Bermuda

Hugo, who had been using teleportation multiple times while moving along the barrier line with Leonardo in his arms, had almost depleted his mana by the time he reached the base camp located in the northern plains area. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The prolonged battle with the mother body, controlling Leonardo's berserk state, and finally preventing the barrier's collapse by erecting an ice wall during their escape—it was a level that would have caused shock to an ordinary person. But thanks to his innate mana capacity and mental strength, he had been able to withstand those numerous trials.

However, even he was ultimately a human with limits.

Using teleportation consecutively in a situation where little mana remained was physically draining, consuming not only mana but also mental and physical strength. Moreover, he had been bringing someone along, so the consumption was easily more than double.

Because of this, Hugo's complexion upon appearing at the base camp was as poor as Leonardo's, whom he carried in his arms. The state of the two was so miserable that all the waiting commanders rushed over in surprise.

He urgently tried to show their condition to the medical team for treatment, but the problem was that there were far too many casualties in even more serious condition than the two of them.

There were those who had parts of their bodies amputated like Liner, and those hovering between life and death from excessive blood loss. Of course, Leonardo's physical condition was no less severe, but faced with insufficient medical personnel and the screams of the members, Hugo ultimately had to make a decision.

"Take care of the more urgent cases first. I will head to the temporary headquarters in front of the gate with Leonardo."

Afterward, Hugo took a stimulant that temporarily drew out mana, then opened a portal heading north using a magic tool, amidst everyone's attempts to dissuade him.

At the temporary headquarters for the peninsula subjugation operation, far more medical personnel were on standby than here. He planned to relay the situation here to them, deploy some personnel to the peninsula, and have the medical team examine Leonardo's condition in that safer place.

However, even the process of moving there wasn't smooth. Due to the peninsula's irregular terrain changes, they sometimes landed in unexpected places rather than the set coordinates, and unstable atmospheric conditions formed low pressure, bringing heavy rain.

Such difficulties pushed Hugo's mental strength, which had been barely holding out, to its limit, but Gray Scott, the Deputy Commander of the 12th Battalion, Cordelia Hareth, and Flynn—whom he fortunately met on the way—assisted him and accompanied him to the destination.

Thanks to this, Hugo succeeded in reaching the border area of the Elder Millie Peninsula around dawn, escorted by the knights. However, hordes of monsters trying to escape outside were gathered in front of the gate, and it took more time to deal with them and cross the defense line.

Even after barely entering the Fidele Territory, the medical team stationed at the temporary headquarters was busy caring for the injured pouring in from the long siege.

Hospital beds were woefully insufficient, and emergency patients were overflowing. In this desperate situation, Cordelia, acting as the proxy lord, made a suggestion to Hugo.

"Your Excellency, if we go a little further north from here, there's a residential complex created as temporary accommodation for the territory's residents in preparation for monster attacks. I will urgently summon doctors from within the territory there, so how about moving there with the lightly injured patients who can move? It's not far from here, and the environment should be better than this place."

The Council's medical personnel were already stretched thin, as if even having two bodies wouldn't be enough. If they could ease their burden and care for even one more injured person, there was no reason to refuse this proposal as the person in charge. Hugo immediately agreed.

"Please do, and hurry."

He headed toward the temporary accommodation said to be within the Fidele Territory, guided by Cordelia. The place they flew to for about five minutes after passing through the seventh portal that day was a vast open field where numerous cabins were spread out in a grid-like structure as far as the eye could see.

Cordelia guided Hugo to one of the larger cabins, slightly separated from the other dwellings. As soon as they entered, a knee-high deck installed along the edges caught their eye. Hugo carefully laid Leonardo down on it and quickly began to remove his clothes.

Both of their clothes were soaking wet from the rain they encountered on the way. As this was one of the major factors lowering body temperature, it was necessary to remove all the moisture touching Leonardo's skin.

However, the damp and twisted clothes clung tightly to the limp body. As they wouldn't come off {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} as easily as he wished, Hugo created a sharp ice spear and tore Leonardo's clothes.

His aura was so fierce in his extreme impatience that the doctors entering flinched and stepped back. Yet he took care not to let the ice blade touch Leonardo's skin, slipping his arm inside the clothes.

When he pushed aside the tattered mage robes on both sides and Leonardo's upper body was fully revealed,

Hugo, clutching the cloth pieces, and the doctors couldn't help but be shocked.

"What is this."

