Bermuda

Immediately after the final meeting ended, Hugo made a suggestion to the commanders.

"Since it's the last day for the entire subjugation force to be together, I think it would be good to let the members relax a bit for one day."

The intention was to ease the tense atmosphere that had persisted, and to let them fully enjoy the joy of victory they hadn’t been able to properly savor.

In reality, the situation wasn’t that relaxed, as half of the troops were set to return the very next day. However, since the members had remained on edge even after eliminating the mother body, there was a need to change the atmosphere by commending their hard work at least once, if only to boost morale.

Most commanders agreed with the Commander’s suggestion, and Hugo designated the evening hours after the day’s work as an official victory celebration.

At the gathering place they returned to, various meats, relief grain, and fresh vegetables were piled up as if they had been prepared in advance.

The members explained that during the general meeting, Fidele’s guards and territory residents had brought them on wagons, saying they were the Council’s share. Since the quantity and quality were considerable for mere relief supplies, everyone was moved by the grace of Lady Hareth and the territory residents.

However, the truth was that Cordelia, who had received a large sum of money from Hugo, had purchased a large quantity of food from nearby territories and distributed it to the Council—under Hugo’s instruction to present it as if it had been entirely supported by Fidele, to prevent public opinion from wavering against her because of the denial of portal installation within the territory.

Even the commanders were unaware of this, so they agreed they should properly greet the Lady at least once.

Thus, only Flynn, who knew the inside story, let out a regretful smile at the misplaced praise.

"To our great achievement that will be remembered in history!"

"Cheers-!"

The hands of several people raising their rough canteens shimmered in front of the huge fire. The chorus that followed the lead chant cheerfully covered the land where darkness had fallen.

Someone moved by the Commander’s speech kept shouting toasts in a drunken voice.

The savory smell of ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) meat sizzling over the heat, and golden beer flowing from oak barrels. Songs, laughter, and voices intoxicated with excitement—heard after a long time—decorated the lively gathering place even more colorfully.

The campfire blazing in the center also helped create the banquet atmosphere. Some members had said it wouldn’t be complete without this, and had somehow procured logs to quickly stack them up like an altar.

Since it was an unexpected victory celebration after a major battle, some commanders worried they wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. However, contrary to those worries, the members set aside their sorrow for a moment and laughed and chatted with joyful faces.

Perhaps it was from a desire to escape the desolate reality.

Among them, even the territory residents who had helped treat the injured mingled without hesitation. They were so mixed together that it was hard to tell who was who as they tilted their glasses together.

"I’m telling you, I smashed that thing’s head in one go, right? Then it came charging at me with its eyes rolled back, but there was a cliff behind me. What could I do? I quickly rolled to the side to dodge. But then the ground I’d been standing on just moments ago suddenly collapsed."

"Come on, don’t talk nonsense. You don’t look that agile, brother."

"Hey, I’m telling you it’s true! Ah, it’s a shame I can’t show you."

In one corner, a heroic tale that might be true or false was being passed down orally. A member who had drunk enough to suffer greatly the next day was rattling off his achievements in an excessively casual tone.

The surrounding colleagues waved their hands at the attentively listening territory residents as if to say, don’t listen, he’s at it again. But when the red-faced member insisted it was true while puffing, a resident who said he had brought bread from home stuffed a loaf as big as his face into the member’s mouth, telling him to taste it.

The members watching this scene all burst into laughter at once. Even the commanders who had been keeping a watchful eye, telling them not to get too loose, set aside their dignity and erupted in laughter.

"Wow, that monster’s head could fit in there too."

"Are you crazy?"

The ridiculous nonsense was perfect as a drinking snack. Since it also served as a farewell party for the Central Branch colleagues they had grown close to, even the injured dragged their limping legs out and sat down on the ground.

Even those on duty at the gate occasionally came after changing shifts, and although they couldn’t drink, they grabbed a few pieces of freshly grilled meat before returning.

Absorbed in the cheerful hustle and bustle they created, Leonardo smiled without realizing it.

He was once again busy people-watching today, leaning against a makeshift sofa made of stacked blankets inside a medium-sized tent.

