By Zephyria “How is Blaine’s condition?”
Cordelia, who was walking ahead, turned to Hugo and asked. It was the first thing she had said in about three minutes since they started walking together, so Hugo looked at her and raised his eyebrows slightly.
She had rushed to move as if she had something very urgent to say, but suddenly asking about Leonardo’s well-being was a bit strange. However, the two had known each other since they were in the military, and it seemed like a valid concern, so Hugo answered briefly.
“The poison in his shoulder has been completely removed, and fortunately, his nerves are intact. It will take some time for his sensation to return, though.”
“Then will he be able to wake up soon?”
“…Well, I can’t be sure about that. He has a lot of accumulated fatigue. Besides, his blood is already somewhat coagulated, and his central and heart functions are all weakened. There was also a lot of unnecessary bleeding during the battle and surgery.”
Hugo let out a low sigh and turned his eyes to his feet. He scanned the gravel field with a meaningless gaze, then raised his head again and conveyed in a bitter tone.
“They’re administering electrolytes and anticoagulants and watching for improvement. In any case, it can’t be said to be a good condition.”
Cordelia closed her mouth at Hugo’s sunken gaze. His face looked quite pained as he spoke directly about Leonardo’s condition.
Indeed, his own body must be in a terrible state, yet he even participated directly in Leonardo’s surgery. It was obvious how much the exhausted Commander was concerned about his well-being without even asking. She had been watching him anxiously throughout the peninsula crossing.
“……”
Hugo averted his gaze from the silent Cordelia, took a few more steps, and walked alongside her. Then, he waved his hand as if telling the royal guards who were busily moving and saluting him not to mind, and continued to speak.
“Still, thanks to your help, we got over a dangerous hurdle.”
“…Excuse me?”
Cordelia, who had been lost in thought for a moment, replied half a beat late.
“If Leonardo hadn’t received treatment quickly in such a sanitary environment, his condition would probably have been much more serious. Being able to meet a doctor and have surgery in time, and being able to obtain a large amount of Antidote Herb, too. Thanks to you, we can at least expect recovery now. Both Leonardo and our royal guards.”
“……”
“As the person in charge, I wanted to thank you and your people.”
“Ah, no. We…”
Cordelia was flustered by Hugo’s sincere words of gratitude and waved her hands. This whole tragedy had happened because they were trying to help them, but to hear that it was thanks to her was embarrassing and painful.
But Hugo only glanced at her, who was at a loss for words, and then looked ahead again and listed the ways in which he had been helped by her and her people.
When the Council members arrived at the temporary residence, some of the cabins were already occupied by the people. Originally residing near the Gate, they were no different from refugees who had moved to escape the demon beast attack.
However, when the Council’s injured people flocked in and the number of beds became insufficient, they readily gave up their residences and took care of the royal guards as devotedly as doctors. They delivered food and medicine, and brought clothes and blankets to wear instead of blood-soaked combat uniforms.
Moreover, perhaps because most of them had experienced attacks, they were skilled in first aid, and the types of medicines they possessed were quite diverse. Thanks to this, the treatment of the injured became much easier, and the poison that had spread in Leonardo’s body could be neutralized to some extent.
The poison that stained Leonardo’s shoulder had the same components and symptoms of poisoning as the Illaptor’s poison, which coagulates blood and paralyzes the limbs. Of course, it was more likely that he was poisoned in the battle with the core rather than the Illaptor itself, but since the core has the Illaptor’s genetic trait, it was not strange that the two poisons had the same components as a result.
The dark poison was concentrated on Leonardo’s left upper arm and shoulder, but it could not be guaranteed that it had not spread to the brain and lower body through the capillaries. Therefore, for a definite cure, it was necessary not only to cut open the wound but also to have Antidote Herb that would cause a neutralization reaction.
The problem was that the Dregalianif, the Antidote Herb, mainly grew in the Illaptor’s habitat. To get it, you had to jump into the barrier where the volcanic eruption was in full swing, but going back to the place you had barely escaped was practically suicide.
However, since there was no other way to save Leonardo, Hugo at the time was seriously considering re-entry.
And then, one of the people revealed that they had been cultivating Dregalianif in preparation for an attack, and thanks to this, they were able to secure a large amount of dried Antidote Herb in the warehouse and successfully complete Leonardo’s surgery and treatment.
In the end, if it hadn’t been for Cordelia and the people, Leonardo and the Council would not have found even this brief moment of respite. They would have been fighting the slowly creeping death in despair.
Hugo expressed his gratitude for that point several times. Then Cordelia shook her head at him with an increasingly troubled face.
“I just did… what I had to do. How could we not help our benefactors?”
As Cordelia said that, she suddenly recalled the way she had complained to Hugo when the Council’s central branch first came to this land. At the time, she had been putting it off and putting it off, and she was full of resentment towards the Council, as if they had come to the peninsula to build up their achievements.
But now her thoughts were completely different from then. If the Commander and Leonardo, and the Council had not fought together, would she and her people be able to live here?
The chilling roar of the monster that crossed the night sky. And the dazzling light that punished him. Cordelia, who had watched the final moment from afar, had to realize deep in her bones that she and Paren alone could not break this cycle of pain forever.
So helping those who fought for their lives on the battlefield was a very natural thing to do. She was at a loss for what to do when she received words of gratitude from the Commander, who had a pale face. And at the same time, the emotions that she had silently endured as a leader welled up and burst out.
Relief and frustration, joy and sorrow. All of it was mixed together.
