By Zephyria At that moment, Meterion’s gaze, which had been frowning, shifted to the side.
“There were two huge plains from the northern border area to here. If the demon beasts want to escape from this peninsula by land, they must pass through those plains. But frankly, Paren’s army and Sir Hares’s royal guard are better at driving and maneuvering demon beasts in the plains than the Council.”
The commanders, whose attention had been diverted, also turned their eyes.
“So, request support from them. Install Barrier Stones and defense lines in those two plains, and ask them to help drive any who try to escape inward.”
Hugo stared at him with a puzzled face. It was because he didn’t expect Leonardo to speak at this meeting. Leonardo, who glanced at Hugo, continued to speak without paying attention.
Leonardo argued that even the ones crawling underground had no choice but to pass through the plains for rapid movement, citing the fact that he and Hugo had witnessed numerous Dermocas Swarm crossing the plains when the first roar that echoed throughout the peninsula occurred.
In other words, he repeatedly mentioned the need for a joint operation between the two countries, saying that if they could block these plains well, half of the defense would be successful.
However, at the same time, he said that the defense line installed in the plains was only for emergencies, and that another measure was needed to trap the demon beasts gathered around the core.
And as a countermeasure, he suggested a method of encircling a certain section around the core using the Barrier Stones that the Council had, creating a circular formation. In short, he wanted to create a new ‘giant, never-disappearing circle’ by borrowing the wisdom of the ancestors engraved on the tombstones.
“And whether Dermocas will react to the Queen’s… no, the core’s pheromones is not even a question. This is just a problem that can be solved by capturing a few Dermocas and dragging them in, right? In the first place, they must react to the Ultrasound of their own kind.”
Isabella, the 12th Battalion Commander, who had been listening with her chin stroking, let out a small exclamation of ‘Oho’ at his words. Everyone had been so focused on whether the core could attract demon beasts that they had forgotten the most basic fact that Dermocas could call their own kind.
Afterwards, Leonardo added that he had recently wiped out the nests of winged Deformed species, so they would not break the barrier, regarding the previous concern that the flying ones might be the first to leave the peninsula.
At that, Hugo recalled the brutal sight of him grabbing and swinging the necks of avian Deformed species, and reminded himself that similar individuals had not been found since then.
Soon, when he looked around, he saw the commanders already engrossed in Leonardo’s words and listening attentively. What came to mind next was the confident face he had earlier, saying that he would like to join in on the adults’ conversation.
Leonardo’s appearance, not just joining in but overwhelming the audience, gradually aroused a certain desire within him.
Even if Flynn was put in this position and told to speak his opinion, he would show some signs of nervousness, but Leonardo, even though he felt a little uncomfortable, couldn’t find any tension at the moment he was speaking. I’ve thought about it before, but his spirit was exceptional.
‘Is it because of the environment he grew up in, or is it innate?’
He didn’t like being watched, but when he needed to, he put on a perfect mask and came up with excellent plans.
When explaining previous events as the basis or example of an argument, he showed excellent memory and observation skills, and he was also good at applying and judging them to the situation. Finally, even the noble spirit of throwing himself into danger to save others.
In some ways, he was a better commander than anyone else in this position.
Leonardo, who had finished speaking, naturally looked at the final decision-maker. Then Hugo patted his back a couple of times without saying anything. Leonardo had an absurd expression because the reason he looked wasn’t that meaning, but Hugo, who had taken over the speaking timing, turned his head to Meterion.
“It seems like enough countermeasures have been made.”
“…….”
“Any other opinions?”
If they raised an objection in this situation, they would have to come up with a countermeasure equivalent to what had been presented so far, so no one wanted to open their mouth.
However, it was usually Meterion who raised objections even in these situations, but he also remained silent this time. Everyone was bewildered, but it seemed that they generally agreed because the opinions presented earlier seemed to be the most specific and positive.
Soon, Hugo, who had looked around the audience, turned his eyes to Bruno. Bruno, who had been watching the situation, opened his mouth to summarize when he met the Legion Commander’s eyes.
“Then, we will confirm the big picture in the direction we have discussed so far, and after the meeting, I will send letters to Paren’s border garrison and Sir Hares through a messenger. The next topic is the designation of troop deployment locations and matters related to troop allocation based on the previously discussed content.”
At that time, Javier, the 7th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch, raised his hand and spoke.
