Livio tried to turn the situation around by pointing out that Lucas had enlisted in the Defense Force under a false identity. The cornered conservative faction agreed with him on this point.
However, the world didn’t flow as Livio wanted. Lucas held an official press conference, detailing how he had lived until now and why he had to use the identity of Luke Illum.
When the truth was revealed, some media outlets appeared criticizing Lucas as a fraud and denouncing his actions as improper, but they were a minority. Most took Lucas’s side. This was thanks to Winfried’s information team conducting public opinion campaigns on various sites, and Thomas having built friendly relationships with various media outlets.
With countless media outlets focusing on Lucas’s outstanding abilities and movie-like story while demonizing Livio, public opinion turned in his favor. The public was excited by a story even more dramatic than a movie.
Of course, the conservative faction didn’t just sit back and take it. They insisted that while they understood Lucas’s circumstances, he could no longer serve in the military since he had concealed his identity.
When the leadership tried to severely punish Lucas and force him to retire, Iberis announced that he had imprinted with Lucas. He declared that if Lucas was penalized, he would also leave the military.
With Iberis, who had a bad history with Livio and was a victim of demotion due to whistleblowing a few years ago, openly siding with Lucas, public opinion boiled over once again.
The Defense Force, knowing how blindly imprinted Espers change towards their paired guides, was in a difficult position. Losing both a rare S-class Esper and guide at once would significantly impact their combat power.
Moreover, N-0 unit members like Brenda and Caleb also supported the two by submitting resignations in protest against the leadership. Reform-minded figures including Winfried also criticized the military through interviews. Their actions were immediately reported worldwide as breaking news, and the Defense Force was flooded with protest calls.
As the situation worsened, some member countries threatened to withdraw if the issue wasn’t resolved quickly. Companies with cooperation contracts also showed signs of pulling out.
Finally, the conservative faction withdrew their claim that Lucas should be punished. The leadership also gave in to Iberis. The military, already suffering from the corruption scandal involving dozens of people including Livio, had to prevent further deterioration of public opinion and loss of talent.
Thus, Lucas’s disciplinary case fizzled out, and the fact that the two were Name partners and had imprinted became widely known.
“How can you guide me when you’ve imprinted with Major Hyun…”
“Ah, about that. After imprinting, I found out… While contact guiding with other Espers is impossible, other methods are possible.”
“What?”
“S-class Espers can guide multiple people at once using surrounding mana, right? The academic world recently started calling it ‘radiation guiding’.”
“…”
“So I experimented with help from unit members. I thought it would be good to make sure, in case of emergencies. Thanks to that, I learned that radiation guiding is possible. Of course, it feels very unpleasant. How should I put it… Like committing a sin I shouldn’t… A strange sense of guilt, I suppose.”
Lucas shrugged, saying it wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling.
“Hmph, then you could just refuse to guide me. Why did you come? Do you feel like guiding your parents’ enemy? What is the military thinking?”
“Haha. I’m not a saint… Do you think I came for you?”
“What?”
“I’m saying I accepted because there’s something in it for me too.”
Lucas mocked Livio. In truth, he had deliberately been assigned as Livio’s guide by asking Winfried, but there was no need to reveal the truth.
“You know what? Torture is possible through guiding.”
Lucas leaned towards Livio and whispered in a voice only he could hear.
“What…”
“You should know, right? There’s a way to make mana go berserk instead of calming it.”
Livio’s red eyes shook greatly as he recalled something at Lucas’s whisper. The method Lucas mentioned was one of those frequently used by the military for torture that leaves no trace.
“No way, re-reverse guiding?”
“You do know well.”
“Are you crazy? You’re going to do that to me? Do you think I’ll just sit still? I’ll reveal the cruel treatment at the trial. I’ll protest to the human rights center too!”
“Who would believe that?”
“What?”
“As you know, reverse guiding leaves no trace. And our meeting today will be appropriately edited later. In other words, your claim of being abused by me will just be an unfounded accusation without evidence.”
Lucas made a scissoring motion with his fingers. His golden eyes, filled with murderous intent, glowed ominously.
“Remember what I said before? That it would be fun from now on. I got permission from my kind-hearted Esper, so unless something happens, we’ll be seeing each other once a month until you die. Looking forward to it.”
“No, no. Gah, aaaargh!”
The moment Lucas released his mana, terrible screams echoed in the visitation room. About 30 minutes later, the tightly closed door opened and Lucas appeared with a refreshed expression. He curved his eyes in a smile towards the guard waiting outside.
“You received contact from General Bismarck, right?”
“…Yes, the visitation room recording will be edited without issue.”
“I’ll leave it to you. Thank you for everything today. I’ll see you again soon. Ah, no need to see me out.”
