Bermuda

"It's because the risk is high. The opinion itself wasn't bad. So don't be too discouraged."

"When did I say I was discouraged? I get it, so stop."

Leonardo, who had returned to the bonfire after the meeting, chewed on an energy bar and replied half-heartedly. Hugo examined his expression and unwrapped another energy bar, holding it out to him.

Leonardo's opinion of using the volcano was certainly innovative enough to guarantee effectiveness in annihilating the monsters, but it was excessively so. Due to various problems such as volcanic gases, volcanic ash, and additional aftershocks, the negative reactions were overwhelming. Naturally.

Meanwhile, Delua, who had supported his opinion, argued that a sturdy barrier could block all of that, and since the peninsula protrudes to the south and the wind generally blows from the northeast to the southwest, blowing up a small-scale volcano could minimize the damage from volcanic ash.

However, another commander who mainly dealt with earth attributes shook his head, saying that for a volcano to erupt, strong pressure must be generated underground to push out the magma, and it was nearly impossible to artificially generate such pressure in the first place.

In the end, that method was pushed all the way to the very bottom of the priority list as Plan 5, with the probability of execution being close to zero.

Still, the opinions Leonardo had presented before that were actually recognized by many as greatly influencing the direction ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) of the subjugation force's operational planning, and Hugo kept mentioning that point, trying to boost his morale in his own way, but Leonardo himself didn't seem to have much reaction to it.

Leonardo, who had been recalling the meeting scene and taking a sip of water, grasped the energy bar Hugo had handed him and finished peeling off the wrapper. Then, he suddenly asked Hugo with a rare look of sympathy.

"Aren't you frustrated?"

"...About what?"

"I'm asking if you're not frustrated about having such meetings every day."

Hugo, who had been expressing puzzlement, soon chuckled and answered.

"It's a daily routine."

At the answer that sounded as if he was frustrated but used to it, Leonardo shook his head back and forth.

"It must be tiring."

Eventually, leaning diagonally behind the chair, he stared at the crater flickering red and blue in the distance, still not over his disappointment, and bit into the chocolate bar. The sight of him blankly chewing was so different from the guy who had spoken at the meeting that Hugo kept staring at him, a faint smile still on his face.

The chair Leonardo was sitting on had its two legs repeatedly lifting off and reattaching to the ground as he pushed the dirt floor with his feet. It wasn't even a rocking chair, but it slowly and precariously tilted back and forth.

That slow and steady movement made Hugo sink into a certain train of thought as he watched.

What immediately came to mind was the ambition he had felt during the meeting.

Similar to when his old mentor, Abraham Langaster, had told him that he was "ambitious," that ambition made him seriously think about what the outcome would be at the end of this subjugation.

If his feelings toward Leonardo before entering this place were close to sympathy, now they were a bit different.

It was a waste, and he was ambitious. The gold in the sieve. However, knowing that wishing for a different ending was his own other ambition, Hugo just blankly stared at the gold that was leisurely rippling before his eyes.

Feeling that gaze, Leonardo suddenly turned his head. Even after their eyes met, Hugo, who had been silent for a while, slowly opened his mouth.

"Leo-."

"Leonardo Blaine."

However, it was someone else's voice that called his full name. At that, Hugo, who couldn't finish saying the name, and Leonardo, who had been looking at him, simultaneously turned their heads in the direction of the voice. There stood Liner Molten, the 9th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch, and his deputy commander, Charlotte.

Leonardo, who had been tilting the chair, momentarily flinched at the sight of them approaching so close. As a result, the chair almost fell backward, but fortunately, he didn't end up falling thanks to Hugo quickly grabbing it. Instead, Liner apologized with a flustered face.

"Looks like I startled you. Sorry about that."

Leonardo, who had hurriedly grabbed the armrest, looked up at Liner with slightly surprised, wide eyes, then turned his head to Hugo, who had straightened the chair. At that, Hugo shook his head as if to say it was dangerous and not to do it anymore, and asked Liner instead.

"What's the matter?"

"Ah, well. We came to deliver this."

