By Zephyria Whether all the necrotic areas had been cut off, Liner Molton’s left arm was only left with his shoulder.
Leonardo Blaine barely managed to take his gaze away from the spot. Then, Liner Molton, feeling his consideration, deliberately shrugged his shoulders and said.
“Isn’t one arm a medal? If I put a steel prosthetic on here, it’ll look even cooler, right?”
“Liner Molton.”
As the blunt area wrapped in bandages wriggled, Isabella, who was supporting his upper body from that side, called him in a low voice.
Isabella closed and opened her eyes, letting out a deep sigh. Liner Molton lightly shook his head as if it didn’t matter. Judging by the person’s reaction alone, it didn’t feel serious, but Leonardo Blaine knew that Liner Molton was trying to ease the atmosphere.
He himself had almost lost an arm in this battle. Didn’t he feel pain as if all his nerves were going crazy just from that? But the feeling of an entire arm being torn off without a trace would be a pain that he couldn’t even imagine. Leonardo Blaine pursed his lips tightly.
Then, Liner Molton, who had been bickering with Isabella for a few words, suddenly held out his right hand to Leonardo Blaine.
“Still, it’s a relief that this side is left, right? Because I can shake hands with Leonardo Blaine.”
Liner Molton, laughing heartily, was truly a cheerful man himself. Leonardo Blaine never dreamed that he would be praising the guy he hadn’t known for very long as amazing.
Leonardo Blaine, chuckling, clasped Liner Molton’s hand. The other’s fierce yet clear energy was transmitted through his palm.
The momentum had weakened compared to before, but it had never become turbid. Liner Molton smiled, showing his teeth, and shook the connected hands up and down. Then, as they naturally withdrew their hands, Leonardo Blaine rummaged through the inner pocket of his combat uniform and said.
“Just a moment.”
He took out the Artifact he had organized in the morning and opened it just enough for one arm to enter. He found a small case the size of a handful inside and handed it to Liner Molton. As Liner Molton looked at him with a what-is-this look, Leonardo Blaine replied plainly.
“It’s a Magic stone, put it in your prosthetic later. It’ll help.”
Leonardo Blaine put the Artifact back in his inner pocket and shook the case in his hand.
“There was a guy who stepped on a landmine and lost a leg a long time ago. He said it was pretty good when he put it in his prosthetic leg. So I thought it would be good for a prosthetic arm too. Oh, by the way, this is expensive, okay?”
He emphasized the last part in particular, then pulled the hand he had shaken and firmly handed the case over. As Liner Molton was just staring blankly at it, Isabella, who was next to him, conveyed her thanks instead.
“Thank you, Leonardo Blaine. I’ll repay you sufficiently.”
“I didn’t give it to you to get anything in return. I gave it to you because I don’t need it.”
It was less credible because he said it was expensive and then said he didn’t need it, but Isabella didn’t add any more words. Instead, she reached out her hand to shake his hand next. Leonardo Blaine looked down at her hand and firmly clasped it.
Isabella smiled and said.
“I lived thanks to you, and I learned a lot. Thanks to you, I was able to look back at our situation objectively.”
Leonardo Blaine tilted his head and asked.
“What situation?”
“The fact that our crisis response skills are ridiculously lacking. From now on, our battalion commanders will also change their training methods to focus on practical training. So I hope we can meet again. So that I can show you the results of the training.”
He didn’t know exactly what practical training was, but if it helped to cultivate composure, it would be a great development for these two as well.
Leonardo Blaine recalled the moment when he struggled with them and was about to give some advice, but suddenly remembered that they were battalion commanders of the Council. He immediately swallowed the words he was about to say and simply nodded lightly. Then, Gray, who was supporting Liner Molton’s right arm, interrupted in the middle.
“But if the day comes when we can show you the results of the training, isn’t that a problem in itself?”
If that day comes, the country will either face another disaster-scale battle, or Leonardo Blaine will be chased by the Council. Isabella, who understood the meaning, let out a hollow laugh. Leonardo Blaine, who understood as well, frowned as if he didn’t like it.
They soon said their goodbyes to Leonardo Blaine, including Charlotte Hastings, Liner Molton’s direct subordinate. Charlotte was said to have severe internal injuries and had already been transferred to the Southern Branch headquarters a few days ago. However, Liner Molton didn’t seem too worried.
“Maybe because I’m alive, she won’t be able to stand not coming back alive, given her personality. She’s always yelling that she can do what I do.”
It was a strange logic, but the two people on either side agreed, so it seemed like a reliable story. Leonardo Blaine vaguely recalled Charlotte, who had come to deliver his cloak, and replied in his own way, hoping that she would recover quickly.
As their conversation was slowly coming to an end, there was a group carrying a stretcher across the dirt floor. Leonardo Blaine’s gaze naturally reached there. The reason was that several members were clinging to the area, and one of them was Dellua Rivera, the 6th Battalion Commander of the Central Branch.
