Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“The dining hall…? With me?”

“Yes. I contacted the nutritionist managing the base’s dining hall last night and prepared a special diet for you, Major. We need to start managing your health for the future.”

“No, I…”

As Iberis was about to refuse, the oven chimed, indicating that cooking was finished. At that sound, Lucas’s gaze shifted towards the kitchen.

“I heard you often eat alone instead of at the dining hall. Were you in the middle of preparing food?”

“Huh? Oh. Yes. So I…”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Lucas strode inside before Iberis could stop him. He headed to the kitchen and opened the oven, checking the nicely browned chicken breast.

“…This isn’t breakfast, is it?”

“It is.”

Iberis looked at Lucas with an expression that said ‘Is there a problem?’

“So the nutritionist was right about you not eating properly and being a picky eater.”

“What?”

“How can someone in poor health eat like this? You need a more balanced diet.”

“What’s wrong with chicken breast? Isn’t it healthy food…?”

“It’s healthy, but it can be harmful for patients. What you need right now are high-calorie foods. You should consume a balanced diet of meat, vegetables, fish, and fruits. What’s this? Chamomile tea?”

Lucas’s gaze now turned to the chamomile tea on the island counter.

“Oh? Yes. It’s chamomile tea.”

“Hmm, chamomile tea warms the body, so it’s not bad to drink often. That’s a good choice.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, but from today, you’re forbidden from having such haphazard meals. I’ll discuss with the nutritionist and create a meal plan for you to follow.”

“By what right?”

“Have you forgotten? I’m your primary physician. This falls under dietary therapy, so please comply.”

“Huh…”

Iberis gaped in disbelief. This was stubbornness on another level.

“You know this could be considered insubordination, right?”

“If my actions have offended you, I apologize. But I’m just fulfilling my duty as your physician. According to military medical law, when a treatment is deemed necessary for a patient, a medical officer can act regardless of rank. The patient must also respect and follow the medical officer’s judgment.”

Lucas recited the military medical law without blinking. Then he slightly curved his eyes at Iberis, who had fallen silent at the irrefutable statement.

“Now, please change your clothes and come out. I’ll wait patiently in the living room.”

“…Sigh.”

Iberis, momentarily at a loss for words, soon ran his hand through his hair and sighed. It seemed he had encountered quite a troublesome fellow.

* * *

“How was your meal?”

“It was fine.”

“It didn’t seem like you ate well. You left almost half… By the way, do you have any allergies?”

“No. And I usually eat small portions. I don’t like feeling heavy, and it’s hard to digest.”

Iberis replied while rubbing his stomach. He felt slightly bloated, probably from eating more than usual.

“Hmm, I suppose an upset stomach is more likely when your body is cold. Still, you need to increase your food intake from now on. Let’s gradually increase the amount.”

“Do I really have to?”

“Yes, you do. You need good physical strength to endure the treatment.”

“My physical strength is fine.”

“Don’t lie. Even if it doesn’t affect your daily life, you must have felt something off during missions.”

Recalling the numbers he saw yesterday, Lucas added with certainty:

“The weaker one’s physical condition, the more severe the aftereffects of using abilities. So…”

“Alright, stop. You’re giving me a headache.”

To think an even worse nag than Brenda would appear. Feeling rapidly tired, Iberis waved his hand at Lucas, as if declining any further conversation.

“I’m going to work now, so Captain, you should…”

“Captain? Weren’t you calling me Luke?”

“…I call you both Luke and Captain.”

Iberis mumbled in a small voice, averting his gaze at Lucas’s point. It was already awkward for him to speak casually, let alone calling him by his first name – that was too challenging for him.

“Hmm, I see. I suppose you’ll get used to it gradually.”

“Yeah, so now…”

“Before you go to work, how about receiving some guiding first?”

“Huh? Guiding? Now?”

Iberis’s eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion. He stopped in his tracks and looked at Lucas.

“I remembered you said you slept soundly for the first time in a while. If you don’t have any urgent work to handle, I’d like to guide you.”

