By Zephyria ‘I should have just shut my mouth.’
Leonardo was overwhelmed with extreme regret for having opened his mouth earlier, given the situation unfolding before his eyes.
Battalion commanders, deputy commanders, company commanders, operational analysts, operational aides, adjutants, etc. of the Council… all those with various titles had gathered in front of him.
They were all looking at Leonardo with suspicious eyes, and Hugo was standing next to Leonardo.
Hugo, as if trying to ease Leonardo’s burden with a somewhat gentle voice, said to him.
“Leonardo, you just need to tell us again in more detail what you said earlier. The characteristics of the demon beasts that inhabit the area, anything about the terrain, anything you know is fine.”
Hugo said that, but the Council commanders, except for Deputy Commander Amos and Operational Aide Scott, who had heard Leonardo’s story earlier, seemed to be waiting to evaluate how perfect an operation he would describe.
Leonardo glanced around at the people with their unwelcome gazes. Then, he held out his right hand, which was handcuffed, over the table and said.
“Give me any pen.”
Immediately, someone quickly handed him a pen. Turning his head in that direction, Flynn was standing there looking at him. Perhaps he had accompanied him this time as the Supreme Commander’s adjutant. Leonardo slightly raised the corners of his lips at the unexpected face, then turned his head back to the front and said.
“Focus. I’ll explain it only once.”
At his suddenly changed atmosphere, those who had just been watching scrambled to take out pens and notebooks to take notes.
Based on his experience of having been to the Eldermilli Peninsula and the knowledge he had, Leonardo explained the entry route to them step by step.
His operation was not a one-dimensional method of breaking through one step at a time, but a method of entering the interior more efficiently and safely by using the characteristics of each terrain feature and demon beast. Those who were listening to the operation exclaimed quietly and quickly wrote it down in their notebooks.
Afterwards, Leonardo marked the main habitats of each demon beast on the map with a pen, explained the correlations and food chains of the inhabiting demon beasts, and listed their characteristics. Based on that information, the analysts of the operations department considered the size and characteristics of each unit and deployed troops.
“Demon beasts aren’t brainless either. Even though it’s an active volcano area, if there’s a demon beast nest, it’s something to be welcomed. That’s because the volcanic activity is low and it’s a relatively safe zone.”
The commanders who were listening attentively nodded at the new perspective he presented.
“However, there are only two types of demon beasts that just pass by the flowing magma. First, ‘Illaptors.’ They are reptile demon beasts that can walk on both four legs and two legs. So their speed is quite fast. These guys have poison glands in their teeth, so when you kill them, you must first cut off their necks and bury them in the ground.”
“What is the composition of the poison?”
“It causes swelling and blisters when it touches the skin. But if it flows into the blood vessels in the body, the blood coagulates and the limbs become paralyzed, so you must compress and tie the bitten area as much as possible, then crush and eat a plant called ‘Deugallianif,’ which is located near their habitat, and apply it to the wound as well. It will neutralize the poison and prevent it from spreading quickly.”
However, Leonardo added that it would be impossible to fight in that state, so they should quickly return to headquarters and receive treatment. Then, the officer of the medical team asked Leonardo.
“It seems difficult to treat with general recovery. Should we cut open the wound and extract the poison?”
“If the bitten area is large, that’s the answer, but if it’s small, there’s no need to go that far. Illaptor’s poison has a unique property that corresponds to sodium chloride, so if you soak the wound in a small amount of salt dissolved in water, the poison will come out on its own due to osmosis. Neutralizing the rest with Deugallianif is enough. But if left untreated, it’s fatal.”
As the medical team officer nodded, Southern Branch Deputy Commander Bruno spoke next.
“What is the other type?”
“The other one is ‘Dermokas.’ They are mammalian demon beasts that inhabit most of the peninsula, mainly living underground. They walk on four legs and have sharp claws, so they can dig tunnels quite quickly. They are relatively docile if you don’t bother them first, but once you bother them, they are more violent and troublesome than Sigals. Moreover, they live in groups, so their numbers are enormous. The areas where these guys appear are scattered in various places, so the exact location of the nest cannot be specified.”
“Are there any weaknesses?”
“The bulging part on their back. The wrinkles are crinkled, looking like a human brain. That’s their strength and weakness. They can send ultrasonic waves that can only be felt by their own kind through that brain part to communicate and convey their intentions even when they are far away. However, if that part breaks down, their movements completely stop.”
“……”
“You can kill them instantly by targeting that spot, but if you accidentally cut other parts, a green mucus with acidic components will come out and it will be dangerous, so it’s better to kill them instantly in one go.”
Bruno nodded, contemplating something about the characteristics of the difficult demon beasts. Leonardo looked around again with a sharp gaze and said to them as if firmly instructing them.
“The fact that these two entities roam around the active volcano area without any problems doesn’t mean they are resistant to magma.”
He tapped his temple with his finger and emphasized.
“It means they are intelligent. You can’t think of them the same way as other demon beasts. These guys can think. And they can also read human fear. Showing fear is the same as turning your back to them. Keep my words in mind.”
Some of the commanders swallowed hard at Leonardo’s serious face. Leonardo, after scanning them, soon relaxed his expression and said as if he had done his job.
“That’s all I know. I’ve never been beyond this middle point, so I don’t know.”
Leonardo’s words were over, but everyone seemed busy organizing what they had heard, so Hugo opened his mouth.
“You’ve heard it well. Each commander should quickly spread what you’ve heard to the unit you command and ensure that everyone understands it. The operational analysts should redistribute the troops based on this, and once the first operation plan is completed, we will resume the meeting again.”