“I’m sorry for interrupting, but let’s say we succeed in creating a circular formation with Barrier Stones and trapping the demon beasts. Then, which unit will remain inside to get rid of the demon beasts? Attacks from the outside will be blocked by the barrier, so if we want to get rid of them, we have to be trapped inside with them. If the demon beasts distributed throughout the peninsula are concentrated in one space, wouldn’t it be too dangerous?”
Generally, barriers are bidirectional, so if you can’t get out from the inside, you can’t get in from the outside. In addition, the stronger the barrier, the denser the weave and the more solid it is to the point of blocking even the air, so attacks from the outside would not work.
In other words, according to this operation, someone had to remain inside and deal with the demon beasts. Some commanders who realized the situation at Javier’s point agreed and belatedly raised their hands.
“…I think so too.”
“Me too―.”
Leonardo looked at the commanders’ actions, which seemed to be playing a game of chicken, with a displeased look.
‘You cowards, you don’t want to go in, do you?’
However, it was actually a dangerous task, and there were quite a few people who raised their hands, so Hugo, who was scanning them with his eyes, rubbed his brow as he saw the possibility of reconsidering the decision. At that time, Gray Scott, the deputy commander of the 12th Battalion of the Southern Branch, who belonged to the Operations Department, raised his hand and spoke.
“Don’t we have gunpowder that we brought for the purpose of setting up traps? Without the need for a specific unit to remain, if we install traps inside the barrier and detonate them, we can expect quite an effect, even if it’s not annihilation.”
Then another commander raised his hand and argued.
“But it was agreed that Barrier Stones cannot be installed in the entire wide area, so we will only install them in some sections, right? Even if we only lay traps inside the barrier, it will take a considerable amount of time to fill the entire area of the circle. Also, if the troops accidentally touch it while moving, a chain explosion accident may occur. There is also the possibility that all the installed traps will explode….”
Leonardo frowned at the negative possibilities that were constantly being raised.
This won’t work, that won’t work. They were sitting and discussing as if they would stay up all night, so it would be fortunate if a conclusion was reached today. Agrizendro, who must have had these meetings almost every day, felt great again.
As he was about to take a quick look to see what his expression was like, he suddenly felt an insistent gaze and naturally turned his head in that direction. Then he immediately regretted turning his eyes.
It was because Meterion was looking this way.
“…….”
He always had his brow furrowed, so his impression wasn’t good to begin with, but it was a rather ambiguous gaze, whether he was just looking or glaring. He was of the opinion that he would not avoid a staring contest, but he decided that it would be better to avoid it now.
Leonardo threw his gaze far away, pretending not to meet his eyes with a vague look. Nevertheless, he felt it piercing diagonally and persistently.
As he was trying to ignore it, a towering peak caught his eye in the place where he happened to throw his gaze. Unlike the other peaks with greenness between the rocks, it was barren, gloomy, and had red lava flowing down thickly.
Leonardo narrowed his eyes as he looked at it. It seemed that he had found a way to put an end to this frustrating meeting.
“Hey.”
Hugo, who had been staring straight ahead, turned his head at the voice that was heard cautiously. Leonardo, after confirming that he had turned to him, pointed to the sky where his gaze had last reached and said.
“Can’t we just blow up something like that?”
The commanders sitting nearby all looked at the tip of his finger at his sudden pointing during the meeting. Hugo and Meterion, who had been staring at Leonardo, were the same.
Soon, they matched ‘something like that’ that Leonardo said with what was visible in the distance, and they lost their words and remained silent.
“…….”
Whether everyone felt a similar emotion, the flow of the meeting was cut off and an embarrassing silence lingered. Someone said in a small voice, “That’s a bit….” expressing his reluctance. Soon, there was a murmur of disbelief and a ridiculous chuckle.
As everyone dismissed it as just a foolish story, Leonardo looked around in bewilderment. At that, Hugo coughed and gave Leonardo a small smile.
Leonardo was staring blankly because he couldn’t understand the meaning of that smile, but Dellua, who was looking at that far away place and pondering his words, clapped her hands together at the thought that suddenly came to mind. It was a faster and more certain method than setting up traps.
“Maybe it’s a good idea!”
Meterion, who had turned his head straight at her excited voice, looked at Leonardo, the first speaker, and Dellua, who was supporting him, once each.
Then he muttered with cold eyes.
“You’re crazy.”