Chapter 68

Flynn and Leonardo returned the way they came and rejoined the procession. Leonardo went straight to the rear, while Flynn returned to Hugo, who would be at the very front.

"Commander, I'm back."

Hugo, who had been looking at the detector and map, turned his head at Flynn's voice.

"Yes, was there anything unusual?"

"No, we really only searched for minerals."

Hugo folded the map he was holding and asked,

"What kind of minerals were they?"

Flynn was a bit flustered as he didn't expect the Commander to ask about the types of minerals even though he had told him to watch over Leonardo. However, he soon recalled what he had seen earlier and said,

"Well... There were mimetite and amphibole series... Oh, I received a few from Blaine earlier."

As Flynn listed the things he had seen, he took out the minerals Leonardo had handed him on the way back from his pocket and gave them to Hugo. Hugo placed those six or so minerals on his palm, examined them, and let out a chuckle.

"They're all valuable ones. I guess he has an eye for minerals."

"It seemed so. He gave them to me, saying they were expensive."

Among them, Hugo closely observed the soft, glowing blue mineral. Seeing where his gaze was directed, Flynn continued,

"It's a dilato series mineral. I asked about the purpose of collecting them, and he said he would make an amp stone."

"An amp?"

Hugo immediately concentrated a very small amount of mana on the hand holding the mineral. Then, the mana temporarily increased, and the surface instantly froze. As he fiddled with it, Hugo said with a slightly puzzled tone,

"He wouldn't need something like this."

"I thought the same, but Blaine said it was because of that thing attached to his neck. I couldn't ask for more details."

At the mention of something attached to his neck, Hugo's eyes narrowed. It was because he didn't expect Leonardo to bring it up first. It was a topic he had deliberately avoided, thinking it would be a sensitive issue even though he also wanted to ask about it.

Certainly, they said that thing was for suppressing mana, so an amp might be necessary to bring out proper mana. Although Hugo had never experienced a situation where he couldn't draw out all the mana he could originally use, he could sufficiently empathize with how frustrating it would be just by imagining it.

When his thoughts reached that point, he understood to some extent Leonardo's purpose of making an amp with minerals.

However, from what Hugo felt, this mineral would only help with temporary amplification and wasn't something that could be used for a long time. Moreover, if it amplified Leonardo's vast mana, it would shatter before long.

A few questions arose, but since Flynn said he couldn't ask for more details, Hugo kept his mouth shut for now. Then, after looking at the blue mineral on his hand once more, he handed it back to Flynn.

"Alright, good work."

***

The procession, which had gathered at the designated time at the assembly point, started marching again before long and quickly traversed the interior of the 4th peak.

Although they had reorganized in the middle, as time passed, the members showed a noticeably more tired appearance compared to when they started. However, there was a risk of suffocation if they spent the night in the middle of a cave far from the outside, so they had to find an open or well-ventilated place.

Therefore, the vanguard personnel, including Hugo, were slowly leading the procession while sending some scout members ahead to find a suitable place to set up a base camp.

And when everyone returned without any gains, the 8th Platoon leader and members of the 1st Battalion of the Central Branch, the only ones included in the subjugation team, reported that they had found a suitable place for the base camp.

The place they found was a spot where the cave wall was largely hollowed out on the mountainside of the peak, allowing cool air to pass through, and the floor protruding outside the cave was also flat and wide, making it a suitable place to spend the night.

And below that, the rocks in the form of columnar joints gradually lowered in a staircase-like manner, connecting to a wider mountainside, making it suitable for accommodating large number of personnel. Of course, right next to it was a steep cliff, but such a place would rather prevent the approach of monsters throughout the night.

Under Hugo's orders, the geological investigators examined the rock bed to confirm if it was a safe place to stay. After a while, when a report came up that it was sufficiently sturdy, Hugo said to the commanders at the vanguard,

"Let's set up today's base camp here."

At his instruction, the commanders moved in unison to spread the order, and the members began unloading their luggage and setting up tents. Large tents for the commanders were erected right in front of the cave, and in the spacious area below, the members set up their individual tents in rows.

In the meantime, Hugo and the commanders placed a makeshift table and discussed in advance the monsters that appeared in this area and the entry route for the next day.

"Dermocas frequently appear at this point, so the marching speed will inevitably be slower than today."

