By Zephyria The place where Hugo and Leonardo were currently walking was inside the crack that they had found earlier, or more precisely, beyond the high wall where the crack was located.
Huge Crystal Stones that had grown under high temperature and pressure were popping out from all sides, and if you were distracted even a little, a cliff with no room to step would greet you, so it could be said to be a very rough and rugged place.
According to the commander of another battalion, the crack was created when the intact Boulder wall suddenly collapsed. This led to the assumption that the wall in that area was particularly weak or that a strong energy was concentrated beyond the wall.
In fact, the energy detector was constantly ringing, so most of the opinions were leaning towards the latter, and with the addition of Squad Leader 8’s claim that the identity of the energy was the core’s Ultrasound, the other side of the crack was selected as a new progress route to find the core.
However, some standby groups were left behind in preparation for the possibility that this choice was not correct, and specific personnel were selected to move. Thus, Hugo and Leonardo, who could be said to be the most powerful in the subjugation force, were at the forefront of this rough road.
Hugo, who was quietly moving along the path illuminated by the Light Ball, was gradually turning paler as time went by. His combat uniform was soaked and his whole body felt heavy, and the air was getting thinner as he went deeper into the crack, so he felt like his head was becoming dull.
He could have taken a break, but the main reason he couldn’t was because of the exhausted members. They had to find the target core first to carry out the full-scale operation, but it would be a lie if he said he wasn’t impatient because those who were losing consciousness were increasing and the morale of the entire force was decreasing before they could even find the core.
In the meantime, Hugo occasionally glanced at the back of Leonardo, who was walking ahead. Since crossing the crack, Leonardo had often stumbled on Crystal Stones or rocks, so he was worried.
Of course, he wouldn’t fall or get seriously injured because of his natural reflexes, but he sometimes missed his step in dangerous places, so it was inevitable that he would feel uneasy from the perspective of someone watching.
In addition, Leonardo had asked him if he heard something strange once, so that also contributed to his concern. He said he was fine, but he was worried that he was hallucinating or hearing things due to prolonged exposure to the heat.
If that was the case, he had to pull himself together even more, so Hugo wiped the sweat from his eyes with his gloved hand.
He renewed his determination and moved forward, but his steps stopped in place before long. An unwelcome sign had appeared in front of him.
The mark scratched on the cave wall was the one he had left a few minutes ago to avoid losing direction while passing the fork in the road.
He had been wondering why he kept seeing the same road, but the evidence that he was wandering around was clearly revealed.
“…Leonardo.”
Leonardo, who had been walking about five steps ahead, stopped abruptly at Hugo’s call. As he turned around with a face that seemed to ask why he was calling him, Hugo gestured towards the mark in front of him.
“We’ve been this way before.”
Leonardo Blaine stared silently at the marks left on the wall. His turned shoulder rose slightly as if sighing, then drooped powerlessly.
“What are you going to do now?”
Leonardo Blaine’s face, as he looked back and asked again, showed a hint of fatigue, though he didn’t express it outwardly.
Hugo Agrizendro met his gaze and opened his mouth after a few seconds of silence.
“Let’s rest for a bit.”
The two sat down on the floor, which had been flattened and hardened by fire, leaving a slight distance between them.
It was still within arm’s reach, but Leonardo Blaine was the one who created the distance first. It was to avoid interfering with Hugo Agrizendro’s breathing, which was constantly emitting cold air and creating a space for him to breathe within a certain radius.
Sitting down, Hugo Agrizendro narrowed his brow and clicked the radio button several times. However, it hadn’t responded for hours, meaning either there were no members within close range or the radio was completely out of order.
It had been like this since they entered the fissure.
“Still not working?”
Leonardo Blaine, propping his chin, asked casually. Hugo Agrizendro nodded with a glance, without answering.
Staying inside for too long would only deplete their stamina and do no good, so Hugo Agrizendro had dispersed the members to move for a faster search.
However, as Hugo Agrizendro and Leonardo Blaine, with their overwhelming mobility and combat power, moved at high speed, the distance between them and the other members exploring the area quickly widened. To make matters worse, they even got lost along the way, leaving them isolated.
Hugo Agrizendro clicked his tongue as he couldn’t get any response from the radio no matter how much he fiddled with it, and put it back in the pocket on his lower back. Then, he opened the cap of his canteen and drank about half of the remaining water. He deliberately left the other half and offered it to Leonardo Blaine.
In this environment with harmful gases mixed in the air and not a single gram of moisture to be found, it would be difficult to create clean water immediately, so it was best to conserve drinking water as much as possible.
Knowing this, Leonardo Blaine hesitated for a moment as he received the canteen, but his body was hot and his throat was parched, so he tilted his head back and poured the remaining water into his mouth. As expected, Hugo Agrizendro’s hand quickly approached to replenish the insufficient water, but Leonardo Blaine shook his head as if it was enough.
“What about what you asked the messenger?”
At his question, Hugo Agrizendro recalled the report that the 1st Battalion member had come to deliver before entering the fissure.
“He said there’s no particular movement. Neither Dermokas nor the other guys.”
“…Is that so?”
Leonardo Blaine tilted his head at the unexpected answer.
