By Zephyria Hugo was walking through the forest at a leisurely pace while talking to Squad Leader 8. He had to make sure that the troublesome fire energy had completely disappeared beyond the Gate, and he needed to pay more attention to the atmosphere of the forest with the subordinate next to him.
Then, in response to Hugo’s question of whether she had come alone, Squad Leader 8 answered that she had. Then, she watched his mood and added that there were squad members who had been following her, but they couldn’t keep up with the speed and seemed to have fallen behind along the way.
Hugo nodded lightly, but stared at the bushes where darkness had fallen.
Ever since he had been having a secret conversation with Cordelia inside the watchtower, he had vaguely felt that someone was focusing on him.
It was clear that she was the only one in this area. But it wasn’t certain whether there was only one listening ear.
The two walked together for about 10 minutes before returning to the Encampment of the cabin via Teleport. The members of the 1st Battalion, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed to see the Legion Commander and the Squad Leader. They seemed curious about where the two had been, but Hugo gestured appropriately to Squad Leader 8 and asked the members about ‘his’ condition first.
“How is Leonardo?”
“There were no particular changes after the Commander checked and left. The medical officer also said that it was difficult to see that he had woken up, and that the slight movements were neurological reactions shown unconsciously….”
The member who was conveying the situation trailed off because Hugo’s expression wasn’t very good. Hugo lowered his eyes with a low sigh, then waved his hand as if to say that he understood and that they should go and rest.
Squad Leader 8 bowed her head and led her subordinates away. Hugo received the salutes of the members on guard and burst open the door of the cabin. The medical officer, who was coming out just in time, was surprised and paused, but immediately conveyed a medical opinion that was almost identical to what he had heard from the member just now.
Hugo left a word, “Good work,” and strode towards the deck where Leonardo was. Flynn, who had been guarding his side, hurriedly got up and gave up his seat as if to tell him to sit down.
“I heard that facial muscles sometimes move as the nervous system paralysis wears off. It seems to be a temporary reaction during the detoxification process. I don’t think he’s regained consciousness.”
Flynn briefly relayed the medical officer’s diagnosis to his superior. Hugo listened intently and sat down in front of Leonardo. He rubbed Leonardo’s eyelids to check his pupillary response, then gently pressed his neck and wrist to count his pulse.
‘Still the same.’
Before chasing after the guy who was afflicted while fighting the Divine Beast, Hugo had rushed back to the cabin to check on Leonardo first. But unlike the Divine Beast’s message that he seemed to have woken up, Leonardo looked no different from when he had kissed him and left.
After ordering Flynn and the medical officer to stay by his side, he briefly left to drive the uninvited guest out of the territory. And even now, after returning and checking on him, Leonardo was still fast asleep with his eyes closed.
He was disappointed, but it was expected. Hugo ran his hand through Leonardo’s hair once and then stopped. Flynn, who had returned after making sure the medical officer had closed the door, cautiously asked Hugo, who looked gloomy.
“Sir, Commander… Did something happen?”
Flynn, who had been watching his commander, guessed that he wouldn’t have left his post for no reason after finding him. He had asked the members of the 1st Battalion for the reason, but they seemed clueless. They only said that he seemed to be in a hurry after talking to Sir Hares alone.
Hugo hesitated for a moment, wondering how much he should tell Flynn. Then, remembering what he had instructed Flynn to do, he decided to ask about that first.
“Flynn, did you check on the 3rd Battalion?”
“Ah, yes. The 3rd Battalion Commander has also returned, and I confirmed that he entered the temporary barracks earlier.”
“No, I’m not talking about the 3rd Battalion Commander…”
Hugo paused mid-sentence. The reason he had asked Flynn to check on the 3rd Battalion earlier was to keep an eye on ‘that guy’ who was obsessed with Leonardo, as he belonged to the 3rd Battalion, and to reveal their relationship. But now that it was certain that the guy was a Dark Silver who had changed his face, he asked again to see if Felix Montero was really safe.
However, Flynn seemed to have understood the instruction to mean checking on the ‘3rd Battalion Commander,’ and as soon as Hugo heard that answer, he thought of Meterion, who had been with Leonardo when he collapsed.
He didn’t expect Meterion to remember every single characteristic of each of his subordinates. But as a battalion commander of the Council and a member of the aristocratic group, his keen observation skills couldn’t be ignored.
‘What if he noticed something strange, even a little bit?’
Hugo knew that Meterion was subtly lingering around Leonardo. That he was sometimes focused on Leonardo. If so, there was a good chance that ‘that guy’ who was obsessed with Leonardo had also been caught in Meterion’s sight. Especially since he had disguised himself as a member of the battalion he led.
If he had aroused even a hint of suspicion in the process… Hugo didn’t want to think about what might happen.
Hugo, who was organizing his thoughts, ran his hand through his hair with a troubled expression. There were so many thoughts running through his head, but it seemed best to deal with the immediate and certain things first.
