Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“Gyaaargh!”

The Lycan Sloth Queen writhed in pain under the attacks coming from all directions. Seizing that moment, Caleb, who had grown to giant size, charged in.

Boom!

The werewolf, hit by Caleb’s body slam, rolled on the ground. As Brenda used shadows to bind the Lycan Sloth Queen’s body, Caleb pummeled it with his enhanced fists.

“Keh-hek, kuh!”

The Lycan Sloth Queen, fallen and covered in blood, gasped for breath. Its amber eyes reflected Caleb approaching to end its life. At that moment, a deep killing intent flashed in its clouded pupils, and the Queen plunged its own claws into its chest. The werewolf’s body began to swell abnormally.

“What the-?”

“…! Everyone, get away! It’s self-destructing!”

Brenda, realizing what the Lycan Sloth Queen’s action meant, shouted urgently. Caleb also retreated with an “Oh no” expression.

“As far as possible…!”

Seeing the instantly balloon-like body about to burst, Brenda drew up mana. Since it was impossible to leave the boss room, she planned to create a wall using shadows. At that moment, an intensely cold sensation that made their skin crawl was felt, and an ice pillar shot up from where the Lycan Sloth Queen stood.

“Huh!”

“Wow.”

Surprised by the spectacle, the unit members burst into exclamations, forgetting the urgency of the situation. The werewolf, trapped in the massive ice pillar, died with time frozen around it.

“Phew…”

Iberis, who had instantly frozen the self-destructing Lycan Sloth Queen, exhaled a frosty breath. His usually pale lips were unusually red today. He stood straight, putting strength into his staggering body. He couldn’t show weakness here.

“Break the core and call the closure team.”

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

Brenda, finally coming to her senses, called the rift closure team waiting outside through the radio. If the core isn’t destroyed, another gate would form and monsters would come out. The best course was to destroy the core and close the distorted dimension before that happened. Afterward, it would be finished by mobilizing earth-attribute espers with shape restoration abilities or healing espers to restore the original terrain.

“Espers needing guiding, come this way!”

“What about the injured?”

“Those who are fine, leave first!”

Iberis watched absentmindedly as the unit members cleaned up, looking exhausted. Strangely, their voices seemed distant despite happening right next to him.

“Are you alright?”

“…Captain.”

Seeing the pure white coat placed on his shoulder, Iberis looked up to confirm who it was. Through his hazy vision, he saw Lucas’s rigid face.

“Let’s go out now. You don’t look well.”

“Okay…”

Iberis nodded obediently and tried to step forward. However, he staggered before even taking a full step.

“I’ll support you.”

Lucas quickly grabbed Iberis’s swaying arm and pulled him into his embrace. He could feel the body in his hands trembling.

“No, I’m just a bit dizzy. Cough…”

Thud. Iberis buried his forehead against the chest in front of him and burst into coughing. Then, as if he had just remembered, he belatedly expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you for helping earlier.”

“I only did what was natural.”

“If it weren’t for you, there would have been more casualties than now.”

Iberis recalled the brilliantly shining defense wall. The mana barrier Lucas created was so beautiful, it seemed like this is what sunlight would look like if it took form.

“I’ve never seen a mana barrier created like that before. Cough… I wonder if other guides can do it too?”

“With practice, it’s possible, though the size and strength may differ. And please stop talking now.”

Lucas cupped Iberis’s pale cheek with his hand, his eyes hardening. His body was too cold. Realizing there was no time to waste, he lifted Iberis’s body up.

“What are you, Captain?”

“I’ll carry you to the car like this. I’ll perform guiding as we move, so put your arms around my neck.”

“Wait, the people…”

Flustered, Iberis tapped Lucas’s shoulder as if asking to be put down. He couldn’t show himself unable to walk alone in front of dozens of unit members, especially when many were already keeping an eye on his health lately.

“Don’t worry about other people’s eyes.”

