Chapter 221

Leonardo, at a loss for words, could only stare blankly at Hugo. As he looked into those unusually deep eyes, even simple words didn't feel so simple anymore.

Don't run away, he said. While thinking that he must not understand the seriousness of his condition, on the other hand, he couldn't bring himself to push away the other with such a sorrowful look.

Apart from his comrades, had there ever been anyone else who showed such a face and emotion while looking at him? And for it to be this person right in front of him. Memories of the past were jumbled, and various emotions intersected.

His head was ringing, making him feel dazed, and his chest and stomach felt strangely queasy.

Emotions that were hard to control welled up instantly, and he felt like he might make a strange expression if he kept facing him like this. Because of this, Leonardo quickly lowered his eyes and threw his gaze anywhere else.

But as if not allowing this, a cool touch gently rubbed his reddening eyelids.

"I told you before we entered the peninsula."

At this action, as if urging him to look, his eyes, hidden behind long eyelashes, trembled once again. As white steam rose from their touching skin, obscuring his vision, Leonardo's eyelids closed tightly and then opened.

"That you shouldn't be separated from me."

At the voice that seemed persistent in holding onto him, the golden eyes that were revealed again looked up with a complicated gaze. Hugo gently caressed Leonardo's cheek while sighing, and continued in a calmer tone.

"Even if you try to distance yourself from me because of berserk symptoms, and insist on not going outside. I will stay with you until the end in the flames of this Elder Millie Peninsula."

"..."

"I won't leave you alone in your anxiety. I won't let you die from suffocation either. If you lose your mind, I'll help you regain it."

Hugo's touch moved down to Leonardo's neck, where handprints were clearly visible. As he stroked the skin mottled with bruises, Hugo hardened his lips as if he was in more pain. Soon, softening his expression, he gently persuaded Leonardo.

"So don't waste your energy trying to run away from me. I'll chase after you no matter what happens."

"..."

"Instead, let's go back together, Leonardo. Let's go back together and reclaim your lost honor and freedom."

It was a proposal too sweet to refuse. Perhaps because of this, Leonardo's closed lips moved slightly. For a moment, he felt that the ache in his heart wasn't just due to the symptoms of mana going berserk.

But even at Hugo's words to go back, Leonardo couldn't answer hastily. He didn't know how much time was left on the amplifier, but the energy flowing through his body was still unstable and rough.

Moreover, the red spots that occasionally appeared on the back of his hands were also ominous. That area felt as hot as if it had been branded with a hot iron, and it seemed like uncontrolled mana was surging under the skin, trying to escape.

The back of his hands was just what was visible; his entire body might already be covered in spots. His whole body stung and felt burned as if he had fallen into lava. Amidst all this, the most severe symptom was his left shoulder, which he was afraid to even check.

Wrapped in various worries and concerns, Leonardo could only lower his gaze and bite his lip tightly. However, the distracting thoughts that interfered with his decision were soon shaken off by the face that had now come close.

"Trust me."

Hugo, slightly bowing his head, cupped the pale cheeks with both hands and whispered.

The low voice, large hands, and earnest gaze gave an unparalleled sense of trust. Leonardo, trapped in those hands, quietly looked up and felt an inexplicable word rise to his throat that he couldn't utter.

'Why are you going this far?'

It wasn't that he didn't understand. Given his righteous and upright nature, it was clear that he wouldn't leave him alone here. But he felt that the reason this person was acting to this extent wasn't just because of that nature.

Of course, he didn't know what answer he expected from that question, or what words he wanted to hear.

But before he could muster the courage to ask, he was preempted. Hugo's gentle voice asked as if seeking confirmation.

"Leo, you don't want to run away either, do you?"

The shortened first name, used since who knows when, kept breaking down the reason that was trying to put up a wall. Along with his words, Leonardo felt a lump in his throat and could no longer think of anything else. Agrizendro's question, which seemed to have already seen through his heart, made indescribable emotions well up in his chest.

His whole body ached and hurt. He was tired to the point of wanting to faint, and as his arms went numb and his heart throbbed, he was also afraid. Amidst all this, he was really tired of worrying about others getting caught up in his berserk state.

Leonardo, who no longer wanted to think about anything, simply squeezed his eyes shut and nodded obediently. Looking at the contorted expression as if holding something back, Hugo relaxed his face at the other's honesty finally revealed.

Eventually, he who had been cupping both cheeks lowered his hands and slightly bent his waist. Then he put his arms under Leonardo's knees and back, lightly lifting the tired body.

"...Wh-what?"

Bewilderment immediately colored Leonardo's face, but Hugo paid no heed and wrapped his arms around the other's thighs and lower back. Then, massaging the stiffly held arms, he tilted his head as if telling him to put them around his shoulders.

"Hold on tight. The way out won't be smooth."

