his thigh.

“Is that so.”

A voice even softer than before reached Gia’s ears. Feeling a bit embarrassed for playing around, Gia lowered her eyes.

Not knowing where to place her hands, Gia’s hand, holding the fork without much thought, wandered on the table.

“Try this too.”

The face of Kalion, who pushed the plate towards Gia, had regained its calmness. The once flushed cheeks now looked appealingly warm. 

Having failed in her attempt to playfully tease him, Gia vowed not to do it again, pursing her lips like a pouting duck.

* * *

After finishing his meal, Kalion left the barracks to speak with Oscar again. 

Gia, who had been sitting in silence inside, rubbed her chilled cheeks.

“It’s not fair to do it with that face.”

Despite her complaint, her face was blushing, as if she was embarrassed. 

Thinking back, she realized her words had been too much.

As Gia grumbled, a fake cough echoed in front of Gia’s tent.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Gregory.”

“Huh? Gregory?”

As the person in front revealed his name, Gia quickly stood up and lifted the tent. Seeing Gregory standing in front, Gia gestured for him to come in. Even though it wasn’t her tent, Gia acted as if she were the owner without hesitation.

Confused by Gia’s confident behavior, Gregory hesitated but eventually entered.

“Are you feeling… alright?”

In Gregory’s hands, not empty, was a fragrant tea with steam rising. Not just one cup, but two. Gregory placed them on the table in front, indicating one was for Gia.

“Huh? Fine, perfectly fine.”

As if challenging Gregory, Gia flexed her arm, showing off her muscles, and looked at him.

“Well, that’s a relief.”

A faint smile appeared on Gregory’s usually serious face as he observed Gia’s confident demeanor.

“Why? Were you worried?”

Gregory, usually reserved, wasn’t someone who would inquire about others’ well-being. Gia stared at him with a surprised expression as if asking what had happened.

“Ahem.”

Coughing awkwardly, Gregory adjusted his glasses. 

Even Kalion, famous among the members, was injured. Seeing this, Gia’s concern naturally surfaced.

Although he seemed fine on the surface, who knows? 

Gregory grunted inwardly, but finally gave in and excused himself, arriving at the barracks late at night.

“But what are you doing on the mountain?”

She knew Gregory had come, but she hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to him because she’d comforted Spencer and then dined with Kalion.

“To handle a dragon’s corpse, wouldn’t it be necessary for someone who knows about dragons to be there?”

“Really?”

Sipping his tea elegantly, Gregory, with an air of pride, made an ambiguous statement that seemed like boasting, but not quite.

“But the mountain was rugged.”

“That’s not a problem. I explored alone to find alchemical ingredients…”

“Yeah, you’re not a kid.”

Gia agreed. After all, his grandfather, Oscar, must have allowed it. Since it wasn’t a matter to be debated, Gia held the warm cup in both hands.

“Enjoy your tea.”

“Yes.”

Gregory, who seemed ready to leave, kept his seat.

As there wasn’t much to talk about with Gregory, Gia delicately sipped her tea. In the unfamiliar atmosphere, Gregory asked her.

“Is this Morrison really that formidable?”

“Uh… well.”

Gregory, who had heard the stories from Oscar, cautiously brought up the subject. Gia bit her lip, absentmindedly playing with a nail sticking out from the table.

She couldn’t confidently promise to deal with Morrison. After realizing that her presence in this world hadn’t been very helpful, she felt sorry. Although she wanted to confidently entrust everything to herself, she almost died dealing with Morrison.

This realization made Gia feel uneasy, even though it wasn’t her fault. Perhaps it was because the person who invented the virus was her father. 

Nobody knew, but the pressure, knowingly or unknowingly, weighed on Gia.

“Oh, right.”

“Yes?”

“Can alchemy make this?”

Hastily, Gia reached into her hip holster and pulled out her gun.

“Making bullets to go inside here would be impossible, right?”

Looking at the empty gun that had already consumed all its bullets, Gia expressed her regret. 

Perhaps Gregory could make them. Gia’s eyes, filled with hope, twinkled like stars in the night sky.

“Well…”

Caught off guard by Gia’s sparkling eyes, Gregory hesitated. As he stared at the unfamiliar black item, Gia reached out and took the modified gun back.

“Well… even for you, this might be difficult.”

The previous task involved replacing the blue energy with mana extracted from the dragon’s heart. However, this time, Gia was asking to create the bullets themselves.

Creating something out of nothing might be challenging even for Gregory. With a determined look, Gia grasped the handle of the gun, which had been modified into a semi-automatic. Gregory’s hand rested on top.

“No, I will try. No, I’ll do it.”

Challenged by Gia’s words, Gregory, whose pride was hurt, awakened as a scholar.

“Uh… really? If you do, I’ll be grateful.”

As Gregory’s long, slender fingers overlaid on top of her hand, strength filled them, and blue veins appeared on the back of the hand.

“I cannot guarantee success, but…”

Determination sparkled in the eyes hidden behind the glasses. 

Feeling the burning gaze, Gia, who realized she had asked for too much, hesitated, trying to withdraw her hand. However, Gregory’s large hand covered hers along with the gun.

“I will do my best to create it.”

“Uh… y-yes…”

Should she ask him to let go of her hand? 

Fearing that she might have asked for too much and feeling overwhelmed by Gregory’s fiery eyes, Gia cautiously assessed the situation.