Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“Welcome, Major Hyun!”

Major Kyle Jonas, who managed the N-1 area, greeted Iberis warmly as he arrived to provide support.

“Thanks for coming so quickly. Was the journey difficult?”

“Not really. So, what’s the situation? How can we help?”

Iberis replied curtly and bluntly asked about his task. With a rift occurring, there was no time for idle chat.

“Well, we’ve already started attacking the rift on our side. The problem is what’s coming out of the magic realm. When the earthquake hit, a swarm of Red Snakes and a group of Flame Balls appeared…”

Kyle explained the situation with a troubled expression. The magic realm referred to areas that couldn’t recover from dungeon breaks and were occupied by monsters. While such occurrences were rare these days, shortly after the large-scale rift incidents, many lands were lost to monsters in this way.

Some areas were reclaimed after long efforts to eliminate the magic realms, but others had grown too large to handle and were merely managed with the goal of maintaining the status quo. This was especially true for magic realms created during the massive simultaneous rift occurrences across the globe 80 years ago.

The Land of Death, one of the world’s seven great magic realms located in the N sector, was one such case. In fact, the N sector was created to prevent the Land of Death from expanding further. Areas with large magic realms experienced more frequent rifts than other places, so they were carefully managed not only by the defense forces but also by countries worldwide.

While it was a dangerous area, it had its advantages. It provided a steady supply of resources like monster hides and bones, mana crystals, and rift cores.

“Red Snakes and Flame Balls, both fire-type monster groups.”

“That’s right! That’s why we requested your support. While our unit attacks, we’d like you to prevent them from approaching the rift.”

“Will do.”

Iberis agreed without further comment after assessing the monster group’s position through the binoculars Kyle handed him. This was exactly the problem when rifts occurred near magic realms. The rift needed to be dealt with quickly before it turned into a dungeon, but monsters from the magic realm would interfere with the work.

“Tell everyone to wear fire-resistant suits.”

As Iberis started walking while giving orders to Brenda, he recalled something and called her.

“What is it, sir?”

“Today, I want you to look after Captain Illum. It’s his first dispatch.”

“Ah, yes sir.”

Brenda nodded at Iberis’s request. With technological advancements, guides often actively participated in combat, but Iberis preferred to keep them in supportive roles in the rear.

“Will you be moving with Team 1? Or should we send a reconnaissance team first?”

“No, I think I can handle this alone.”

After a moment of contemplation while staring at the swarming monsters in the distance, Iberis made his decision.

“What? By yourself, Major?”

“Yes. I think it’s better to end this quickly. You all stay here and deal with any that I miss.”

“But…”

Brenda, aware of Iberis’s physical condition, moved her lips as if wanting to dissuade him. Hadn’t she just recently seen him struggle after dealing with a rift boss alone? However, she couldn’t overcome Iberis’s stubbornness.

“Captain.”

Having finished all preparations, Iberis called out to Lucas, who was waiting in the back.

“Didn’t you say Cadet Denver would also act as your escort? Today, I’ll assign Brenda to you, so stay far back with the other guides.”

“Stay back?”

Lucas’s brow furrowed slightly at the unexpected order. He had assumed he would be moving with Iberis.

“I should…”

“No, it’s dangerous, so wait here with Brenda.”

Iberis cut off Lucas’s words and spoke sternly. His attitude made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any objections.

“Do you think I’d fall to mere C-grade monsters? You seem to be underestimating me too much.”

However, Lucas wasn’t one to back down easily. He fixed his gaze on Iberis, his eyes hardening.

“I’m not underestimating you. I’m saying this because I can handle it alone.”

“Major.”

“And if the precious S-grade guide gets so much as a scratch, headquarters will have something to say immediately, won’t they? I’d rather avoid unnecessary trouble.”

“You keep talking as if I’m going to get hurt…”

“Anyway, wait here. That’s an order. I don’t have time to argue with you, Captain.”

After his unilateral announcement, Iberis quickly dashed off, not giving Lucas a chance to retort.

