By Zephyria The base camp, which was bright with daylight, was very busy. Although it had not been long since breakfast time, most of them had already finished their meals and got up from their seats to prepare and clean up.
Because of this, the surroundings were very noisy, but whether or not, Leonardo sat alone in a chair in front of the bonfire, chewing on a sausage with a haggard face. His face, staring blankly at the burning flames, was soaked with fatigue. It was because he had a restless night.
‘It can’t be. He can’t be that much of an idiot.’
Even though he seemed to be barely moving his jaw with a hazy mind, his head was full of denial and was running very busily. However, the flames in front of him flickered as if denying the denial, saying that he was an idiot and scratching the back of his head. He lost his appetite.
Last night, there was a good reason why Leonardo grabbed Hugo’s face and spouted embarrassing things like it was unfair. It was because he also felt the energy that Hugo felt.
Moreover, the energy was very familiar to Leonardo. He hoped it wasn’t, but it was similar to the energy of the owner of the ring in his pocket… it seemed like it was him.
Of course, he hadn’t seen it for sure, and logically, it didn’t make sense for him to remain here, so he had stayed up all night and was still denying it. However, the ‘feeling’ kept driving his thoughts in a bad direction.
The familiar and chilling fire energy suddenly felt on the rocky hill in the middle of the damp forest. He felt that it was Nero. But Nero should have left this peninsula. There was no way he would still be here.
But then what was it that I felt? Thoughts followed each other like an infinite orbit.
Leonardo, who had struggled to pass the sausage in his mouth down his throat, put the fork down on the plate. Then, he leaned back on the chair that did not support his head because the backrest was low, and quietly scanned the surroundings.
Yes, he may not have left the peninsula yet. Maybe it’s because of a mission I don’t know about. But I couldn’t understand why he was loitering in the middle of this base camp full of Council members, and even near the Legion Commander.
“I’m going crazy, really.”
“Is something wrong?”
Leonardo, who was muttering while roughly sweeping back his bangs, turned his head to the side at the sudden voice. An unfamiliar face was standing about 3m away.
“……”
Wearing a Council combat uniform, he seemed to be quite high in rank, judging from the brilliant badges on his chest.
Since I was sitting alone here, it seemed that he was talking to me, but there was no one among the commanders who would talk to me except Agrizendro, Rivera Battalion Commander, and Squad Leader 8, so Leonardo scanned him with strange eyes.
For a very brief moment, I thought, ‘Could it be Nero…?’, but the more I looked, the more I realized it wasn’t.
An armband indicating the 7th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch was visible on his arm. Leonardo turned his head without answering. He didn’t want to get involved with the high-ranking members of the Council, so he put the sausage back in his mouth, meaning don’t talk to me. Then, the other person took two or three steps closer and hurriedly added.
“Ah, my name is Javier Crowe, the 7th Battalion Commander. I’m very honored to meet you here.”
“……”
“But I’ve been watching you since a while ago, and you don’t look good. Is there a problem? I might be able to solve it, so tell me.”
The man who introduced himself as the 7th Battalion Commander approached quite kindly with a good-natured smile. I had heard the name somewhere, and I thought I had seen it fleetingly on the list of aristocratic factions.
He naturally sat down on the empty chair on the right and began to say hello, saying that he was glad to see me and that he would help me, using an artificial introduction.
Leonardo, who was chewing on the sausage and keeping his mouth shut, only stared at him, who had come right next to him. He didn’t like the fact that he had been watching me since a while ago. It didn’t seem like a favor without a purpose.
A few members who were passing by stared at the unfamiliar scene of the two sitting together. When Leonardo frowned slightly at that, the 7th Battalion Commander immediately turned his head and made a noise as if warning the members.
Then, the members apologized and quickly left, and he turned his head again with a friendly expression. His actions were quick and sure, and it seemed that he was approaching to gain my favor, but I didn’t know why.
Leonardo lifted the canteen hanging on the armrest and took a sip. Then, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and said with uninterested eyes.
“I want to be alone.”
It was a polite word. However, there was no change in the good-natured smile that looked like a mask. Rather, he put his hand on the armrest and came closer than necessary.
“Don’t do that, is there anything uncomfortable?”
Whether the food was to his liking or the bed was comfortable, he seemed quite impatient to somehow start a conversation because it seemed like the conversation would be cut off. As much as he leaned forward, Leonardo’s upper body leaned back.
After the one-sided chatter, there was a sudden praise for the glory of the war hero. The need for improvement in treatment also followed. Honestly, I would have ignored it lightly if it were normal, but I couldn’t just close my ears when that topic came up.