In Liner's hand was a well-folded black cloth, and Hugo and Leonardo could tell what it was at a glance. Liner held it out to Leonardo and said,

"This is... your cloak, I heard. At first, it had a bit of dirt on it, but there's a guy in our battalion who's incredibly good at using cleaning magic. I asked that guy and even had it laundered—"

Charlotte strongly jabbed Liner's side with her elbow as his unnecessary words grew longer. Swallowing a pained groan because of that, Liner glared at Charlotte once with a frown.

However, he soon realized his mistake and turned his head back to Leonardo. Then, as if nothing had happened, he continued speaking with a slightly embarrassed look.

"Hmm, anyway... It's clean enough to wear right away. Please accept it."

Liner politely held out the cloak with both hands. It was a level of courtesy Leonardo had never experienced since coming here, so he also received it with both hands in a daze.

The cloak's texture, felt immediately, was even fluffier than before, and there was no trace of stains or the smell of blood. Being as clean as new, it gave the feeling that they had really put effort into it.

Leonardo, who had been fiddling with the cloak, raised his head again. Liner, whose eyes met his, became very embarrassed and abruptly held out his hand, saying,

"Thank you."

There was a lot implied, but it was all conveyed in that one word.

Leonardo looked at the hand that had approached him in a daze, but thinking it would be rude not to respond to the person who had directly brought the cloak, he grasped the hand and expressed his gratitude as well.

"...Oh, thank you too."

When he grasped the rough and coarse hand, he felt his mana. It was very solid and at the same time fierce, like fire, and it was clear and clean. It was as if Liner's spirit were projected, making it possible to roughly know what kind of person he was.

Liner seemed to be feeling a similar energy, and what flashed across his face in an instant was admiration. As if in disbelief, Liner held Leonardo's hand for a while and didn't let go. Although he knew it wasn't with impure intentions, Hugo, who had been watching, let out a small fake cough.

At that sound, Liner, realizing that it had gone on too long for a handshake, immediately let go. Then, with a face of pure admiration, he said to Leonardo,

"I only heard about it, but you're indeed amazing."

It felt somewhat embarrassing to be told he was amazing just from a handshake, but Leonardo didn't show it.

Eventually, as if he had really only come to deliver the cloak, Liner, who had finished all his business, briefly bowed his head to Hugo as if to take his leave. Then, saying, "I'll be going now," he lightly greeted Leonardo with his eyes.

Before long, he quickly moved away with Charlotte, who had come with him. Then, at one point, he suddenly stopped and turned back to Leonardo, smiling and saying,

"Ah, I think your opinion wasn't bad. It was very exciting and nice."

With Charlotte's voice telling him to stop saying unnecessary things, the two disappeared from sight.

*****

Almost two days were spent on installing the barrier stones and adjusting the positions of the troops. On the third day of operation planning, they now had 98% of the elements for the execution of the operation in place.

Leonardo, who had been eating while looking at the dim sky before dawn, cleanly emptied his plate more than ever and got up from his seat.

Finally, today was the day to enter the queen's den.

Having slept enough and with a full stomach, he lightly stretched his body and looked around, then suddenly looked up at the rocky hill where he had sat with Hugo a few days ago.

As he looked upward, a branch that had risen precariously between the cracks of the rocks caught his eye, and as he stared at it quietly, he abruptly turned his head to Flynn beside him and said,

"I'll go there alone for a bit."

At his words, Flynn, who had been eating, lifted his head with a start. Leonardo, with a nonchalant face, met Flynn's eyes and tilted his chin toward the rocky hill behind them.

"Alone? Where? Wait a minute, I'll go with you."

Seeing him looking as if he would leave right away, Flynn hurriedly put down his tableware and stood up. It wasn't that he didn't trust him now, but out of habit, he felt like he shouldn't let Leonardo go alone.

However, looking at Flynn getting ready to go, Leonardo scratched his cheek. Soon, he expressed disapproval and said,

"I'm in a hurry. You want to go together?"

"...Oh."

Flynn, who understood his meaning, stopped right there. Then, sitting back down, he waved his hand, telling him to come back quickly.

Seeing him, Leonardo chuckled and lightly moved his steps. He even waved his hand behind him, saying he would be back soon.