My Strange Savior - Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The heat that had once been intense had already cooled. 

Nevertheless, Kalion’s heart remained unchanged. He has no idea how to put an end to this youthful love.

When Kalion was languishing in the first fever of love, the protagonist who had caused that fever in the distance was casually walking towards the training ground.

“Kalion!”

At the calling voice, his ears perked up, and his gaze found Gia first. Annoying. 

Even though he was in such a ridiculous state, she drew lines on her lips as she pleased.

“Why did you come out?”

“To find you.”

Why does his heart keep melting at the mention of her coming to find him? There was no other fool. Kalion had no idea how to control his unruly heart.

“It’s cold. Come inside.”

“Huh? Is the training over?”

“Yes.”

“Ah… That’s a shame. I was going to stretch my body for the first time in a while.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Will you spar with me?”

At Gia’s words, Kalion raised the sword he was holding.

“Willingly.”

Without hesitation, Kalion, who volunteered to be Gia’s practice partner, stepped back.

“Just a moment, let me warm up a bit.”

Kalion watched Gia without a break as she did warm-up exercises, groaning.

The black combat attire she brought from the original world looked good on her as she gracefully turned her waist and stretched her hands like a dance move. 

It wasn’t just ridiculous; it looked beautiful no matter what Gia did in his eyes.

This might be a severe case. Unlike Kalion’s cool evaluation of his condition, a gentle breeze softly blew through his heart.

“Here I go.”

Before he knew it, Gia had finished her warm-up exercises and pulled out a small dagger. Since the long sword didn’t suit her, Gia ultimately chose the black dagger she brought from the original world.

Even that suited her well, causing a big problem.

Kalion, who should concentrate carefully since it was sparring with a real dagger instead of a wooden one, couldn’t focus at all, as if a screw had come loose.

Kalion, who avoided the attacking dagger like flowing water, took a deep breath. Whether it was to check the results of his training so far or due to his foolish mind, his body moved on its own, letting the attacks pass. 

If it hadn’t been for that, it might have led to a serious accident.

Kalion blinked at the sound of the wind mixed with Gia’s rough attacks.

‘Thinking of something else during a spar. I must be completely crazy.’

The power of first love was more potent than Kalion had anticipated. 

Despite the sharp gaze in Gia’s eyes as she approached, Kalion’s body yielded like a soft cotton candy.

“Huh.”

Kalion, who only dodged, seemed irritating, so Gia quickly rushed in, slipping into the effective range of the longsword.

Blocking the incoming attacks with his arms and without drawing his sword, Kalion unconsciously swung the dagger from its sheath. Finding the vulnerability while instinctively defending, Kalion soon regained his composure and agilely lowered his large body.

“Uh, oops.”

Gia, engaging in her first clash with Kalion, shouted as she lost her balance while swinging her dagger into the empty air. It was the end for someone who had pushed with brute force.

“Uh, oof.”

If Kalion hadn’t caught her, Gia would have hit her forehead on the ground.

“Th-thank you.”

Kalion, realizing that Gia’s words roughly expressed gratitude, nodded.

“Can you let go now?”

Looking at Kalion’s arm still wrapped around her waist, Gia widened her eyes. In the close distance, Kalion’s handsome face filled her sight.

Leaning on the sturdy arm supporting her waist, Gia, stretched out like a flexible animal, playfully pursed her lips.

“Should we continue like this?”

“No.”

“I’m good at shooting with guns… but hand-to-hand combat and swords are a bit unfamiliar, right?”

“Is that so?”

Awkwardly justifying, Kalion helped Gia stand up, and she lightly swung the dagger in her hand.

“I found openings in my own way. When did you dodge?”

Seemingly annoyed by attacks that Kalion could handle, Gia extended her lips.

“Indeed, monsters and humans are different. Monster attacks are very straightforward. Is it because you’re Kalion?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Gia stopped criticizing his skills.

“I should try sparring with others. Just practicing with you doesn’t give me a clear idea of my abilities.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Huh? Why?”

Suddenly, Kalion’s refusal, as sharp as a knife, caused Gia to raise her eyebrows. 

Even clashing swords with the best swordsman on the continent wouldn’t accurately gauge his true skill.

When Gia looked at him with curiosity, Kalion pursed his lips. In the brief moment, Kalion was trying to come up with a plausible excuse in his mind.

As Kalion imagined Gia sparring with other men, a sense of unease bubbled up inside him. In his imagination, Gia would engage with other men in combat, and as their swords clashed, their bodies and eyes would inevitably meet. 

In Kalion’s mind, Gia was already continuing her pink interactions with other men.

“There aren’t many who can handle your strength, Gia. If something were to happen, what would you do?”

“Is that so?”

With a sense of regret that she hadn’t considered her monstrous strength, Gia sighed.

“Well, I guess. I’m not very good at controlling my strength.”

Understanding Kalion’s explanation, Gia nodded and stepped back.

