Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

“What?”

Iberis’s eyes widened at the unexpected request for an examination. It was the first time someone had volunteered to work when given the chance to rest.

“Why are you so surprised? The reason I came here is to treat and guide you, Major.”

Lucas stated his purpose, disregarding Iberis’s strange look. In truth, Lucas hadn’t intended to start work right away before meeting Iberis. However, his mind changed the moment he faced him.

Dark circles under the eyes, pale cheeks, and chapped white lips… Lucas carefully examined Iberis’s face, which showed clear signs of illness at a glance.

Unless there are problems like mana depletion, overload, or life-threatening injuries, ability users always maintain their optimal physical condition. Moreover, as their rank increases, so does their health and durability.

The fact that Iberis, an S-class esper known for having one of the strongest bodies among ability users, looked noticeably unwell meant that there was a serious problem with his health.

“It might be difficult to do a thorough examination today, but I’d like to at least perform a basic check-up. Depending on the situation, we could also proceed with some simple guiding.”

Lucas continued, suppressing a sigh. He knew Iberis’s condition was serious from the information Winfried had given him and the military hospital’s medical records, but he hadn’t realized it was this bad.

Lucas narrowed his eyes and observed Iberis again. His senses weren’t completely dull; he could still feel things. In particular, his mana perception was superior to anyone else’s.

Thanks to this, Lucas easily detected the mana flowing from Iberis’s body. He had thought the air felt cool earlier, but it was due to the mana Iberis was unconsciously emitting, lowering the temperature of the office.

Realizing this, Lucas’s expression hardened even more. Mana that’s naturally expelled like breathing doesn’t affect the surroundings to this extent. If it was cold enough to chill the office air without actively using his ability, it meant Iberis’s mana wasn’t being properly controlled. This was a typical symptom of insufficient guiding.

“I know that, but… your official start date is tomorrow. Today…”

“I really dislike overtime work, but I’m not so unscrupulous as to ignore a patient right in front of me.”

“Patient…?”

Iberis frowned, momentarily flustered. It was true, but it oddly upset him. At the same time, he felt a sense of crisis that his physical condition was bad enough for Lucas to notice within minutes. It meant it was noticeable to others. As someone who wanted to hide the fact that he was terminally ill, at least for now, this was an unwelcome situation for Iberis.

“What do you think people will say if you examine me as soon as you arrive? Are you trying to advertise that I’m terminally ill?”

“Isn’t it common knowledge that your health isn’t good, Major? According to the medical records, you were in a coma for several days last month.”

“That’s…”

“Although my appointment was made at General Bismarck’s discretion, it wouldn’t have been approved if the military leadership didn’t consider your situation serious.”

Iberis bit his lip, unable to refute the irrefutable statement. In fact, it was known to anyone interested in internal military affairs that he was suffering from chronic insufficient guiding.

“So you don’t need to worry about the fact that you’re terminally ill spreading just because I examine you. Even if someone suspects, General Bismarck will handle it. However, you’ll have to accept the rumors that your health is very poor.”

“…I understand what you’re saying.”

Finally, Iberis raised the white flag. He looked at Lucas, who was being impertinent to him from the first day, with a tired face. Whether it was because he had been flourishing as an S-class guide and receiving special treatment in the military, or because he had Winfried, a candidate for the next Marshal, as his backup, he was quite bold.

However, it was awkward to point out and take issue with his attitude, as Lucas’s stated purpose and request were both legitimate. Whatever his true intentions, he outwardly appeared to want to treat his superior officer and esper as soon as possible, with no other motives, simply as a doctor.

Is he a stubborn principled type? Or someone with a strong sense of responsibility for his work?

Iberis made a rough assessment of Lucas, who didn’t avert his gaze and waited for an answer even as Iberis showed his displeasure. Regardless of his personality, it was a request that was difficult to refuse or ignore. And he didn’t seem likely to back down easily.

“However, I can’t let you examine me right away. I have things to do too… For now, just rest.”

