By Zephyria “I will help.”
At Leonardo’s voice, Cordelia raised her head and looked at him. Hugo was the same.
Leonardo took a step closer to her and strongly placed his clenched right hand on his left chest as if swearing. Then, he clearly vowed with eyes shining like lightning.
“I will eradicate the demon beasts of Eldermilli.”
The last time Leonardo and Cordelia met was about five years ago. At that time, Leonardo was not yet an adult, but he was already affiliated with Dark Silver, performing various confidential missions, and going to rough battlefields to make a name for himself as a war hero.
He didn’t want to face his former superior, whom he had last encountered during his brilliant period, in such a miserable state now. It was uncomfortable, embarrassing, and painful.
However, Cordelia also left the army before Leonardo was kicked out of the military, feeling disgusted with the military system, and gave up her position as a military officer, which could have allowed her to pursue not only honor but also entry into politics.
Knowing that fact, Leonardo could feel as soon as he faced her that she didn’t know the inside story of his dishonorable discharge, but that she knew that his judgment was not at fault, and that she knew what kind of person he was.
He wanted to live up to the belief that she confidently voiced that he was not a dangerous person, and when he saw her struggling in an invisible place as much as he was, he felt like he wanted to help her.
Cordelia seemed moved by Leonardo’s words that he would help, but she soon tried to hide her feelings and said as if she didn’t want to burden him.
“Thank you, Blaine. But you don’t have to overdo it. You’ve already done too much—”
“Don’t you know it well, Major?”
Leonardo cut off her words, which were trying to dissuade him. Instead, he slightly raised his chin and replied with that unique confident smile, raising the corners of his mouth.
“I’m the best at catching demon beasts in this empire. Isn’t it my specialty?”
Leonardo had the same brightly smiling face as before, with no trace of the embarrassment from earlier. Cordelia couldn’t speak, as if she was seeing his last appearance from that brilliant time again.
She bit her slightly parted lips, which were mixed with many emotions, and then laughed, making a sound of air escaping.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Leonardo smiled with satisfaction at her face, which had become much more relaxed. He then turned his head towards Hugo.
Hugo, who had been quietly watching the two people who seemed quite affectionate, raised an eyebrow when the lively golden eyes turned to him. Leonardo opened his mouth.
“Paren gained independence from Turandoss with the help of Laina Rogia. And he participated in the battles with Turandoss every time as a support army for Laina Rogia.”
Hugo listened to his story without saying a word.
“Even if they are in the territory, they are by no means people who will harm the empire. I know that best because I fought with them on the same battlefield. So this time, let’s pretend to receive their help and ignore the fact that they are inside the territory. In the first place, it is the empire’s fault for not dealing with the demon beasts in time that they spread to that place.”
‘The empire’s fault’. His words were correct. The Council and the Imperial Army kept putting it off, and that’s how the situation got to this point.
However, Cordelia was quite surprised by Leonardo’s words and actions, which were speaking informally to Hugo, and looked at the atmosphere between the two with a slightly troubled face. Then, she gently grabbed Leonardo’s arm and restrained him in a worried tone.
“Blaine, that’s rude. You must be polite to Your Excellency.”
“Your Excellency is generous and will forgive me even if I act a little rudely.”
Having said that, Leonardo smiled at Hugo.
“Isn’t that right, Your Excellency?”
At that, Hugo’s brow furrowed. The guy, who never used to do that, was using honorifics that had no respect for him, so he looked even more arrogant. And strangely, it would always be honorifics that he heard from others, but when he used them, he felt a strange sense of distance, so it didn’t sound good.
Hugo said to Leonardo with a very displeased face.
“Stop using those ridiculous honorifics and do as you used to.”
“See?”
Leonardo was still smiling, but Cordelia looked slightly nervous at Hugo’s face, which seemed to be uncomfortable.
Hugo briefly turned his gaze to the distant sky before taking out the key to the handcuffs from his pocket. He then grabbed Leonardo’s right wrist, the one connected to him.
As Leonardo looked up at him questioningly, Hugo glanced into his eyes once before unlocking the handcuffs on his wrist.
Having something on his wrist ever since he was captured by Hugo, Leonardo rubbed his wrist repeatedly, seemingly with a fresh sense of freedom now that both his hands were free. The heavy metal was gone, and his arms felt incredibly light.
Leonardo watched Hugo unlock the handcuffs on his left wrist and asked, as if curious about his intentions.
“Why are you letting me go? Did you suddenly develop faith in me or something?”
Hugo, holding the handcuffs in his hand, sighed softly and said.
“You’re smart, and more than that, you’re cunning. I think you know well enough what actions are beneficial and what are detrimental.”
At his words, Leonardo chuckled and replied with a slight sarcasm.
“Oh, is that so?”
Hugo quietly observed him, this arrogant, insolent, and self-willed man who used to be a soldier and found honorifics foreign, and thought.
‘He said saving the Imperial citizens wasn’t his duty, yet when their stories come up, he acts as if he feels obligated. And if I bring it up, he’ll get angry again.’
Hugo closed his eyes slightly and shook his head.
‘A contradictory fellow.’
But he soon looked down at the handcuffs in his hand and mocked himself.
‘Am I not just as contradictory for releasing such a fellow…’
Cordelia had been watching Hugo’s mood the whole time, quietly holding back her words. Then, Hugo turned his gaze to her and said.
“Since the Empire has received help, I will let it pass for now. But after this subjugation is over, a report will inevitably be filed. So, you must be prepared for some degree of reprimand.”
Hearing those words, Cordelia stared at him blankly for a moment before replying with a bright expression.
“Your Excellency, thank you.”
And Hugo turned his gaze back to Leonardo.
“You asked if I have faith in you? Yes. Releasing you means I’m willing to trust you a little.”
At Hugo’s words about trusting him, Leonardo looked at him as if he couldn’t believe it. Hugo, meeting his confused gaze, continued.
“So, while I’m trusting you, I have a favor to ask.”
Leonardo asked, puzzled.
“What is it?”
“When we enter the peninsula, I, as the commander, must be at the forefront. So, I’m entrusting the rear to you. One of our battalion commanders will be with you, but together with him, take charge of the rear and protect the members in case of any unforeseen circumstances.”
Leonardo was speechless at the series of unexpected words.
If he had a change of heart here and ran away alone, he could pass through the gate and disappear again.
But this Supreme Commander of the Council, who had fought him fiercely with swords until recently and had kept him imprisoned, was entrusting the rear to him. He couldn’t understand what he was trusting in.
The man before him was by no means soft, yet he felt soft in these strange aspects.
However, Leonardo could clearly judge what was beneficial and what was detrimental, as he had said, and he had no intention of running away from this place, having promised Cordelia Hares to help. If he could finish this well, he could help her and the Imperial citizens who were suffering, and he could escape the Council’s surveillance forever.
Leonardo decided to choose what was beneficial and gazed intently at the Supreme Commander of the Council, who said he would trust him a little.
Soon, he raised the corners of his lips, nodded lightly to indicate that he would follow Hugo’s words, and replied.
“Roger.”
At his concise and clean answer, a satisfied smile spread across Hugo’s face.