Bermuda

Hugo walked through the forest at a leisurely pace, conversing with the 8th Platoon Leader. He needed to confirm that the annoying fire energy had completely disappeared beyond the gate, and he needed to observe the atmosphere of the forest—and his subordinate beside him—a bit more.

When Hugo asked if she had come alone, the 8th Platoon Leader answered that she had. Then, reading the atmosphere, she added that there were squad members who had been following her, but they seemed to have fallen behind midway, unable to keep up with the pace.

Hugo nodded lightly while gazing at the darkness between the undergrowth.

Ever since he’d been having a secret conversation with Cordelia inside the watchtower earlier, he had vaguely felt that someone was on high alert toward him.

It was clear that ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) only she had been in this vicinity. However, it wasn’t certain whether there had been only one pair of listening ears.

The two walked together for about 10 minutes before returning to the gathering point at the cabin via teleportation. The anxiously waiting 1st Battalion members rushed over upon seeing the Commander and Platoon Leader. They seemed curious about where the two had been, but Hugo gestured slightly to the 8th Platoon Leader and asked the members about “his” condition first.

“How is Leonardo?”

“There’s been no particular change since you checked on him and left, Commander. The medical officer also said it would be a stretch to say he had woken up, and that the slight movement was just an unconscious neural response...”

The expression on Hugo’s face as he listened wasn’t very good, so the member reporting the situation trailed off. Hugo lowered his eyes with a low sigh, then waved his hand as if to say he understood—and that they should go rest now.

The 8th Platoon Leader bowed her head and led her subordinates away. Hugo opened the cabin door with a bang, receiving salutes from the members on guard duty. The medical officer who was just coming out was startled and paused, but immediately relayed a diagnosis almost identical to what Hugo had just heard from the member. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Hugo left a single word—“Good work”—and strode toward the deck where Leonardo was. Flynn, who had been keeping watch by his side, hurriedly stood up and made way, as if to say he should sit.

“They say there are occasional cases where facial muscles move as the nervous system paralysis wears off. It seems to be a temporary reaction occurring during the detoxification process. I don’t think he’s regained consciousness.”

Flynn briefly relayed the diagnosis he had heard from the officer to his superior again. Hugo listened to Flynn’s words attentively as he sat down in front of Leonardo. Then he rubbed above the closed eyelids to check for pupil response, and gently pressed the neck area and wrist to count the pulse frequency.

‘It’s the same.’

Before chasing after that fellow who had been caught fighting with his divine beast, Hugo had hurriedly returned to the cabin and checked Leonardo’s condition first. But unlike his divine beast’s report that he seemed to have woken up, Leonardo showed little difference from when Hugo had kissed him and gone outside.

After ordering Flynn and the medical officer to keep watch by his side, he had briefly left his post to drive the uninvited guest out of the territory. And now, returning to check his condition again, Leonardo was still deeply asleep with his eyes closed.

It was disappointing, but expected. Hugo withdrew his hand after brushing Leonardo’s hair once. Flynn, who had returned after firmly closing the door the medical officer had left through, cautiously asked Hugo, whose expression looked dark.

“Um, Commander... Did something happen?”

Having observed the Commander’s demeanor, Flynn guessed he wouldn’t have left his post for no reason after looking for him. When he had asked the 1st Battalion members, they too seemed not to know the reason. They only reported that he had seemed to be in a hurry somehow right after speaking privately with Lady Hareth.

Hugo pondered for a moment about how much he should tell. Then, remembering what he had instructed Flynn to do, he decided to ask about that first.

“Flynn, did you check on the 3rd Battalion?”

“Ah, yes. The 3rd Battalion Commander has also completed his return, and I confirmed him entering the temporary barracks earlier.”

“No, I don’t mean the 3rd Battalion Commander...”

Hugo paused for a moment as he spoke. The reason he had told Flynn earlier to check on the 3rd Battalion’s return was to observe the movements of ‘that fellow’ who had been obsessed with Leonardo, as he belonged to the 3rd Battalion, and to clarify their relationship. But now that it was certain the fellow was an Armsilver member who could change his face, he had asked again to confirm whether the person named Felix Montero was really safe.

However, Flynn seemed to have understood that instruction as meaning to check on the ‘3rd Battalion Commander’, and as soon as Hugo heard that answer, he recalled Meterion, who had been with Leonardo when he collapsed.

He didn’t expect him to remember every characteristic of each of his subordinates. But as a battalion commander of the Council—and as a member of the noble group—his keen eye for detail couldn’t be ignored.

‘If he noticed even the slightest oddity?’

Hugo knew that Meterion strangely hovered around Leonardo. He also knew that he occasionally focused his attention on Leonardo. If so, ‘that fellow’ who was obsessed with Leonardo might have also caught Meterion’s eye—especially since he had disguised himself as a member of the battalion he led.

If he had aroused even a shred of suspicion in the process... Hugo didn’t want to think about the consequences that might arise.

Hugo ran his hand through his hair with a troubled expression as he organized his thoughts. Although many thoughts were coming to mind, it seemed better to deal with the immediate certainties first.

