Bermuda

As soon as the cabin door closed, Flynn's face, as he hurriedly entered, contorted. Flustered, he immediately felt his face, but the unpleasant mana permeating the interior made it difficult to maintain a uniform appearance.

"Damn..."

In the end, instead of composing his eyes that had turned red, he took out a heavy stone from his artifact and wedged it tight against the door. He had picked it up casually from the nearby forest just in case, and it seemed he had done well to bring it. If someone suddenly tried to open the door and enter, this would block the entrance for a moment, buying time.

'An ice user daring to imitate fire? You've just raised the temperature. You'll suffocate to death.'

Afterward, he shuddered at the Commander's mana that had spread inadequate heat, then stuck a piece of paper with red writing on a black background near the entrance.

The wooden house wasn't very soundproof, so it was necessary to keep the sounds inside from leaking out. Still, it was fortunate that even if sounds carried well, that bastard wouldn't be able to do anything foolish(?) to the Captain.

After completing the basic setup for any contingency, he looked around once before removing the hood attached to his cloak. Then he strode towards the bed at the edge where white bedding was suspiciously piled up. On the way, he turned to look at the door once more, clicking his tongue.

"This is why I can't trust those Council bastards. They're too careless."

Because of the large difference in build between himself and the person he was impersonating, he had been nervous about being caught even while covering his body with a cloak and hunching over. But this time, perhaps because he had borrowed the face of the Commander's adjutant, they just glanced at him once and let him pass without stopping him. What if it had been someone else who entered instead of him? It was laughable, but also chilling.

Shaking his head, Nero climbed onto the bed, placing his knees and hands on it. In that position, with only his feet lifted, he crawled towards the thickly laid bedding.

As he stretched his neck and looked down at the figure wrapped within, a sigh of relief escaped involuntarily, perhaps as the tension finally released.

The clear face, looking more comfortable now, had its eyes closed under the orange light. It looked as if he were in deep sleep, instantly relaxing Nero's tense expression.

"Hah... really, stop making me worry."

When he had collapsed in his arms, soaking wet, he had truly looked like a drowned corpse, but now his complexion had improved and his face looked cleaner, at least appearing human. He still looked a bit sick, but... he definitely seemed better than before.

Nero, examining Leonardo with emotional eyes, placed his hand on his cheek without hesitation.

As he muttered incantations and gathered mana in his palm, a cozy flame slowly enveloped Leonardo's face. It was a warm heat that only a true fire mage could create—something that an ice user, no matter how much of an all-rounder, couldn't dare imitate.

That energy caressed between the golden strands of hair, then slowly descended towards the bedding covering Leonardo's body.

However, for some reason, the heat that was about to spread into the bedding was pushed back all at once, as if blocked by something. Sensing something strange, Nero tilted his head and slightly lifted the bedding covering the Captain's body.

And at that moment, a short expletive escaped Nero's mouth at the sight before him.

"What the—"

He quickly closed his mouth, trying to restrain himself from cursing in front of the Captain. But seeing the clothes draped over his body, he simply couldn't hold back.

"No, what is this? Of all the clothes, why this..."

The clothes Leonardo had originally been wearing were mage robes that had long since lost their original color, covered in dust and blood. Even when he had last seen them, they were already like rags, so he had expected the Council bastards to change his clothes during the treatment process.

But he couldn't have imagined they would dress him in the Commander's battle uniform. Moreover, when he undid a couple of buttons near the neck, the thermal jacket worn underneath, the cotton inner layer beneath that, and the navy-blue handkerchief tied around his neck—everything belonged to the Commander.

Furthermore, the vast mana that he hadn't noticed when it was covered by the bedding spread thickly all around, as if marking territory. The interior was already so full of that person's mana that it was suffocating, and when an even stronger energy hit his face, Nero reflexively grimaced.

Even the black hair he had been maintaining with illusion magic instantly turned red as it clashed with the opposing energy. His face also flushed to match, and Nero, panting heavily, was overwhelmed with the urge to tear off all the clothes Leonardo was wearing.

However, if he carelessly meddled, someone might notice that he had been here. Because of this, he tried to calm himself with deep breaths, but a thought he couldn't shake off invaded Nero's mind.

