My Strange Savior - Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Whether it was an attempt at communication with Apheus or something else, Oscar was relieved as long as Spencer wasn’t trampled to death by his reckless behavior. 

Overcoming the pressure, Oscar swayed and stood up from his seat.

Even if it had helped at that moment, now there might be a different purpose.

Without considering the consequences, Oscar looked at Spencer, and his chest constricted like deflating lungs.

“I too feel sad when I lose a colleague.” 

Spencer said, stroking its glossy black fur. Apheus’s head tilted toward Spencer.

Sniff, snort.

The expelled breath scattered Spencer’s hair messily.

“Thanks for bringing me down that time. Because of that… I was able to save other colleagues unharmed.”

Whether Apheus understood what Spencer was trying to convey, Apheus’ mouth slowly opened.

Behind, Oscar’s eyes widened.

Not knowing how the mythical creature would react, Oscar feared a terrible outcome. 

Would Spencer be swallowed in one gulp by that largemouth? 

The worried eyes, stained with concern, couldn’t bear to properly witness what would unfold in front of them.

However, even after keeping his eyes closed for a while, there was no scream, nor any similar sound. Instead, there were only sounds of people inhaling in astonishment.

Oscar, slowly opening his eyes, was left speechless at the sight.

“That is….”

A black tongue, like Apheus’ fur, protruded and swept across Spencer’s face. 

Although the tongue was larger than Spencer’s face, it lovingly licked every inch without a hint of aggression.

Unable to resist the force pushing him back, Spencer fell backward.

“S-stop.”

Even raising his hands to shield himself while sitting, Spencer’s hair was already a mess due to Apheus’ saliva.

Whether resigned or not, Spencer ceased his futile attempts to evade, and his body was surrendered to Apheus.

“I appreciate your affection… but thanks is enough.”

With every movement of the tongue, Spencer’s body swayed.

“Enough…”

Spencer’s earnest emotions seemed to have reached Apheus, as its tongue retracted. 

Spencer’s transformed hair sprawled in all directions as if caught in a storm, and the sticky saliva flowing down his chin was a bonus.

“Heh… Heh….” 

Oscar couldn’t decide whether to laugh or be astonished at the sight of Spencer’s forlorn laughter. 

The scene before his eyes opened with great effort, seemed truly surreal. Even in the involuntary blinking of his eyelids, he could feel a slight trembling.

“Do I… have to believe this?”

In response to Oscar’s mumbled words, Gregory shook himself and stood up.

“The legends were true…”

Apheus, a symbol of Shenanigans for a long time, had been heard of and seen so often that it became almost mundane. It was inevitable since Apheus was depicted everywhere in Shenanigans, and legends of Apheus had been told wherever one went.

Gregory, however, easily dismissed Oscar’s subtly conveyed message about Spencer meeting Apheus and receiving help. Although his grandfather seemed to accept it eventually, Gregory, with a skeptical disposition, chose to let it pass through one ear.

But then, almost as if mocking Gregory, Apheus appeared suddenly, right in front of everyone. 

Even if someone had claimed to see it alone, it would have been hard to believe. Was it a collective hallucination caused by something wrong with what they ate?

Gregory’s eyes, constantly filled with doubt, gradually sank into emptiness.

“It’s undoubtedly true that the world has fallen into chaos.”

Blindly believing was never his style, but seeing Apheus manifest before his eyes made him truly grasp that the legends were not false.

Tap, tap.

Unlike before, Apheus walked gracefully, leaving no footprints on the snow-covered ground. Even with its massive body, there should have been imprints if not actual damage to the floor. 

Oscar, staring in awe, couldn’t connect any thoughts in his mind.

Dragons and Apheus. 

The appearance of these mythical creatures, heard only in legends, seemed like an announcement of the beginning of a murky world. It felt like a warning to brace for the impending chaos.

“I am too afraid, Greg.”

Oscar’s eyes, calling Gregory by his nickname, closed deeply.

“More than I thought…”

Oscar’s voice, rhythmic and measured, lacked the usual strength.

“Undoubtedly, something unbearable is going to happen.”

Oscar’s shoulders, which always maintained a straight posture without ever seeming to lose strength, looked unusually small today.

“Whether you and I can endure the chaos that will swallow everything. Who will remain strong in the desolate land swept by the chaos, turned into a storm? That’s what worries me.”

History is rewritten by the victors. 

Oscar was concerned about how Shenanigans would survive and whether it could endure. 

The unchanging truth is that the nature of reality never changes. 

The old man, who understood this essence, looked at Apheus approaching him with lifeless eyes.

The face of Gregory, looking at his grandfather’s hunched back, also darkened.

He could hear his father’s voice echoing in his ears, telling him that the arrival of Apheus was always when the world was in turmoil.

“Grandfather…”

Despite Gregory’s call, Oscar remained steadfast. The once unyielding Oscar, who never seemed to lose strength, faced Apheus head-on.

