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Bermuda Chapter 90
🕑 Added 2024-05-07 11:11:58 +0000 UTCChapter 90
Thanks to Leonardo's storm-like performance, the new monster individuals were cleanly swept up from their nests. Hugo sent two members as messengers to call the expedition team and investigators from other battalions to collect and investigate the monster individuals.
In the meantime, messengers from the Southern Branch and other battalions continuously came and went to report to Hugo, and it seemed that traces of ruins were being discovered more than expected, as the content related to that was the main topic.
And at a slight distance from Hugo, Leonardo also ended up hearing the report.
'Ruins?'
This was also his first time officially entering the Elder Millie Peninsula, so he had never seen the ruins. In the first place, when the messengers from the Southern Branch first came to report about the ruins, Leonardo wasn't present, so the current content was new to him as well.
Afterwards, the messenger also mentioned the unidentified cave that Hugo had seen when he annihilated the mutant monster. It seemed that similar shapes of piled-up food had been discovered in several more places.
When Leonardo was quietly listening to the messenger's words with his arms crossed, he suddenly made eye contact with Hugo, who had turned his gaze. Leonardo stared at his eyes without avoiding them, then soon uncrossed his arms and went somewhere else.
Hugo also looked at him like that, then turned his gaze back to the messenger.
*
Flynn was actually very worried that Leonardo might go on a hunger strike after that incident.
However, contrary to his expectations, Leonardo rather ate his meals better than usual. When they spent the night at the base camp and the day dawned, he was the first to wake up before anyone else could wake him, packing his belongings.
During combat, he stepped forward before anyone else and eliminated the vast monsters, and he didn't take individual actions such as silently leaving or distancing himself from the procession. When he went somewhere else for a moment, he always stated the reason before leaving and briefly reported upon returning.
On the surface, it might seem like he was now acting perfectly as a member of the subjugation team, following the rules, unlike his initial appearance where it was unknown where he might go off to, but Flynn felt it was rather more precarious, like standing on thin ice.
It was because as he followed the rules too perfectly, there were fewer occasions to talk to him. No, it was more accurate to say they had almost disappeared.
His appearance, which had drastically changed in atmosphere starting from his reduced words since that incident, seemed like watching a flawless soldier who had participated as a mercenary. He acted without any major flaws, but there was an invisible solid wall, and he behaved as if there was no reason to be involved with them anymore except for the common goal of monster subjugation.
As if he had closed the door to his heart.
And naturally, what Flynn felt, Hugo couldn't help but feel as well.
*
On that late night when they decided to spend in the middle of a tropical rainforest a bit away from the active volcanic zone, a drizzle fell. When most of them had almost finished preparing for bed and entered their tents, a figure approached close to Hugo, who was sitting on a temporary chair and looking at a map.
Hugo could tell who it was without having to raise his head, but perhaps knowing that, his head lifted on its own.
Leonardo stood expressionlessly in front of Hugo and said,
"I'm going for a smoke."
If it had been before, he would have just mentioned it in passing and left, but now he diligently asked for permission every time he went out. His tone felt more like a notification than asking for permission, but he didn't move until he got an answer, so it was close to permission.
Hugo lightly nodded once and replied,
"Go ahead."
When he gave permission, Leonardo left the cave without delay. As if he didn't want to be in front of him for even a moment.
Hugo watched Leonardo's back like that, then unfolded the map again. Since that incident, Hugo no longer followed him when he went out alone. It was because he didn't want to plant such thoughts in him, who already thought that Hugo didn't trust him.
'You said you would try to trust me.'
The face that occasionally came to mind and the slightly trembling voice were quite bothersome. He seemed like he wouldn't care much about his words, but Hugo became lost in thought at his words that seemed to hold more meaning than expected.
Hugo, who had been carefully scanning the progress route and selecting the path to take tomorrow, folded the map he had been looking at. Then, he sighed and rubbed the area around his eyebrows as if tired.
"Somehow, the more he listens well, the more anxious I feel."
Hugo had thought that he would get emotionally angry a few more times after that. He had expected him to act more on his own, try to get on his nerves more, and behave in a way that was harder to control. But he always acted outside of Hugo's expectations.
Instead, he followed the rules more thoroughly than before, and there were no instances of him not eating out of unnecessary rebelliousness or not cooperating with the subjugation.
When spoken to, he answered relatively well without ignoring, although coldly. However, that cold gaze that seemed to say to keep the conversation short made it difficult to sustain a conversation for more than two exchanges.
That's right. He was perfectly blocking situations where someone could talk to him.
Hugo had never thought that he would describe someone else as "cold" in his life. Perhaps because he had only seen his blazing flame-like appearance, his current appearance was particularly colder than ever. His voice, and the way he looked at him.
Thanks to that, the subjugation was going smoothly, but in fact, no one would find this atmosphere pleasant. Leonardo seemed to really want to finish this job quickly and leave the peninsula. It was evident to the eyes of others as well.
Hugo had never regretted his action of testing him at that time. It was because it was necessary at least once. He could have directly mentioned his distrust in his control problem and issued an order restricting his actions, but he thought that method wouldn't have been smooth either.
However, looking at Leonardo's recent appearance, it felt like he had put up a wall and was enduring alone, making a corner of his heart quite uncomfortable.
Hugo had hoped that he would follow his words well even before coming to the peninsula, but the appearance he had hoped for was definitely not like this.