Leonardo's left shoulder down to his upper arm was stained dark. This form, which looked like congealed blood, was somewhat different from the red spots seen before. It was in such a horrible state that it made one suspect necrosis, and its color was so deep and area so wide that it completely covered the scar that was originally there.

At that moment, Hugo's expression hardened, and memories of the recent battle flashed through his mind. He recalled Leonardo being attacked on his left arm by the mother body and falling, and the moment of confrontation when he pushed back the mother body to keep himself from chasing after the distancing Leonardo.

Then the demon-like claws that had clashed with his sword, and the dark red blood flowing from their tips, flickered in his mind.

The turbid voice of the monster that had already vanished cackled and whispered before his eyes.

'He's already dying.'

Those words lingered in his ears repeatedly like a curse.

*****

The sun that had risen soon set on the other side. Deep darkness fell behind the receding sunset.

Perhaps because so much blood had been spilled, a red moon rose that night.

The occasional hooting of owls echoed through the bushes like a requiem.

The empty cabins were suddenly filled with Council members who had moved en masse. Faint groans and the smell of blood never ceased from each house, and muffled sobs occasionally leaked through the window gaps.

The gloomy night air weighed down on their shoulders even more heavily, as heavy as death itself. Except for the territory residents busily moving about to deliver medicines and food, there was no sign of life across the wide grounds where so many had gathered.

Meanwhile, the door of the temporary accommodation Hugo had entered opened carefully. Two medical officers and Flynn came out together from the place where warm orange light was leaking.

While seeing off those who had kept watch until late, Flynn was able to briefly hear about Leonardo's condition.

"As we mentioned inside, for the time being, we need to keep his body temperature up while constantly checking his pulse. His bodily functions have significantly decreased due to hypothermia, and even worse, the poison has spread for a long time, making his blood quite viscous."

The medical officer continued his explanation in a rather serious tone.

"When blood viscosity increases, circulation in the body slows down, reducing the oxygen supply to the brain. When this happens, the human body naturally stops physical activity, and as various metabolic processes decrease, it inevitably falls into a moribund state."

"...Yes."

"However, we've removed all the poison primarily, so we'll have to watch for improvement while expecting an immune response for the rest. ...Please keep in mind, absolute rest is necessary. This applies to the Commander as well, so you, Adjutant, need to pay more attention. If he continues to endure in that state... even the Commander could become critically ill."

"Yes, I understand."

Flynn, having received these earnest instructions, answered diligently despite his complicated expression. The medical officer recited once more the precautions, medications to be taken, and the cycle for changing bandages, then hurriedly moved to tend to other injured patients.

Flynn, watching their retreating figures, soon bowed his head with a deep sigh.

'Bleeding and internal injuries, full-body bruising, fractures. There's not a single uninjured spot. It's a miracle he's alive.'

The medical officer's words, which had sounded like a chilling sentence, kept echoing in his mind. For a moment, his lips twisted with a surge of emotion, but because all the members guarding the front of the accommodation were looking at him, Flynn struggled to hold back his tears and composed his expression.

Then, clearing his throat and adjusting his voice, he entered the cabin again, leaving words of encouragement to the members.

Creak—

The interior he entered after opening the door felt a bit stuffy. Not only was the atmosphere heavy, but the internal temperature was so hot that sweat beaded on his skin.

It was something unimaginable in places where the Commander usually stayed, but now inside, there was stagnant heat emitted by him along with all sorts of heating devices. As it was an environment for just one person, Flynn closed the door carefully so as not to make a sound.

"..."

He walked a few steps forward, but there was still no movement in Hugo's gaze. He, who always paid attention to his clothing, was now shirtless with bandages wrapped only around his abdomen, chest, and shoulders. Shadows fell on his bulky muscles each time his exposed arm moved slowly.

His navy-blue hair, which had always been neatly combed back, now covered his straight forehead. The blue eyes occasionally visible through it were sunken so coldly that their depth was unfathomable.

Those eyes, lowered and immersed in thought, were directed solely at the pale face lying as if dead.

In the middle of the deck installed to block the cold rising from the floor, there was a figure buried in thick bedding. The sight of him lying there without even the sound of breathing gave the impression of looking at a beautiful but lifeless statue.

Hugo's thick arm, which seemed tense with anger, eased the strength in his long fingertips. Then he slowly caressed Leonardo's smooth forehead, now disheveled, as if handling glass.

Watching this scene, Flynn somehow couldn't approach any closer. He had a strange feeling that he shouldn't be in this place right now.