After saying this, Hugo quickly scanned the surroundings.

Not far away, the volcanic eruption was still in full swing. Red magma jumping up in the darkness flashed with explosions, and even another small volcano nearby seemed to be affected by the underground pressure, with ominous smoke rising from its crater.

This place was behind a gentle peak, so relatively fewer ejecta fell here. But if they went out towards the valley that had been blown open by Leonardo's mana, the falling rocks overhead would be just the beginning of the obstacles.

Moreover, by now the barrier that had been fully activated would have sealed off the area, so it was practically impossible to open a portal and go outside.

Even though he hadn't sorted out in his mind how he himself would escape, Hugo maintained a calm expression to ease Leonardo's anxiety. At the same time, he continued to emit coldness from the parts in contact, suppressing the unstable energy.

Leonardo's body trembled slightly, noticeable only to the person holding him. Hugo glanced at him, adjusted his hold on Leonardo, and said,

"Having opposing energy nearby will make it easier to control your mana. Bear with the cold for a bit."

Feeling certainly calmer than before, Leonardo looked into Hugo's eyes and slowly nodded.

"Okay."

"And from now on, you just focus on not letting go of yourself. I'll take care of the rest."

The faintly glowing blue eyes sent a rather solemn gaze. At the same time, he looked down at Leonardo's hands that had lost their place, gesturing as if to say, "What are you waiting for? Hurry and hold on."

At this, Leonardo hesitantly placed his hands on Hugo's shoulders. They had clearly been in a similar position earlier, but it was puzzling why it hadn't felt this conscious then, but now it did.

The arms that had been awkwardly placed gradually wrapped around the broad shoulders. As a result, the two people, now at an awkward distance, silently looked at each other's faces.

Although they weren't completely pressed together, it felt like a reasonably stable position. Hugo silently raised the corners of his mouth, deciding to be satisfied with this distance for now.

Eventually, Hugo brought his forehead to Leonardo's and said as he kicked off into higher air,

"Let's go."

Feeling the extraordinary speed, Leonardo's arms reflexively tightened around Hugo's neck. As if taking this as an answer, Hugo unhesitatingly plunged into the smoke screen where nothing could be seen a foot ahead.

Blue and gold mixed, embroidering the darkness with a mysterious light. The figures of the two who had now leaped into the chaos disappeared in the blink of an eye.

* * *

"Isn't everyone here alive thanks to Leonardo Blaine? Whether torn apart by monsters or crushed by collapsing rocks. The reason we were able to survive on the peninsula when we could have died in any number of ways is all because he fought against the monster, sacrificing himself!!"

Nero had lost his reason.

"He is a hero of the Council, no, of the Empire! Does it make sense to just watch like this when such a person hasn't come out yet?"

Nero's forehead and neck bulged with blood vessels to the point where Felix's face, which he had taken on, turned red. Even Delua, who had been insisting on deploying a search team, looked at him in bewilderment.

He was extremely indignant towards the Council commanders. The reason was simple.

Even though it had become an established fact that Leonardo and their own Commander were trapped inside, some commanders argued that they should observe until appropriate measures were prepared, saying that releasing the already completed barrier could spread the damage. Saying that their own Commander would have made such a decision.

But Nero found it exasperating. Anyone could die from suffocation at any minute in that place filled with black smoke.

Moreover, anyone could guess that the Captain's physical condition, who had used an enormous amount of mana and was closest to the explosion point, would not be intact.

But these crazy bastards, if they were trapped themselves, they would obviously be scratching at the barrier begging to be saved like the monsters stuck there. How could they act so carefree as if it was someone else's problem, just saying that preparing measures was the priority? Nero was trembling all over, covered in contempt and disgust.

"Deputy Commander! Say something!"

The main target of his anger was Bruno Amos, the Deputy Commander who was the final decision-maker after Hugo Agrizendro.

The behavior of the member shouting in front of him could certainly be considered disrespectful, but that wasn't important in the current situation. In fact, there was nothing wrong with what this member was saying, and Bruno also recognized how cruel and chilling it was to just observe the situation like this.

However, they couldn't recklessly release the barrier either. It was an operation carried out on the premise of perfectly trapping the monsters and volcanic ash inside the barrier, and if it failed to fulfill that function properly, they didn't know what damage it might cause not only to themselves here but also to the citizens of both countries attached to the edge of the continent.

Bruno, looking at the member with a complicated expression, pondered deeply what decision the Commander would have made if he were here.

Some commanders said he wouldn't release the barrier for the greater good, but Bruno thought differently. The Commander he knew would have ordered to save everyone trapped inside no matter what.

Bruno, his head becoming complicated, held his head with both hands as he always did. It was then, as he was wracking his brain for a solution while struggling under the pressure.

"Ugh..."

Liner, who had been in critical condition, suddenly opened his eyes.