By Zephyria Leonardo, speechless, could only stare blankly at Hugo. Looking at his unusually dark eyes, even simple words didn’t feel so simple.
Don’t run away, he said. He wondered if it was because he didn’t know the seriousness of his condition, but on the other hand, he couldn’t bear to push away the other man with his mournful eyes.
Had there ever been anyone else who showed such a face and emotions while looking at him, except for his comrades? And that person was the one in front of him. The memories of the past were stirred up, and he was filled with mixed emotions.
His head was ringing, making him feel dazed, and his chest and stomach were strangely churning.
Emotions that were difficult to control surged up in an instant, and he felt like he would make a strange expression if he continued to face him like this. Because of that, Leonardo quickly lowered his eyes and threw his gaze anywhere.
But as if not allowing that, a cool touch lightly rubbed his reddening eyes.
“I told you before we entered the Peninsula.”
His eyes, covered by long eyelashes, trembled once more at the act that seemed to urge him to look at him. As white steam rose from the touching skin and obscured his vision, Leonardo’s eyelids closed and then opened.
“You shouldn’t be away from me.”
At the voice that persistently grabbed him, the Gold Eyes that were revealed again looked up with a complicated gaze. Hugo gently stroked Leonardo’s cheeks while sighing and continued in a calmer tone.
“Even if you distance yourself from me because of the surge symptoms, and even if you resist saying that you won’t go outside. I will be with you until the end in the flames of this Elder Millie Peninsula.”
“…….”
“I won’t leave you alone in anxiety. I won’t let you suffocate and die. I will help you so that you can regain your reason if you lose it.”
Hugo’s hand went down to Leonardo’s neck, where the handprints were clear. Hugo hardened his mouth as if he was more painful as he caressed the bruised skin. Soon, he softened his expression and persuaded Leonardo gently.
“So don’t waste your energy running away from me. I’ll chase after you no matter what.”
“…….”
“Instead, let’s go back together, Leonardo. We have to go back together and regain your lost honor and freedom.”
It was a suggestion that was hard to refuse. Perhaps that’s why Leonardo’s lips, which had been closed, moved slightly. He felt that even the ache in his heart at that moment wasn’t just because of the Magic Power surge symptoms.
But even at Hugo’s words to go back, Leonardo couldn’t answer rashly. He didn’t know how much time was left for the Amplifier to last, but the energy flowing through his body was still unstable and rough.
Moreover, the red spots that occasionally appeared on the back of his hand were also ominous. That area was as hot as if it had been branded with an iron, and it seemed that the uncontrolled Magic Power was writhing inside his skin, trying to escape to the outside.
The back of his hand was just the visible area, but his entire body might already be stained with spots. His whole body was stinging and burning as if he had fallen into lava. In the midst of all this, the most serious symptom was his left shoulder, which he was afraid to even check.
Leonardo, caught up in these various worries and concerns, could only lower his gaze and bite his lip tightly. However, the distracting thoughts that were hindering his decision were quickly shaken off by the face that had come close.
“Trust me.”
Hugo, tilting his head slightly, cupped his pale cheeks with both hands and whispered.
The low voice, the large hands, and the serious eyes gave him the utmost confidence. Leonardo, trapped in those two hands and looking up quietly, felt a word he couldn’t say for some reason rising to his chin.
‘Why do you go so far?’
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand. It was clear that his righteous and just nature wouldn’t leave him alone here. But he felt that the reason why this man was acting like this wasn’t just because of that nature.
Of course, he himself didn’t know what answer he expected from that question, or what he wanted to hear.
But before he could muster the courage to ask, he was preempted. Hugo’s gentle voice asked as if trying to get a definite answer.
“Leo, you don’t want to run away either, do you?”
The first name, which had become shorter at some point, kept breaking down the reason that was trying to build a wall. Leonardo, along with his words, was suddenly overwhelmed and couldn’t think of anything else. Agrizendro’s question, which seemed to have already seen through his heart, made an indescribable emotion surge up in his heart.
His whole body was aching and sore. He was so tired that he wanted to faint, and the more his arms were numb and his heart was throbbing, the more afraid he was. In the midst of all this, he was now really tired of worrying about others being caught up in his surge.
Leonardo, who didn’t want to think about anything anymore, just squeezed his eyes shut and nodded obediently. Hugo, looking at his distorted eyebrows as if suppressing something, finally loosened his expression at the other man’s honesty that was revealed.
Soon, he lowered his hands that had been cupping his cheeks and bent his waist slightly. Then, he put his arms behind Leonardo’s knees and back and lightly lifted his tired body.
“…W-What?”