Clearly, I am structurally the weakest in this base camp, but it was admirable in a way that he was putting in so much effort. However, after continuing to hear only flattering words, I became convinced that this person had a purpose rather than really considering the meeting with me as an honor.
Therefore, Leonardo decided not to drag it out.
“What do you want to say?”
The 7th Battalion Commander’s words, which had been continuing, were cut off by the sudden question. He seemed a little embarrassed, but he put on a smile again, as befitting a noble. His hand went over the armrest of the chair and onto Leonardo’s forearm.
“If we cooperate, we can satisfy each other’s needs. For example….”
His gaze, which had been rising together, stopped at one point. The 7th Battalion Commander’s mouth and eyes were momentarily unable to grasp the situation, and then froze in an instant.
Leonardo, who had been showing signs of discomfort, suddenly felt a shadow over his head. Soon, a familiar scent and a low voice came from behind him.
“What are you talking about?”
A heavy voice and touch landed on Leonardo’s shoulder. The strong force slid down his forearm and touched the 7th Battalion Commander’s hand, which was on a place where it shouldn’t be. It was a silent warning that it was impolite.
“Ah…, Legion Commander.”
The 7th Battalion Commander, who hurriedly withdrew his hand at that, jumped up from his seat with a noticeably nervous face. Then, as if he had been caught doing something bad, he babbled with a different story than before, saying that he was just talking to him because he looked lonely.
If you were to twist it, it sounded like he was talking to me because he looked pitiful, so Leonardo frowned at him, looking up and down.
‘What, his attitude is completely different.’
I didn’t like that Kajard was so scared of him, but he was approaching me with a smile. As I was looking up with an absurd face, the shadow that had been cast over my head slowly moved to the side.
Hugo, while staring intently at the 7th Battalion Commander, pulled one of the chairs on the left and placed it next to Leonardo. Then, he sat close to him and wrapped his arm around his back and shoulders as if to show off.
Hugo, who had no intention of listening to excuses in the first place, gestured outwards to the 7th Battalion Commander, who was standing awkwardly and looking at him, as if telling him to leave.
“I’ll be here. You must be busy, so go now.”
It was practically a meaning to get out of here quickly. Leonardo stared blankly at Hugo at the subtly uncomfortable voice.
“Ah, yes…, I understand.”
In the meantime, the 7th Battalion Commander, who had been stubbornly sticking to me, was about to leave as soon as the Legion Commander appeared, as if nothing had happened.
He continued to emphasize that he was just here to be a conversational partner without any purpose, and then left with an awkward smile, leaving Leonardo with the words, “It was nice talking to you.”
Now that I see it, I thought that the reason why he was in such a hurry was because of the Legion Commander.
Leonardo stared at his back as he was being defeated so easily with an absurd expression. He was talking so well in front of me, but I wondered why he came if he was going to be so flustered and back down so quickly.
“What did you talk about?”
A large and soft touch caressed my shoulder and asked casually. Leonardo, who had been staring at the 7th Battalion Commander moving away, shifted his gaze to Hugo and said.
“He asked me if there was anything uncomfortable. So I said no.”
“Anything else?”
Seeing that he was asking again after hearing it from the person in question, it seemed that the two were not in a very trusting relationship. Judging from what he said about cooperation, it seemed that he was trying to make a deal with me, but I decided not to talk about it in case. When you’re caught in the middle of a war of nerves, it’s better to keep your mouth shut than to pass on words here and there.
“There’s nothing else. Well, I didn’t really listen.”
The blue eyes, whose depth could not be known, stared intently. The hand that had been placed on my shoulder went up my neck and cheek and lightly rubbed it.
“…Okay.”
It was an action that was perfect for attracting the attention of others, so Leonardo pushed him away appropriately, being conscious of his surroundings. Then, he asked him, who had suddenly appeared and was acting friendly.
“But why did you suddenly come? You said you had something to do earlier.”
Hugo withdrew his hand without saying anything and replied.
“I was worried about leaving you alone, so I came to see you, and it seemed like you needed help.”
“Me?”
Leonardo, who pointed at himself with his finger to confirm, chuckled absurdly after seeing Hugo’s head nod once.
“I’m not a child, you’re being too kind. Or are you very interested in me?”
“Let’s say both.”
After saying that, Hugo leaned back on the back of the chair leisurely. Looking at his posture, leaning back with a face that didn’t seem interested at all, it seemed that he was planning to stay here.
