Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“It’s not that cold… More importantly, how did you get here?”

Iberis made an enigmatic expression as the warm scarf wrapped around his neck.

“Your neck is completely exposed. If your neck is cold, your body temperature drops. Conversely, if your neck is warm, your body temperature rises. You should always protect your neck, Major.”

Lucas scrutinized Iberis, who was wearing a black hoodie and jeans, with disapproving eyes. After skillfully tying the scarf, he dropped his hands and answered,

“And I asked Lieutenant Cali about your location.”

A few hours earlier, Lucas had called Brenda to find out Iberis’s destination and reason for going out.

‘The Major went to meet Adrian Jackson. Specifically, to the kindergarten where he works…’

‘…Kindergarten?’

‘Yes. It seems they’re having some kind of safety education today. He was asked to come as a guest lecturer.’

Brenda, who already trusted Lucas, spoke freely without any suspicion. She judged that it wasn’t something that needed to be hidden and that there would be no problem in telling him.

‘Jackson… Is that the bereaved family of the operation team leader who was the Major’s former colleague?’

‘That’s right. He’s the nephew. He moved here when the Major was transferred to the N-zone.’

‘Moved?’

‘Yes. Besides him, many bereaved families are currently staying in the N-zone. Since the Major is supporting them…’

After hearing Brenda’s explanation, Lucas remembered seeing that information in the intelligence department’s report. After ending the call, feeling conflicted, Lucas eventually got up from his seat.

It wasn’t as if there was a problem, and Iberis had just gone out for a bit, so there was no need to go all the way to where Iberis was. Knowing this, his body still headed towards the kindergarten Brenda had told him about. And then he saw him standing blankly in the middle of the road.

The moment Lucas’s eyes took in Iberis standing there with a lonely expression unsuited to spring, he felt a strange uneasiness. To his eyes, Iberis looked so precarious, as if he might scatter like snow flowers at any moment. That’s why he had to speak first.

“So why… Did something happen?”

Iberis looked at Lucas as if he couldn’t understand why he had come all the way here to find him.

“…There is something, but it’s not urgent. Just some news about former Major General Logan came in.”

“Former Major General Logan?”

Iberis’s eyes narrowed slightly at the name that irritated him every time he heard it.

“What about him?”

“I received a call from Major General Bismarck. It seems Mars Guild has been finally selected as a Defense Force cooperation guild. They even applied for the Northern Defense Zone.”

“The Northern Defense Zone?”

“Yes. It seems you are their target, Major.”

“…I hope my information hasn’t leaked out?”

“They seem to know about your visit to the private hospital. But not about the terminal illness. It looks like they’ve been investigating your movements all this time.”

“…So they’ve been watching me constantly.”

Iberis muttered with a knowing look. Considering Livio’s personality, it made sense. He would still be grinding his teeth, wanting revenge.

“The Major General said he’d try his best to prevent Mars Guild from coming here… But if no other guild applies for the Northern Defense Zone, there’s a high chance it will go according to former Major General Logan’s wishes. We should be prepared for that.”

“We should.”

Iberis agreed with Lucas’s opinion and swallowed a sigh. His gaze turned back towards the kindergarten. If Livio came to the N-zone, the bereaved families could be in danger.

Should I evacuate them somewhere?

The silver-gray eyes staring at the kindergarten darkened. He hesitated to tell those who had just adapted to life in the N-zone to leave for another place. Moreover, there was no guarantee they would be safe even if they moved to another defense zone.

Lost in thought, Iberis bit his lower lip hard. This caused a small drop of blood to form. At that moment, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his chin.

“What are you doing now?”

“Huh?”

“You’re bleeding.”

Lucas, who had roughly turned Iberis’s face, narrowed his brows as he glared at the quickly reddening lip. The skin that would easily chap or turn stark white with just a little carelessness would get wounded like this from even minor impacts.

Disliking this, Lucas wiped the blood gathered on the lower lip with his thumb. Then he took out a medicinal lip balm from his pocket and applied it. It was something he had started carrying around at some point, not only to keep the lips moist but also for its healing effect when applied to wounds.

“I don’t understand why you keep tormenting your own lips.”

“…It’s a habit, what can I do? And it’s not my fault my lips are weak.”

Embarrassed by Lucas’s scolding, Iberis grumbled timidly. Then, realizing Lucas’s finger was still on his lip, he quickly closed his mouth. The sensation of the blunt fingertip gently moving across his lips was very strange.

