By Zephyria “It’s because the risk is high. The opinion itself wasn’t bad. So don’t be too heartbroken.”
“When did I say I was heartbroken? I get it, so stop.”
After the meeting, Leonardo returned to the bonfire, munching on an energy bar and answering perfunctorily. Hugo, sensing his mood, unwrapped another energy bar and offered it to him.
Leonardo’s idea of using the volcano was certainly innovative enough to guarantee a sweeping victory against the demon beasts, but it was too innovative. The overwhelming response was negative due to various problems such as volcanic gases, volcanic ash, and the possibility of additional tremors. Understandably so.
Dellua, who supported his idea, argued that a strong barrier could block all of that, and that the peninsula protruded southward, and the wind generally blew from the northeast to the southwest, so detonating a small-scale volcano would minimize damage from volcanic ash.
However, another commander, whose main attribute was earth, shook his head, saying that for a volcano to erupt, strong pressure had to be generated underground to push out the magma, and artificially creating such pressure was close to impossible.
In the end, the method was relegated to plan 5, the lowest priority with near-zero feasibility.
Still, Leonardo’s previous suggestions had been recognized by many as significantly influencing the direction of the expedition’s operations, and Hugo kept mentioning this to try to boost his spirits. However, Leonardo, the one listening, didn’t seem particularly impressed.
Recalling the meeting, Leonardo took a sip of water, held the energy bar Hugo had given him, and finished unwrapping it. Then, with a rare look of pity, he asked Hugo,
“Aren’t you frustrated?”
“…About what?”
“Aren’t you frustrated having meetings like that every day?”
Hugo, who had been expressing bewilderment, chuckled and replied.
“It’s routine.”
Leonardo shook his head, hearing the answer that it was frustrating but he had gotten used to it.
“Must be tiring.”
Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the red and yellow flickering crater in the distance, still not over his disappointment, and took a bite of the chocolate bar. His vacant chewing was so different from the guy who had been speaking at the meeting that Hugo quietly watched him with a faint smile still on his face.
Leonardo was sitting in a chair, pushing off the dirt with his feet, repeatedly lifting and lowering his legs from the ground. It wasn’t a rocking chair, but it swayed back and forth, slowly and precariously teetering.
The slow, steady movement made Hugo fall into thought.
What immediately came to mind was the greed he had felt during the meeting.
Similar to what his old master, Abraham Lancaster, had said to him, “I’m greedy,” that greed made him seriously consider what the ending would be at the end of this subjugation.
If his feelings for Leonardo before coming here were close to pity, they were a little different now.
He felt it was a waste, and he was greedy. The gold in the mud. But knowing that wanting a different ending was just another of his greeds, Hugo could only stare blankly at the leisurely swaying gold in front of him.
Leonardo Blaine felt the gaze and suddenly turned his head. Hugo, who had been silent for a while even after their eyes met, slowly opened his mouth.
“Leo—.”
“Leonardo Blaine.”
However, the one who called out his full name was someone else. Hugo, who couldn’t say his name to the end, and Leonardo, who was looking at him, simultaneously turned their heads in the direction of the voice. There stood Rainer, the 9th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch, and Charlotte, the Deputy Commander.
Leonardo, who had been tilting his chair, momentarily stopped at the sight of them approaching quite closely. The chair almost fell backward because of that, but fortunately, Hugo quickly grabbed it, preventing an accident. Rather, Rainer apologized with a flustered face.
“It seems I surprised you. I’m sorry.”
Leonardo, who quickly grabbed the armrest, looked up at Rainer with slightly surprised, wide eyes, then turned his head to Hugo, who had set the chair back up. Hugo shook his head as if telling him not to do it anymore because it was dangerous, and asked Rainer instead.
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, that’s right. I came to deliver this.”
Rainer held a neatly folded black cloth in his hand, and Hugo and Leonardo could immediately tell what it was. Rainer held it out to Leonardo and said.
“I heard this is… your cloak. At first, there was a bit of dirt on it, but we have a guy in our battalion who’s incredibly good at Clean Magic. I asked him to wash it—.”