"..."

'No, it can't be. ...Surely not.'

After pondering for a moment, he grasped the edge of the bedding. Then he pulled it back completely, down past Leonardo's thighs. Afterward, without hesitation, he undid the buckle of the Captain's pants and was about to pull them down slightly by the waistband.

It was a bit of a perverse idea, but he felt he would go crazy if he didn't confirm that at least the underwear was still the same. Even when changing the clothes of an unconscious person without any intention, there were places one shouldn't touch.

But if someone who wasn't even as close as family, like himself, had invaded that far... that would truly be crossing a line.

Nero wasn't exactly sure what he was thinking himself, but he tried to justify it with various reasons as he attempted to check the situation inside Leonardo's pants.

Just as he had made up his mind and was about to pull them down just a little, the sound of multiple people murmuring outside was suddenly heard.

'...so, ...Commander...'

'Hareth... this way...'

They seemed to be conversing nearby, as the perceived distance was quite close. Moreover, they appeared to be drawing even closer from there. Nero froze, his nerves on edge, and stopped ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ his hand mid-motion.

Rolling his eyes as if caught doing something bad, he focused on the presence outside, even holding his breath.

It seemed the number of people had suddenly increased, as if passing members had stopped in front of the accommodation. The footsteps of several people heightened the tension in front of the door, then quickly moved away again.

Nero remained motionless for about thirty seconds, barely breathing. Only after confirming that no voices returned for a long while did he let out a small sigh and move his hand again.

But instead of trying to remove the Captain's lower garments as before, he fastened the buckle back and tidied up his clothes. He had realized that this was not the time to be leisurely checking clothes.

'Even if the real adjutant just loitered in front of this place, I'd be caught. What am I doing right now?'

Nero irritably scratched the back of his head, then rummaged through his inner pocket and took out two rings. One was the Armsilver ring he had given to the Captain before, and the other was a concealment-type artifact in the form of a ring.

Nero pushed the Armsilver ring into the concealment-type artifact, then placed the ring that had returned to its original form inside the clothes the Captain was wearing. He had cast a spell on it, so even if someone discovered it, they wouldn't be able to open it easily. However, thinking that putting a resistance spell might increase suspicion, this time he made it so there would be no particular reaction even if someone else touched it.

Originally, he had promised the Captain that he would leave without looking back after defeating the monster, but he had things to take care of related to Felix Montero, and he had to observe the situation before returning, so a lot of time had passed. Of course, the biggest reason he hadn't left yet was because of the person in front of him.

The fact that someone stronger than anyone else sometimes looked so fragile he might break, and that he had to leave such a person behind, kept holding Nero back. However, those suspicious of his identity were gradually increasing. Leaving this place as soon as possible was best for both himself and the Captain.

"The situation isn't good on either side, so I think I need to go first. I'll come back for the ring later. We'll be able to meet again soon, right? ...Promise me you'll be healthy by then."

Nero muttered these words to himself, hooking his pinky finger with Leonardo's limp hand. Then he grasped his hand, fidgeting with it with a face that didn't want to let go. He bit his lip hard in the process.

'I wanted to see him wake up before leaving.'

But he couldn't stay here any longer. He didn't have enough time left to wait for the Captain's recovery. Nero deeply regretted this situation, but he steeled his heart, telling himself he had to leave for the sake of the Captain and his comrades.

Finally, after letting go of Leonardo's hand, Nero neatly arranged the disheveled bedding. Then he checked whether any footprints were left on the bed and pushed all the obstacles he had set up on the way in back into his artifact.

After standing at the door and looking back at Leonardo one last time, he put on Flynn's face again.

However, the Commander's mana still interfered with maintaining the illusion magic. If this continued outside, it would be a big problem, so he scanned the walls and ceiling for another escape route in case of emergency.

Just then, his eyes, still unable to hide their red tinge, accidentally found a window up high. But at that moment, Nero's expression couldn't help but freeze.

A blue bird with plump feathers was staring at him intently without blinking an eye.

A chill ran down Nero's spine. Just as he was thinking, 'What's that? Is it alive?'

The canary, sensing the strange current, tilted its head and made a small sound.

Pii?