Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“We feel ashamed that due to our lack of ability, we’re only sacrificing you, Major…”

Adrian expressed embarrassment with a sheepish look. Most of the bereaved families were dependent on Iberis’s support, so he always felt apologetic.

However, they couldn’t refuse Iberis’s help because many who joined the Defense Force were from the defense zone or were refugees. This meant that unless they had a sense of honor like Livio or a sense of duty like Winfried, most joined to make a living or to support their families.

The circumstances of the deceased special team members weren’t much different. They wanted their families to live comfortably in a safe place. One colleague worked in the military to pay for the treatment of his child with an incurable disease, while another from a refugee background worked to settle his family. Joining the military provided housing for military families within the defense zone and access to cheaper military hospitals.

Ryan also lived for his nephew Adrian, the only survivor who lost his family to a dungeon break. Adrian had almost lost his sight due to monster poison when he was young, and Ryan worked hard to save money to fix his nephew’s eyes. However, he passed away before seeing Adrian regain his sight.

“What sacrifice? I’m doing this because I want to.”

Iberis reacted as if he had heard something strange. He was uncomfortable with Adrian or other bereaved families being grateful or apologetic to him like this. As if he didn’t deserve it.

“And because of me, you and others lost the pensions and homes you were supposed to receive. I should compensate for that.”

Iberis smiled bitterly, recalling old memories. When the scandal broke, the military court ruled that while Livio committed the biggest crime, the team members weren’t entirely blameless. Their actions before suspecting Livio’s corruption could be considered, but following orders and carrying out missions after harboring suspicions was deemed wrong.

From Iberis’s perspective, it was an unreasonable nitpick, but he couldn’t argue because there were people who had been unjustly sacrificed in the special team’s missions. The court ultimately ordered that the victims be compensated with the pensions meant for the bereaved families. Some families even received eviction notices.

As the situation unfolded, voices criticizing Iberis rapidly increased among the bereaved families who suddenly lost their means of livelihood. If he hadn’t reported Livio, they would have at least been guaranteed a minimum standard of living.

Iberis, already burdened with guilt, wanted to help them all. Besides establishing a foundation for support, he wanted them to move to the N-zone with him for safety. Except for a few families, many followed him here.

For the bereaved families who trusted and moved with him, Iberis bought several mansions in the village closest to the N-0 unit. He even hired retired Espers as security guards, thinking Livio might harm the families.

“It wasn’t you who took away the pensions and homes, Major, it was the Defense Force. …Besides me, others have fully adapted to life in the N-zone and are working, so you can reduce the support funds now.”

Adrian, watching Iberis’s reaction, voiced what he had been thinking for a while. Thanks to Iberis’s help, Adrian had eye surgery and was now working as a kindergarten teacher in the village. Last year, he met someone he loved, got married, and had a child.

But not everyone was living diligently like Adrian. Quite a few were living recklessly, relying on the money Iberis gave. Adrian disliked that.

“What are you saying? I plan to support as much as possible until I die, no, even after death. That’s the atonement I can do.”

Iberis frowned as if he had heard something absurd.

“Atonement? As I always say, my uncle’s death wasn’t your fault, Major. The bad one was that Livio.”

“…”

“Even if supporting us is atonement, you’ve done enough over the past few years. Besides me, Johan, Aliya, and Jihad’s families feel the same way.”

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

“It’s not sudden. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Continuing to support us like this is too much of a burden on you, Major…”

“Who are you worrying about? I have a lot of money.”

Iberis cut off Adrian’s words with a laugh of disbelief. His claim was true. As an S-class Esper, Iberis’s salary was much higher than other soldiers. He also received various incentives such as danger pay and successful attack bonuses.

“I don’t have anything to spend money on except for foundation work anyway. So don’t worry about it.”

“You should spend it on yourself, not just us.”

“What is there to spend on myself… The military provides food and housing. I wear uniforms every day except when I come out like this, so I don’t really need clothes.”