Thinking about this and that, Hugo eventually got up from his seat. It was time to have a conversation with him.
*
Leonardo sat on a huge tree root and blankly exhaled cigarette smoke slowly.
As it was in the middle of a dense forest, the large tree leaves somewhat blocked the falling drizzle, but his hair, face, and shoulders were getting slightly wet.
Leonardo couldn't pay attention to such things and was lost in deep thought with a cigarette in his mouth.
'Since it's going relatively smoothly, if we continue at this pace, it might end faster than expected.'
However, thinking like that, he lowered his gaze again with a heavy heart.
'But there will be more monsters ahead, so won't it take more time...?'
A raindrop fell on the area around Leonardo's right eye and flowed down. He quietly stared into the darkened forest.
Occasionally, the sound of insects and birds could be heard, and the drizzle brushing against the broad leaves created a strangely regular rhythm. Leonardo listened to that sound and quietly looked into the void, thinking.
'Should I run away?'
At the moment he had such thoughts, the rainwater falling above him stopped, and the surroundings became a bit brighter. Leonardo raised his head and looked up.
A blue barrier was widely spread above him, acting like a roof. As Leonardo frowned and turned his gaze, Hugo was approaching from beyond the faintly glowing light ball. Hugo examined his appearance sitting on the tree root and gently spoke to him.
"You seem to smoke often these days."
Although he didn't know why a powerful mage would smoke cigarettes in the rain in such a dismal manner, that appearance of him being slightly wet from the rain made him particularly more concerned. The rainwater falling on his eyes, wetting his eyelashes and flowing down, was especially so.
As Hugo approached, Leonardo immediately got up from his seat. Then, he completely burned the long cigarette that was still left with his hand. He passed by Hugo's side and coldly said,
"If necessary, I'll reduce my personal actions."
At Leonardo's chilly appearance, Hugo flinched and let out a small sigh, turning his body towards his direction.
"That's not what I meant, Leonardo."
However, Leonardo's footsteps didn't stop. Hugo narrowed his brows, swept back his hair, and immediately followed him.
As Leonardo got closer to the entrance of the cave, he tried to directly enter the tent. But at that moment, he came face to face with a member standing at the entrance. As Leonardo flinched, the member also seemed surprised, not expecting him to suddenly appear.
Leonardo glanced at the member and tried to pass by him. At that moment, the member urgently grabbed Leonardo's arm.
"Uh, um-."
Leonardo was startled and reflexively shook off his hand.
With a slapping sound, the member whose hand was shaken off stood there holding his hand with a perplexed face, and Leonardo looked even more perplexed. And Hugo, who had followed him, also witnessed that scene.
Leonardo alternately looked at the member's face and his hand, then nervously ruffled his hair and spoke curtly.
"What?"
"Ah..."
The member momentarily put aside his surprised feelings and tried to say something to him, but he stammered his words, startled by the appearance of the Commander behind Leonardo.
Leonardo frowned and passed by him again. The hesitating member saw him entering and anxiously struggled to speak.
"Uh, I heard that you saved me when I fell into the lake and lost consciousness. But I couldn't thank you after that... I wanted to say thank you. I'm sorry for suddenly grabbing you."
Leonardo stopped walking. He stood still for a moment, then turned around again and looked at the member who had spoken to him.
The member, who was still glancing around, not knowing what to do, had a bandage wrapped around his arm. Only after seeing that could Leonardo recognize that he was the member who had been grazed by the venomous stinger on his arm and dragged into the lake last time.
And according to his memory, this guy was the same person as that clueless guy who had been dozing off while on night watch, allowing him to easily slip away.
He seemed to lack discipline for being a member of the 1st Battalion, which was supposed to be a full combat unit, and his way of speaking was also very soft, looking like someone who had just joined not long ago.
Leonardo stared at him quietly, then made eye contact with Hugo, who was watching him and the member from behind. After gazing at him for a while, Leonardo turned his gaze again, let out a deep sigh, and said to the member,
"Hey."
"Y-Yes, yes?"
The member, who had been looking down, unable to make eye contact, hurriedly raised his head. Then, he made eye contact with Leonardo's golden eyes and lowered his head again. Leonardo spoke coldly with sunken eyes.
"Don't thank me."
"...Pardon?"
He raised his head again and asked back with a startled expression. Leonardo turned around as if he had no more business and walked inside, saying,
"I won't save you anymore from now on."
He directly entered the tent. The member could only blankly stare at the closed tent flap.
Hugo let out a small sigh. Then, he approached the member who was standing silently and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Your feelings must have been sufficiently conveyed. Don't worry."
The member looked up at Hugo with a gloomy face.
The drizzle falling outside had already turned into a heavy downpour, thoroughly soaking the ground.
The sound of the rain intensified, and the rain continued all night.
Comments
Jesse Gibson
Right?! Hugo NEEDS to struggle a bit because he’s been such a jerk. I hope Leo can hold out, he’s such a softie
Bernie Jay
Agreed, I’m enjoying seeing him give everyone the same attitude they gave him, especially Hugo. He is going to need to groveeeelllll!!!
Jesse Gibson
That’s right Boo! Stay strong, you must not let them get to you since they all treat you like absolute crap (except those two girls from the other battalion) you don’t have to feel guilty! Stay strong! This chapter was so satisfying to me.
