"Tsk, is it uneven?"
Following the method Raul had taught me before, I tied Vittorio's hair and examined the shape of his head.
After doing this every day, my skills had improved, but his hair had grown quite a bit, so today, for the first time, I tried a ponytail.
Leonardo flipped over a washbasin, holding up the smooth, shiny side like a mirror. When Vittorio saw his reflection on the brass surface, he smiled brightly, clearly satisfied.
"They say there's a rumour about a dragon's curse and demons, huh?"
Pressing down the stray hairs that stuck out, I asked, and the child quickly nodded.
"There's also talk about people disappearing."
Until the dawn of the second expedition, our tasks were simple:
Share details with Duke Marchez, communicate with the anti-Godric faction of nobles we met at the banquet, and spread the rumours.
It was time to stir fear into the once-comfortable Leap Year Great Hunt. Even if Godric tried to keep the situation under control, it wouldn't be easy. Especially because of the unique nature of the second expedition.
[We're not splitting into sectors like last time?]
[The monsters must have sensed the outside threat after the first expedition. Their behaviour will have changed. When the population drops and the old balance breaks, that's what happens. Even those that used to live on the steep sides of the mountains wouldn't have prepared for hibernation properly — they'll be on edge.]
[Hmm.]
[They'll all try to move into the gentler regions.]
[Then the goal of the second expedition is—]
To build a defensive line along the dragon's spine and hold off the swarms of beasts.
A sort of siege defence.
'Even Godric is joining the expedition.'
It was an event where even the king, who had so far only commanded from the comfort of the old castle ruins, would step onto the battlefield.
The king, who always wore loose clothing that concealed his figure, and carried an almost fragile, gentle demeanour — to the point of seeming weak.
But remembering the movements he displayed when showing off the power of the Dragonbone Blade… he couldn't be underestimated.
"It's the first time the king is personally stepping onto the battlefield."
Raul spoke, munching on an apple — one he'd clearly swiped from somewhere.
"He used to leave everything to the field army and stay safe in the capital. Wonder what made him change his mind?"
Godric wasn't hiding. Those things were connected to Sub-writer 1 somehow, and he had no reason to deliberately weaken his own forces.
More than anything, forcing Leovald into the most dangerous situations was exactly what Godric wanted.
And after the Great Calamity, it seemed the kingdom's power structure hadn't been particularly stable. Maybe he'd been too preoccupied consolidating that power to bother with external affairs. It wasn't likely the capital had always been overrun with those things from the start.
If a major rift like the one in Sinistra had opened, plunging people into nightmare days, surely rumours would've spread. The fact that no one doubted the capital now made that impossible.
Which meant Godric had spent the last ten years slowly, meticulously taking control of the entire capital.
For what?
'To siphon off the expedition forces little by little, offering them up as if feeding a tithe — to the resurrection of the Evil Dragon.'
Just like he's doing now.
"Leo. His Majesty's joining this expedition, too. Could it be—"
After tidying up the entire camp, I casually tried to ask Leonardo about Godric's strength — but I suddenly felt a sharp gaze land on me.
It was mostly the knights from the Ertinez family. When our eyes met, they quickly looked away, huddling together and whispering in a flurry of hushed voices.
"I told you, a royal attendant mentioned it directly at the last banquet…"
"See? I knew there had to be a hidden past."
"Do you think the young master can handle it? No matter what, the scale of this is…"
"Nah, knowing the young master's temper, it'd have to be this big to count as a proper match."
They seemed caught up in a heated debate. Curious, I tugged on Leonardo's sleeve, signalling for him to eavesdrop. He blinked a few times, then shrugged.
"Knights talk about all sorts of nonsense when they get bored. Don't bother with it."
…What?
Right before departure, I decided to ask Raul — who was closer to the knights — if he knew anything. He scoffed.
"Apparently, handling a lover with a complicated past is the hot topic among the expedition forces lately. Got anything to say about that?"
"Why's that even a topic? Is someone in the expedition dating or something?"
"Nah… what do I even expect?"
Raul gave me a pitying look before walking away.
…What's with him?
Carrying that strange, uncomfortable feeling, I headed to the assembly point — and there stood Godric, stripped of his usual elaborate attire. Instead, he wore tightly fitted battle garb that highlighted his frame.
He scanned the expedition force with a downward gaze, then smiled.
"We march."
His voice carried the same resonant weight Leonardo used when commanding the troops — the kind that didn't need to be loud to reach far.
With the deep, steady beat of war drums, the standard-bearers moved to the front. The slow, heavy march stretched on for hours.
When we finally approached the jagged peaks rising like thorns along the dragon's spine, a new scenario unfolded before my eyes.
Take 1. Dragon's Spine, Tenth Peak (Day/Outside)
The deployed expedition establishes a defensive line, using the peak as a base.
