Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

The special team members who lost their lives to Livio’s plot all wanted different things from Iberis. Some wished for him to avenge them, while others hoped he wouldn’t hold grudges. Some wanted him to remember their deaths, while others wished for him to forget everything, including the terrible memories from that place and themselves. The most bewildering last wish came from the operation team leader who told him to be happy.

Happiness? What’s that?

Knowing there was no one to answer, Iberis still wanted to ask. He also felt like arguing that if they had wanted him to be even a little happy, they should have somehow survived together.

But what use was all that now, when everyone was dead and he had been given a death sentence?

A dark shadow fell over his light water-colored gray eyes. He wanted to fulfill the last wishes of his comrades, but it seemed even that wasn’t going as planned, and his mood kept sinking. It was then that he heard a knock.

Knock knock.

“Major.”

“…What is it?”

Iberis rubbed his face dry at the sound of Brenda’s voice from outside the door. Come to think of it, she could be considered one of his lingering attachments. Brenda was the only person who survived that incident three years ago along with Iberis.

At the time, she was about to graduate from the military academy and participated as a dungeon conquest trainee when she got caught up in General Logan’s plot. After barely surviving, she also gained attention due to Iberis’s whistleblowing.

Although Brenda agreed, because of that incident, she ended up being assigned to the N-0 unit along with Iberis. Because of this, Iberis felt a sense of responsibility and guilt towards Brenda.

“An official document has arrived from Central Headquarters. They’re sending a new military doctor cum guide to our unit.”

“A military doctor cum guide?”

Iberis emerged from the bathtub, roughly dried himself with a towel, and put on a robe. He opened the door and held out his hand to Brenda, as if asking for the document.

“If it’s a military doctor, it’s a doctor, and if it’s a guide, it’s a guide. What’s a military doctor cum guide?”

“Well… there’s one famous person. Someone who caused quite a stir a few years ago… Ah, wait a moment. You need to dry your hair.”

Brenda handed Iberis the official document from headquarters while briefly explaining about the new guide. Then she brought a dry towel and started drying his hair. She seemed quite bothered by his dripping wet hair.

“Major Luke Illum?”

As he was used to her taking care of him like this, Iberis let her do as she pleased while checking the document. He frowned when he saw the name attached with the ID photo. Seeing the name, he remembered who it was.

“He’s an S-class guide, isn’t he? They’re sending a precious S-class to this remote place?”

Major Luke Illum. He was an S-class guide who caused a stir a few years ago when he was specially recruited as a military doctor for the Defense Force. He was also famous for his beautiful appearance, brilliant mind, and combat abilities rivaling those of Espers.

“He graduated top of his class from a famous medical school affiliated with the Defense Force, and became a military doctor through a special process while doing his residency at a military hospital. He gained attention from academia for his thesis on reverse guiding during his med school days.”

“Ah, I remember. The media made quite a fuss about it.”

“Yes. His specialty is Esper treatment, so he’s working as both a military doctor and a guide. He’s already being considered as a candidate for a high-ranking military official. I hear Lieutenant General Bismarck favors him greatly.”

“Lieutenant General Bismarck?”

“It seems they’ve had a connection since the Major was young. I heard it was the Lieutenant General who brought him into the Defense Force. Although he worked as a military doctor and guide at Central Headquarters, he was officially under the Lieutenant General’s direct unit. That’s why they say no one could touch him carelessly…”

“And they’re suddenly sending such a prized guide to me?”

Iberis wore an expression of disbelief. Whether Esper or guide, S-class individuals are treated differently from others. It varies slightly from country to country, but in some places, S-class guides are valued even more than S-class Espers.

The important factors in guiding are compatibility and matching rate with the Esper partner, but unlike guides of other ranks, S-class guides can guide their partners to some extent even if the compatibility isn’t good or the matching rate is low.

Unlike Espers, who find it harder to find guides with both good compatibility and matching rate as their rank increases, guides can guide more Espers on their own as their rank goes up.

Just as S-class Espers play a role equivalent to a hundred soldiers on the battlefield, S-class guides do the same. In particular, Major Luke Illum was known to encompass all compatibilities. In short, he was special even among S-class.

Assigning such a person to a dangerous area where rifts occur unpredictably and they have to face demonic beasts? Even Iberis, who wasn’t skilled in politics, couldn’t help but be suspicious.

“Unless the Lieutenant General has gone mad…”

“Well, it seems they’ve noticed the Major’s physical condition.”

“What?”

Iberis’s expression hardened at the unexpected words. He didn’t think he could hide the fact that he was terminally ill forever, but this was too fast.

“There’s a disposable secure phone sent by Lieutenant General Bismarck along with the assignment document. He said to contact him as soon as you check it…”

“Give it to me.”

Iberis took the secure phone Brenda handed him and pressed the call button right away. The disposable secure phone, which allowed only one call, was an item available to brigadier generals and above, used for conversations that needed to prevent wiretapping and maintain confidentiality. As soon as the signal went through, a deep voice was heard.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Lieutenant General Bismarck. This is Major Iberis Hyun.”

“Ah, Major. I was just waiting for your call.”

“I won’t waste your precious time, so I’ll ask directly. What’s the reason for sending Major Luke Illum to my unit?”

“Why else? It’s because of you, Major.”

“But why…”

“It’s a well-known fact that you’re suffering from chronic lack of guiding. I heard you even fell into a coma recently?”

“That’s…”

“Thinking we can’t leave it like this, I used my authority to conduct matching tests between you and Defense Force guides. Major Illum is one of the guides who showed a high matching rate with you.”

“So that’s why you sent him to me? Wouldn’t there have been opposition from above?”

“No, everyone agreed with my opinion.”

“That can’t be…”

Iberis muttered in disbelief. For the past few years, Central Headquarters had been subtly ignoring requests for human and material support. They provided support, but only minimally.

How many times had he thought about just leaving the military, disgusted by the headquarters’ petty behavior? And now they claim to be taking care of him? Iberis couldn’t help but suspect there was some ulterior motive.

“Major. I know you don’t trust the leadership because of the incident with former General Logan. But you are a valuable asset to our Defense Force. If something happens to you, it would be a headache for more than just a few people. I’m also concerned about your health.”

“…”

“From my perspective, it seems the conservative old men were quite shocked when you fell into a coma for several days last time. They can’t afford to lose a precious S-class Esper due to their grudge against you. They’re the kind of people who can at least make that calculation. They felt a sense of crisis, thinking something really bad might happen.”

“…I don’t understand.”

Iberis responded in a low, sinking voice. His hand gripping the secure phone unconsciously tightened.

“You don’t have to try to understand. Honestly, it’s not a pleasant thing. From your perspective, it might seem like they’re trying to help belatedly after neglecting you all this time because it might be disadvantageous to them.”

“Lieutenant General.”

“But I genuinely want to help you, Major. Ah, if you’re worried that your physical condition might have been revealed to the personnel there, don’t worry. I’m the only one who knows you’re terminally ill. I found out through personal channels, not through military intelligence, so don’t worry.”

“You’re helping me with pure intentions?”

Iberis questioned as if he had heard something absurd. Having been through so much in the military, it was something he absolutely couldn’t believe.

“Yes. It might be hard to believe, but… I feel indebted because we couldn’t properly punish former General Logan even though you stepped up like that.”

“I know you did your best in many ways back then. I’ve never resented you for that…”

“I know. You’re that kind of person. That’s why I feel even more sorry.”

Bismarck muttered in a bitter voice. He cleared his throat a few times before continuing.