By Zephyria The procession soon entered the cave that could be called the entrance to the Fourth Peak. It was the fourth peak in the center, but this one large peak had dozens of large and small peaks attached to it, so its scale was on a different level from the other peaks.
Inside the cave, minerals were embedded between the rocks and sparkled, and the humid air became stronger, but the air inside became quite cool.
Water dripped from the ceiling of the cave, creating stalactites and stalagmites like icicles. It was clearly a lava cave, but the appearance of limestone flowing down, which could only be seen in limestone caves, made the geological surveyors wonder.
When Hugo turned around, he saw that the members were quite tired because they had traveled the road at a relentlessly fast pace. In addition, the distance between the processions was also spaced apart. Thinking that it would be good to reorganize around this point, Hugo checked the watch on his wrist once and opened his mouth.
“Attention. Each unit will check and report the number of personnel by the commanders, then put down their luggage, and the investigators and explorers will immediately carry out their assigned tasks. The rest of the personnel will rest and complete the reorganization, and gather here again exactly thirty minutes from now.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Hugo’s command, the junior commanders flew to spread this news to the procession in the back. The members in the front smiled with joy at finally being alive, put down their luggage, and moved again in an orderly manner after the personnel check by the intermediate commander.
The investigators and explorers took various sample collection tools and scattered to their designated locations, and the escort personnel followed them. It wasn’t a complete rest, but it would be better than the endless march.
Hugo, who was looking around, immediately flew to the back to grasp the situation of the procession and check the rear personnel. However, the rear escort personnel had not yet arrived.
Since Leonardo was there, it seemed that even if it was a Sigal, it wouldn’t be an opponent to struggle against, but he was a little worried because it was taking longer than expected. And then, as if Hugo’s worries were unfounded, their voices were heard directly from the back of the cave and felt closer and closer.
“It’s really amazing, amazing. Did you see something that wasn’t even visible?”
“Battalion Commander, I know, so you have to go and report quickly!”
Dellua’s boisterous high-pitched voice echoed, followed by Marlene’s weak voice. There, the members of the 6th Battalion and Leonardo were flying at a fast pace.
They were talking as if they were quite happy, as if it was hard to believe that they had just dealt with the demon beast, and soon discovered Hugo’s figure and shut their mouths. Then, they quickly came down in front of him and stood in line.
However, Dellua, who was standing at the very front, still reported to Hugo with a bright smile.
“Loyalty, 6th Battalion Commander Dellua Rivera and 32 others. We have completed the rear guard duty and eliminated about fifty Drocks and nine Sigals. We are reporting this. Blaine blew them all away!”
Hugo glanced at Leonardo in the back, but the man who was the center of the topic was just looking around the inside of the cave and looking at the sparkling ore as if it was interesting.
Then, he suddenly turned his gaze to the front, made eye contact with Hugo, and then turned his head away with a nonchalant look, hiding his embarrassment. Seeing that, Hugo thought that he had done well to put Dellua with him.
The Leonardo that Hugo saw never did anything threatening to those who praised him or had goodwill. Also, Dellua’s cheerful personality would constantly talk to Leonardo, helping him to blend in with the members.
As a result, Hugo smiled faintly as his expectations seemed to have been met. He turned to Dellua and Marlene in front of him, as well as some of the escort personnel of the 6th Battalion and Leonardo, and said.
“Everyone did a great job. It must have been a tough opponent, but you fought well.”
Dellua answered with a bright smile at Hugo’s encouragement. However, the vice commander, Marlene, looked around and cautiously asked Hugo as she looked at the members who were scattered in the front and doing their own things.
“Um, Commander. Are we very late?”
“It’s not like that, so don’t worry. We’re currently exploring and reorganizing.”
At that time, Leonardo, who was looking elsewhere, turned his gaze to Hugo and said.
“Oh, then I’ll do my own exploration too.”
At the slightly abrupt words, Hugo raised one eyebrow slightly and looked at him, asking.
“…Personal exploration? What are you going to do?”
“There are a lot of minerals here that I’ve never seen before, so I’m going to take a few. It’s state-owned land, so I can’t usually come in here recklessly, but it’s okay to do that much while I’m exterminating demon beasts, right?”
Originally, when general mages or specific guilds were involved in the Council’s missions as a concept of service, it was the principle to pay 1.2 times the general mission performance amount. In Leonardo’s case, he had come on the condition of being released after resolving the problem in the imperial capital, so there was no payment of the amount.
However, from an ethical point of view, Hugo continued to be concerned about that point. So, after thinking about Leonardo’s words for a while, he thought it would be better to let him do what he wanted in this area, so he nodded lightly.
“Okay, I’ll allow that much. But you can’t do it alone.”
At Hugo’s words, Leonardo frowned slightly.
“Then?”
“I’ll go with you! Let’s go together, Blaine.”
Dellua smiled and approached Leonardo in a friendly manner. At that, Marlene glared at Dellua and opened her mouth.
“Battalion Commander, we have to manage and reorganize the battalion members too. You can’t.”
As Marlene firmly stopped her, Hugo also added as if agreeing.
“Vice Commander Diaz is right. Dellua, you have to take care of your battalion members.”
Dellua made a slightly disappointed expression, but soon accepted it and loosened her expression, answering.
“Okay. See you later, Blaine!”
She waved her hand at Leonardo with a smile, and then went ahead with Marlene and the members of the 6th Battalion to join the rest of the battalion members. Then, Leonardo, who was left alone with Hugo, asked Hugo with an ominous expression.
“You’re not going to be with me, are you?”
“Why, is there a reason why I can’t?”
“……”
As Leonardo’s expression became more distorted, Hugo chuckled as if that face was quite worth seeing.
“Unfortunately, I have a lot of work to do, so I don’t think I can accompany you. Instead, I’ll assign someone else.”
At the words ‘someone else,’ Leonardo was relieved as if it was a blessing in disguise. Hugo stared at him and pressed the button on the radio, saying.
“Flynn, come to the very back of the line.”
At that moment, Leonardo’s eyes widened and he asked him again.
“You’re telling that guy to watch me?”
“Yes.”
Hugo answered nonchalantly. Hugo felt that Flynn and Leonardo had some goodwill towards each other, so he was the most suitable person to be a watchdog, excluding himself.
Soon, Flynn, who was in the front, quickly flew to the two people at the very back of the line. Flynn paused for a moment when he saw Leonardo, but he didn’t show it much.
“Did you call me?”
As Flynn spoke to Hugo as if nothing was wrong, Hugo gently pushed him, who had come close, to Leonardo’s side.
“Keep a close watch on this guy.”
“…Yes?”
Flynn looked back and forth between Hugo and Leonardo and asked back in surprise. However, Hugo didn’t care about Flynn’s reaction and said to Leonardo.
“Flynn will be by your side to watch whether you’re doing anything that could cause problems or going too far. I’ll delegate the control over you to him, so move under Flynn’s control. If you keep this well, I’ll allow you to do some mining.”
It wasn’t a pleasant thing to have someone watching him, but Leonardo nodded as if he would follow since he could achieve his intended purpose.
As he agreed, Flynn looked at Hugo with a confused face that said, ‘Commander, what about my opinion?’ But the superior he had trusted just patted him lightly on the shoulder.
“Go together.”
Flynn opened his mouth as if he had a lot to say. Then, he glanced at Leonardo, who was looking at him indifferently with his arms crossed, and then gave up and answered Hugo.
“…I understand.”