“But…”

“Everyone here knows you overdid it today, Major. It’s a guide’s duty to move an esper suffering from the side effects of excessive ability use to a safe place.”

“Still…”

“If you’re really concerned about people’s gazes, cover your head with my coat and hide your face.”

Lucas strode forward as if not allowing any further objections. His aura was so intimidating that the unit members cleaning up quietly parted to the sides to avoid the two.

At this point, Iberis couldn’t strongly refuse. More accurately, he didn’t have the energy to. The mana churning in his body kept making him cough.

“Cough, cough! Ha, huff…”

“Are you very cold?”

“No, I’m fi-“

Lucas felt the body in his arms trembling and released mana. It was fortunate that just holding Iberis like this provided some guiding.

“Huu…”

Iberis exhaled softly as the mana seeped into his chilled skin. The warmth spreading throughout his body made him feel dazed. He slowly closed and opened his eyes with a drowsy expression. Then, unconsciously seeking warmth, he buried his face in the warm embrace.

Flinch.

Lucas squinted one eye at the cool breath touching his nape. The strange sensation made him tighten his arms holding Iberis.

“Cold…”

Like a puppy cuddling its owner, Iberis, with eyes closed, nuzzled his face between Lucas’s neck and shoulder. The body temperature different from his own felt good.

“…You can sleep if you’re tired.”

Lucas’s tense jaw relaxed, and his Adam’s apple moved slowly. Soon, a low, husky voice flowed from his slightly parted lips. He quickened his pace, enveloped in inexplicable anxiety.

Thump thump.

Iberis closed his eyes, listening to the heartbeat that seemed faster than before. His consciousness was sinking rapidly, and he couldn’t resist anymore. He fell into a deep sleep, feeling the warmth gently enveloping his body.

* * *

“…sir, Doctor!”

“Hmm?”

“What are you thinking about so deeply! I’ve been calling you, but you’re just spacing out!”

Iberis protested, puffing his cheeks at Armand sitting across from him. The monthly physical exam and psychological counseling was the time the child looked forward to most. Unlike the scary soldiers, the doctor was always kind and listened to his stories better than anyone. But today was different.

“I’m sorry. So, what were we talking about?”

“Never mind.”

Iberis glanced at Armand with a sullen expression, his lower lip jutting out. But the child’s sulking didn’t last long. Iberis examined Armand, who was apologetic towards him, with worried eyes and hesitantly opened his mouth. Something had been bothering him for a while.

“…Did something bad happen?”

“Hm? Me?”

“Yes. Do you know what your face looks like right now? It’s extremely dark. Under your eyes is black too… You look very tired.”

Iberis tapped his own eye area with his hand. It wasn’t an exaggeration; Armand’s face was noticeably haggard to anyone who looked. Moreover, there were dark circles under his eyes that weren’t usually there. A bit exaggeratedly, they seemed to reach down to his chin.

“Oh… Is it that noticeable?”

Armand ran his hand over his hollowed cheek with an embarrassed look. He hadn’t been sleeping well for the past few days, but he didn’t realize it was noticeable enough for even a child to notice. That’s how unsettled his mind was.

“You’re not sick, are you?”

“No. I just… haven’t been able to sleep, that’s all.”

“Sleep? Why?”

“Well, it’s… I have a worry that I can’t solve…”

“A worry?”

Iberis’s eyes sparkled as he leaned his upper body towards the desk. Then he said boldly:

“Tell me what it is! I’ll listen to everything!”

“Haha, it’s nothing to do with you.”

“That’s okay even if it doesn’t concern me!”

“Huh?”

“You said it before, remember? That just talking to someone can make your heart feel lighter.”

Iberis urged Armand, repeating what he had told him before. He wanted to help the doctor who was always kind to him, even if just a little.

“You’ve always listened to my worries until now. So this time, let’s do the opposite!”

“The opposite?”

“Yes! I’ll listen to anything!”

Iberis clenched his fists and looked at Armand with an eager face.