"But didn't we fail to meet the scheduled speed today as well?"

"I think it would be better to move in company-scale units once we enter 1/5 of the 4th peak."

The company commanders each presented their opinions. Hugo listened to their words with his arms crossed, looking down at the map.

Before long, when the commanders' tents were almost all set up, the rear procession of the formation gradually arrived at the base camp location. As the rear escort personnel finally began to arrive, Hugo spotted Delua among them and gestured to her.

"Battalion Commander Rivera, over here."

Seeing that, Delua and Marlen hurriedly approached. However, Leonardo, who had come with them, stood still at a slightly distant position.

"Leonardo, you come over here too."

At Hugo's words, Leonardo, who had been hesitating, also approached the operation meeting table. Hugo placed his hand on Leonardo's left shoulder as if crossing his back, trying to make room for him and pulled him to his side. But at that moment, Leonardo flinched in surprise and noticeably wary, he brushed off Hugo's hand and broke free from his arm.

At Leonardo's action, all the commanders who had been discussing around the operation meeting table fell silent.

Feeling the abruptly stiffened atmosphere, Hugo stared intently at Leonardo, who seemed a bit startled by his own action. Then, lowering his arm that had been brushed off into the air, he said,

"My apologies."

Although Hugo said it was his fault, the gazes of those who had been watching turned cold every time they saw Leonardo's disrespectful behavior towards the Commander.

That was to be expected, as the young man who had brushed off the hand of the Commander, whom they respected immensely, would never look good in their eyes. At least Delua and Marlen, who had been with Leonardo all day and had developed some goodwill, only quietly observed the situation.

Amidst the silence that filled the front of the table, a very small sound broke through and was heard.

A small snort, as if mocking. As Hugo and Leonardo simultaneously turned their heads towards the direction of the sound, Meterion was standing there. Hugo showed no particular reaction and turned his eyes back to Leonardo to examine his expression.

Leonardo stared at Meterion quietly with a slightly furrowed brow.

'What's with him?'

After confirming his not-so-pleasant face, Hugo soon broke the silence and mentioned the next day's route and the patrol route around the base camp.

With Hugo's words as the starting point, the meeting resumed, and Leonardo listened quietly, only making a few comments when Hugo asked for advice. And each time, he met the different gazes directed at him, which were certainly not comfortable.

"Let's end the meeting here, and right now, the commanders of each unit should form the personnel for night watch and patrol shifts and report to their superiors. Battalion commanders should compile the final report and deliver it to me before bedtime. The rest should have a meal, then take personal maintenance and rest, and the wake-up time tomorrow will be unified at 6 a.m. Fidele time."

"Yes, understood."

"Dismissed."

"Dismissed!"

The commanders quickly dispersed to spread the announcements to the members of their respective units. Leonardo blankly watched their retreating figures. And Hugo also observed Leonardo's appearance while pondering deeply about the reaction he had shown earlier.

'His hands and back seemed fine, but is he particularly sensitive about his shoulders?'

When they first entered the Fidele Territory and Leonardo got off the luggage wagon, Hugo had placed his hand on Leonardo's shoulder, and Leonardo had flinched and showed a wary reaction. At that time, he thought it was simply because Leonardo was in a bad mood, but looking back at the situation just now, it seemed that wasn't entirely the case.

As Hugo was making various speculations while looking at the back of Leonardo's head, Leonardo took a step as if to move somewhere. Hugo asked from behind,

"Leonardo, where are you going?"

Leonardo, who had stopped walking and turned around at the sound of his name, replied as if it was obvious,

"I'm going to set up my tent too."

Then, Hugo pointed to the tent behind his shoulder and said,

"There's no need for that. You'll be sharing my tent."

"...What?"

Leonardo frowned and asked back.

Behind the place where the commanders had gathered for the meeting, there was the largest tent, which seemed to be the tent used by the Commander. With a face that looked like he had heard something he shouldn't have, Leonardo blinked his eyes and alternately looked at Hugo and the tent, then answered firmly,

"I'll pass. I prefer being alone."

After saying that, Leonardo immediately turned around and walked away quickly. And from behind him, Hugo's voice, just as resolute, was heard,

"It's not a suggestion. It's an order."

Leonardo, who had been striding away, abruptly stopped. Turning around again, he glared at Hugo with a face that said it was despicable.