The Butcher of Sargon (LoL x Arknight Fanfiction)

"Awake?"

Noticing movement beside him, Garde quickly came to his senses. 

He hadn't slept too deeply; after all, he didn't know Babel's operatives that well. 

Garde wasn't naive enough to entrust his life to strangers. 

So, holding onto Kal'tsit was, in a way, taking a hostage. Taking advantage of the moment was just a bonus!

Then again, was there really a need to take advantage of a woman over ten thousand years old? 

Garde mused that he might be too superficial, easily swayed by beauty. 

No matter how beautiful someone was, they couldn't escape time's toll; beauty eventually fades to mere bones. 

But Kal'tsit, even after thousands of years, still looked so young!

Alright, Garde admitted he was back where he started. He really was that shallow!

Unable to resist, Garde reached out and ruffled Kal'tsit's hair. 

Her previously peaceful sleeping face twitched slightly, as if she were experiencing a bad dream. 

Just then, the recently-awakened person beside him leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder, as though she wanted to bury her face completely in him.

Seeing this, Garde unhesitatingly released Kal'tsit, pushing her to the side.

"You don't have to worry about me."

With her face buried against Garde's shoulder, Saria spoke in an extremely calm voice. "Ms. Kal'tsit is injured, and her Feline constitution is much weaker than us Vouivres. It's reasonable for you to use your body to keep her warm in the chilly night of the Terra desert. I have no reason to be upset."

"Really?"

Saria said nothing, leaning on Garde expressionlessly, like a sulking child. 

Rationality was one thing, but emotions were another. 

What girl wouldn't feel a little stirred upon waking to see her boyfriend holding another woman?

This reminded Garde of a dream he had where he saw Saria's younger self, looking just as adorable when she was sulking.

"How's your injury?"

"It's nothing serious. My ability allows me to control calcium, even the calcium in my own body."

In other words, while it might take a hundred days for an ordinary person to recover from bone injuries, Saria only needed a few days to fully heal.

"No, I'm not talking about that." Garde casually pulled Saria into his embrace, squeezing her left hand. "How's your Oripathy? You should be aware of your condition. You know the consequences of blood exposure to Originium infection."

Garde's words made Saria tense up as she recalled what she had done at the processing plant. 

To defeat the Nightzmora Knight, she had used Originium on herself, effectively making herself a victim of Oripathy.

Thinking of this, Saria attempted to leave Garde's embrace, not wanting to risk infecting him. But Garde's firm grasp wouldn't allow her any chance to withdraw.

"Why run away, my dear Saria? Do you really think I'd abandon you just because you're infected with Oripathy?"

Garde playfully flicked her forehead. "You know Oripathy isn't transmitted by mere contact, right?"

Oripathy was an incurable disease in Terra, but with regular medication and treatment, even infected individuals could live as normal for a long time. However, most Oripathy patients couldn't meet these two conditions. 

Medicine was expensive—so much so that a regular working family could go bankrupt just to afford a single effective dose.

For most Oripathy patients, their aim wasn't curative medication but rather painkillers, which were far cheaper. 

Such infected individuals made up almost one-tenth of the population, if not more.

That's why Rhine Lab sought a new type of medication for Oripathy. If the cost of the new drug could be lowered, the profit potential would drive any merchant to madness.

"Don't worry. You've just recently contracted Oripathy. In two days, I'll get some blood from that guy in the Hotland, and maybe it'll cure you," Garde said confidently. 

"And if it can't cure me?" Saria's gaze dimmed. 

She was always so rational, even now, resting her head on Garde's chest as he held her.

"I came into contact with Originium through blood; my cellular fusion rate with Originium will increase rapidly."

"Then don't think you can escape from me so easily. You're the one who said you wanted to be my wife. Now, with my pants practically off, you say you're backing out? It's not that easy!" Garde growled.

"And so what if it's Oripathy? I refuse to believe that Originium can infect me!"

What Garde didn't mention was that his body was evolving, bit by bit, into that of a God-Warrior. If an almost-immortal God-Warrior could still die from Oripathy, he'd just hang himself right then and there. 

Sometimes, Garde even wondered: if certain people's blood could be made into a serum for Oripathy, could his own blood work the same? 

He had tried this four years ago, but back then, his blood hadn't shown any such effects.

Saria shook her head. 

She didn't actually regret contracting Oripathy. 

It had been her choice—a price she was willing to pay to pursue greater power and defeat her enemies. 

Even so, she hoped Garde could still like her and wouldn't look down on her.

"Garde, do you think I'm selfish?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Because I've contracted Oripathy. The reward I originally planned for you might not be possible anymore. Living in the rainforest, you might not understand how the outside world views the infected…"

"What? I thought you'd already given me my reward!" Garde looked at her in shock.

"I thought you were the reward…"

"I am not an object!" Saria said, pouting.

"But…" she continued in a calm and earnest tone, "if you want, I'm willing to be that reward."

The two leaned closer, oblivious to Kal'tsit, who was just now opening her eyes after being tossed aside.

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