“Yes, understood―.”
The commanders answered in unison at Hugo’s instructions. Hugo nodded lightly.
“Dismissed.”
“Dismissed―!”
Those who had gathered shouted dismissal and quickly dispersed. Leonardo sighed softly and swept his hair back as the humans who had been crowded around him disappeared.
Hugo stopped trying to pat Leonardo on the shoulder and instead spoke to him.
“Good job, Leonardo.”
At the unfamiliar words from him, Leonardo made that awkward expression again. Hugo thought quietly to himself.
‘He’s weak to praise.’
However, this time, Leonardo didn’t quickly smile like before, but opened his mouth with a troubled face.
“But…. Everything I said is from a few years ago, and the situation may have changed a lot now. And since I don’t know the Council’s troop structure well, there may be many impossible things to implement.”
“You don’t have to consider those parts. That’s the job of the operational aides.”
Even at Hugo’s words, Leonardo seemed worried about his own judgment. Seeing that, Hugo calmly asked Leonardo.
“Do you know who has the greatest decision-making power here right now?”
Leonardo answered as if he was asking something obvious.
“It’s you.”
“Yes. Everything you said will be carried out as an operational order after my final approval. Therefore, a thorough review will be conducted before approval, and if problems arise after execution, it is my responsibility, so you don’t have to worry. I’ll take all the responsibility.”
At those words, Leonardo quietly looked up at Hugo. He stared intently into Hugo’s eyes, then slowly nodded with the corners of his lips slightly raised.
“Well…. Do as you please.”
He said that, but Leonardo felt that the burden that had been lingering was clearly relieved.
As if he had noticed that feeling, Hugo wore a faint smile. Leonardo felt like his thoughts were being read by him again, so he slightly frowned and turned his head in the opposite direction.
At that moment, a majestic trumpet sound was heard from beyond the closed gate, and the sound of hooves grew closer and closer. Then, a member on the watchtower above the huge gate blew the Council’s trumpet and shouted loudly.
“It’s Hares’ royal guard! Open the gate!”
The members slowly began to open the gate, turning the large handles connected to the gate’s heavy iron doors. Through the slightly opened crack in the door, a tremendous number of cavalrymen could be seen rushing in, raising clouds of dust.
“It’s the royal guard of the Hares Marquess family.”
Hugo said, looking at the Hares family flag fluttering on the tips of the knights’ spears. The spirit of the red thoroughbred horse running dynamically in the center of the silver background rippled with the wind.
At that moment, Hugo felt the handcuffs on his left wrist being pulled slightly, so he turned to the side where Leonardo should be. But he was not next to him, but behind him.
Perhaps it was closer to hiding, so Hugo asked with a puzzled face.
“Why?”
“…I don’t really want to run into them.”
While Hugo was finding his incomprehensible words strange, the royal guard, having passed through the fully opened Gate 3, flooded into the Fidele territory inside the gate.
They must have been quite exhausted from crossing the vast Eldermilli border area, but they quickly dismounted and moved the injured first. And among them, the one wearing red armor and standing at the forefront dismounted from his ornate horse.
Bruno Amos, the deputy commander of the Southern Branch, went straight to him and pointed in the direction of Hugo, saying something. The helmeted man listened to Bruno’s words, nodded, and approached Hugo with the knights around him.
As Hugo turned his head towards them, the vanguard in red armor clenched his fist in his right hand, placed it on his left chest, bowed his head in silent tribute, raised it, and said to Hugo.
“Cordelia Hares, daughter of Marquess Arthur Hares, greets Duke Agrizendro. Glory to Laina Rogia.”
Hugo also nodded slightly in response.
“Glory to Laina Rogia.”
The one who called herself Cordelia Hares took off the red helmet she was wearing in front of Hugo. Then, silver, short, knife-cut hair flowed down, revealing the figure of a strong woman with red eyes. She tucked the helmet to her side and said to Hugo again.
“I didn’t expect Your Excellency to come in person.”
“Call me Legion Commander.”
“I will correct myself, Legion Commander.”
“I heard that Marquess Hares’ health has deteriorated, are you leading the royal guard yourself?”
At Hugo’s question, she made a bitter expression.
“Yes, that’s right. It seems that my father’s health has deteriorated a lot because he has been directly guarding the frontier and exposed to volcanic ash and harmful gases for a long time. So, I am currently managing the territory and the royal guard in his stead as his successor.”
“You’ve been doing a great job.”
“You flatter me.”
Cordelia, who was talking to Hugo, suddenly noticed the handcuffs on his left wrist. And as she followed the chain connected to it, she could see someone standing behind Hugo. Cordelia’s expression changed slightly in embarrassment.
“Excuse me…. Your Excellency, no, Legion Commander. Who is the person behind you?”
At her question, Hugo was momentarily lost in thought about how to explain this. Seeing Leonardo’s expression, he didn’t seem to want to run into her very much, so it was difficult to force an introduction.
However, it was also impolite not to tell her, the current manager and owner of the Fidele territory, about the existence of Leonardo Blaine.
As Hugo hesitated to answer, Leonardo, who had been hesitant at Cordelia’s question, walked out from behind him on his own and slowly stood next to Hugo.
His expression seemed a little embarrassed and mixed with various emotions, and Cordelia Hares, seeing him, said with a surprised face.
“Blaine?”
Hugo’s eyebrow twitched slightly at her action, which seemed to know Leonardo’s face. Leonardo made a slightly complicated and embarrassed face, then forced the corners of his mouth up to make a smile.
“It’s been a while, Major Hares.”