As Cordelia’s breathing trembled slightly, Hugo glanced at her and habitually groped his chest. He thought there would be a handkerchief in his pocket as always, but when he thought about it, he remembered that he had tied it around Leonardo’s neck.
Having no choice but to withdraw his hand, Hugo remained silent for her instead of handing her something. Then, he reduced his stride, which had widened in his eagerness to return quickly, and matched her speed.
The conversation disappeared for a moment between the two who were quietly suppressing their emotions.
Before they knew it, they were far away from the densely packed cabins, and trees and bushes began to grow around them.
The figures of the royal guards who had been busily moving around were no longer visible. Instead, a building built in a remote place appeared in front of the two. It was not a temporary residence built like a cabin, and seeing the moss and vines growing between the bricks, it seemed to be a watchtower that had been here from the beginning.
Two knights were guarding the front, and as soon as they discovered them, they bowed their heads as if they were used to it. Behind them was a small door that you had to lower your head a little to enter.
Cordelia quickly tidied up her wet eyes before facing her subordinates. Then, she opened the heavy iron door located between them herself and guided Hugo into the dark inside.
“The ceiling is low. Please be careful, Commander.”
Hugo raised one eyebrow and slowly took a step. Even so, he scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes until just before entering. He had no idea what she was trying to say that would lead him to such a remote place, and the rising doubts were immense.
Clang—
A moment later, as soon as he had completely entered, the heavy iron door closed with an eerie sound.
Hugo reflexively turned around even as he straightened his back from the aching in his abdomen. He saw the exit, which was tightly closed enough that not even a bug could leak out. Hugo expressed some displeasure at the feeling of being imprisoned.
“Was it such a secret story that we had to come to a place like this? What is it that you wanted to tell me?”
Hugo was worried about Leonardo, who would be alone, as it seemed like it would take longer than he thought. But whether she knew his mind or not, Cordelia busily moved and lit the lamps hanging on the wall first.
“I’m sorry, Commander. I’ll explain it fully.”
Her voice, which had become much more serious, illuminated the dark space along with the light. Following that, a space that was low in ceiling but wider than he thought came into Hugo’s eyes. The place, filled with a musty smell of dust, had old bookshelves and a spacious table. And the numerous pieces of paper scattered on it greeted him with questions.
“……”
Before Cordelia could say anything, Hugo instinctively approached the table. Then, he picked up one of the scattered newspapers and floated a Light Ball to quickly scan the top line.
「Did they finally get their hands on a secret weapon?」
「The whole story of the Council’s expedition to the Eldermilli Peninsula」
His blue eyes narrowed. As it turned out, the fact that the Council had brought Leonardo Blaine to the peninsula was making quite a stir in the world. The newspaper’s publication date was relatively recent, so it seemed that it had not been known for long.
Of course, it wasn’t that he hadn’t expected it, but the problem was that the timing was a bit bad. If the Council’s procession returned to the Zodiac at the time when the firepower was at its strongest, a huge crowd could gather in the square again.
That was why Leonardo was secretly brought in to prepare for such a situation… The shouts of reproach and curse that he would hear again made Hugo’s head throb.
‘Why now of all times…’
Hugo seriously read the article, but he suddenly thought that what she wanted to tell him was not just this. There would be no need to secretly convey the news that was already plastered all over the newspaper.
Soon after, when he turned his eyes, she, who had lit all the lamps in the meantime, approached and suddenly asked Hugo.
“Commander, what are you planning to do with Blaine in the future?”
Hugo’s eyebrows twitched at the sudden question. Instead of answering, he asked directly to understand her intentions.
“What do you mean?”
“…I’m asking what you plan to do with Blaine’s treatment now.”
Hugo stared at her with lowered eyes at the slightly more specific but still meaningless answer. Then, when he thought the silence had become long, he swept back his hair and slowly opened his mouth.
“I can’t tell you the details because it’s an internal matter, but he has done his part here. Soon, when we return to the Zodiac… he will be free after that.”
“So, you mean you’re going to release Blaine?”
“Yes.”
Hugo, who answered firmly, rubbed his eyes as if he was tired. Then, he looked down at her with a colder gaze and voice and said.
“Sir Hares, I don’t like beating around the bush. I’d like you to get to the point now. What do you want to say to me?”
Cordelia hesitated for a moment at Hugo’s reaction. She seemed like she was about to speak readily, but she was clearly agonizing.
Hugo stared down at her quietly, then turned his body as if to say he would leave if she had nothing to say. He was worried about leaving the residence for too long. He had a bad feeling.
Just as he took a step towards the door, Cordelia, who had been hesitating, hurriedly opened her mouth.
“I’ll believe you since you said you’d release him, Commander. I’m sorry for dragging it out. I needed confirmation.”
Hugo stopped walking and turned around again. Cordelia, who looked up at him, opened her mouth with difficulty.
“About an hour ago, a messenger secretly arrived for my father.”
“……”
‘Secretly? A messenger?’
Since it wasn’t a good combination of words in terms of intuition, Hugo narrowed his brow and gestured as if to say continue. As his gaze suddenly turned cold, Cordelia bit and released her lips and continued to speak falteringly.
“I’ve already given instructions… to cut off some of the Portals to the Gate leading to the territory. But even if they detour, if it’s the shortest distance, they’ll probably arrive in front of the territory within four days.”
Her anxious eyes shook uneasily. The ends of her lips, which were conveying the situation, twitched finely. Just as the questions ‘Who? And why so much?’ flashed through Hugo’s mind.
Unexpected words flowed out of Cordelia’s mouth in a low voice.
“The Imperial royal guard is coming here now.”