He had clearly seen the Dermokas’s lump twitching from behind during the brief commotion when it woke up, so he was worried that other creatures might be drawn here in response to the call of their kin.
Of course, it was only for a moment, so it was fortunate that the report came back saying there was no particular movement.
However, if the wind blowing from the fissure was caused by the Ultrasound of the core, then at least the other demon beasts in the vicinity should have shown some reaction, according to the reasoning so far.
The fact that there was no reaction from them, contrary to expectations, suggested the possibility that the range of the Ultrasound had significantly decreased as the core weakened. If that were the case, the current operation to stimulate it and gather the demon beasts in one place could be disrupted.
“Hmm…”
As his head became complicated, Leonardo Blaine, who had been suffering from headaches, leaned back and sighed deeply. Seeing this, Hugo Agrizendro reached out to prevent the back of his head from touching the sharply protruding Crystal Stone and asked.
“Why, are you worried that they won’t move according to plan?”
Feeling the touch of the large palm, Leonardo Blaine straightened up again. He stared silently at the hand being withdrawn after fulfilling its role, and replied as if he was no longer surprised by his mind-reading.
“Of course. Aren’t you worried?”
Hugo Agrizendro’s eyes blinked slowly. He hesitated for a moment, then turned his gaze to the ceiling covered in countless Crystal Stones.
The cross-sections of the Crystal Stones reflected Leonardo Blaine’s and his own faces in different ways. Which of those was closer to the future that lay ahead, he couldn’t tell at this point.
“…Originally, there are more things that don’t go according to plan than those that do. Especially in complicated matters like this.”
Hugo Agrizendro lowered his eyes. Then, he fixed his gaze on the yellow smoke rising from below and continued.
“But somehow, as things unfold, they always get resolved, so don’t worry too much. I’ve also set up multiple contingency plans for that… Besides, worrying won’t solve anything.”
Leonardo Blaine found his words somewhat ambiguous.
It sounded like advice from a senior in life, but it also sounded a bit more reckless than what he usually said.
On the one hand, it seemed like he was trying to ease his worries, but on the other hand, it felt like he was talking to himself.
Leonardo Blaine, glancing sideways at his weary eyes, soon shook his head inwardly.
It was as if he had learned mind-reading from being together, and he felt like he could read his mind.
‘He’s worried too.’
With no particular response coming back, Hugo Agrizendro took out a spare handkerchief from his inside pocket.
Even with constantly emitting cold air, he could barely maintain his body temperature, let alone stop the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Now he was even breaking out in a cold sweat. Seeing him hide his struggle, Leonardo Blaine politely averted his eyes.
Then, just as he felt the continued silence was awkward, he suddenly reached out his hand to him.
“Give it to me.”
Hugo Agrizendro glanced sideways, looking back and forth between the outstretched hand and his handkerchief, which his gaze was directed at. Soon, he replied with a slightly troubled nuance.
“It’s very wet.”
“It’s okay. It’s clean. Give it to me.”
Leonardo Blaine gestured again, but Hugo Agrizendro didn’t really intend to hand it over, partly because it was a sweaty handkerchief and partly because he didn’t know why he was asking for it.
But that was only for a moment. Before he knew it, Leonardo Blaine snatched the handkerchief as if grabbing it. Then, without hesitation, he crumpled the wet cloth in his hands and shook it lightly in front of him, saying.
“How are you going to fight the demon beasts properly like this? I think you’ll collapse from dehydration before that.”
Hugo Agrizendro only watched what Leonardo Blaine was doing, without answering. However, his raised eyebrow revealed a hint of embarrassment. Leonardo Blaine thought that he had probably hit a nerve he wanted to hide.
He glanced at him with knowing eyes, then unfolded the wet handkerchief.
As much as it had soaked into this handkerchief, Hugo Agrizendro was clearly more consumed with worry about the success of the operation than anyone else.
The members’ and his own stamina were gradually decreasing, but they couldn’t even see the tail of a demon beast, let alone the core, so it would be stranger if he wasn’t worried.
But he was strong enough for everyone to rely on and was in a high position, so it was understandable that he couldn’t easily open up. If the Legion Commander showed signs of struggle, the anxiety of the members who trusted and followed him would only increase.
Feeling that anguish with his fingertips, Leonardo Blaine slowly stroked the handkerchief spread out on his lap with both hands. As his warm hands passed over it, even the creases in the folded part were smoothed out.
The Agrizendro family crest was embroidered in the very center of the neat pattern. Leonardo Blaine, fixing his gaze on it, opened his mouth again.
“But, well… it’s okay for you to be a little worn out.”
Hugo Agrizendro’s gaze, which had been fixed on his hands, turned to Leonardo Blaine’s face. It was a bit out of context.
Leonardo Blaine folded the handkerchief back into a neat square and handed it back to Hugo Agrizendro. Soon after, he curled up the corners of his lips and said, making eye contact.
“If anything happens, I’ll save you.”
The refreshing smile spreading in the hot air gave a sense of relief as if his breath was momentarily freed. Hugo Agrizendro’s eyelids twitched slightly as he looked at him.
Unlike a moment ago, the touch on his fingertips was soft.
The wet cloth had already dried completely.