“Flynn, go out right now and confirm the survival of a person named ‘Felix Montero’ from the 3rd Battalion. Try not to mention the name to others; just quietly check on his condition.”

Flynn found the Commander’s order strange but didn’t ask for the reason.

“Yes, understood. I suppose... it’s better not to catch the 3rd Battalion Commander’s eye?”

“Right. I’ll explain the details when you return.”

“Yes, I’ll be back shortly.”

Flynn, sensing that something was happening, left a brief greeting and hurried outside. As the door opened and closed firmly once more, Hugo, who had been staring in that direction, turned back to Leonardo.

The sudden flood of numerous facts was enough to confuse Hugo’s mind. The approach of the Imperial Knights, the existence of the petition, and the appearance of Armsilver. They threw stones one after another into the lake of his inner self that had just been about to calm down.

The spray bursting before his eyes and the countless bubbles filled the space between Leonardo and himself, just like a short while ago.

His shadowed blue eyes gazed at the golden eyelashes within. Then suddenly, his gaze shifted to the handkerchief he had tied around Leonardo’s neck. Naturally, he reached out and carefully pulled at the end of the knot. The lightly tied silk handkerchief slowly unraveled under Hugo’s touch.

Although not clearly visible due to the bandages, the outline of the choker that always adorned Leonardo’s neck stood out.

Moreover, he was reminded once again of the words Leonardo had spoken that night, drenched in moonlight, amid the flowing cigarette smoke.

‘The military can’t put things like this on me.’

“...”

At the time, he had vaguely wondered about its true nature, but now he had mixed feelings of both wanting to know and not wanting to know. It was because he wasn’t sure what decision he would make when he faced that reality himself.

Hugo rolled his eyes and gazed down intently at Leonardo’s face. Staring piercingly with blue eyes that were neither cold nor warm, he muttered:

“What should I do with you?”

His low voice, sounding like a soliloquy yet not quite, echoed through the silence. His serious voice, mixed with a sigh, fell heavily onto the bedding covering Leonardo.

Hugo, blinking slowly and sinking into thought, suddenly turned his head toward the ticking sound brushing his ear. As if drawn, he stood up and approached the side table nearby. His watch and various personal belongings he had entrusted to Flynn were neatly arranged on it.

Hugo quietly looked down at the wristwatch, estimating the current time in the imperial capital. Then he shifted his gaze to the communication magic tool placed beside it. Having left the peninsula and entered inhabited territory, although the signal would be weak, mana waves should be able to pass through.

Having finished his thoughts, he picked up the communication magic tool and fiddled with it with one hand. After a short wait, someone’s voice flowed from beyond the device.

‘Yes, Commander.’

Hearing his adjutant’s response, Hugo stared quietly at the device for a few seconds. Then, glancing at Leonardo, he stated his business to the person he had contacted.

“Gabe, I have something to ask of you.”

*****

Felix Montero, whom Flynn had gone to check on, had just been moved to Fidele Territory along with other injured people after being at the base camp adjacent to the barrier in the southern area of the peninsula.

He was lying down, looking strangely fine among patients with injuries big and small. Although he was dirty, with dried mud caked all over, his condition was much better than the injured who were soaked in blood or had flesh torn off.

Seeing him even turn onto his side while scratching his arm midway, Flynn wondered why the Commander had told him to check on this person among so many others.

But soon after, as the 3rd Battalion’s commanders entered the tent where the injured were gathered, Flynn quickly slipped outside, pretending to simply check the headcount while avoiding their eyes.

As soon as day broke, Hugo summoned all the senior commanders deployed for the peninsula subjugation. Of course, some were unable to attend due to serious injuries, and in unavoidable cases, mid-level commanders attended the meeting as proxies for their superiors.

Hugo put forward the inspection of the barrier surrounding the southern area of the peninsula, the calming of the erupted volcano, the identification of the number of casualties, and the treatment of the injured as priority tasks. Because of this, for nearly two days, the majority of the Council’s forces were focused on collecting bodies scattered throughout the peninsula and treating the injured. Not only the residents of Fidele, but also nearby territories sent medical personnel, relief supplies, and food to help them.

However, due to the time it took to restore the broken portals, smooth supply of materials was difficult, and because there were so many injured, the consumption of medicines even exceeded the supply. Hugo, who was seriously discussing this situation with Bruno Amos, finally decided to have at least the Central Branch personnel return to the imperial capital first.

However, until additional forces from the Southern Branch arrived in Fidele Territory, he had to stay here due to the problem of insufficient personnel for remaining monster surveillance and search operations.

“I’ve contacted our Southern Branch to hurry. The approval should come soon, so reinforcements should arrive within two days at the latest.”

Listening to Bruno’s words, Hugo stared blankly at the map on the makeshift table.

It wasn’t a map of the peninsula, but a map showing the gates, portals, and other land routes leading from Fidele Territory to the outside. Currently, the portals of the northern gate were all disconnected, and supplies were only moving through the eastern gate’s portal and some land routes.

“Two days...”

Hugo’s long finger tapped the table at a steady rhythm as he murmured softly.

In two days, it would almost coincide with the time when the Imperial Knights would arrive. By then, he had to make a decision.