Hugo, who was drinking chilled liquor poured into a transparent glass, glanced to the side at the passing laughter. There was quite a bit of life in his golden eyes infused with firelight. The bowl that had contained meat stew was also cleanly emptied this time, as if it had tasted good.

Feeling the gaze, Leonardo also turned his head toward Hugo. Hugo looked straight ahead again as if he had timed it.

Since it seemed like he was deliberately avoiding eye contact, Leonardo asked bluntly:

"Why are you avoiding me?"

Hugo didn’t answer immediately. He just crossed his outstretched legs to the opposite side while sitting diagonally.

Combat boots that had lost their shine crossed over quite sensual ankle lines. As Leonardo’s gaze fell there, Hugo answered in a low voice:

"Why would I avoid you."

"You’re not looking at me even now."

No sooner had the words ended than blue eyes turned toward Leonardo. As if brazenly protesting that he had no such intention at all, Leonardo let out an incredulous chuckle.

He seemed like a different person from the one who had kissed his hand and smiled at him in front of everyone earlier. Leonardo, bothered by the strange sense of distance, openly said, hoping he was drunk:

"You’ve been like this since morning. Do you have something to say to me--"

"Lady Hareth has arrived!"

At that moment, a sudden shout from a member interrupted Leonardo’s words. As he turned his head and looked for the source of the sound, Cordelia appeared in the distance, accompanied by two knights.

Surrounded by cheers, she looked around, then smiled awkwardly as if embarrassed by the adoring atmosphere. Then, as her eyes met Leonardo’s—who happened to be looking in that direction—she raised her hand high and brightened her expression.

"Blaine!"

Cordelia, smiling brightly, called his name loudly again and again.

"...Major Hareth?"

Leonardo answered with a bewildered face. Cordelia hurriedly approached the tent where the two were, pushing through the members.

After briefly bowing her head to Hugo in greeting, she grabbed Leonardo’s hand before the 1st Battalion members could stop her.

"Blaine, are you alright? Have you been eating well?"

"Huh? Ah, yes. Thanks to your care..."

She asked with a face that looked both very glad and worried. Leonardo answered while looking at her with slightly surprised eyes, seeing her after a long time.

She looked more emaciated and thinner overall than the strong face he had seen before entering the peninsula. It might have seemed more so because she was wearing flowy clothing instead of bulky armor, but Leonardo felt quite bad, thinking she must have gone through a difficult time.

But Cordelia’s feelings as she looked at him weren’t much different. The two looked at each other with tender gazes for a moment.

They had a special bond as superior and subordinate in the military in the past. Hugo, who had been staring at them blankly, suddenly stood up.

"You’ve come at a good time. You two must have a lot to talk about since you’ll be leaving soon, so take your time and chat."

Saying this, Hugo signaled to the 1st Battalion members that there was no need to stop Cordelia. Then, as if he himself was going somewhere else, he turned and moved his steps.

Just as Leonardo was about to ask where he was going, Cordelia, who had noticed Hugo’s consideration, quickly rose from her seat.

"Your Excellency. Thank you, but before that..."

She lowered her voice, conscious of her surroundings, just as she had when she took Hugo to the watchtower before. Seeing her behavior, Hugo looked around once and nodded slightly, bending his waist a little. It meant to just speak into his ear, as it would be troublesome to move to a secluded place together.

Even so, Cordelia was momentarily flustered. However, since what she wanted to tell him was quite urgent news, after hesitating for a moment, she soon brought her face close.

Cordelia conveyed in a hushed voice:

'They have crossed the Oldin Bridge. They will arrive within half a day.'

At that moment, Hugo’s expression hardened dramatically. Leonardo couldn’t miss this momentary change.

However, Hugo, who had composed his expression before the strangeness could be noticed, looked down at Cordelia impassively.

Cordelia didn’t add any other words and just looked up with an anxious gaze. Then Hugo’s eyes went down to Leonardo.

"Stay with Leonardo. I have something to take care of for a moment."

He said in a calm tone and immediately turned his body, moving toward the opposite side of the banquet area. The two knights who had come with Cordelia closely followed behind Hugo.