By Zephyria Immediately after the final meeting ended, Hugo made a suggestion to the commanders.
“Since it’s the last day that all the subjugation forces are together, I think it would be good to let the members relax a little for a day.”
The purpose was to appropriately resolve the rigid atmosphere that had been in place and to allow them to fully enjoy the joy of victory that they had not been able to properly enjoy.
Since half of the troops were about to return tomorrow, it was not a very relaxed situation. However, since the members had been constantly on edge even after defeating the core, it was necessary to praise their hard work and change the atmosphere at least once for the sake of morale.
Most of the commanders agreed to the Legion Commander’s proposal, and Hugo designated the evening time after work as an official victory banquet.
In the Encampment that they returned to, various meats, starchy crops, and fresh vegetables were piled up as if they had been prepared in advance.
The members explained that the guards and territory residents of Fidele had loaded them onto wagons and brought them as the Council’s share during the progress of the assembly. The quantity and quality were considerable to be seen as mere relief supplies, so everyone was moved by the grace of Sir Hares and the territory residents.
However, the reality was that Cordelia, who had received a large amount of support from Hugo, had purchased a large amount of food from the nearby territory and distributed it to the Council. However, there was Hugo’s instruction to have it fully supported by Fidele in case public opinion about her would be shaken due to the issue of not allowing the installation of Portals within the territory.
Even the commanders did not know that fact, so they gathered their intentions to say hello to Sir Hares properly at least once.
So only Flynn, who knew the inside story, could only let out a regretful smile at the lost praise.
“For our great achievement that will remain in history!”
“For―!”
Several hands holding up rough canteens flickered in front of the huge flame. The refrain that followed the first line cheerfully covered the land where darkness had fallen.
Someone who was moved by the Supreme Commander’s speech shouted a toast in a loud voice.
The savory smell of meat sizzling and the golden beer pouring out of the oak barrels. The songs intoxicated with excitement and the laughter that could be heard after a long time decorated the excited Encampment even more colorfully.
The campfire burning brightly in the center also played a part in creating the banquet atmosphere. Some members said that it would be a shame if this was missing, so they got logs from somewhere and quickly piled them up like an altar.
It was an unannounced victory banquet after a big battle, so there were concerns from some commanders that they might not be able to enjoy it. But the members put aside their sadness for a while and laughed and talked with happy faces, so much so that those worries were overshadowed.
Perhaps it was because of the desire to escape from the desolate reality.
In that gap, the territory residents who had helped treat the injured also mingled without hesitation. They were so intertwined that they couldn’t even tell who was who, and they tilted their glasses.
“I told you I smashed that guy’s head in one go? Then he rushed at me with his eyes rolled back, and there was a cliff behind him. What could I do? I quickly rolled and dodged to the side. But the ground I was standing on until just now suddenly collapsed.”
“Hey, don’t say ridiculous things. You don’t look that agile.”
“Hey, I’m serious! Hah, I can’t even show you.”
On one side, heroic tales of dubious truth were being passed down. One of the demon beast corps members, who would be suffering quite a bit tomorrow, was rattling off his achievements in an overly casual tone.
The surrounding comrades waved their hands at the commoners who were listening, as if to say, ‘Don’t listen to him, he’s starting again.’ But when the corps member, his face red, insisted it was true, a resident who had baked bread at home shoved a loaf the size of his face into the corps member’s mouth, asking him to taste it.
The corps members who watched the scene burst out laughing all at once. Even the commanders, who had been keeping a close eye to prevent things from getting too loose, abandoned all pretense and burst into laughter.
“Wow, you could fit a demon beast’s head in there.”
“Are you crazy?”
Ridiculous nonsense was perfect as a snack. It was also a farewell party for the comrades from the Central Branch whom they had grown fond of, so even the injured dragged their limping legs out and sat on the ground.
Those who were on duty at the Gate would occasionally come in shifts, and even if they couldn’t drink, they would get a few pieces of freshly grilled meat and go back.
Lost in their pleasant commotion, Leonardo smiled without realizing it.
He was leaning against a makeshift sofa made of stacked blankets inside a medium-sized tent, diligently watching people as usual.