Spearman Raul: "Not that I expected anything better, but isn't this an outright malicious formation?"
Raul points out that the Ertinez family's forces have been assigned to guard the exposed outposts.
Leonardo: "Yeah. It's the perfect setup to get rid of an eyesore."
A lookout waves a flag.
Leonardo: "They're coming."
The Ertinez family forces engage in fierce combat. Leonardo's prowess draws the attention of some nobles.
Take 2. Dragon's Spine, First Peak (Night/Outside)
Unlike the first expedition, casualties — both wounded and dead — emerge across multiple fronts.
King Godric: "Those too wounded to continue will be transported to the old ruins for treatment."
Leonardo (inner monologue): "He's planning to feed them to those things for replacements."
King Godric: "As for the dead… Traditionally, cremation would be proper. But fire and light may provoke the beasts further. Let's bury them instead. Do you agree?"
A burial ceremony follows.
Take 3. Dragon's Spine, First Peak (Night/Outside)
Duke Marchez and Leonardo lead the anti-Godric nobles to a clearing. The nobles witness the royal guards digging up the graves, leaving them in shock. The truth about the missing people is uncovered. The alliance, spearheaded by Duke Marchez and House Ertinez, strengthens.
Main Characters: Leonardo, King Godric, Duke Marchez
Clear Condition: [Leonardo must successfully hold the defensive line and provide the anti-Godric nobles with evidence of the king's collusion with those things.]
I skimmed through the scenario notes, trying to read between the lines to grasp the main author's intent. It seemed the second expedition focused heavily on solidifying the alliance.
Perhaps Butier believed that relying solely on the forces sent by the Ertinez family wouldn't be enough for our rescue operation to succeed. He seemed to be putting more effort into building the alliance than I initially thought.
'Or…'
If the main writing team had caught on to the Evil Dragon's resurrection plan, they might be prioritizing alliance-building to prepare for that possibility.
Maybe they truly believed such a thing could happen.
'That would be a real headache.'
If Leonardo's original nemesis were to be revived, it would be an absolute disaster.
I furrowed my brow, swallowing the unease rising in my chest — and just then, a distant horn's deep, resonating sound echoed across the field.
The expedition forces split off, moving to their assigned zones.
The Ertinez family's expedition force took position at the foremost peak — the tenth — where they set up camp. Thick wooden barricades stretched along the ridge known as the Spine, forming a makeshift wall.
The peak acted like a watchtower, doubling as a command base. Archers remained stationed atop the barricades, ready to rain arrows from afar to support the knights below.
"Looks like we'll be a bit apart for this battle."
I whispered to Leonardo, who had finished his armour preparations and was ready to step beyond the barricade. He nodded — then suddenly spoke.
"Isn't this a send-off too, in a way?"
"Huh?"
"A farewell ritual."
Leonardo blinked innocently, like he was asking if I'd forgotten something.
…Well. Technically, it did look like I was staying behind while he marched off to the frontlines.
'Again?'
He nodded quickly.
He once mentioned he never got a proper farewell back when he was Leovald — maybe he still held onto that.
In the end, I sighed and gave a small, resigned smile.
"Alright, fine… it's not like I'll run out of goodbyes."
I glanced around, waiting for the right moment. When the other knights were busy preparing, I grabbed Leonardo and quickly pulled him behind a wagon. It felt a bit awkward — everyone else was rushing to get ready for battle, and here we were sneaking off for a private farewell.
I looped my arms around his neck and pulled him down, pressing a firm kiss to both his cheeks. Leonardo smiled softly, tilting his head down like he was used to this by now.
Just as I leaned in to kiss his forehead, a shadow swept past.
Startled, Leonardo jerked his head up, and my lips missed their mark — landing awkwardly on his chin instead. If I'd been a second slower, we might've ended up kissing for real.
The shadow that flickered overhead wasn't just anyone.
It was a beast's shadow.
"Prepare for battle!"
The lookouts must have spotted it too — flags waved frantically, and the deep echo of war horns rang across the camp, urging the knights into formation.
I grabbed Leonardo's shoulder before he could turn away, quickly pressing a proper kiss to his nose this time, whispering:
"Be careful."
Leonardo's smile widened, his gaze warm and steady.
I watched him ride off, his silhouette growing smaller against the endless white expanse beyond the barricade. Past him, the shapes of the approaching beast horde slowly began to take form.
And then, an idea struck me.
A way to sabotage the Evil Dragon's resurrection plan — even if only a little.
'What if we destroy the corpses so they can't use them?'
If the bodies were too mangled to be repurposed, transporting them would be a nightmare too. It would make cleanup a mess… but it might be worth the trouble.
Messy. Brutal. But effective.
When I shared this idea with Leonardo through
「I'll give it a try.」