Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

* * *

“Welcome, Major Hyun!”

“Hello. It’s been a while, Lieutenant Colonel Muriel Louise.”

Iberis, disembarking from the military helicopter, saluted Muriel Louise, who greeted him warmly. She was in charge of overseeing the S Defense Zone.

“Yes, yes. It’s been since the joint operation 8 months ago, right? I can’t tell you how reassuring it is to have you here.”

Muriel approached with a smile and casually patted Iberis’s shoulder, but slightly frowned when she felt the coldness seeping into her palm. However, she quickly relaxed her expression and spoke in a friendly manner.

“It would be great if you came over to our side permanently. It would be more convenient for you to use your abilities where there’s water, right?”

Muriel leaned closer to Iberis, asking in a loud voice as if she wanted everyone to hear. It seemed like she was showing off her closeness with Iberis.

“Those higher-ups are really strange. They should send you where your abilities can be best utilized, why keep you stuck in the N Zone…”

“I’m sure they have their reasons.”

Iberis replied with a bitter smile. As Muriel said, his abilities shone more in places with plenty of water like seas or lakes. Using nearby water allowed him to use less mana than usual. Moreover, the duration of his abilities increased and their destructive power grew.

“What reasons… Do you know how much effort I’ve put into trying to bring you over here? I sent transfer requests to the central office last year and this year, but they were all ignored… Oh.”

Muriel, who was grumbling as if still annoyed at the thought, exclaimed when she noticed Lucas standing behind Iberis.

“Is this the rumored guide…?”

Muriel looked at Lucas with eyes full of curiosity. The rumor about Iberis getting a guide had already spread to the S Zone.

“Ah, yes. Let me introduce you. This is Captain Luke Illum. He recently joined our unit as a guide and military doctor.”

“Luke Illum! I know him well, isn’t he the future of our military!”

Upon hearing Iberis’s introduction, Muriel smiled broadly and offered a handshake to Lucas. Then she looked at his face again and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow, he’s as handsome as they say! Or should I say beautiful? Nice to meet you, I’m Muriel Louise.”

“I’m Luke Illum. It’s an honor to meet you, Lieutenant Colonel.”

Lucas greeted Muriel with a polite attitude. There was no need to be rude to someone who was showing goodwill, especially since she was in charge of this operation.

“How is Lieutenant General Bismarck doing?”

“He’s always doing well.”

“Of course, I heard he achieved another great accomplishment recently? By the way, I’m surprised the Lieutenant General thought of sending such a talented person like you to this remote area. If it were me, I wouldn’t have let you go.”

“The Lieutenant General wanted me to gain experience. There’s a lot to learn in the field, after all.”

“That’s true, that’s true. Is this your first sea battle?”

“Not exactly… I’ve experienced it a couple of times while accompanying Lieutenant General Bismarck. Though not on this scale.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that you’re a master of sea battles, Lieutenant Colonel. I look forward to learning a lot from you.”

“Haha, you sure know how to talk!”

Muriel laughed heartily, seemingly pleased. After finishing her greetings, she turned her attention back to Iberis.

“Major Hyun, seeing that they’ve assigned Captain Illum to you, it seems the higher-ups have finally come to their senses. Now if only you’d come to our S Zone, it would be perfect.”

“I’d love to, but… things don’t always go as we wish in this world.”

“Did you just say you want to come to our side? Great, I’ll write another transfer request to send to the central office after today’s operation!”

Muriel’s eyes lit up at Iberis’s words. Then she clicked her tongue when she heard her aide calling her.

“I’d like to talk more, but I have to go now. Major Alec Roman, the commander of S-2 unit, will guide you.”

“…Major Roman?”

Iberis reacted a beat late to the name that came out of Muriel’s mouth. He seemed somewhat reluctant.

“Yes. Come to think of it, weren’t you in the same class?”

“Yes, we trained together when we were young. We’ve also carried out a few missions together.”

“That’s great. It won’t be awkward then.”

“But has he come here? Wasn’t he in E Zone just a few months ago?”

“Ah, considering Roman’s abilities, I thought he’d be a better fit here than in E Zone, so I scouted him.”

“I see…”

“If you had come, I wouldn’t have brought him… Anyway, see you later.”

Spotting Alec, Muriel hurried over to her waiting aide. As the operation’s chief commander, she seemed busy.

“I didn’t know you wanted to work in the S Zone, Major.”

