By Zephyria The thunder that echoed in the valley like a bolt from the blue made those leading the vanguard all turn around.
Hugo, who was standing at the very front, didn’t turn around, but he could tell that the guy had used some kind of big magic without even looking, thanks to the sensation of strong magic passing by.
He had heard Sigal’s roars several times, so he was a little worried about the rear, but that worry was put to shame, and it was clear that the guy who had been directly hit by the magic he had just felt wouldn’t have even been able to collect his bones. However, it seemed that it wasn’t his delusion that Leonardo’s magic control had felt unstable since a while ago because the scale was excessively large.
‘It’ll be a problem if it keeps being unstable.’
It wasn’t that he doubted Leonardo’s control ability, but as his magic was so vast and powerful, it was an issue that couldn’t be ignored for the sake of the overall safety, considering the worst-case scenario.
‘He won’t listen obediently if I try to put the handcuffs on him again.’
Hugo had various thoughts, but he had to clear the path in front of him first, so he spoke in a low voice to the company commanders of the vanguard, whose eyes were turned to the rear.
“Focus.”
At Hugo’s voice, they all turned their heads and stood at attention again. Among them, the battalion commander, Meterion, turned his head last and said to Hugo.
“It seems that big guys have approached, wouldn’t it be better for me to go to the rear?”
Hugo, who was watching the front, didn’t even look at Meterion’s face and replied as if he was talking nonsense.
“I don’t think there’s any need for that.”
“Agrizendro, why are you entrusting the rear to him?”
When Meterion asked directly, Hugo lowered his eyes for a moment and then slowly shifted his gaze to him.
“Since you and I are at the vanguard, I’m just balancing the rear in the same way.”
It was a calm tone as if there was no special meaning, but Meterion’s face was not convinced at all.
In fact, the company commanders who were gathered also had the same thought, but they tactfully didn’t bring up the story.
Hugo also had no intention of paying attention to each of the questions they had, so he didn’t explain any further and turned his eyes back to the bone mound that was piled up in front of him.
As they were almost close to the cave entering the 4th Peak, numerous human bones were found in a sunken pit visible in front of the commanders. They were all crumbling and broken, piled up like a tomb, and pieces of clothing and items they would have used in their lifetime were scattered together in pieces here and there.
In such a strange scene, the exploration personnel were currently conducting an investigation near the bone mound while wearing gloves and equipment. And one of them hurriedly approached Hugo and showed him a piece of bone, saying.
“Legion Commander, after examining the bone fragment, it seems to have been bleached white for quite some time. One peculiar thing is that there are traces of being scratched multiple times by something sharp.”
As Hugo extended his hand, the investigator promptly handed him the bone fragment he was holding. As he said, the bone fragment was covered in scratches, as if it had been scraped by something.
“Was it attacked?”
“That’s what we’re assuming.”
“Hmm….”
The surface of the bone fragment wasn’t very clean, and it was discolored as if dirt and impurities had dried onto it. Hugo muttered softly as he looked at it.
“It looks like the marks of a Sawtuth….”
Hearing his words, Meterion scoffed beside him.
“Why would a deep-sea fish like a Sawtuth be in the middle of the peninsula’s inland?”
It wasn’t exactly a pleasant tone, but his words were true, so Hugo didn’t particularly respond and simply stared at the bone fragment before handing it back to the investigator.
At that moment, two Council members, who were hastily flying in from the front while searching for something, discovered the vanguard of the Central Branch and immediately teleported over. They seemed quite hurried, as if a big problem had occurred.
Soon, one of them saluted Hugo and Meterion and reported.
“Loyalty, this is Warren Schneider, a messenger from the 12th Battalion of the Council’s Southern Branch. During operations from the 7th Peak to the 19th Peak in the eastern district of Eldermilli, some Drocks and Sigals deviated from their planned route and disappeared. Reporting this.”
“Drocks and Sigals?”
Hearing the messenger’s words, Hugo glanced back. After staring at the foggy back road for a moment, he turned his head back to the messenger and said.
“Tell them it’s taken care of.”
“Excuse me? Already… you mean?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, yes, I understand!”
The two messengers had puzzled expressions at Hugo’s words, who answered without even confirming, but they immediately saluted again and disappeared from sight via teleportation. Meterion watched Hugo with a displeased look.