Lucas thanked the guard politely and climbed the stairs. The guard, watching Lucas’s retreating figure with a pale face, hurriedly entered the visitation room. Inside was Livio, who had fainted after writhing in pain.
* * *
“Phew.”
Coming out of the building, Lucas squinted one eye as if the sunlight pouring on him was dazzling. After brushing off his clothes, he headed to a pre-arranged location.
People who recognized Lucas on the way glanced at him, but he paid no attention. His destination was a garden close to Winfried’s office.
The area was quiet as it was normally off-limits to anyone but high-ranking military officials. Lucas brightened as he approached a figure standing among the blooming flowers.
“What are you doing there?”
“…Luke!”
Iberis, who was looking at flowers, smiled brightly when he heard a voice calling him. Although they had been together just an hour ago, he was as excited as a dog seeing its owner after days.
“Did you finish your business well?”
“Thanks to you. Did you wait long?”
“No.”
“Were there any people bothering you?”
Lucas asked while taking off his coat. The two of them visited the headquarters today not just because of Livio’s guiding case.
As Livio Logan’s trial proceeded quickly and only the sentencing remained, the Defense Force promoted Iberis to Lieutenant Colonel and awarded him a commendation to somewhat calm the still noisy public opinion. Today was that day.
“There weren’t any. No one came.”
“I guess General Bismarck kept people away. I should thank him later.”
Lucas, who draped the coat over Iberis’s shoulders, proudly took in the rank insignia on his chest and the medal in his hand.
“Congratulations again on becoming Lieutenant Colonel.”
“Thank you. You should have been promoted this time too…”
Iberis grinned with a shy expression. Then he muttered as if regretful. Although Lucas’s disciplinary action was completely nullified, he remained a Captain while everyone else who played a role in Livio Logan’s arrest operation was promoted. It was the military’s petty revenge.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Lucas said as if he wasn’t regretful at all. Originally, if it weren’t for Iberis, he would have resigned long ago.
“More importantly, I have good news.”
“Oh?”
“I received a call before coming here. More precisely, before going to meet Livio Logan.”
“What kind of call?”
“The results of the detailed examination we had early this morning.”
“Ah.”
Iberis let out a faint exclamation as he remembered what he had forgotten. The military hospital located within the headquarters was equipped with all kinds of state-of-the-art facilities. For a more accurate diagnosis, the two of them underwent a detailed examination with Winfried’s help as soon as they arrived in New York at dawn today.
However, they couldn’t immediately check how their physical condition had changed. It wasn’t during hospital operating hours, and they had to attend Iberis’s promotion ceremony and medal award ceremony early in the morning. In the end, the two had to ask Winfried to receive the test results on their behalf.
“How was it?”
Iberis looked at Lucas with a very tense expression. The few seconds waiting for his answer felt like an eternity.
“Congratulations. Major, no, Lieutenant Colonel, you’re no longer terminally ill.”
“…Huh?”
Gray eyes widened at Lucas’s declaration of complete recovery. Iberis covered his mouth with both hands as if he couldn’t believe what he had heard.
“Re-really? For real?”
“Yes. The body damage rate came out at 8%. This means you’re completely cured.”
“Whoa…”
Iberis, who had been completely stiff, made a sound like air deflating. In fact, he had somewhat anticipated this.
After the imprinting, all the test results conducted at the unit were good, and Iberis himself felt that his condition wasn’t bad.
But he deliberately suppressed his expectations because he didn’t want to be disappointed after getting his hopes up. However, that was now over. When he heard from Lucas that he was completely healed, a deep sense of relief washed over him. Then, an indescribable joy welled up.
“Oh my.”
Lucas hurriedly supported Iberis, who seemed to have lost strength in his legs.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah… I’m fine. Just surprised for a moment…”
Iberis mumbled with a half-dazed face. His gaze turned to Lucas’s shortened hair. Seeing the neatly trimmed silver hair swaying in the wind made his heart swell.
“…Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Just everything… It’s all thanks to you.”
What would have happened if I hadn’t met you? Iberis gently grasped Lucas’s hand and expressed his sincere gratitude.
Last spring, he had fallen into severe lethargy and was only waiting for death to come someday. At that time, he thought next spring wouldn’t be much different. No, he thought he might not even make it to this year. That’s how much Iberis back then had no positive future.
But from the day Lucas came to the unit as his guide, the world changed. If he hadn’t approached him first, and if he hadn’t fallen in love with him, such a miracle would never have happened. Knowing this, he was grateful, and grateful again.
“No, it’s the result of your efforts not to give up. Rather, I’m the one who’s grateful.”
Lucas whispered, gently embracing Iberis’s shoulders. As their eyes met, the two burst into laughter without anyone taking the lead. It was a smile full of excitement for the future they would share for a long, long time.
[End]
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