Iberis managed to move his lips, suppressing the irritation rising inside him. Considering the content of his conversation with Winfried, they would have to live together for at least a few months unless an accident occurred, and he didn’t want to get into a fight over something trivial on the first day.

“I understand. Then I’ll ask Lieutenant Cali to show me around the office I’ll be using, and I’ll greet the military doctors I’ll be working with while waiting for you to finish your work. Please call me when you’re done with your schedule for the day, even if it’s late.”

“…Alright.”

Iberis sighed again and responded to Lucas, who expressed his intention to examine him today no matter what. As he thought when he first saw him, a formidable opponent had appeared. He thought things would become troublesome in many ways from now on as he called for Brenda and Caleb, who were waiting outside.

* * *

“…”

Seated in a chair in the examination room on the first floor, Lucas checked the figures appearing on the monitor with a serious face. The latest information he had been able to confirm before coming here was the medical record from when Iberis had fallen into a coma, and the internal mana contamination level and physical damage rate that a specialist hospital doctor had tipped off to Winfried.

Still, perhaps out of some final conscience, the specialist hospital doctor hadn’t passed on detailed medical records. Although Lucas could have found out if he wanted to, he didn’t feel the need to do so.

Iberis had only visited places other than military hospitals a few times recently, so the information provided by the intelligence department was sufficient to understand his medical history. Above all, the most important thing in treatment was the patient’s current condition.

Lucas had planned to conduct a thorough examination when he met Iberis anyway, so there was no need to verify through illegal routes. Although learning that Iberis was terminally ill had already crossed the bounds of legality.

In any case, Lucas, who had achieved what he wanted from his first day of appointment, turned his gaze to Iberis inside the examination machine. He had expected it to be bad, but it was much worse than he thought.

Whirr…

Lucas crossed his arms with a complex expression as he listened to the sound of the examination machine running. Over the past few years, he had met numerous espers while serving as a military doctor and guide at the central headquarters. Among them were quite a few who, like Iberis, hadn’t received proper guiding for a long time.

But he had never seen anyone as serious as Iberis. Lucas furrowed his brow as he alternately looked at the figures on the monitor and Iberis inside the machine. He still couldn’t grasp how best to treat him.

“It’s finished. You can come out now.”

Click. Lucas briefly organized his thoughts and pressed the switch to turn on the microphone. He would have liked to examine more thoroughly, but for now, he had to be satisfied with checking the internal mana contamination level, mana circulation, and physical damage rate. The medical facilities within the unit were poorer than expected.

He thought about requesting medical equipment support from Winfried as he stood up. It was to remove the medical devices connected to Iberis’s body.

However, Iberis skillfully removed the patches attached to his body without Lucas’s help. He even shut down the medical devices. It seemed like he had done this many times before.

As a result, Lucas could only stand and watch as Iberis took off his examination gown and changed into his own clothes hanging on the wall.

He’s extremely thin.

After a moment of surprise at Iberis’s unexpected actions, Lucas observed him with a doctor’s eye. As he had felt earlier, Iberis seemed to weigh less than his height would suggest. Whether it was his natural body type or if he had lost weight due to illness was still unclear, but judging by his current body, a diet regimen seemed necessary. The only consolation was that despite his thin frame, his muscles were firm.

“Captain?”

“…Ah.”

Lucas snapped out of his thoughts at the faint voice calling him. Iberis, who had already changed his clothes and come out of the machine room, was staring at him blankly.

“I’m sorry. I should have helped you…”

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying you don’t need to worry about it. I can handle most procedures on my own.”

Iberis replied as if telling him not to mind. Although there was a regulation that one had to be an ability user to join the Defense Force, most of those in indoor positions such as military doctors, nursing officers, administrators, and support staff were often espers and guides below C-grade who couldn’t work in the field. For this reason, most of them found it difficult to touch Iberis’s body. This was why he had developed the habit of doing everything by himself.