I didn’t know whether to be uncomfortable with this or be happy about it. Leonardo was confused for a moment, then placed the plate on his lap on the empty chair on the right. Then, he picked up the canteen that had been hanging on the armrest and handed it to Hugo. It meant to fill it up.
“You, you don’t like that person, do you?”
Hugo didn’t really answer the question that came with the canteen. There was neither affirmation nor denial in his expression as he received it.
“Why would I hate him when we’re in the same Council?”
The leather canteen, which was almost empty and flimsy, gradually became heavier as soon as it touched Hugo’s hand. Leonardo, who was admiring the ability that always seemed convenient, received the full canteen again and asked again.
“Is it because he’s from the aristocratic faction?”
After the last question, he glanced slightly and drank about two sips of water. Hugo, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth while staring at Leonardo’s Adam’s apple, which was rising and falling as he swallowed the water.
“You seem very interested in politics.”
A small exclamation followed the cool taste of the water, which was different from before. Leonardo, who wiped his mouth with his sleeve, closed the lid of the canteen with a satisfied face.
“Very much. Just like you’re interested in me.”
He noticed that he didn’t really want to answer, but Leonardo pretended not to know on purpose. Hugo chuckled softly and replied.
“I guess it’s not just ordinary interest.”
Looking at Hugo, who was giving an answer that was not ordinary either, Leonardo clicked his tongue inwardly. I had felt it before, but it seemed that I shouldn’t try to play word games with His Excellency.
It was a first step back. He scratched his cheek and looked around for no reason, then turned his gaze to one place.
“Then what about that person?”
Following Leonardo’s gaze, Hugo’s gaze also shifted. Meterion was at the far end, visible from a distance. I don’t know when it started, but he was also looking this way.
“He’s from the same Central Branch, but he’s also from the aristocratic faction.”
It was quite a distance away, but their eyes definitely met. It seemed that a childish war of nerves was about to continue because they didn’t seem to want to avoid each other, but one of the members on the other side spoke to his superior at a good time, so they were able to stop quickly.
While watching them disappear beyond the tent, Hugo answered the question.
“…He’s a competent colleague.”
While examining his indifferent face, Leonardo quietly assessed the relationship between the two. Then, he decided to bury the secrets related to Meterion Kleinder that he had seen in the mining team’s hideout for now.
In the first place, I would have to admit that I went there to prove it, so I didn’t plan to say it right now, but it was because there was nothing more tiring than getting involved in a political fight and becoming a witness.
Hugo, who felt a persistent gaze, glanced at Leonardo. Then, he placed his hand on his head, who was continuing to ask difficult questions with a face that didn’t know anything, and lightly ruffled his soft hair, as he often did to Flynn in his childhood.
“It’s a story for adults. You shouldn’t be curious.”
Taking advantage of his carelessness, Leonardo’s hair was ruffled, and he wore a dumbfounded expression. He quickly regained his senses and pushed Hugo’s hand away, grumbling in a slightly annoyed voice as he conjured flames in his hand to fix his disheveled hair.
“Seriously, am I not an adult? I’m a grown-up, you know?”
Hugo’s lips naturally curled up at his childish way of speaking, which didn’t seem to fit him at all.
A chuckle escaped through the gap, and Leonardo questioned him further, asking why he was laughing. He was quite cute and Hugo wanted to tease him more, but thinking that it would be impolite, Hugo cleared his throat, composed his laughter, and spoke calmly.
“It’s not that, it’s just that you don’t need to know everything yet.”
Leonardo, who had been looking at him unpleasantly, could now guess how much he was seeing him as a kid. He was annoyed by that and didn’t want to say anything more, but thinking about it, that seemed even more childish.
Hugo glanced at him, sensing that he seemed upset as he frowned and tightly shut his mouth. Leonardo, who had been tapping the dirt floor with his arms crossed and his toes wiggling, finally opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
“There’s a meeting later, right? I’ll attend too.”
Hugo’s eyebrow twitched slightly at his sudden words. The meeting, which was about an hour away, was a large-scale gathering of all the Council commanders who had participated in the Peninsula subjugation. As such, it was also a place full of tiresome gazes that Leonardo disliked so much.
He didn’t know what he was trying to prove, but it was clear that his sudden decision to attend the meeting didn’t stem from very wise thinking.
“…I’d be grateful if you attended, but you don’t have to push yourself, Leonardo. That meeting is—”
“Push myself? It’s an important meeting to decide the future direction. Of course, I have to attend.”
But Leonardo seemed to have already made up his mind and was adamant.
“Let me get involved in those adults’ talk.”
“……”
Hugo, who was about to persuade him again, closed his mouth.