“Flynn, go out right now and confirm whether a man named ‘Felix Montero’ from the 3rd Battalion is alive. Try not to mention his name to others, and just quietly observe his condition.”
Flynn was puzzled by his commander’s order, but he didn’t bother to ask why.
“Yes, I understand. It’s… probably best not to be seen by the 3rd Battalion Commander, right?”
“Yes. I’ll explain the details when you get back.”
“Yes, I’ll be right back.”
Flynn, who had sensed that something was happening, left with a brief greeting. As the door opened and closed again, Hugo, who had been staring at it, turned back to Leonardo.
The sudden flood of facts was enough to confuse Hugo. The approach of the Imperial Royal Guard, the existence of the petition, and the appearance of the Dark Silver. They were throwing stones into the lake of his heart, which was just beginning to calm down.
The splashing water and countless bubbles that burst before his eyes filled the space between Leonardo and himself, just like a while ago.
His shaded blue eyes stared at the golden eyelashes within. Then, he suddenly shifted his gaze to the handkerchief tied around Leonardo’s neck. He naturally reached out and carefully pulled the end of the knot. The lightly tied silk handkerchief slowly came undone at Hugo’s touch.
Although it was not clearly visible due to the bandages, the outline of the choker that always adorned Leonardo’s neck stood out.
In addition, he remembered what Leonardo had said that night, soaked in moonlight, amidst the flowing cigarette smoke.
‘The military can’t provide me with something like this.’
“……”
At the time, he was vaguely curious about its true nature, but now he had a complex mix of wanting to know and not wanting to know. It was because he wasn’t sure what decision he would make when he faced its reality.
Hugo rolled his eyes and stared down at Leonardo’s face. He stared intently with cold, neither warm nor cold, blue eyes and muttered.
“What am I supposed to do with you?”
His low voice, as if talking to himself, echoed through the silence. His heavy, sighing voice fell heavily on the bedding covering Leonardo.
Hugo, who slowly blinked his eyes and fell into thought, turned his head towards the sound of ticking that brushed past his ears. As if drawn, he got up and approached the bedside table nearby. His watch and various belongings, which he had entrusted to Flynn, were arranged on it.
Hugo stared at his wristwatch and estimated the current time in Zodiac. Then, he shifted his gaze to the communication Magic Tool next to it. Now that he had left the peninsula and entered a territory inhabited by people, Magic Power transmission would be possible, even if the signal was weak.
After thinking, he picked up the communication Magic Tool and fiddled with it in one hand. After a short wait, someone’s voice flowed from beyond the device.
‘Yes, Commander.’
After hearing his adjutant’s response, Hugo stared at the Magic Tool for a few seconds. Then, he glanced at Leonardo and told the person on the other end what he needed.
“Gabe, I have a favor to ask.”
^
Felix Montero, whom Flynn had gone to check on, had been at the base camp adjacent to the barrier in the southern part of the peninsula and had just been transferred to Fidele Territory with other injured soldiers.
He was lying among the patients with minor and major injuries, looking strangely unharmed. Although he was dirty with dried mud, his condition was much better than the injured soldiers who were covered in blood or had pieces of flesh torn off.
Flynn wondered why the Commander had told him to check on this man out of all the people, as he even scratched his arm and turned to his side.
But soon after, when the commanders of the 3rd Battalion entered the tent where the injured were gathered, Flynn quickly slipped out, pretending to check the numbers while avoiding their eyes.
As soon as dawn broke, Hugo summoned all the senior commanders who had been deployed to the peninsula subjugation. Of course, some were severely injured and unable to attend, and in unavoidable cases, a mid-level commander attended the meeting as a proxy for their superior.
Hugo set the inspection of the barrier surrounding the southern part of the peninsula, the calming of the erupted volcano, the identification of the dead, and the treatment of the injured as priority tasks. As a result, for the past two days, the majority of the Council’s forces had been working hard to recover the bodies scattered throughout the peninsula and treat the injured. To help them, not only the territory residents of Fidele but also nearby territories sent medical personnel, relief supplies, and food.
However, the restoration of the severed Portal took time, making it difficult to procure supplies smoothly, and the consumption of medicines exceeded the supply due to the large number of injured. Hugo, who was seriously discussing this situation with Bruno Amos, eventually decided to return at least the personnel from the central branch to Zodiac first.
However, until additional troops from the southern branch arrived in Fidele Territory, they had to remain here due to the lack of manpower to guard against and search for the remaining demon beasts.
“We have contacted our southern branch to expedite the process. Approval will be granted soon, so support troops will arrive within two days at the latest.”
Listening to Bruno’s words, Hugo stared blankly at the map on the makeshift table.
It was not a map of the peninsula, but a map showing the Gates and Portals leading from Fidele Territory to the outside, as well as other land routes. Currently, the Portals at the northern Gate were completely disconnected, and supplies were only coming and going through the Portal at the eastern Gate and some land routes.
“Two days…”
Hugo’s long fingers tapped regularly on the table as he murmured quietly.
Two days later would coincide with the arrival of the Imperial Royal Guard. He had to make a decision by then.