Lucas mentioned their earlier conversation during the meal as he recommended guiding to Iberis. Although his complexion had improved slightly from yesterday, overall he still looked pale and lifeless. The occasional puffs of white breath escaping between his chapped lips were also concerning.

“It’s fine. I don’t want to go down to the first floor again.”

“If going to the guiding room is troublesome, let’s do it for a few minutes in your office. The location doesn’t matter.”

“Why go to such lengths…”

Iberis made a sour face at Lucas’s enthusiastic attitude. He had been thinking this since yesterday, but it seemed his temporary guide was quite the workaholic.

“As I said yesterday, Major, your body is currently in a damaged state due to chronic lack of guiding. To use an analogy, it’s like land that has suffered drought for years. Just as a brief shower doesn’t end a drought, receiving guiding once won’t cure you.”

“…”

“However, too much rain at once is also problematic. The weakened, cracked ground from long-term drought can’t withstand a downpour and collapses. It’s the same for you, Major. Excessive treatment could be harmful. So we need to proceed with treatment and guiding slowly and steadily, without overexertion.”

“…Can I really get better that way?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if I can definitely escape death if I receive treatment from you, Captain.”

Momentarily struck speechless by the direct question, Lucas hesitated. He slightly furrowed his neat brow as he spoke.

“…I can’t give you a definite answer on that right now. A doctor shouldn’t carelessly assure a patient of complete recovery. What I can tell you now is that if left untreated, the worst outcome will occur.”

“The worst, huh… From my perspective, that’s not such a bad ending.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s nothing.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes as he watched Iberis shake his head as if to say not to worry about it. He could see glimpses of the depression and listlessness he had sensed yesterday.

“…I think it would be better to approach this with the mindset of improving from your current state rather than thinking about getting completely better right away. Wasn’t my guiding yesterday satisfactory?”

After a moment of consideration, Lucas changed his strategy. For a patient with little will to live, pushing for treatment for recovery could backfire. So he decided to emphasize the effects of guiding.

“Just don’t think about anything else and enjoy the present. You don’t like being in pain or feeling cold, do you, Major?”

Iberis looked up at Lucas, who was subtly trying to tempt him, with a blank expression. That arrogant attitude, assuming he couldn’t dislike his guiding, was strangely annoying. What was more irritating was that he couldn’t refute those words. In fact, the guiding he received from Lucas yesterday was extremely good.

To be honest, it felt like he had experienced a whole new world. It made all the guiding he had received until now feel like it wasn’t real guiding at all.

As he recalled that sensation, an inexplicable thirst rose within him. If he could feel that again, if he could constantly feel that warmth, then as Lucas said, it wouldn’t be a loss. Unknowingly moistening his lower lip with his tongue, Iberis’s lips moved.

“Then…”

[Rift occurring, Rift occurring.]

Just as Iberis was about to answer, a broadcast announcing the creation of a rift rang out along with a loud warning sound. Right after, Brenda, who had received contact from the Intelligence Department, appeared from the opposite corridor.

“Major!”

Brenda ran to Iberis without delay and reported the current situation.

“A B-grade rift has occurred in the northwest! It’s adjacent to a magical area, so the N-1 unit has requested support.”

“We’ll depart right away. Get ready.”

“Yes, sir!”

Having quickly finished her report, Brenda turned around and ran back down the corridor to prepare the squad members.

“It looks like we’ll have to do the guiding later.”

Iberis looked at Lucas with a bitter smile. However, he widened his eyes at the response he received.

“I’ll come along too.”

“What?”

“Although temporary, I’m your dedicated guide, so I should move with you. You’ll experience aftereffects after combat, won’t you?”

“…”

“Usually it takes 10 minutes. The assembly point is the parade ground in front of the main building.”

“10 minutes, that’s a bit tight. Well then, I’ll get ready quickly and see you again soon.”

Lucas checked his wristwatch, bowed his head slightly, and then turned around. His attitude showed no signs of tension about the sudden change of situation or his first dispatch.

“…What’s with him, really.”

Iberis furrowed his brow slightly as he blankly watched the retreating figure. Then, realizing this wasn’t the time for such thoughts, he hurriedly headed to his office.