Settled in the barren land that couldn’t support even a blade of grass, Oscar represented the descendants of Shenanigans. 

Stoicism. The imposing aura of an aged warrior was not to be underestimated.

“What do you desire, Apheus?”

The moist black nose wriggled as if confirming Oscar’s scent, and Apheus swallowed the smell.

Soon after, Apheus, facing Oscar who stood firm, rolled its feet on the ground twice. The satisfied Apheus turned away and directed its body toward the fragmented dragon head.

“Uh… no way.”

Spencer’s eyes widened. 

Apheus’s movements seemed as if it were asking to connect the cart to its body. The uncertain murmurs of the workers echoed, indicating that Oscar wasn’t the only one feeling this.

“Lord.”

“Huh, huh…”

Experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime surprise, Oscar was awestruck.

“Are you saying to connect the cart to your body?”

Understanding Oscar’s words, Apheus nodded its head a couple of times. Folding its legs and sitting in front of the cart, Apheus brought its tail down to the ground.

The intention of Apheus to lower its body so the cart could be easily attached was crystal clear.

“Quickly… Quickly, connect it.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Quickly. It’s Apheus’ will.”

There was no need to further divide the dragon’s corpse. 

Gregory’s dilemma was instantly resolved. 

Since the head and body were still intact, the dragon’s body was loaded onto the cart as it was.

“Everyone, move.”

Those who hesitated to approach willingly stood up at Oscar’s urging. 

Using sturdy ropes, they quickly secured the dragon’s corpse to prevent it from falling off the large cart.

However, when it came to connecting the cart to Apheus’ body, no one stepped forward. It was a daunting task to connect a cart to the body of a mythical creature.

Observing the hesitant crowd, Spencer, who had tidied up his messy appearance, stepped forward.

“If it’s uncomfortable for everyone, I’ll do it.”

“Yes, if you could… Th-thank you, Knight.”

The hastily woven harness, as large as Apheus’ torso, was handed to Spencer by the people. Spencer cautiously approached Apheus.

“Can I connect this?”

Apheus, with its crimson eyes, raised its neck as if to command, and Spencer, being skilled in handling horses, easily connected the harness to its body. 

People couldn’t hide their astonished expressions as they watched Spencer effortlessly handle the situation.

“Indeed, a knight from the capital is different.”

“That’s why he might have been chosen by Apheus.”

The murmurs of the workers were so audible that they could hardly be considered whispers. 

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Spencer scratched the back of his head. 

It was just putting a harness on Apheus’ body, nothing more. But being treated as someone remarkable made him uncomfortable.

“Now, how do we connect it to the cart?”

“We’ll make it quickly. Just wait a moment.”

Workers modified the shafts used for pulling the carts to fit Apheus’ physique. 

Collecting iron used by workers who no longer needed it to pull large carts, they quickly fashioned something resembling the shafts.

As the workers cautiously moved behind Apheus to connect the shafts, the task was completed in no time.

“My lord, it’s done.”

Whether Apheus understood the words or not, it stood firmly on the ground with its two legs. 

As Apheus moved, the wheels of the cart, which would have been impossible to move even with dozens of people, rolled effortlessly across the snowy ground.

It was more accurate to say the wheels were being dragged along the ground than rolling, but either way, the problem was solved.

As Apheus straightened its body and turned its head backward, Oscar, realizing the situation, urged the people.

“Descend!”

Passing through the busy workers, Apheus smoothly rolled its feet downhill.

* * *

“Rey, I tried so hard, but…”

Shouting into the air, Gia, not pleased with her tone, looked at the ceiling.

“This isn’t it. Again.”

In a room where it wasn’t the mountain breeze but the heat that circulated, Gia, with wet hair still undried, gripped her fist and rested her chin.

“Rey… I’m sorry.”

Drip, drop.

The falling moisture didn’t even register on her shoulders as Gia, dissatisfied, pulled at her hair, pacing around the room.

“Oh, seriously… This is driving me crazy. I should have tried it.”

Arriving in the late evening, the group scattered to their respective lodgings, finally having complete rest time.

Gia, having bathed in the much-desired warm water and still not having dried her hair for a whole hour, was in this state.

“It’s hard, it’s difficult.”

The self-blame for not saving Rey’s parents stabbed her heart. 

She had promised to do her best. The results were inadequate compared to the effort.

Everything was a mess except for capturing the dragon.

The knights were almost annihilated, and out of Rey’s parents, she vowed to rescue, not a single person was brought back.

“What should I do… What can I do.”

For the second time, Gia, attempting to comfort someone, pondered over what words to say to lessen the impact on Rey.

This was the reason why, even with a soft bed late at night, she couldn’t easily fall asleep.

“Ha.”

A deep sigh tore through her lungs and flowed out hotly. 

As she lay down on the bed, her wet hair splattered on the white bedding.

Gia, who had been staring at the luxurious wallpaper on the ceiling, tightly closed her eyes.

“Rey, I’m sorry. I said I’d do my best…”