As if all the necrotic areas had been amputated, only Liner’s left shoulder remained.
Leonardo barely managed to avert his gaze from that spot. Sensing his restraint, Liner deliberately shrugged and said:
“Isn’t losing an arm like a medal? If I attach a steel prosthetic here, wouldn’t it look even cooler?”
“Liner.”
As the bandaged stump twitched, Isabella, supporting his upper body from that side, called his name softly.
Isabella closed her eyes tightly and then opened them, letting out a deep sigh. Liner shook his head lightly, as if to say it was no big deal. Though the person in question didn’t seem to take it seriously, Leonardo knew Liner was trying hard to lighten the mood.
He himself had almost lost an arm in this battle. Hadn’t he felt pain as if all his nerves were convulsing from that alone? Then the sensation of having an entire arm torn off without a trace must be a pain he couldn’t even dare to imagine. Leonardo pressed his lips together.
At that, Liner—who had been bickering with Isabella for a few words—suddenly extended his right hand to Leonardo.
“But it’s fortunate this side remains, isn’t it? Because I can still shake hands with Leonardo Blaine.”
Liner, laughing heartily, was truly the epitome of a cheerful man. Leonardo had never imagined he would end up greatly admiring a fellow he’d only recently become acquainted with.
Leonardo chuckled and clasped Liner’s hand. The other’s fierce yet clear energy traveled through his palm.
Though that energy had weakened compared to before, it certainly hadn’t become murky. Liner showed his teeth in a grin and pumped their joined hands up and down. As they naturally let go, Leonardo rummaged through the inner pocket of his combat uniform and said:
“Just a moment.”
He took out the artifact he’d organized that morning and opened it just enough for one arm to fit. From inside, he found a small case about the size of a handful and held it out to Liner. When Liner looked at it as if asking what it was, Leonardo answered plainly:
“It’s a mana stone. Put it in your prosthetic later. It’ll help.”
Leonardo shook the case in his hand, then slipped the artifact back into his inner pocket.
“There was a guy who lost a leg after stepping on a landmine before. He said it worked pretty well when he put it in his prosthetic leg. So I thought it might be good for a prosthetic arm, too. Oh, and by the way, this is expensive, okay?”
He emphasized the last part in particular, then tugged lightly at the hand he’d shaken, making sure Liner was holding the case properly. As Liner just stared down at it blankly, Isabella, beside him, offered words of gratitude instead.
“Thank you, Leonardo Blaine. We’ll make sure to repay you properly.”
“I didn’t give it to get anything in return. I gave it because I don’t need it.”
It lacked credibility to call it expensive and then say he didn’t need it, but Isabella didn’t add anything. Instead, she offered her hand for a handshake. Leonardo looked down at her hand and grasped it firmly.
Isabella smiled and said:
“We survived thanks to you, and learned a lot. Thanks to you, we were able to look at our situation objectively.”
Leonardo tilted his head.
“What situation?”
“I mean our ridiculously lacking ability to deal with crises. From now on, we battalion commanders also plan to change our training methods to focus more on practical experience. So I hope we can meet again—so we can show you the results of our training.”
He wasn’t sure exactly what practical experience–focused training meant, but if it helped cultivate composure, these two would likely improve a lot.
Leonardo was about to offer some advice, recalling the moments of struggling together with them, when he suddenly remembered they were battalion commanders of the Council. He immediately swallowed what he’d been about to say and just nodded lightly. At that, Gray, who had been supporting Liner’s right side, interjected:
“But if a day comes when we can show the results of our training, wouldn’t that be a problem in itself?”
If such a day came, it would mean either the country was facing another catastrophic battle, or Leonardo was being pursued by the Council. Isabella, understanding the implication, let out a hollow laugh. Leonardo, who also understood, frowned as if displeased.
They soon conveyed their farewells to Leonardo, including Charlotte Hastings’ share, who was Liner’s direct subordinate. They said Charlotte had already been transferred to the Southern Branch headquarters a few days ago due to severe internal injuries. However, Liner didn’t seem particularly worried.
“Probably because I’m alive, that fellow’s personality won’t let her rest until she comes back alive. She’s always insisting she can do whatever I can do.”
It was strange logic, but seeing the two on either side nod, it seemed oddly believable. Leonardo, vaguely recalling Charlotte—who had come to deliver the cloak to him—responded rather maturely, saying he hoped for her quick recovery.
As their conversation was slowly wrapping up, a group crossed the dirt ground carrying a stretcher. Leonardo’s gaze naturally fell on them. The reason was that several members were clustered around it, and one of them was Delua Rivera, the 6th Battalion Commander of the Central Branch.