Hugo, who was sipping strong liquor in a transparent glass, glanced sideways at the fleeting laughter. His Gold Eyes, touched by the light, were quite lively. The bowl that had contained the meat stew was also cleanly emptied this time, as if he had enjoyed the taste.
Sensing the gaze, Leonardo also turned his head towards Hugo. As if timing it, Hugo looked straight ahead again.
It seemed as if he was deliberately avoiding his gaze, so Leonardo asked casually.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
Hugo didn’t answer immediately. He simply crossed his outstretched legs to the other side while sitting sideways.
Above the rather sensual ankle line, the combat boots, devoid of shine, intersected. Just as Leonardo’s gaze reached there, Hugo answered in a subdued voice.
“Why would I avoid you?”
“You’re not even looking at me now.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the blue eyes turned to Leonardo. As if brazenly protesting that he had no intention of doing so, Leonardo let out a dumbfounded chuckle.
He seemed like a completely different person from the one who had kissed his hand and smiled at him in front of everyone earlier. The strange distance bothered Leonardo, so he openly said, hoping he was drunk.
“You’ve been like that since morning. Is there something you want to say to me―”
“Sir Hares has arrived!”
At that moment, a sudden shout from a corps member was heard, and Leonardo paused his words for a moment. Turning his head and looking at the source of the sound, Cordelia, accompanied by two knights, appeared in the distance.
Surrounded by cheers, she looked around, and then, perhaps embarrassed by the adoring atmosphere, gave an awkward smile. Then, when she happened to make eye contact with Leonardo, who was looking that way, she raised her hand high and her expression brightened.
“Blaine!”
Cordelia, smiling brightly, called his name loudly.
“…Major Hares?”
Leonardo replied with a bewildered face. Cordelia pushed through the corps members and hurried to the tent where the two were.
After first bowing her head to Hugo in a brief greeting, she grabbed Leonardo’s hand before the nearby 1st Battalion members could stop her.
“Blaine, are you alright? Did you eat well?”
“Yes? Ah, yes. Thanks to your concern….”
She asked with a very happy yet worried face. Leonardo, while answering, looked at her with slightly surprised eyes, seeing her after a long time.
She looked generally thinner and more haggard than the strong face he had seen before entering the peninsula. Perhaps it was because she was wearing light clothing rather than bulky armor, but Leonardo felt particularly bad because it seemed like she had been having a hard time.
However, Cordelia’s feelings towards him were not much different. The two looked at each other with affectionate eyes for a moment.
The two of them had a special bond as superior and subordinate in the military in the past. Hugo, who had been silently gazing at them, suddenly got up.
“You’ve come at a good time. We’ll be leaving soon, so you two must have a lot to talk about. Take your time and have a conversation.”
Hugo said that and gestured to the 1st Battalion members as if to say there was no need to stop Cordelia. Then, he turned and started to walk away, as if he was going somewhere else.
Just as Leonardo was about to ask where he was going, Cordelia, noticing Hugo’s consideration, quickly got up from her seat.
“Your Excellency. Thank you, but before that….”
She lowered her voice, conscious of her surroundings, as she had done when she had taken Hugo to the watchtower before. Hugo, looking around once at her actions, nodded and slightly bent his back. It meant that it was too cumbersome to move to a remote place together, so he told her to just whisper in his ear.
Even so, Cordelia was momentarily taken aback. But because the news she was trying to convey to him was quite urgent, she hesitated for a moment before bringing her face closer.
Cordelia conveyed in a hushed voice.
‘They have crossed the Oldin Bridge. They will arrive within 12 hours.’
At that moment, Hugo’s expression hardened rapidly. Leonardo could not have missed the fleeting change.
However, Hugo, who had composed his expression before he could notice anything strange, looked down at Cordelia impassively.
Cordelia did not add any other words and only looked up with anxious eyes. Then Hugo’s gaze went down to Leonardo.
“…Stay with Leonardo. I have something to take care of.”
He said in a calm tone and immediately turned his body and went to the opposite side of the banquet venue. The two knights who had come with Cordelia closely followed Hugo.