Chapter 8. 87%
“Failed again.”
Livio crumpled the newspaper he was reading and threw it away irritably. The ball of paper hit Yuki’s ankle precisely.
Yuki, who had been pale since entering the office, visibly flinched when the paper lump hit her foot. The crumpled newspaper rolling on the floor looked just like her future.
“I can’t believe an A-class esper, even if drug-addicted, couldn’t beat one guide…”
Livio muttered, seemingly unable to understand. While among espers, rank directly indicates skill difference, it’s different when comparing to guides. Unlike espers, guides don’t have abilities other than guiding.
Of course, guides can also use mana to attack opponents. But generally, their combat ability was inferior to espers. This was why the common sense that espers are stronger than guides had developed.
So Livio thought Carlos would be able to handle Luke Illum easily. Even though Carlos was less skilled than other espers of the same rank and had fallen to rock bottom due to alcohol and drug addiction, he was still an ability user who had served in the defense force for a long time. It should have been enough to take care of an arrogant S-class guide.
However, it was a clear misjudgment. Carlos was instead subdued by Luke Illum. And it was an overwhelming defeat.
“Even if he couldn’t kill him, I thought he’d at least inflict serious injuries… Yuki, I don’t know if you’re incompetent or if Lieutenant Illum is competent.”
“I’m sorry.”
Yuki bowed her head deeply. This incident was a big shock to her as well. She had staked everything on this operation. To avoid becoming like Isaac, she had to succeed at all costs.
That’s why she hired several famous hackers to bring down the European branch’s security system and planted malicious code in the barrier activation program. Then, using bribed soldiers, she tracked Luke Illum’s movements and arranged for him to encounter the hypnotized Carlos.
She also activated the barrier with malicious code to isolate Luke Illum so he couldn’t escape from Carlos. She created a stage where he had no choice but to fight Carlos. She thought it was a success, but a completely different situation unfolded from what Yuki had predicted.
“I failed to properly assess Lieutenant Illum’s abilities. It’s all my fault.”
“Well, I didn’t expect him to fight that well either…”
Livio trailed off bitterly. In fact, when he heard Yuki’s plan, he thought it was excellent. But with this result, he was honestly perplexed.
“We’re not the only ones surprised. Just look at how the media is buzzing about it.”
Livio clicked his tongue, recalling the article he had just read. Journalists who witnessed the incident at the time rushed to publish exclusive articles about ‘the guide who caught an esper’.
An interview with the soldier who was with Luke Illum when Carlos attacked him was also published on the front page. His testimony vividly revealed how Luke Illum faced and subdued Carlos.
This caught the attention of other media outlets. Smelling money, they rushed to report on Lieutenant Luke Illum. Hundreds and thousands of articles poured out worldwide, from newspapers to TV, portal site main pages, and personal broadcasts.
People who learned through this that Luke Illum was a promising doctor and S-class guide became interested one after another. His looks, rivaling those of actors, also became a hot topic on the internet. In just one day, Luke Illum became a global celebrity.
With the situation turning out like this, interest in Iberis Hyun, which had been gradually fading, rose again. This was thanks to the fact that Lieutenant Luke Illum was Major Iberis Hyun’s exclusive guide. Naturally, the terrorist incidents caused by villain organizations in N-zone were also re-examined. As public opinion stirred, the military investigation bureau also moved quickly.
“He was already famous enough for most people to know him, but the impact of this incident is very large. We’ve ended up helping him instead. Tsk.”
Livio’s eyes twisted in displeasure. If he gains attention like this, it becomes difficult for Livio to touch him. Suppressing the rising feeling of unease, he opened his mouth.
“What did you do with the hackers who brought down the system and the villain who hypnotized Carlos?”
“I dealt with them immediately. You don’t need to worry about them. They won’t appear before us again.”
“Some media outlets are already mentioning our guild. The current vice guild master is discussing weapon supply contracts through the Japanese government, so we can’t let this flow like last time. If we’re not careful, even the re-discussion of military supplier selection scheduled for early next year could come to nothing.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Your best isn’t good enough. You’ll have to put your life on the line and give it your all. If you don’t clean this up properly… you know?”
