Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“Anyway, please take good care of Captain Illum. He’s like a son to me… He’s a capable fellow, but he still lacks field experience, so he might cause trouble for the Major.”

“If he’s like a son to you, wouldn’t it be better to keep him close?”

“Just because someone is cute and pretty doesn’t mean you can keep them as a greenhouse flower forever. And I told you earlier, I can’t let you die like this.”

“I…”

Iberis swallowed the words that had risen to her throat – that she didn’t have much desire to live – and glanced at Brenda beside her. She knew it would be a shocking thing to say.

“I’ll hang up now. Oh, I almost forgot to mention this. The information about the Major’s terminal condition won’t reach anyone else’s ears. I’ll take care of that part myself.”

While Iberis hesitated, Winfried signaled the end of the conversation. Although it was supposed to be a secure phone unlikely to be tapped, one could never be too careful. There was no point in prolonging the conversation.

“…If the Lieutenant General personally intervenes, I suppose my information won’t spread easily.”

“Haha. That’s right. You can rest easy.”

Winfried said in a confident voice. For her, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, hiding certain information was a very easy task.

“No matter how capable I am, if I fall into a coma like last time, information will leak out one way or another. If you don’t want people to find out you’re terminally ill, you’ll have to be careful about that too. While there are people like me who don’t want to see the Major fall, there are also those waiting for an opportunity to tear at your throat. You understand what I’m saying, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Good. If you want to live, cooperate with Captain Illum. He’s an excellent doctor as well as a guide, so he’ll take good care of you.”

Winfried hung up first after leaving her final advice. At that moment, blue electricity sparked from the secure phone in Iberis’s hand, followed by an acrid smell and a puff of smoke.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Dispose of this.”

Iberis handed the broken secure phone to Brenda. Then she checked the official document she had received earlier.

“Luke Illum…”

The document stated that Captain Luke Illum was appointed as Iberis’s primary physician and temporary guide. Iberis’s gaze stopped at their matching test results as she slowly read through Luke Illum’s profile.

Matching rate: 62%

62%? Her long eyelashes trembled slightly at the unfamiliar number. While it might not be considered a high matching rate for a normal Esper-Guide relationship, Iberis’s case was different. Until now, her highest matching rate with a guide hadn’t exceeded 50%.

However, she couldn’t be entirely happy about it. Given the situation, she couldn’t help but feel cautious. After confirming Captain Luke Illum’s official appointment date, Iberis ordered Brenda with a stern expression.

“Investigate Captain Luke Illum right now. Everything from his reputation among his peers, his relationship with Lieutenant General Bismarck, to his background before joining the military.”

* * *

‘Luke, run away! Hurry!’

‘Ah, Father…’

The long eyelashes twitched at the desperate cry echoing in his head. As his father’s urgently outstretched hand pushed him back, his vision turned pitch black. Soon, someone’s scream hit his ears, and the acrid smell of smoke stung his nostrils.

‘I entrust Regina to you, Lucas.’

Blink. When he came to his senses again, he was in a familiar embrace. The metallic smell of blood coming from the body that had always been fragrant made his heart sink. A pitiful touch, as if sensing the end, gently stroked his face. His mother, who had placed his sister in his arms, turned and ran in the opposite direction.

‘No… Mother! Mother!’

He reached out to grasp the warmth that was gradually fading away, but his vision changed once again. Lucas ran, holding his sister, trying to fulfill his mother’s request. Behind him, there was a sound of something collapsing.

It’s hot, it hurts.

Lucas, who had escaped from the mansion engulfed in flames, writhed and screamed in pain. His body was burning like the mansion that was crumbling into black ashes. The sensation of his skin melting all over his body was terrifying.

This is a dream.

Lucas thought as he suffered from the heat that had consumed his entire body. The scorching heat engulfing his body and the horrific scene unfolding before his eyes were not real. Even knowing this, he couldn’t wake up from the dream. His tightly closed eyelids trembled and his fingers twitched involuntarily from the pain of his flesh burning.

