Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

Lucas winced as he thought of Livio. The reason Livio couldn’t touch Iberis when the scandal broke was likely because Iberis was an S-class esper like himself. Moreover, as fire and ice ability users, their compatibility was the worst.

If Livio, who had retreated to bide his time due to the uncertain outcome, were to learn about Iberis’s physical condition…

He would surely try to eliminate Iberis, thinking this was his chance. He might even target people around Iberis, like Brenda or the families of deceased colleagues. Iberis was probably most concerned about this – that his weakened state would no longer allow him to be their shield.

“What are you thinking so hard about? It looks like the blood test results are out.”

“Ah, yes.”

Lucas snapped out of his thoughts as Iberis waved the printed test results. After quickly checking the results, he swallowed a sigh.

“Your anemia is quite severe. Your liver and kidneys are also not in great shape… I’ll need to discuss your diet with the nutritionist again.”

“Really?”

“At least your white and red blood cell counts are good. They’re close to the normal range.”

“Which means they’re not normal.”

Iberis chuckled. Despite hearing that his results weren’t normal, he seemed calmer than expected. Honestly, he couldn’t even remember the last time he heard that his numbers were good or acceptable.

“Shall we go for the matching rate test now?”

Lucas stood up, collecting the test tube with Iberis’s blood from the blood testing machine. As they went out, a janitor waiting at the end of the corridor discreetly approached. It was a disguised agent from the Central Intelligence Department.

Lucas and Iberis nonchalantly passed the janitor and entered the matching rate testing room. Spotting the cylindrical measuring machines placed side by side, Iberis whistled softly.

“You can test the matching rate without anyone else’s help? Whenever I sat in that chair for tests, someone always operated it from the front.”

“It’s a bit inconvenient, but possible.”

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be faster to just put mana into a mana stone?”

“Unfortunately, that machine isn’t available here.”

Lucas replied while turning on the measuring machine. There were mainly three methods to test the matching rate between a guide and an esper. One was the most traditional and accurate method where both people enter the testing machine side by side and mix their mana through a connecting tube.

Another method was to inject their mana into mana stones and put them into a special machine for testing. This was the latest technology, fast and convenient, favored by the defense force.

After this technology was developed, espers and guides in the defense force were obligated to put their mana into mana stones and send them to the central headquarters every six months.

Then, experts at the headquarters would conduct compatibility and matching rate tests with the mana stones, and if good results came out, they would pair up the esper and guide.

Except for when he was young, Iberis always conducted matching rate tests this way. This was also how Winfried was able to conduct tests without Lucas and Iberis knowing.

Lastly, there was a simplified test where mixed mana was poured into a portable measuring device. However, this simplified test was less accurate and mainly used when guiding needed to be done urgently on the battlefield.

“Please enter.”

Click. Lucas, who had skillfully connected the two measuring machines, said to Iberis. When the esper and guide each enter their respective measuring machines and release their mana, their mana meets through the connecting tube, and the matching rate is calculated based on the reaction.

Lucas pressed a few buttons after Iberis obediently entered the machine. Then he entered the adjacent machine.

“I’m starting. Please release your mana.”

“Okay.”

As soon as he answered, Iberis released his mana. Silver mana swirled like a blizzard, frosting the measuring machine white.

Seeing this, Lucas also drew up his mana and sent it through the connecting tube. Golden mana shining like sunlight gently enveloped the piercingly bright silver mana.

Beep, beep…

When the two manas met, a loud machine sound rang out. Lucas came out of the machine first after watching the unified mana gradually disappear.

“It’s done. You can come out now.”

“…Alright, *cough*!”

“Keep this on.”

Seeing Iberis cough as soon as he came out, Lucas draped the gown hanging on the examination room chair over him again. Then he hurriedly checked the screen.

65%

The golden eyes widened slightly at the number on the screen. The last simplified test showed 63%, but the matching rate had risen again in just a few days. Lucas’s expression brightened as he got a satisfactory result for the first time.

“The matching rate has increased.”

“Really?”

