By Zephyria Felix rolled his eyes with a flustered expression and asked the guards for help with his eyes. However, the two people who were watching were also bewildered, so they only hesitated and didn’t take any action.
Having no choice, Felix, facing Gold Eyes, asked Leonardo in a barely audible voice.
“Um… why are you doing this….”
His distinct features made it seem like he had feelings for him. Moreover, the tremendous strength that forcibly lifted his upper body was so threatening that it was hard to believe it came from a beautiful person with delicate features.
As Felix trembled and couldn’t move, Leonardo, who had been silent for a while, moved his eyelids.
“Ah―.”
He softened his expression and finally let Felix go. In fact, it was more accurate to say that he dropped him rather than let him go. His cast arm fell down as if it were plummeting.
Felix, startled by the sight, quickly put down the backpack he was holding. Then, unable to grab it, he looked back and forth between Leonardo and his arm, not knowing what to do, and asked.
“Are you okay?”
The blonde hair and Gold Eyes that shone even in the dark were definitely the subject of conversation that was never left out in the conversations of the members in this Encampment. He had been lucky enough to encounter Leonardo Blaine in front of his eyes, and if he accidentally worsened the injury on his arm, he might become a great sinner.
Because of that thought, Felix was especially more humble, but Leonardo didn’t care about what happened to his arm. He was just feeling inwardly bitter as he watched Felix’s appearance, which was gradually becoming clear that he was not Nero.
‘No. It’s a good thing.’
He was supposed to have returned a long time ago, but he had been holding on and holding on, and was now belatedly returning. So, it was only natural and fortunate that Nero was not here.
That’s right. It was definitely a good thing… But when he faced reality, he felt the energy draining from his whole body. Feeling a brief dizziness, Leonardo closed his eyes and waved his hand at Felix.
“Sorry. I mistook you for someone else.”
His sighing voice and sad face were filled with deep and intense futility. Feeling that, Felix was overwhelmed with the feeling that he had done something wrong without knowing why.
“You said you were leaving. Go now.”
Soon after, Leonardo gave his welcome permission. Even as he said that, he was making a face as if he shouldn’t go.
Because of that, even after picking up the backpack, Felix couldn’t leave easily, looking around cautiously. One of the members who was watching looked around and lowered his voice, urging him as if he was frustrated.
“He told you to go. Go before the Legion Commander comes.”
“Ah, yes! I understand.”
Felix, who suddenly came to his senses, bowed his head to the guard. Then, he bowed deeply to Leonardo and added the words, “Thank you.”
Leonardo’s eyes, which were still lingering and watching him, twitched as he discovered something at that moment. But whether Felix knew it or not, he left as if he was running away, afraid of being caught again.
“……”
Leonardo, who was standing still like a stone statue, stared at the receding figure with a serious expression. Then, his gaze turned to his wrist, which had become noticeably thinner in the past few days.
‘Could it be….’
At that time, the guard next to him cautiously approached and spoke in a voice that was 180 degrees different from before.
“Um… in principle, you are not allowed to come outside. As you know, due to safety issues….”
He had treated the departing member with a somewhat overbearing tone, but the guard spoke carefully, as if not wanting to upset Leonardo. Leonardo glanced at him and then looked again at the place where Felix had disappeared. Then, Leonardo, who narrowed his eyes, turned his body lightly.
“I’m going in.”
The place Leonardo was heading to was not the tent, but another direction. The two guards, who did not understand his intention, looked at each other again.
“I’m going back to where I was originally.”
Realizing that his footsteps were not following, Leonardo added a word without turning around.
The members, realizing that he was talking about the cabin, hurriedly followed to escort Leonardo.
^
“The current water level is quite high, so it’s on the verge of overflowing. We can only review the stability after opening the floodgates.”
“Then can you open the floodgates and complete the review within two days?”
“Ah, well, that’s… It’s a bit difficult because we also have our own circumstances. We need to check whether the dikes around the waterway can withstand the water pressure, and we also need to send a notice of caution in advance to the neighborhood watch in charge of the residential areas near the river….”
“So it’s difficult right now.”
At Hugo’s voice, which sounded rather cold, the dam managers gathered in the large tent of the Anti-Peninsula Subjugation Temporary Headquarters could not easily continue speaking.
The answer they gave, saying that they had come to discuss the waterway passage permit, was that it was impossible to review the stability itself in the current situation. However, since they were speaking to such a high-ranking person, they tried to convey it indirectly, but when Hugo pointedly asked about the main point, they had no choice but to remain silent.
Hugo sighed lowly, as things were not working out as well as he had expected.
From the managers’ point of view, they would naturally not grant permission for a matter that could cause a dangerous situation. Knowing that, he thought about issuing a command by force, but there was nothing more rude than using his position to exercise command in someone else’s territory.