‘Brother, no…! *sob* Don’t die!’

Just when he thought he was going to die like this, a flash of white light appeared along with his young sister’s wail. At the same time, his deeply submerged consciousness began to rise.

“…tain, Captain!”

“…Huff!”

Lucas’s eyes flew open at the sound of Caleb’s voice piercing his ears. Cough, cough, he started coughing like someone who had been pulled out of water. Frowning, he looked at Caleb who had woken him up. Through his blurry vision, he could see Caleb’s face filled with deep concern as he examined him.

“Did you have another nightmare?”

“Ah…”

Still seemingly affected by the nightmare, Lucas blinked with a dazed expression and slowly sat up. His back felt oddly damp, as if he had broken into a cold sweat while sleeping. He strained his eyes, feeling a slight headache.

“Have we arrived?”

Lucas spoke as he noticed unfamiliar buildings through the window. It seemed he had dozed off during the journey from the military airport to the N-0 unit.

“Yes, this is the N-0 unit.”

Caleb, finally relieved, got out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door where Lucas was sitting.

“Whew.”

Lucas took a moment to compose himself, gathering his scattered thoughts. Whenever he dreamed of ‘that day’ like this, it always left a bad aftertaste.

“Welcome to our unit, Captain Luke Illum. I’m Lieutenant Brenda Cali. I assist Major Iberis Hyun.”

As Lucas stepped out, having returned to his usual demeanor, a soldier who had been watching them from afar quickly approached and greeted them. It was Brenda.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Luke Illum.”

Lucas exchanged greetings with Brenda, maintaining his characteristic expressionless face. Then he introduced Caleb, who was standing behind him.

“This is Second Lieutenant Caleb Denver. He’s my adjutant.”

“Hello, ma’am.”

Caleb took off his hat and bowed slightly to Brenda. Although his attitude was very polite, his imposing figure of over 2 meters tall was quite intimidating.

“Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Denver. I look forward to working with you.”

Brenda, showing no sign of surprise at the bear-like Caleb, extended her hand first. After shaking hands with him, Brenda led the two into the building.

“Before I show you to your quarters, let’s greet the Major first. The Major has been waiting for your arrival, Captain.”

“Mm.”

“I assume you’ve been briefed to some extent about what kind of place our unit is before coming here. This is the most dangerous area within the N zone. As we maintain a 24-hour standby system, all unit members, without exception, must live in the barracks.”

“I’m aware. It’s larger than I expected.”

Lucas muttered as he briefly looked around after entering the headquarters under Brenda’s guidance.

“That’s because N-0 to N-9 zones are all connected. While the units are separated, you can think of them as being on the same premises. Seen from above, the units are connected like one giant fortress wall. Some call it humanity’s last line of defense.”

“Because of the First Magical Realm, the Land of Death?”

“Exactly. Even without rifts occurring, monsters occasionally pop out from the Land of Death. It’s a common problem in areas with magical realms. Besides that, recently a few villain organizations have been causing trouble…”

As they chatted, the three soon arrived at the Major’s office on the second floor. Brenda stopped and turned to Lucas and Caleb.

“Lieutenant Denver, please wait in the corridor with me. The Major wishes to speak with the Captain privately…”

“Understood.”

Knock knock. As Caleb withdrew without a word, Brenda raised her hand and knocked on the door.

“Major, Captain Luke Illum has arrived.”

“Send him in.”

A small voice responded from inside almost before Brenda finished speaking. Click, she opened the door and stepped aside.

“Excuse me.”

Lucas strode into the wide-open door. He saw the person sitting at the desk in the center of the spacious office rise at his entrance. He only stopped walking when he reached right in front of the desk.

“Welcome, Captain Illum.”

Iberis, who had stood up in the meantime, calmly gazed at Lucas. The silver-gray eyes visible beneath the neat black hair sparkled transparently with a cold light.