Iberis shrugged, refuting Adrian’s words. While other soldiers buy various things, eat out, and go on vacation, he didn’t. With no material desires and no family to support, his salary and bonuses had just been accumulating in his bank account for the past 10 years.

“It might be good to have a hobby of some kind.”

“This is my hobby. Spending money recklessly on beneficiaries through the foundation.”

“How can that be a hobby…”

“It is here. And I don’t have time to enjoy hobbies. Even while I’m here with you, if a rift appears, I have to go to work right away, right?”

“Still…”

Adrian looked at Iberis with regretful eyes. To him, Iberis was a savior who had rescued him when he was broken after losing his uncle. That’s why Adrian wanted Iberis to be happy.

However, over the past three years, Iberis’s complexion had only grown darker. In recent months, he even looked very ill, like someone with a serious disease. Fortunately, today he looked a bit better than when they met last time.

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

Finally, Iberis surrendered, making a gesture of raising both hands. Despite everything, he was weak to the bereaved families. Suddenly, he remembered Lucas’s words that he should think about getting better for the sake of those who worry about him.

At that time, he had agreed to cooperate with the treatment after being swayed by those words, but it didn’t really resonate with him. Now, seeing Adrian’s face full of apology and concern, his heart inexplicably fluttered.

“…I should go now.”

“Already?”

“My job here is done, isn’t it?”

Iberis rose from his seat, as if fleeing, his mood turning strange. The reason he met Adrian today was for a parent observation class at the kindergarten. It was a session where parents and children learned about evacuation procedures during rift occurrences and how to deal with monsters, and Iberis had been invited as a guest lecturer. Since many of the kindergarten children were from bereaved families, he had gladly accepted.

“Thank you for coming today. The children really enjoyed it. I saw you teaching well earlier… How about becoming a teacher with me when you retire later?”

“…Well, I’m not sure if I’ll have that opportunity.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

Iberis smiled faintly and put his hands in his cardigan pockets. Seeing this, the children flocked to him.

“Soldier teacher, where are you going?”

“Are you going home?”

“Can’t you show us the monster made of ice again like before?”

“Hey, kids, don’t bother the Major.”

Adrian tried to restrain the children gathering around Iberis.

“Well, monsters might be a bit much, but I’ll give you this instead.”

Iberis took a step back, avoiding a child trying to grab his clothes, then clenched and opened his hand. An ice flower bloomed on his palm.

“Wow!”

“It’s so pretty! Ah, it’s cold!”

The children’s eyes widened at the sparkling ice flower. A child reached out as if enchanted, surprised by the coldness but still taking the ice flower.

“Ah, me too, me too!”

“Please give me one too…!”

“I’ll make one for everyone, so line up.”

Iberis gave an ice flower to each of the children clamoring for one.

“Goodbye, soldier teacher!”

“Bye-bye!”

“See you next time!”

The children who came to see him off at the main gate waved with bright smiles. Smiling back in response to their farewells, Iberis turned and took out his phone. He was planning to call the driver who should be waiting nearby. Then, hearing the innocent laughter from afar, he turned back again.

“…”

Iberis blankly stared at Adrian entering the kindergarten with the children. He had clearly been among them just moments ago, but suddenly everything felt unfamiliar. As if he could never blend into that warm and peaceful scene.

“What are you doing here?”

“…Captain?”

Iberis, who had been standing still gazing at the kindergarten, flinched when a pleasant baritone voice wrapped around his ears.

“Why are you here?”

Surprised by the voice that shouldn’t be heard here, Iberis reflexively turned his head and widened his eyes, confirming it wasn’t an auditory hallucination. He saw Lucas standing there with his characteristic stoic expression.

“I came to pick you up, Major.”

Lucas, replying with an inexplicably bland face, slightly furrowed his brow as if something displeased him. Then he strode towards Iberis.

“How can you go around dressed so coldly?”

Lucas, who had instantly appeared in front of Iberis, clicked his tongue. Then he immediately unwrapped the scarf around his neck and wrapped it around Iberis. A light scolding came as a bonus.