“…Hic, yes.”
Yuki involuntarily hiccupped at the voice tinged with faint killing intent. Then she answered with a terrified face. Cold sweat ran down her back.
* * *
“Do you have something you want to say?”
“Huh?”
Iberis, who had been watching for the right timing sitting across from Lucas, opened his eyes wide when he asked about his business first. His expression seemed to say, ‘How did you know?’
“You’ve been looking antsy all day.”
“…Was it that obvious?”
“Yes, very.”
Lucas put down his teacup with a soft chuckle. Iberis’s appearance, with his eyes as round as marbles like a squirrel, was very cute.
“During our late breakfast… and when you were on the phone with General Bismarck, and when the military investigators came to take victim statements… You’ve been fidgeting all day long, watching me like a puppy that needs to go out.”
“Oh, um, did I do that?”
Embarrassed by Lucas’s observation, Iberis wrinkled his nose. His behavior had indeed been scattered today, as Lucas pointed out. But it couldn’t be helped.
Last night, after fully realizing his feelings for Lucas, Iberis was in a subtly excited state. He was also anxious because there were things he needed to tie up before expressing his feelings to Lucas.
Like the saying “strike while the iron is hot,” Iberis planned to sort everything out today. However, unlike his resolution, words didn’t come easily. It was difficult to figure out how to broach the subject or in what order to talk about things.
Whenever he finally mustered the courage to start a conversation, ironically, an interruption would occur. In the morning, military doctors from the European branch visited the hotel to check on their condition. At lunch, they had to discuss future plans with Winfried over a call. In the afternoon, people from the investigation bureau came, causing him to miss the timing again. Before he knew it, the sun was already setting.
“I do have something to tell you…”
“What is it?”
“Well, um…”
Iberis averted his gaze slightly and trailed off. Until just moments ago, he was focused on getting it out quickly, but now that the opportunity had come, his mouth wouldn’t move again.
“Hmm, you’re really acting strange today. It seems like you can barely look me in the eye…”
Lucas narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the hesitating Iberis.
“Wh-when did I…”
“You’re doing it right now.”
Lucas reached out and cupped Iberis’s slender chin, making him look at him. When their gazes met in mid-air, Iberis’s eyes, like layered ice crystals, trembled slightly.
“W-wait, let go of my face for a moment.”
“Why?”
Because my heart is beating too fast, it’s troublesome! Iberis inwardly shouted, squeezing his eyes shut. Perhaps because it was the first day after acknowledging his feelings for Lucas, he was overly conscious of every expression, gesture, and voice of Lucas that would normally not affect him.
And that wasn’t all. His heart was pounding so hard that he worried Lucas might hear it.
“Major?”
Lucas was slightly taken aback when Iberis closed his eyes completely. He had sensed that Iberis was particularly conscious of him today, but he couldn’t understand why.
Could it be… No, no.
It’s dangerous to get one’s hopes up. Lucas pressed down his expectations, firmly setting his mouth. He shouldn’t be hasty when dealing with Iberis.
“If I let go, will you tell me what’s on your mind?”
“I will, so…”
“Alright.”
“Phew…”
As the hand holding his chin fell away, Iberis opened his eyes, exhaling the breath he’d been holding. His cheeks felt so hot that he worried they might have turned red. The feeling of heat rising in his body without receiving guiding was unfamiliar.
Let’s take it one step at a time, slowly.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Iberis bit his lip and looked at Lucas. The loud thumping of his heart, which had been racing since earlier, echoed in his ears. After a brief pause, he carefully moved his lips.
“You know, before… Do you remember when I said there was a place I wanted to go?”
“Yes.”
“To be precise, it’s not a place I want to go… but a person I want to meet.”
“A person you want to meet?”
“Yes.”
“Who is it?”
“Actually… I don’t know where this person is or how to set up an appointment. That’s why I need your help.”
“Oh?”
Who could it be? Lucas tilted his head curiously. Then his eyes widened at the name that came from Iberis’s mouth.
“Lucas Lowell Blake.”
“…Pardon?”
“Viscount Blake. Your distant relative, you said… I want to meet him. No, I need to meet him.”