“Hm? Ah, I was just saying that.”

Iberis, who had been staring at Muriel’s retreating figure, looked up at Lucas when he heard his voice.

“She always tells me to come here whenever she sees me. You can’t outright refuse a superior’s pleasantries, can you?”

“It didn’t seem like mere pleasantries to me. I don’t think it’s a bad idea either. The environment here seems better for you than the N Zone, Major.”

Lucas voiced his opinion while looking at the distant sea. The reason nature-type ability users are special is that they can use the surrounding mana as their own. Iberis often used moisture in the air during battles. The water existing around him was both an excellent weapon and fuel.

In that sense, the sea was like a giant charger. If Iberis were to fight using seawater, it could significantly reduce the strain on his body. Naturally, the after-effects would be weaker too.

Lucas considered contacting Winfried to seriously request moving Iberis to the S Zone. At that moment, a loud voice echoed across the landing area.

“Hey~ Iberis! Long time no see?”

“…Alec.”

Iberis slightly furrowed his brow at the sight of the blonde man approaching with a casual gait. Seeing this, Lucas’s eyes narrowed.

“Who is that person?”

Lucas tilted his head towards Brenda while watching Alec draw closer. He asked in a voice only she could hear. Although he had researched the S Zone’s unit commanders and key figures with Winfried’s help before coming here, there was no information about Iberis and Alec having a bad relationship.

“Ah, that’s Major Roman…”

“Our Major seems to dislike him immensely.”

“For good reason. He always picks fights whenever they meet. I think he has an inferiority complex towards the Major.”

“Inferiority complex?”

“Yes. He’s an A-class lightning esper, but…”

Brenda, whispering as quietly as possible to Lucas, trailed off. Alec had now reached Iberis.

“You look like a half-dead corpse today too. Always whining, but your S-class vitality is just so damn tenacious, huh?”

Alec looked Iberis up and down blatantly and raised one corner of his mouth. The N-0 unit members stirred at his behavior, picking a fight with Iberis right off the bat.

“And you’re as rude as ever. Maybe I should have frozen that mouth of yours last time after all?”

Iberis shot back calmly, as if used to Alec’s provocations. It was somewhat rough language for him.

“Ha! Go ahead and try! I’ll fry your body before you can!”

“You? Me?”

“What’s with that look! You think I can’t do it?”

Alec’s eyes turned fierce as he threatened, ready to use his ability against Iberis at any moment.

“See that? He always picks fights and gets angry all by himself like this.”

Brenda whispered to Lucas with an exasperated expression. It seemed this wasn’t a one-time occurrence.

“He definitely seems to have an inferiority complex and jealousy towards the Major.”

“I heard it’s been like this since they were child soldiers. It’s understandable he’d be disgruntled, always being overshadowed by the Major no matter what he did… The Major was promoted much faster and his achievements were overwhelming, so it’s getting worse over time.”

“Hmm.”

Lucas observed Alec, who was losing his temper at Iberis with a red face, with cold eyes. As Brenda said, it seemed Alec alone was nurturing a one-sided rivalry with Iberis.

Honestly, Lucas was more concerned about Iberis, usually so gentle, showing such visible discomfort towards Alec. It was the first time he’d seen Iberis fail to manage his expression to this degree with someone other than himself.

“The Major seems to have quite a bit of pent-up emotion towards him too?”

Lucas, quietly watching Iberis maintain a curt attitude towards Alec, asked softly.

“Ah, that’s… Last time they met, Major Roman made insulting remarks about deceased colleagues…”

As Brenda was about to explain the specific circumstances, Alec, having been rebuffed by Iberis, shouted loudly.

“You insufferable bastard! Don’t get cocky just because you’re S-class! Why are you even here? We could handle this perfectly fine without you!”

“Really? Then why did I receive a support request?”

“That’s just because of our overly worried Lieutenant Colonel. I opposed it till the end! Tch, anyway, don’t you dare show off today. Got it? The Kraken is my prey!”

Alec leaned his upper body close to Iberis and growled threateningly.

“If you can catch it, that’s easier for me. I have no intention of wasting time arguing with you, so stop bothering me and just guide us to the operation site quickly.”

“Wasting time?! You arrogant… And what? Guide you? Do you think I’m your subordinate? Huh?”

Alec, raising his voice with an agitated face, paused when he noticed Lucas looking at him.