“Extended exposure to sunlight is not good. Hurry up!”
At the attention-grabbing, high-pitched voice, the commanders with Leonardo also turned to look that way.
Delua, her face flushed, kept muttering something to the injured person while looking down at them, holding their hand and speaking. The stretcher soon approached the convoy of escort vehicles. Immediately, the door of a vehicle two ahead opened, and members carefully pushed the injured person inside—stretcher and all.
At that moment, Leonardo could hear Delua’s tearful voice more clearly:
“Marlen, everything will be alright. We’re going home now.”
After whispering that, Delua lowered her head and kissed the injured person’s lips. Then, as if it were natural, she boarded the vehicle as well. It happened so quickly Leonardo couldn’t take his eyes off the spot until the door closed.
“Those two...”
Isabella, who’d had the same thought, murmured, trailing off. Suddenly, the image of Delua and Marlen—who had seemed unusually close for a superior-subordinate relationship—flashed through Leonardo’s mind.
It was a bit surprising, since he hadn’t noticed it at all. But more than that, it was fortunate that Marlen had survived.
“Commander, it seems we can start departing now.”
Bruno, who had been continuously communicating with the person in charge of Fidele’s external gate, reported to Hugo, who was right beside him.
At Bruno’s words, Hugo checked his watch and looked around. The managers of the escort vehicles carrying the injured were busily moving about, sending final signals that everything was ready. Behind them, the wagons loaded with heavy luggage also seemed to have finished preparations, closing their doors firmly one after another.
Hugo gave Bruno a simple nod and moved to the right. He strode toward Leonardo and the commanders gathered about twenty meters away.
Hugo tapped the side of the escort vehicle with the back of his hand, drawing everyone’s attention, and said:
“Everyone, step back. It’s time to depart.”
Though they knew it was coming, regretful sighs burst out when the moment actually arrived. But the thunderous engine sounds rising at once from all around drowned them out. Hot air from the escort vehicles kicked up fine dust in the air. Hugo, leaving the commanders behind, personally opened the vehicle door and extended his hand to Leonardo.
“Let’s go.”
Leonardo stared blankly at his hand for a moment, then answered, “Okay,” and took it. He boarded first and dropped into the seat inside. Hugo sat right next to him once Leonardo was settled. After the two had boarded, Bruno closed the vehicle door.
Hugo pushed open the window on the left side and gestured to Bruno. Bruno, coming close, leaned in and reported to Hugo and the driver in the front seat:
“I’ve already finished talking with the managers, so just keep going straight east from here and enter the dam entrance. We’ll escort you on the shortest route to the imperial capital. Thank you for your hard work, Commander.”
“You’ve worked hard under me all this time, too. I’m counting on you to wrap up the final stages of the subjugation.”
“Of course. Don’t worry. Please take care on your journey.”
The two exchanged a final handshake through the window. Afterward, Bruno, looking inside, also offered his final greetings to Leonardo.
“Leonardo Blaine, you’ve worked hard too. Next time—”
“Your Excellency—!”
At that moment, Cordelia, who had been standing back, suddenly rushed in and came up to the open window. Bruno stepped aside, startled. Cordelia pleaded with Hugo in an earnest voice:
“Your Excellency, please take good care of Blaine. You must set him free.”
Leonardo looked back and forth between Cordelia and Hugo, startled. Hugo, his expression tightening slightly, answered in a calm tone:
“Don’t worry. Your efforts won’t be in vain.”
Leaving those cryptic words, he waved as if to warn it was dangerous and for her to step away from the vehicle. Bruno bowed his head deeply and backed away two or three paces, guiding Cordelia with him.
After confirming they’d moved a suitable distance away, Hugo instructed the driver in front:
“Let’s depart.”
“Yes, my lord.”
For a moment, the word my lord caught Leonardo’s ear, but it soon disappeared from his awareness as the convoy started moving immediately. Instead, Leonardo’s gaze swept over the many faces sliding past like wind outside the window.
Bruno stood at attention, back straight toward the long procession ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ slowly moving out.
“Everyone, attention!”
At his solemn voice, the gathered commanders and the Council’s large army spread wide all snapped to attention at once. Even Liner, who had been slouching, squared his shoulders and joined with a serious expression.
Bruno, tracking the passing vehicles with his eyes, ordered his subordinates in a low voice:
“Wishing for a safe return, salute the Commander!”
“Glory to Raina Logia—!”
The thunderous shout that shook the ground at the border spread to the foothills of Fidele and the peninsula. Leonardo took in the sight of countless saluting hands directed at him and Hugo for a long time, as if afraid to miss any of it.