“Don’t expose her to the sunlight for a long time. Hurry up!”
At the sound of a particularly high-pitched voice that caught his attention, the commanders who were with Leonardo Blaine also turned to look there.
Dellua, with a flushed face, looked down at the injured person, but continued to mumble something to the other person, holding her hand and talking to her. The stretcher soon approached the transport vehicle line. Immediately, the door of the vehicle in front of the two was thrown open, and the members carefully pushed the injured person in with the stretcher.
In that instant, Leonardo Blaine could hear Dellua’s tearful voice more clearly.
“Marlene, everything will be alright. Let’s go back now.”
After whispering that, Dellua bowed her head and kissed the injured person’s lips. Then, as if it were natural, she boarded the vehicle together. It happened so quickly that Leonardo Blaine couldn’t take his eyes off the place until the door closed.
“Those two…”
Isabella, who had the same thought, mumbled, trailing off. Suddenly, the appearance of Dellua and Marlene, who seemed unusually special for an upper-lower relationship, flashed through Leonardo Blaine’s mind.
He was a little surprised because it was a fact he hadn’t noticed at all. But more than that, what was fortunate was that Marlene had also survived.
“Supreme Commander, I think we can start soon.”
Bruno, who had been communicating with the Fidele’s outer Gate manager, told Hugo, who was right next to him.
Hugo checked his watch at Bruno’s words and looked around. The managers of the transport vehicles, who had all the injured on board, were running around busily, sending a final sign that there were no problems. Behind them, the baggage carts loaded with heavy luggage had also finished their preparations and were closing their doors one by one.
Hugo gestured briefly to Bruno and moved to the right. He strode up to Leonardo Blaine and the commanders, who were gathered about 20m away.
Hugo tapped the side of the transport vehicle with the back of his hand, drawing their attention, and said.
“Everyone, step back. It’s time to leave.”
They knew it, but when the time came, sighs of regret burst out. However, the loud engine sound that drowned out the sighs was heard simultaneously from all directions. The hot heat emitted from the transport vehicle caused small dust to rise around it. Hugo left the commanders behind, opened the door of the vehicle himself, and reached out his hand to Leonardo Blaine.
“Let’s go.”
Leonardo Blaine stared blankly at his hand, then replied, “Okay,” and grabbed Hugo’s outstretched hand. Then, he boarded the vehicle first and plopped down on the inside seat. Hugo sat right next to him after Leonardo Blaine was seated. Bruno closed the door of the vehicle after the two had boarded.
Hugo, who had slid open the left window, gestured to Bruno. Bruno, who approached, leaned his face in and told Hugo and the driver in the front seat.
“I’ve already finished talking to the managers, so just go straight east and enter the entrance of the dam. I’ll take you to the shortest route to the Zodiac. Thank you for your hard work, Supreme Commander.”
“You’ve worked hard under me all this time. Please take good care of the aftermath until the end of the subjugation.”
“Of course, don’t worry. Please take care on your way.”
The two exchanged their last handshake with the window in between. Then, Bruno, who looked inside, greeted Leonardo Blaine as well.
“Leonardo Blaine, you’ve worked hard too. Next time―.”
“Your Excellency―!”
At that moment, Cordelia, who had been stepping back, suddenly rushed in and stood close to the open window. Bruno stepped aside in a flustered face. Cordelia pleaded to Hugo in a earnest voice.
“Your Excellency, please take good care of Blaine. You must set him free.”
Leonardo Blaine looked back and forth between Cordelia and Hugo with a flustered face. Hugo, with a slightly hardened expression, replied in a calm tone.
“Don’t worry. Your efforts will not be in vain.”
He left behind incomprehensible words and waved his hand as if telling her to get off the vehicle now because it was dangerous. Bruno bowed his head to him and took Cordelia two or three steps back.
Hugo, confirming that they had kept a proper distance, instructed the driver sitting in the front.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The word ‘my lord’ caught Leonardo Blaine’s ear for a moment, but it soon disappeared from his consciousness as the transport vehicle line started to move. Instead, Leonardo Blaine’s gaze swept over the many faces passing by the car window like the wind.
Bruno straightened his back and stood at attention, facing the slowly moving long line.
“Everyone, attention.”
Following his solemn voice, the gathered commanders and the Council’s large army, spread out widely, stood at attention all at once. Liner Molton, who had been slouching, also straightened his shoulders and took on a serious expression at this moment.
Bruno, following the vehicle passing in front of him with his eyes, ordered his subordinates in a low voice.
“Wishing for a safe return, salute the Supreme Commander―!”
“Glory to Laina Rogia―!”
The thunderous roar that shook the boundary zone spread to the foothills of Fidele and the peninsula. Leonardo watched the countless saluting hands directed at him and Hugo, not wanting to miss a single one.
