All depends on what sign you assign to the leap seconds!

Ah, but negative numbers are not included in the set of counting numbers, and your initial comment referred to "the leap seconds" with no reference to "the leap second offset" or other verbiage that might imply anything other than a simple count of leap seconds.

Alas, I'm afraid you've no other option but to admit a minor error, as traumatic as that may be.

I'll never admit to an error, although perhaps a negative value for correctness.