“So why did you come here again?”

Iberis tensed his toes as if enduring a tickle, then let out a held breath when Lucas’s hand moved away.

“…I was curious, so I came to see.”

Lucas, who was wiping the lip balm off his hand with a handkerchief, hesitated for a very brief moment before answering nonchalantly.

“About what?”

“I wanted to know if the bereaved families you support are conscienceless humans like the unit commanders we saw last time, or not.”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“They’re people who affect your psychological state, aren’t they? As your attending physician, it wouldn’t hurt to know.”

“Is that so…?”

Iberis, momentarily swayed by Lucas’s eloquence, tilted his head slightly. When he thought about it, it did seem to make sense.

“Shall I introduce them to you then?”

“Later. How about inviting all the bereaved families in the N-zone and arranging a gathering? It might be easier to assess them that way.”

“Hmm, alright.”

Iberis nodded without much resistance. He had come to trust Lucas quite a bit now. Since the start of their subtle cohabitation, he had realized that if nothing else, Lucas’s will to make him better was sincere.

“Ah, right. Since we’re meeting them, could you give them a medical check-up? We could use that as an excuse to invite them.”

“A check-up?”

“Yes. They all tend to avoid going to the hospital even when they’re sick… Could you take a look at them?”

The largest and best hospital in the N-zone is run by the Defense Force. However, the bereaved families were reluctant to go there. Not only did they distrust the military, but they were also worried it might cause trouble for Iberis.

“Hmm, simple check-ups or tests would be possible. Treatment… might be a bit difficult since I can’t use military medical supplies for private purposes.”

“Really? Thank you. It’s fine, we can get medicine outside the base anytime.”

Iberis brightened as Lucas readily accepted his request. Lucas’s gaze fell on his curving eyes.

“…But only this once.”

“Got it.”

“Let me say one thing… Having a strong sense of responsibility is good, but being too self-sacrificing isn’t. I know you feel guilty towards the bereaved families, but you don’t need to solve everything yourself. Don’t give them too much.”

“What did I do… You sound similar to Adrian.”

“…Adrian?”

Lucas’s eyebrow twitched at the name Iberis mentioned familiarly.

“Yes. The person I just met, the kindergarten teacher working there.”

“I know. Major Jackson’s nephew, right?”

“How do you know?”

“I heard from Lieutenant Cali earlier.”

“Ah, I see.”

“…That nephew said something right. There are many people in the world who try to take advantage of your kindness, so be a little cautious.”

“As I said before, aren’t you treating me too much like a naive child? And I’m not even kind.”

“You might not be a child, but you do go around helping everyone, don’t you? It’s possible because you have a good nature. People without compassion don’t even think about helping others. They don’t feel guilty either. How on earth did you become a soldier with this personality… I’ve been worried about you lately because of this.”

“No…”

Iberis mumbled with a bewildered expression. It was nonsense to call him kind and gentle when he had lived killing monsters on the battlefield and sometimes even people.

“By the way, it seems you used your ability…”

Lucas spoke up before Iberis could refute. He narrowed his eyes as he looked Iberis up and down.

“…I didn’t.”

Iberis, stung by the sharp gaze, tried to change the subject. Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong, such an attitude made him feel needlessly guilty.

“Where do you think you’re lying? You might fool ghosts, but you can’t fool me.”

“…I just did a little demonstration for the children.”

Iberis made a pained sound and admitted to using his ability as Lucas scoffed.

“I thought so. Then let’s do the guiding on our way back. I sent the car I came in back to the base, so we’ll have to take your car.”

“Why are you so obsessed with guiding? This level won’t even cause side effects!”

“Aren’t you being too careless, Major? Be aware that you’re a patient. If you let your guard down just because your body has improved a little, it could be serious. We can’t overlook even minor things.”

Lucas, speaking firmly as if this was one thing he couldn’t compromise on, naturally took Iberis’s hand. Then he pulled Iberis’s hand into his own pocket and started walking.

“The wind is chilly. Let’s go back before the sun sets.”

“Huh? Okay.”

Iberis hesitated for a moment when Lucas took his hand, but soon nodded. As he walked following Lucas, Iberis alternately looked at Lucas’s face and the pocket where his hand was. Then he bit his lip. Even though he was wearing gloves, he could feel Lucas’s warmth as if it was directly transmitted.