Then, as if something was still lacking, he gripped the headrest of his seat and, half-turned, kept his eyes fixed on the receding figures.
“Blaine—!”
Cordelia, who called out to Leonardo last, waved broadly as she saw him off. Leonardo, knowing she couldn’t see him, waved back faintly at the window in the back of the vehicle.
The convoy of vehicles lined up in a row sped towards the outer Gate. As the dust billowed fiercely in their wake, Hugo closed the window he had opened and said in a subdued voice.
“Leonardo, it’s dangerous, you should sit properly. The road will get rough once we enter the forest path.”
Only when Cordelia and the others had become as small as dots did Leonardo obediently follow Hugo’s words and sit upright in his seat. Just then, Hugo rummaged in his pocket and took out a small, packaged capsule, handing it to Leonardo.
“The medical officer told me to give this to you. It’s a painkiller.”
“A painkiller?”
“They won’t be able to check on your condition on the way back. It seems they prepared it for the long journey… How about taking it now?”
Leonardo blinked and took the pill Hugo offered. Without saying anything, he tore open the packaging and unconsciously smelled it.
The colorless, odorless pill seemed like an ordinary painkiller, but perhaps because he remembered the stinging in his esophagus when swallowing food recently, he didn’t feel like taking it.
As he held the pill and stared at it silently, Hugo, who had been glancing at him sideways, asked cautiously.
“Why, do you want me to feed it to you?”
“What? No?”
Not ‘You don’t want to take it?’, but ‘Do you want me to feed it to you?’ Leonardo, with a bewildered expression, answered and popped the painkiller into his mouth in one go. However, perhaps because the surface of the pill was rough, it was difficult to swallow without water. Seeing his Adam’s apple bob up and down several times, Hugo clicked his tongue and put his hand on Leonardo’s chin, saying.
“Look up.”
Then, without giving him a chance to lift his chin himself, he forcibly tilted Leonardo’s head back.
“Open your mouth.”
Leonardo, rolling his eyes in that state, slightly furrowed his brow and opened his mouth. Then, Hugo tilted his other hand and poured cool water into Leonardo’s mouth. A few drops leaked from the corners of his mouth due to the shaking car, but it was a fairly clean job.
Leonardo swallowed the pill without resistance. Only then did Hugo remove his hand and carefully wipe the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief tied around his neck. Then, as if he had finished his task, he turned his head to the window without saying anything.
He fiddled with his hand for a moment, then rested his elbow on the armrest and propped up his chin, but Leonardo felt that his profile was somehow different from usual. Somehow… He seemed unusually anxious and stiff, unlike him.
“…….”
Leonardo, sitting quietly and observing Hugo, suddenly turned his eyes to the front windshield of the vehicle entering the forest path. As the dense greenery surrounded him on all sides, he wanted to capture the last image of the peninsula in his memory.
As Leonardo shifted his gaze to the left and looked at the distant, towering peak, the red, sprawling lava in the hazy crater shimmered along with the heat haze. Surprisingly, on another peak not far away, perpetual snow that never melted sparkled in the sunlight.
Lava and perpetual snow.
Objects that one could never even imagine being together.
But coincidentally, the place that made that coexistence possible was this Eldermilli Peninsula.
Leonardo looked at the man like perpetual snow sitting next to him. He thought that the reason he seemed nervous was because he was worrying in advance about the difficulties that would unfold after returning.
But Leonardo wanted to fully enjoy the ‘end’ at this moment. At the same time, to alleviate his anxiety even a little, he gently leaned his head on Hugo’s shoulder. Of course, as he sat on the plush sofa-like seat and his body swayed with the car, he also felt relaxed, and sleepiness washed over him like a tide.
The moment he felt a moderate weight on his shoulder, Hugo’s eyelids twitched.
He lowered his hand that had been propping up his chin and slowly turned his head. He shifted his gaze and stared blankly at the warmth that had come to his side.
“…….”
His rather long golden hair was scattered messily on his shoulder. Leonardo, with his long eyelashes neatly lowered, closed his eyes and murmured quietly.
“Thank you.”
There were no accompanying words to explain what he was thanking him for. But Hugo felt like he could understand all the meanings contained within.
He swept his gaze over Leonardo’s face with a loosely relaxed expression. After blinking silently, he leaned his head against Leonardo’s head as well.
Following the freshness of the rapidly passing greenery, many things that had happened until now flashed through Hugo’s mind like a panorama. He buried those memories in one corner of his heart, reached his arm around Leonardo’s shoulder, and rubbed his forearm with his hand.
Then, Hugo slowly closed his eyes and whispered softly into the air.
“Me too, thank you.”
The corners of Leonardo’s lips crept up slightly.
The convoy carrying the two left the peninsula, gliding away.