Then, as if some regret still lingered, he gripped the headrest and—half-turned—watched those receding figures until the very end.
“Blaine—!”
Cordelia, calling Leonardo’s name last, waved her hand broadly as she saw him off. Leonardo, knowing she couldn’t see him, still lifted his hand slightly against the rear window.
The escort vehicles lined up in a row sped toward the external gate. As dust rose in a fierce plume behind them, Hugo closed the window he’d opened and said in a subdued voice:
“Leonardo, it’s better to sit properly. It’s dangerous. The road will get rough when we enter the forest path.”
Leonardo obediently followed Hugo’s words and sat up straight only when Cordelia and the others had become dots in the distance. Just then, Hugo rummaged in his pocket, took out a small packaged capsule, and held it out to Leonardo.
“The medical officer told me to give this to you. He said it’s a painkiller.”
“A painkiller?”
“We won’t be able to check your condition on the way back. It seems they prepared it in case of long-distance travel... Why don’t you take it now, in advance?”
Leonardo blinked and took the pill. Without responding, he unwrapped the packaging and unconsciously smelled it.
The colorless, odorless pill looked like an ordinary painkiller, but maybe because he remembered his esophagus stinging recently when he swallowed food, he didn’t feel like taking it for some reason.
As he just stared at the pill in his hand, Hugo—glancing at him from the corner of his eye—asked casually:
“What, do you want me to feed it to you?”
“What? No?”
Not Don’t you want to take it?—but asking if he wanted to be fed. Bewildered, Leonardo quickly put the painkiller in his mouth. But perhaps because the pill’s surface was rough, it was hard to swallow without water. Watching his throat work several times, Hugo clicked his tongue and put a hand under Leonardo’s chin.
“Lift your head.”
And without giving him time to do it himself, he tilted Leonardo’s head back.
“Open your mouth.”
Leonardo, eyes rolling in that position, furrowed his brow slightly and opened his mouth. Hugo tipped his other hand and poured cool water into it. A few drops spilled from the corners of Leonardo’s mouth with the car’s jostling, but Hugo handled it neatly.
Leonardo swallowed the pill without resistance. Only then did Hugo withdraw his hand and carefully wipe Leonardo’s mouth with the handkerchief around his neck. Then, as if his task was done, he turned toward the window without saying anything more.
He briefly flexed his hand, then rested his elbow on the armrest and propped his chin again—but that profile looked somehow different from usual to Leonardo. Somehow... he looked uncharacteristically anxious and tense.
“...”
Leonardo, sitting quietly and watching him, shifted his gaze forward and stared at the windshield as the vehicle entered the forest path. With dense greenery closing in on all sides, he wanted to keep the last view of the peninsula in his memory.
When Leonardo looked left toward the tall peak in the distance, the reddish lava flowing in the hazy crater shimmered through the heat haze. What was surprising was that on another peak not far away, perpetual snow that never melted glittered in the sunlight.
Lava and perpetual snow.
They were things you’d never imagine could coexist.
And yet, somehow, it was this Elder Millie Peninsula that made that coexistence possible.
Leonardo looked at the man of perpetual snow sitting beside him. He thought the reason Hugo looked tense was that he was already worrying about the difficulties that would unfold after they returned.
But Leonardo wanted to savor this “end” moment. And, to ease Hugo’s anxiety even a little, he gently rested his head on Hugo’s shoulder. Sitting on a seat as soft as a sofa and swaying with the vehicle, he felt drowsiness wash over him as his own tension eased.
As a comfortable weight settled on his shoulder, Hugo’s eyelids twitched.
He lowered the hand that had been propping his chin and slowly turned his head. He shifted his gaze and looked down blankly at the warmth pressed close.
“...”
The golden hair, grown quite long now, lay messily across his shoulder. Leonardo, lashes lowered, murmured quietly with his eyes closed:
“Thank you.”
No words followed to explain what he meant. But Hugo felt he understood everything contained in it.
He let his gaze rest on Leonardo’s face. Eventually, blinking silently, he leaned his head against Leonardo’s.
As the fresh green rushed past outside, countless moments from the past flowed like a panorama through Hugo’s mind. He tucked those memories away in a corner of his heart, then reached his arm behind Leonardo’s shoulder and rubbed his forearm with his hand.
Then, slowly closing his eyes, Hugo whispered softly into the air:
“I’m grateful too.”
The corners of Leonardo’s mouth lifted, just slightly.
The escort vehicle carrying the two glided away, turning its back on the peninsula.