Iberis, who had been sniffling, approached with interest. He stared at the number on the screen with curious eyes.

“65%… It’s true.”

“If it keeps rising like this, we’ll soon reach 75%.”

Lucas spoke with a satisfied voice. It made sense, as an increase in matching rate meant the guiding effect would also improve. This would likely lead to Iberis’s condition improving even faster than before.

“…Are you happy?”

“Pardon?”

Lucas turned his head, halting his thoughts at the sudden question. He saw a face devoid of color except for a slightly reddened nose tip.

“Me?”

“No, you were smiling…”

“I was smiling?”

“Yes. Even now, the corners of your mouth are slightly turned up…”

Iberis trailed off, timidly pointing at Lucas’s lips. It was typical of Iberis to hesitate to touch Lucas’s face directly.

“Hmm, I suppose it’s because this is the best result from today’s tests.”

Lucas only then realized he was indeed smiling and ran his hand over his lips. Why did I smile? He felt somewhat perplexed.

“Since the tests are over, shall we head back?”

“Sure, but what about that?”

“That? Ah…”

Lucas exclaimed as he noticed something following Iberis’s concerned voice. The measuring machine Iberis had used was covered in frost in several places.

“It’s not broken, is it?”

“Well, this happens occasionally during tests. No need to worry about it.”

“Is it okay to leave it like that?”

Iberis made a small sound and looked back and forth between the measuring machine and Lucas. He recalled times when coffee machines or vending machines in the unit had frozen and broken due to his mana.

“It’s fine.”

“I wonder if we can check if it’s still working properly?”

“That’s not necessary. It’ll thaw on its own if we leave it.”

“Still…”

Despite Lucas’s words, Iberis didn’t seem entirely assured and kept glancing at the measuring machine. Then he gave Lucas a look as if asking what to do.

“I told you, it’s fine.”

The sight reminded Lucas of a puppy looking to its owner after causing mischief, and before he knew it, he had placed his hand on Iberis’s head. The gray eyes widened in surprise.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was out of line…”

Lucas was equally surprised. He quickly withdrew his hand, flustered by his own action. Carelessly patting his superior’s head – he must have lost his mind.

“It’s okay.”

Iberis didn’t get angry at Lucas. He cleared his throat softly and turned away as if escaping the strange atmosphere.

“If you say it’s fine, then it must be. Let’s go back.”

“…Yes.”

It was softer than I expected. Lucas clenched his fist, recalling the sensation of the hair that had tickled his fingers. Strangely, he felt his tension easing whenever he was in front of Iberis.

Chapter 3. 69%

“Well, who do we have here? If it isn’t Lieutenant General Bismarck!”

“…Guild Master Logan?”

Winfried hesitated as he was getting out of the car, seeing Livio greeting him cheerfully.

“It’s been a long time, Lieutenant General.”

“…Yes, indeed it has.”

His eyes hardened at the sight of someone who shouldn’t be at headquarters, but he quickly composed himself and raised the corners of his mouth as if nothing had happened. Winfried, having quickly regained his composure, offered a handshake to Livio. As much as he wanted to ignore him, there were too many watching eyes.

“What brings you to headquarters?”

“Haha, surely you’re not asking because you don’t know?”

Livio, grasping Winfried’s hand, winked with a cheerful expression.

“We passed the first round of selection for the Defense Force’s cooperative guild. It looks like we might be seeing each other often from now on.”

So they passed after all. Winfried, having heard the news of Mars Guild passing the first screening, tensed his face to avoid showing his displeasure. He then offered congratulations in a dry voice.

“Congratulations. But it’s only the first round, isn’t it? It’s still uncertain whether we’ll be seeing each other often or not.”

“Haha, that doesn’t sound much like congratulations. By the way, this place looks exactly the same as it did a few years ago. Nothing has changed.”

Livio, having let go of his hand, looked around the central headquarters with nostalgic eyes. For him, this was a place he had to reclaim someday. Although he had been driven out in disgrace with the stamp of a criminal, Livio had not given up on standing at the pinnacle of the Defense Force.