Charlotte elbowed Rainer hard in the side as his unnecessary words grew longer. Rainer, who swallowed a groan of pain because of it, frowned and glared at Charlotte once.
However, he quickly realized his mistake and loosened his expression, then turned his head back to Leonardo. Then, as if nothing had happened, he continued speaking with a slightly awkward look.
“Ahem, anyway… it’s clean enough to wear right away. Please accept it.”
Rainer politely held out the cloak with both hands. It was a politeness that Leonardo had never experienced since coming here, so he accepted it with both hands in a daze.
The texture of the cloak that he immediately felt was smoother than before, and there was no trace of stains or the smell of blood. It was as clean as new, and it felt like they had really put a lot of effort into it.
Leonardo, who had been fiddling with the cloak, raised his head again. Rainer, whose eyes met his, became increasingly embarrassed and suddenly reached out his hand and said.
“Thank you.”
There was a lot of implied content, but it was all conveyed in that one word.
Leonardo stared blankly at the hand that was approaching, but thinking that it would be impolite to the person who had brought the cloak himself, he gently grabbed his hand and expressed his gratitude as well.
“…Uh, I’m grateful too.”
When he grabbed his rough and calloused hand, he could feel his Magic Power. It was very solid, as fierce as fire, and clear and clean. It was as if Rainer’s spirit was projected, and he could roughly tell what kind of person he was.
Rainer seemed to be feeling a similar energy, and what flashed across his face in an instant was admiration. As if he couldn’t believe it, Rainer held Leonardo’s hand for a while and didn’t let go. He knew that there was no impure intention, but Hugo, who was watching the scene, coughed softly.
Hearing that sound, Rainer realized that the handshake had been long for a handshake and immediately let go of his hand. Then, with a purely admiring face, he said to Leonardo.
“I’ve only heard about it, but you’re really amazing.”
He felt a bit embarrassed to be told that he was amazing just for shaking hands, but Leonardo didn’t show it.
Soon, Rainer, who seemed to have come only to deliver the cloak, bowed briefly to Hugo as if he had finished his business. Then, he said, “I’ll be going now,” and lightly greeted Leonardo with his eyes.
Before long, he quickly walked away with Charlotte, who had come with him. Then, at some point, he suddenly stopped and turned back to Leonardo, smiling and saying.
“Ah, I think your opinion isn’t bad. It’s very fiery, which I like.”
With Charlotte’s voice saying, “Please stop saying unnecessary things,” the two disappeared from sight.
Almost two days were spent installing the Barrier Stones and adjusting the position of the troops. On the third day of establishing the plan, when 98% of the elements for executing the operation were in place.
Leonardo, who was looking at the dark sky before dawn while eating, emptied his tray neatly and got up from his seat.
Finally, today was the day to enter the King’s lair.
He had slept enough and was full, so he stretched lightly and looked around. He suddenly looked up at the rocky hill where he had been sitting with Hugo a few days ago.
When he looked up, a tree branch that had risen precariously between the rocks caught his eye. As he stared at it, he suddenly turned his head to Flynn, who was next to him, and said.
“I’m going to go over there alone for a bit.”
Flynn, who was eating, raised his head sharply at his words. Leonardo, with an indifferent face, made eye contact with Flynn and pointed to the back of the rocky hill with his chin.
“Alone? Where? Wait a minute, I’ll go with you.”
Flynn hurriedly put down his utensils and got up, seeing that he looked like he was about to leave right away. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him anymore, but he habitually felt like he shouldn’t let Leonardo go alone.
However, Leonardo scratched his cheek as he looked at Flynn, who was preparing to go. Soon, he showed a troubled expression and said.
“I’m in a hurry. Are you going with me?”
“…Ah.”
Flynn, realizing what he meant, stopped in his tracks. Then, he sat back down and waved his hand, telling him to come back quickly.
Leonardo smiled at him and lightly moved his feet. He waved his hand back, saying that he would be back soon.