NOVEL NEXT C8
The reason why General Logan’s crimes ended with just a dishonorable discharge, and Iberis’s whistleblowing resulted only in demotion and disciplinary action, was because both were special natural-type Espers among the S-class.
“Although the reformist faction has taken the lead, we’re still behind the conservatives in terms of combat power. Former General Logan is still active here and there as a guild master or CEO of military supply companies under their protection. If the Major joins us, it will be a great strength for us.”
“…I’ll try my best.”
“Hmm, did I put too much pressure on you? Don’t overdo it… The top priority is the current Major’s recovery. Even if he doesn’t become our ally, he’s an essential asset to the Defense Force.”
“I see. By the way, is the current Major twenty-five years old now?”
“That’s right. He’s the same age as you.”
Winfried handed Lucas Iberis’s personnel file that he had prepared in advance.
“He’s been active as an Esper for 7 years. He’s been with the Defense Force since he was 10…”
Lucas opened the file and began reading Iberis’s background with his characteristic expressionless face.
“To be precise, it’s not his 7th year, but his 10th. At his strong insistence, he started working at 15. It’s not in the official record because it was rear support missions.”
“Is that allowed? 15 seems too young.”
Lucas frowned slightly at Winfried’s addition. In the early days of the rifts appearing, the age of Espers and guides wasn’t important. Survival was the top priority then, so ability users were immediately given basic training and deployed for rift conquest and monster disposal, regardless of age.
However, as the world regained some stability and the number of ability users increased, allowing for adequate response to rifts, the human rights issues of Espers and guides surfaced.
Thus, by international treaty, the age at which Espers and guides could officially operate was set at 18. Until then, they had to belong to training centers operated by the Defense Force or national military academies or institutions for compulsory education.
But there are always exceptions. It was a loss for any country not to use valuable personnel like Espers and guides for several years, so they allowed them to perform simple tasks even before 18 under the guise of “practical training.”
“If it were a regular country, there would be an uproar about child abuse, but we’re the Defense Force. For military Espers who complete basic and advanced training with excellent grades, they can do rear support work with little direct contact with monsters from age 15. It’s just not recorded in military records because it’s unofficial.”
“I see. I didn’t know that.”
Lucas nodded, acknowledging the new information. He had joined the Defense Force for personal reasons and wasn’t particularly interested in internal affairs unless it related to his work. Although he was part of the reformist faction following his guardian Winfried, he didn’t share his ambition. Lucas was only interested in…
“Come to think of it, you and the current Major have a sort of connection.”
“…Pardon?”
Snapped out of his thoughts by Winfried’s voice, Lucas looked at him as if to ask what he meant.
“The current Major awakened his abilities at 10, and right after that, he was nearly kidnapped by a villain organization. Our Defense Force rescued and protected him. It was your parents who saved the Major at that time.”
“…My parents?”
Lucas’s shoulders flinched at the unexpected words. He fixed his gaze on Winfried, demanding an explanation.
“Yes. It should be on the next page.”
Winfried, leaning back on the leather sofa, gestured with his chin as if to say ‘keep reading.’ As soon as he finished speaking, Lucas’s hand moved.
Iberis Hyun, rescued during a villain organization suppression operation. At the time, either due to the aftereffects of awakening or the shock of witnessing his mother’s death, he couldn’t remember his own name. Upon confirming the identity of his deceased mother, it was discovered he was of South Korean origin. Due to shock symptoms from excessive use of abilities after awakening, he was brought to the Defense Force shelter for treatment.
(Omitted)
Assessed as an S-class Esper in the grade examination. As the child’s psychological state seemed somewhat stable, counseling was conducted. Registration as a Defense Force member completed. Following the child’s wishes, a new name was given with his mother’s surname ‘Hyun’. The person in charge of regular protective observation until the child can be independent as a Defense Force soldier is…
“…Armand Allis.”
Lucas’s eyes trembled finely as he discovered his father’s name in the report describing the day of young Iberis’s rescue. He continued reading the report with a hardened face.
As Winfried said, it was his mother, Nadia Lowell Blake, who rescued Iberis when he awakened his abilities, and his father, Armand Allis, who treated him when he came to the Defense Force shelter. Moreover, Armand was also assigned the role of managing Iberis until he was commissioned as a Defense Force Esper.
“…Did my parents make the current Major a boy soldier for the Defense Force?”
Lucas put down the personnel file he was holding on the table and made an expression of incomprehension. As far as he knew, Nadia and Armand were against raising young ability users as military personnel. This was because many countries in the past had used this method to violate the human rights of Espers and guides.
The Defense Force was not free from this problem either. The Defense Force’s army consisted of self-trained soldiers and Esper and guide units supported by World Union member countries, with the latter being problematic. Each country tried to sway the military to their liking using the ability users they dispatched, which led to various incidents.
Despite this situation, the Defense Force couldn’t hastily reject support from member countries. Since the military’s establishment, they had been suffering from chronic manpower shortages.
To overcome this problem, the Defense Force would scout, train, and groom as officers those residents of their defense zones (which were practically their territories) who awakened as ability users from a young age. Iberis was one such case.
Naturally, this method received much criticism from ability user rights organizations and others. However, it was tacitly allowed on the grounds that it was necessary to address the chronic manpower shortage and avoid being swayed by pressure from member countries.
“In the current Major’s case, there was no choice. He was an orphan of an age unable to support himself, and he was stateless.”
“Stateless?”
“If you read further, you’ll find related content… Well, it turns out the Major’s mother didn’t register his birth. It’s a common occurrence among those living in the cities we manage.”
Winfried muttered with a complex expression. The areas under the World Defense Force’s jurisdiction, commonly called defense zones, were mostly cities that survived from countries that couldn’t withstand dungeon breaks.
Although protected and managed by the Defense Force, these cities lacked proper systems compared to typical countries. Moreover, due to the nature of the region, rifts frequently occurred, making it objectively a dangerous area.
“Those with money or ability don’t choose to live in defense zones. It’s hard for ordinary people to survive here. In the end, the residents here are mostly people with nowhere else to go, like refugees. If not that, then villains who’ve crept in to avoid being wanted? I suspect the current Major’s mother also had a story she couldn’t tell others.”
“…”
“And he was an S-class Esper at just 10 years old. If his existence was revealed, every country would come running, salivating. Considering his safety, being under our military’s protection was the best option at the time. Your parents must have made the decision after considering everything.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Lucas agreed with Winfried’s words. The parents he knew weren’t the type to exploit or take advantage of a child. He thought he should look for any records his parents might have left about the current Major.
“So, you’re accepting this mission?”
“Did I ever have the right to refuse in the first place?”
“Haha. Of course not. In fact, I’ve already sent official documents to the other side. You’ll be formally appointed in a week, so prepare and go as soon as possible.”
Winfried said with a cheerful laugh. Then he suddenly looked at Lucas with a serious expression.
“Save the current Major by any means necessary. I’m counting on you.”
“I’ll try my best.”
“Don’t say you’ll try, say you will definitely do it.”
“Definitely… May I ask one thing? To save the Major, are you willing to make me his dedicated guide?”
“The Major needs consistent guiding. Unless a guide or Name with a higher matching rate than you appears, you’ll likely end up forming a pair in the end.”