Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“Wouldn’t it be better to do it in the guidance room or your office tomorrow? Do we have to do it now?”

“That would be fine, but… after we’re done, you’ll probably be extremely tired, which could interfere with your work, Major. I thought it would be best for you to go to sleep right after receiving guidance.”

“What on earth is it…? When you say it like that, it’s a bit scary…”

Surely he’s not suggesting the level 2 guidance he mentioned before? Iberis glanced at Lucas with a wary look. Having been through a lot, he felt more worried than excited.

“Why are you looking at me like that? When you speak that way, it sounds like I’m always tormenting you, Major.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes and frowned at Iberis’s reaction. He had been considering various methods for his benefit and finally found one that seemed good, but his attitude made it seem like he was treating Iberis terribly.

“Even if it’s not intentional… isn’t it true that you’re tormenting me? With the guidance and sleeping together every night…”

“I’m quite hurt by what you just said. I always do my best for you, Major. And if the treatment process is difficult, it’s because your physical condition is poor. If you feel wronged, please get healthy quickly.”

“You never back down, do you?”

Iberis looked at Lucas with an annoyed expression, pouting his lower lip. Soon after, he sighed as if giving up. From what he understood, Lucas was the type to push forward once he decided on something. Based on his experience so far, he would surely try to persuade him and carry out his intentions.

“So what are you planning to do?”

Iberis crossed his arms and took a defiant stance, as if daring him to explain. He figured it would be better to get it over with quickly rather than arguing with Lucas, which would only tire him out.

“The guidance method I’m going to try on you today, Major, is called ‘mana shower’.”

Lucas opened his mouth as if he had been waiting, regardless of Iberis’s prickly attitude.

“Mana… shower?”

What’s that? Iberis tilted his head at the unfamiliar term. He could guess roughly, but it was difficult to imagine accurately since he had never experienced it.

“Mana shower is a method used by A-class or higher guides when it’s impossible to calm down a rampaging esper or when multiple espers need guidance on the battlefield. It’s a way to perform group guidance without physical contact, using internal mana and surrounding mana.”

“Ah, I think I’ve heard of it. Isn’t it a technique only S-class guides can use?”

Iberis remembered the chatter he had heard from the unit members in the training room after listening to Lucas’s explanation.

“Some A-class guides can do it too. Anyway, mana shower has the advantage of being able to guide without physical contact with the esper and can be done to multiple people at once, but the effect itself is not that great. So it’s usually used for emergency measures. It hasn’t been commercialized because there aren’t many guides who can perform mana showers.”

“Why use it on me…?”

“As I mentioned earlier, mana shower can also be used to calm down a rampaging esper when it’s difficult to subdue them. Instead of carefully controlling and untangling the mana through hands and removing the residue left in the body, it pours an overwhelming amount of mana at once to make them calm down.”

“So… you’re saying you’ll concentrate the mana meant for multiple espers on one person?”

“That’s right. I found out that recent research has shown that when a guide performs a mana shower on an individual, it has about a 1.5 level effect. Some quick-moving countries are already conducting one-on-one mana showers.”

“I see.”

Iberis finally understood why Lucas brought up the mana shower. If it was more effective than level 1 guidance, it was worth trying.

“Because you’ll be receiving a large amount of mana at once, it will inevitably put more strain on your body than level 1. Until now, I couldn’t even consider it because the Major’s physical damage was so severe… but now that it’s gone down to a moderate level, I thought we could give it a try.”

Lucas explained in detail why he brought up the mana shower. When they first met, Iberis’s body was like a cracked porcelain that could break at any moment.

His condition was so severe that he couldn’t even withstand normal guidance, so Lucas took the approach of gradually increasing the guidance time in stages. After getting used to that, he exposed Iberis to his mana by living and sleeping in the same space.

As a result, Iberis had now fully adapted to Lucas’s mana. Moreover, as the matching rate reached 70%, the effect of guidance increased dramatically, and the physical damage that hadn’t moved for the past month went down to the 60% range. Although he was still cracked, you could say he had been repaired a little?

While looking for methods that could substitute for level 2 guidance besides cohabitation, Lucas concluded through recent tests that it might be okay to try a mana shower. And today, he brought it up to Iberis.

“Alright. Let’s give it a try.”

Iberis nodded, persuaded by Lucas. Then he stared at him with a complex expression. It was still unclear whether it was simply strong responsibility or if there was another reason, but seeing him so dedicated to his treatment made Iberis feel strange.