“In that case, I’ll rely on you in the future, Commander Kalion?”

In Gia’s playful tone, Kalion couldn’t help but chuckle.

“From now on, only spar with me.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Promise me.”

“Okay.”

As Kalion persistently secured the promise, he felt relieved. He then struck at Gia with his approaching sword.

Clang. Clang.

Kalion’s longsword and Gia’s dagger clashed incessantly. The more they clashed, the more it seemed that Gia’s skills were improving visibly.

Was sparring always this enjoyable? They had started sparring just before sunset, and now the sun was setting behind the mountain.

In the shadow of the approaching sun, Kalion took a deep breath. Gia, also showing signs of fatigue, held his hand with trembling fingers and sheathed her dagger.

“Wow… You’re really extraordinary.”

Watching Kalion, who faced her with agile movements, even during their usual practice, Gia couldn’t help but admire him. 

The fact that Kalion’s stamina and swordsmanship weren’t achieved overnight was evident even to Gia, who wasn’t familiar with swords.

How much effort did Kalion put into reaching this level? Even without seeing it, one could guess. 

Given his diligent nature, his dedication to swordsmanship must have been even more profound. 

Gia looked at Kalion with admiration and reverence. 

He was truly an exceptional man.

Back then, she never expected the man she rescued to be such an exceptional person, both as a human being and externally. Without regretting her choice at that time, Gia concluded the enjoyable sparring session.

The more she sees Kalion, the more there is to learn from him. 

“Are you going to take a shower?”

“Yes.”

“Will you join me for dinner?”

Nodding naturally as he caught his breath, Kalion agreed.

“Even in your opinion, Rey seems a bit better, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m relieved.”

Gia let out a sigh of relief, looking at the setting sun. She didn’t know how long she would stay by Rey’s side, but during that time, she wanted to take care of him as best as she could.

After all, Rey would have to face the world alone from now on. Knowing how cold and unforgiving that world could be, Gia wanted to instill courage in Rey so that even if he fell, he could rise again.

Understanding Gia’s feelings, Kalion concealed his bitterness and followed her.

When they reached the second floor, Gia cheerfully shook hands with Kalion.

“See you later.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Kalion watched Gia ascend the stairs with steps that seemed to fly. 

He gazed at her until she disappeared from sight and then finally left the spot.

* * *

Knock, knock.

Gia, who had been living in Rey’s room, stirred at the small knocking sound. 

Or rather, she tried to stir, but her body paused as it was entangled in the strands of hair firmly held by Rey.

“Oh… Sister, where are you going?”

The expression Gia wore as she looked at Rey, who grasped her hair and slept every night since that incident, carried a sense of pity. 

What could she say? After all, she was someone who would leave soon.

Gia, who had been gently stroking Rey’s chubby cheeks, was now silently engaged in a quiet struggle to free her hair from Rey’s grip.

“Ugh, Mom.”

“Shh… Be good. Our Rey, go back to sleep.”

Feeling the hair slipping from his hand, Rey as if sensing it, stubbornly tightened his grip, rendering Gia’s efforts to free her hair futile.

Should she just cut her hair? As Gia entertained this impractical thought, the knocking sound echoed steadily once again.

“Kalion?”

Keeping her voice low so as not to wake up Rey, Gia asked towards the door.

“Yes. I’m coming in.”

As expected, at the arrival of the anticipated visitor, Gia let out another sigh under her breath.

“Come in.”

“Yes?”

Hesitating at the invitation, Kalion gently opened the door. Blinking at the scene illuminated by the dim light, Kalion found Gia sitting halfway up on the bed in an awkward position.

“He just fell asleep.”

“Why… are you like this?”

“Rey won’t let go of my hair.”

Gia lay back down on the bed, sulking and looking pitifully at Kalion.

Kalion spent the last few days without informing Gia about the upcoming plans, all because of Rey, who stubbornly refused to be separated from Gia. However, as he needed to inform Gia about Oscar’s plans soon, he sought her out despite the late hour.

Kalion, who had intended to call Gia to the reception room, stood in front of the door, contemplating the situation before him.

“Should I just tell you tomorrow?”

Though Kalion hesitated, Gia assured him it was okay and tapped the spot next to Rey with her palm.

“Come here and talk. Even so, he sleeps well if he holds onto my hair.”

“Is that so?”

Unable to resist Gia’s persistence, Kalion reluctantly closed the door and stepped inside. 

Rey had been sticking close to Gia for the past few days, making it challenging for Kalion to have any private time with her. Because of that, Kalion hadn’t been able to face Gia properly.

The sense of morality within Kalion, which strictly prohibited entering a room where a woman stayed late at night, wavered in the face of Gia’s urgency. The dimly lit room flickered with a small lantern, and within it, a faint scent of a child lingered.

Even in this atmosphere that made everyone feel at ease, Kalion felt hesitant about bringing up the matter. 

As Kalion stood there, unsure of what to say, Gia held up a hand.