Lucas watched Iberis disappear, becoming a black dot in an instant, with a dumbfounded expression. As he was considering whether to follow him even now, Brenda cautiously approached.

“I’m sorry, Captain. This might be surprising, but please follow the Major’s orders today.”

Brenda apologized lightly with an awkward expression, scratching the back of her neck. She knew that Lucas had guided Iberis yesterday, and that it had been quite effective.

Thanks to this, Brenda had lowered her guard towards Lucas a bit. Yesterday’s events had given her hope that her precious superior might be saved. While Iberis seemed to believe Winfried had some ulterior motive, for her, his recovery was the most important thing. That’s why she wanted to get along well with Lucas as much as possible.

“Is it always like this?”

“Pardon? What do you mean…?”

“I’m asking if the Major always does this alone.”

“Ah, well…”

Brenda trailed off at the rather sharp question. Just then, the air in front seemed to ripple, followed by an ear-splitting roar. Iberis had begun the battle.

“Everyone, get in formation and immediately deal with any monsters coming this way!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Captain, please come this way…”

Brenda quickly issued orders to the squad members and tried to move Lucas to the rear. However, she was met with firm refusal.

“No, I’m going to the front too.”

“What? But the Major said to stay safe…”

“It’s not in my nature to just sit back and be protected. As long as I don’t leave the rear area, isn’t that following the Major’s orders?”

“Well…”

“Caleb is here too, so it’s fine. Even without him, I have the strength to protect myself, so don’t worry.”

“Wait, Captain!”

Lucas ignored Brenda’s protests and drew the mana gun from his waist. Caleb quickly followed behind him.

“Hiss! Hisss!”

“Blow their heads off before they breathe fire!”

As they approached the squad members who had formed a wall to prevent monsters from crossing, they saw several Red Snakes flicking their tongues. Lucas didn’t hesitate to fire his mana gun.

Bang, bang!

The heads of the Red Snakes hit by Lucas’s mana bullets exploded one after another. The squad members’ attention turned to Lucas at the sudden development.

“Looking away during battle? You must be feeling relaxed.”

“So-sorry, sir!”

Snapping back to attention at the cold remark, the squad members focused on the front with tense expressions. They had to constantly be on guard as monsters could appear from anywhere at any time.

Lucas, who had mercilessly shot at a flame-shaped monster that had just appeared from behind a rock, observed the battlefield where a rain of pure white ice was pouring down.

Boom! Bang!

Kieeek…!

He could see Red Snakes and Flame Balls freezing solid every time an ice spike made of Iberis’s mana pierced through a monster’s body. It was more of a one-sided massacre than a battle.

“…Tsk.”

Lucas, who had been quietly observing Iberis’s battle, clicked his tongue as if displeased. A shallow furrow appeared on his neat brow.

“What’s wrong, sir?”

Brenda, who had somehow ended up standing next to Lucas, asked nervously. His atmosphere was that unsettling.

“Let me ask you one thing, Lieutenant. Has N-0 unit always worked like this?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if the Major always fights alone while the squad members stupidly stand by and watch, only dealing with the leftovers.”

Brenda and the squad members’ shoulders flinched at the direct question. Though phrased as a question, the underlying meaning was far from light. Lucas was now reprimanding those who left the fighting to Iberis and only provided support.

“You misunderstand. While the Major does tend to want to resolve things alone… it’s not always like this.”

“Then?”

“Usually, I mean normally, we send out a reconnaissance team to assess the situation, form a strategy, and then move as a team. Only when the Major judges it’s better for him to take action directly do we do it like today…”

“Lieutenant Cali. In your opinion, does the current situation look like one where the Major needs to take action?”

Lucas cut off Brenda mid-sentence and snapped in a low voice.

“Those Red Snakes and Flame Balls over there are C-grade monsters. They’re numerous, but the strategy to deal with them is simple. It’s not beyond the capabilities of the people here. Moreover, our unit’s task isn’t to close the rift as quickly as possible, but to eliminate the monster group that came out of the magic realm. In other words, this is neither an urgent situation nor one that requires an S-grade esper to clean up.”