“I don’t know what you’re trusting in to be so sure. You haven’t even known him for very long, and aren’t you putting too much faith in that guy and the magic he possesses? How can you be so sure that sound wasn’t an attack on our members?”
“…I don’t completely trust him either, but at least he’s not someone who would hurt the members.”
“That’s just what you think.”
“……”
Meterion continued to raise objections about Leonardo, and Hugo, as if tired, sighed and turned to look at him with cold eyes, asking.
“Meterion, what do you want to do?”
Then Meterion answered as if he had been waiting for it.
“Put me next to Leonardo Blaine. I’ll be there as a watchdog.”
Hugo frowned for a moment, looking at him, then asked back with a face that said he couldn’t understand.
“I don’t know why you’re going so far. Is there a reason why you have to be with Leonardo?”
At Hugo’s words, as if sensing something strange, Meterion paused for a moment before opening his mouth.
“I’m saying this because you’re being uncharacteristically soft on that guy. Even if you put him in handcuffs and keep him under your nose, it wouldn’t be enough. Do you think Dellua can properly control him if he starts rampaging now?”
“……”
“In my opinion, this situation just looks like you’re hoping he’ll stay put and leaving it to chance. I can’t accept this situation. So, I’m saying I’ll watch him.”
Hugo found Meterion’s words even more incomprehensible. At first glance, it seemed like he didn’t trust Leonardo, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he strangely wanted to stick by him. Even though he had no reason to.
The Meterion that Hugo knew was the heir to the Kleinder family, a noble faction with considerable power and a high regard for honor. He was the type to complete his assigned tasks neatly, but he wasn’t particularly keen on participating in missions to such remote areas.
Even when he briefly spoke with Loren before coming to the peninsula, Hugo felt that his willingness to volunteer for the peninsula was different from usual, but he still tried not to think too much about it.
But the Meterion before him now was strange enough, even after trying to dismiss those thoughts. He wasn’t usually like this, but he had been nitpicking at Leonardo about everything since earlier.
He didn’t know what he was thinking, but Hugo had no intention of listening to him any further. Therefore, Hugo decided to play a strong hand by bringing up a story he didn’t really want to talk about.
“Could you excuse us for a moment?”
The commander and investigators, who had been waiting nearby as quietly as mice, quickly raised their heads and looked at him at the commander’s voice. The commanders exchanged glances a few times, then immediately gave a light bow and hurriedly moved away from the two. Everyone already knew that the atmosphere wasn’t good, so their steps were faster than ever.
As they moved away to a certain distance, Hugo turned his eyes back to the front.
“Meterion, do you think Dellua can’t control him?”
At that, Meterion answered as if asking the obvious.
“Isn’t that what you know too? You wouldn’t say no, would you?”
At the blunt answer, Hugo blinked slowly once and opened his mouth.
“Yes. She’s a strong battalion commander, but if Leonardo really rampages, that situation might come. But if we assume that, there’s one thing I want to make clear.”
Hugo then stared coldly at Meterion with a sinking gaze.
“In my judgment, you can’t control him either.”
At that moment, a vein popped out on Meterion’s forehead. But Hugo continued to speak.
“Have you ever fought him with all your might? I’ve faced him in hand-to-hand combat for over half a day. So I can say it more confidently. Leonardo is not someone you can watch. So I hope you’ll quietly follow my judgment as a battalion commander and the commander of the legion.”
Invisible sparks flew from the two gazes that crossed in the air. The veins in Meterion’s neck, strained with force, gradually became clearer, but Hugo, who had no intention of being considerate of his pride, gave one last clear warning.
“I hope I don’t have to say this again.”
Hugo hoped that he wouldn’t have to compare his colleagues’ and Leonardo’s magic power in front of them. They were battalion commanders of the Council with more pride than anyone else, and they were strong people who didn’t get the reputation of being weak anywhere.
Nevertheless, the reason Hugo brought up this story to Meterion was that he hoped he would quietly follow his words, but also that Meterion Kleinder would not cause problems in this subjugation by lingering around Leonardo and unnecessarily provoking his temper.
Since he was the one who said he would take responsibility if problems arose, he had to cut off the seeds of discord in advance.
Meterion’s expression, after hearing Hugo’s words, became equally cold. But Hugo turned his gaze to the company commanders who were probably watching his every move, as if there was no more conversation to be had.
“We won’t depart again unless there’s meaningful investigation content.”