“Sometimes I think… we’re kind of the opposite.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, usually it’s the esper who’s obsessed with guidance… but we’re completely the opposite. You, the guide, keep trying to guide me and come up with all sorts of methods.”

“That’s because you lack motivation, Major.”

“Huh?”

“If you had asked me for guidance first, I wouldn’t have had to push you every time.”

“So you’re aware that you’re pushing…”

Iberis muttered in surprise. Isn’t he saying he does this to him knowingly? His expression became even more ambiguous as he looked at Lucas. Maybe it was just his mood, but Lucas’s statement just now sounded like it was a problem that he didn’t beg for guidance.

“But recently, haven’t you been quite enjoying the guidance, Major?”

“W-when did I ever…”

Caught off guard, Iberis stammered without realizing it. Even though he hadn’t committed any crime, he felt like his secret had been exposed and ended up denying it.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t know?”

Lucas twisted his lips, making a slight hissing sound. A faint hint of amusement gleamed in his slightly curved eyes.

“Since you’ve given permission, I’ll proceed with the mana shower. Please lie down comfortably on the bed.”

“Lie down?”

“Yes.”

“Um, okay.”

Surprised by the unexpected request, Iberis awkwardly lay down on the bed. Then, as a shadow fell over him, he stiffened in surprise.

“W-what?”

“…? What’s wrong?”

Lucas looked down at him with a questioning gaze, his hand planted next to Iberis’s face. He was in a position straddling Iberis, trapping him between his arms.

“Do we really have to… do it in this position?”

Flustered, Iberis rolled his eyes. Although their bodies weren’t touching, Lucas was practically on top of him. Or should he say he was pinned down? Whatever it was, it was an extremely embarrassing position.

“Hmm, there is a method where I could hug you… Would that be more comfortable?”

Lucas asked, leaning his upper body closer to Iberis. His silver hair slid down on one side, half-covering Iberis’s thin shoulder.

“…Just do it for now.”

After hesitating for a moment, Iberis gave Lucas the go-ahead. It was too late to back out now.

“Then I’ll begin.”

Lucas closed his eyes and took a short deep breath. Although he had performed group guidance on intelligence agents when he went to the field with Winfried, this was his first time doing it for just one person.

Lucas concentrated, drawing out more of his mana than usual. He planned to start with just his own mana, without using the surrounding mana. As he released his mana, the air in the bedroom began to vibrate.

Gulp.

Iberis swallowed hard as Lucas’s mana seeped into his skin. Despite the windows and doors being closed, it felt like wind was blowing from somewhere.

“Even if it’s a bit overwhelming, don’t reject it. Just accept it like you usually do.”

“What? Hnngh…!”

The moment Lucas’s mana crashed over him like a waterfall, Iberis gasped as if he’d received a strong shock.

“Wh-what is, this, ah!”

Experiencing this sensation for the first time in his life, Iberis’s small lips parted and a sound that was neither a moan nor an exclamation escaped. As the mana penetrated deep into his lungs, he let out a gasp. It felt like he was drowning, unable to breathe. Iberis frowned and tried to tell Lucas to stop, his lips moving, but only moans came out.

“Ugh…”

As Lucas’s mana poured down like a sudden shower, Iberis groaned, barely holding onto his fading consciousness. His head was spinning and his stomach churning.

Crack, crackle.

Wherever the invading mana passed through his body, he heard the sound of something breaking and melting. His vision alternated between flashing white and going dark.

I’m being devoured.

Feeling a chill, Iberis curled up, unable to withstand the much stronger stimulation than usual. He could feel the hot and comforting mana surging like waves, swallowing his body. Realizing this, his hair stood on end and goosebumps rose on his skin.

“Captain, this is, ngh, strange. Stop…”

Iberis pleaded, his body trembling like an aspen leaf. Every time Lucas’s mana seeped deeper, his skin tingled as if electrified, and a strange pleasure spread throughout his body.

“W-wait, hah, I can’t take any more, ah!”

His slender waist twisted sharply as the mana suddenly dug in with an unbearable intensity. Iberis turned his body completely away from Lucas, flailing as if in pain, and tightly grasped the blanket that came to hand. He struggled as if trying to escape from Lucas’s embrace. Then, a large hand overlapped his pale, clenched fist.

“Don’t run away, Major.”