In addition, it would be best if this matter was not known to the outside world, so he had created this meeting as a formality… but the answer he received was not very welcome.
“Even if I take responsibility.”
Hugo tried to speak firmly once again, but the managers looked troubled. Then, Cordelia, who had been watching, stepped forward in front of them instead. Cordelia asked Hugo as if she didn’t know the reason.
“Your Excellency, if you need more material supply routes, I will review additional Gates and issue passage permits. However, as I have repeatedly said, the waterway near the dam is not a frequently used route in the first place. We hardly use it unless it is an unavoidable situation. If you have a plan in mind, I will do anything to find another way….”
Dellua watched Cordelia, who was trying to persuade him, and Hugo, who was not backing down, with a blank expression. Dellua also did not know Hugo’s intentions, so she stood like a screen, unable to do anything, and was barely grasping the context of the conversation.
At that time, the sound of salutes from the members guarding outside the tent was heard. The moment Dellua turned her head in that direction, Hugo and Cordelia also stopped talking and turned to the closed entrance.
The door of the tent, which was firmly fixed with iron pillars, burst open. As Meterion leisurely revealed himself there, Hugo checked his wristwatch and said coldly.
“You’re late.”
Meterion also looked at his own watch and replied nonchalantly.
“I thought today’s meeting was already over.”
“In a situation like this, it’s not over even if it’s over.”
Meterion’s eyebrows twitched at Hugo’s immediate response. Dellua quietly thought that the Greatsword stuck next to his head must have had a learning effect, as he didn’t add any more.
Meterion nodded without answering and approached the table. Hugo watched him with an unpleasant gaze, then looked forward again and opened his mouth.
“Anyway, everyone is gathered, so let’s get to the main agenda.”
The topic that Hugo continued with was the prevention of bottlenecks due to the concentration of troops when the Central Division returned to the Zodiac. It was a slightly different topic than before Meterion came, but it was not completely off-topic, so those inside naturally connected that what Hugo had wanted to say from the beginning was that.
However, only Cordelia questioned the subtly changed topic. His Excellency, who carefully considered every action, would not have brought up the waterway-related agenda for no reason.
However, in the flow of the meeting, no one mentioned the story they had shared until just now again.
^
The inside of the cabin was still warm and cozy. Unlike the relatively noisy outside, it was extremely quiet.
Leonardo, who had returned under the guard of the members, leaned his back against the closed door and blankly scanned the floor.
‘That bastard Nero.’
Strength entered Leonardo’s fist. At the same time, a burst of laughter flowed through his tightly closed teeth. The reason why he was agitated and immersed in such silence was simple.
Just before the member of the 3rd Battalion greeted him and left. He saw a glimpse of an ominous trace flashing in his mouth.
It was a trace that would have been missed if he hadn’t looked closely, but Leonardo, who had been stubbornly scrutinizing the member’s face, couldn’t miss it.
What he saw on Felix Montero’s tongue as he said thank you. It was definitely a Magic Circle.
Moreover, it was a rather dangerous magic that they had promised not to use unless absolutely necessary.
“Ha… what are you going to do.”
Leonardo lowered his head and covered his forehead. It was clear that Nero was the one who had cast the magic on Felix Montero.
Usually, Magic Circles engraved on vocal organs such as the tongue have a 99.9% chance of being used for ‘silencing’. It was a magic created in the past to silence those who knew secrets that should not be revealed, such as carrier pigeons, slaves, and so on.
Of course, since the main places of use were shady places such as illegal trafficking and crime, it was obvious what kind of repercussions it would have on society. Therefore, this was also designated as Forbidden magic, and even records are difficult to find today, but at least within Dark Silver, including himself, it was not difficult to find someone who could cast this magic.
So, the owner of the Magic Circle was definitely Nero… However, there was no way that a normal member would allow such a gruesome act of engraving a Magic Circle on his tongue. In that case, there was a high possibility that the member of the 3rd Battalion himself did not know that he had been cursed.
And the reason why it was seen in his eyes was probably because the content he had to keep silent about was related to him.
But if this was the case, it meant that they had dragged another innocent guy into their affairs. As the number of things to clean up gradually increased, Leonardo felt his vision blurring.
‘If he left the cursed person walking around openly, he must have left in a hurry.’
The aftermath of this magic is very troublesome. The procedure for perfect release is also quite complicated. In ancient times, it was said to have been called a curse rather than magic, so he could guess how notorious it was without having to experience it.
In other words, the person who cast this magic and the person who was cursed were no different from being tied to an invisible chain. As long as each other was alive, the effect was maintained, so it was the same as being entangled in an unbroken subordinate relationship.
Just like how he made a contract with Alec Siles for the purpose of silencing and tracking, and shared one golden ring on each wrist.
And just like how the black band around his neck, which he couldn’t take off as he pleased, was a terrible Leash that oppressed him.