Embarrassment immediately dyed Leonardo’s face, but Hugo didn’t care and wrapped his arms around his thighs and back. Then, he massaged the other man’s stiff arms and nodded as if telling him to put them on his shoulders.
“Hold on tight. The way out won’t be easy.”
After saying that, Hugo quickly scanned his surroundings.
The volcanic eruption was still in full swing not far away. Red magma, rising from the darkness, flashed with a roar, and even another small volcano nearby was showing ominous smoke rising from its crater, perhaps affected by the pressure underground.
This place was behind a gentle peak, so there were fewer ejecta falling. But if they went out towards the valley that had been blown open by Leonardo’s Magic Power, the boulders falling over their heads would be the beginning of the ordeal.
Moreover, since the barrier that had already been activated would have sealed off the area by now, it was practically impossible to open a Portal and go outside.
Even Hugo himself wasn’t sure how to escape, but he maintained a calm expression to ease Leonardo Blaine’s anxiety. At the same time, he continued to emit cold energy from where they were touching, suppressing the unstable aura.
Leonardo’s body trembled slightly, just enough for Hugo to notice. Hugo glanced at him, adjusted his hold, and said,
“It’ll be easier to control your Magic Power if opposing energies are close. Bear with the cold for a bit.”
Leonardo felt calmer than before and slowly nodded, looking into Hugo’s eyes.
“Okay.”
“And from now on, just focus on not losing yourself. I’ll take care of the rest.”
His subtly glowing blue eyes conveyed a resolute gaze. Then, as if wondering why he wasn’t hugging him already, he glanced down at Leonardo’s lost hands and gestured with his eyes.
Leonardo hesitated before awkwardly placing his hands on Hugo’s shoulders. He had been in a similar position before, but he couldn’t understand why it felt so different now.
His ambiguously placed arms gradually moved to wrap around Hugo’s broad shoulders. The two, now at an awkward distance, silently gazed at each other.
It wasn’t a complete embrace, but it felt stable enough. Hugo silently raised the corner of his lips, deciding to be satisfied with this distance for now.
Soon, Hugo touched his forehead to Leonardo’s and soared higher into the sky, saying,
“Let’s go.”
Feeling the unusual speed, Leonardo’s arms reflexively tightened around Hugo’s neck. As if taking that as an answer, Hugo fearlessly plunged into the thick fog where nothing could be seen.
Blue and gold mixed together, creating a mysterious light that adorned the darkness. In the blink of an eye, the two disappeared into the chaos.
“Isn’t everyone here alive thanks to Leonardo Blaine? Whether we were torn apart by demon beasts or crushed by collapsing Boulders, the reason we survived on the peninsula is all because he sacrificed himself to fight the monsters!”
Nero had lost his reason.
“He’s a hero of the Council, no, of the Empire! How can we just stand by when someone like that is still trapped inside?”
Nero’s forehead and neck veins bulged so much that even Dellua, who had been pushing for a search party, stared in bewilderment at Felix’s reddened face.
He was furious with the Council Commanders. The reason was simple.
Despite the established fact that Leonardo and their Legion Commander were trapped inside, some Commanders argued that releasing the already sealed barrier could cause further damage and insisted on observing the situation until proper measures were taken. They even claimed that their own Legion Commander would have made the same decision.
But Nero was beyond exasperated. Anyone would suffocate to death in that dark, smoky place if they stayed there for even a minute longer.
Moreover, anyone could guess that the Commander, who had used a tremendous amount of Magic Power and was closest to the explosion, wouldn’t be in good condition.
And these crazy bastards, who would have been scratching at the barrier like those demon beasts, begging to be saved if they were trapped, were calmly saying that finding a solution was the priority. Nero was trembling with contempt and disgust.
“Vice Commander! Say something!”
His greatest target of anger was Bruno Amos, the Vice Commander and second-in-command after Hugo Agrizendro.
The soldier’s outburst in front of him could be considered disrespectful, but that didn’t matter in this situation. In fact, everything the soldier said was true, and Bruno was well aware of how cruel and chilling it was to simply observe the situation.
However, they couldn’t recklessly release the barrier. The operation was carried out under the premise of completely containing the demon beasts and volcanic ash within the barrier, and if it failed, they didn’t know what damage it would cause not only to themselves but also to the people of both countries on the edge of the continent.
Looking at the soldier with a troubled expression, Bruno pondered what decision the Legion Commander would have made if he were here.
Some Commanders said that he wouldn’t release the barrier for the sake of the greater good, but Bruno disagreed. If it were the Supreme Commander he knew, he would have ordered them to save everyone trapped inside, no matter what.
His head spinning, Bruno held his head in his hands as always. Just as he was struggling under the pressure and trying to find a solution, Rainer, who had been in critical condition, suddenly opened his eyes.