“However? Why did you stop mid-sentence?”
“Well, um, we’ll need to run tests later to be sure, but… Remember what I told you before? That if you experience a mana outburst, all the treatment we’ve done so far could be undone…”
Lucas’s voice grew quieter. Although Iberis had found stability through consistent guiding for nearly a year, his body was still like cracked porcelain. Even if some of the cracks had diminished, a significant shock could still shatter it.
“Am I that bad off?”
“…Yes.”
Lucas nodded heavily, his expression darkening. As it was, Iberis had already been diagnosed as incurable without imprinting.
While completing the guiding successfully would likely keep his life out of danger, it would be difficult to avoid worsening readings… It was impossible to estimate how long it would take to restore him to his condition before the poisoning.
It would be fortunate if he could be healed at all, but if the dead areas were to increase…
Lucas’s eyes twisted at the horrifying thought. Growing anxious, he unconsciously tightened his arms around Iberis’s waist.
“Ow, it hurts…”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Lucas quickly loosened his grip. Currently, Iberis’s body was weakened by the combined effects of illegal drug intoxication, aftereffects, and mana outburst. With his senses heightened from the guiding, he would feel both pleasure and pain several times more intensely than usual.
That’s why he needed to be even more careful. Strong stimulation could be like poison to Iberis in his current state.
“Then, *sigh*, is there no solution?”
“…There is one method we could try.”
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Lucas hesitated, uncharacteristically. While bringing Iberis to the residence after confirming the test results, he had been searching for a way to overcome this crisis. Finally, he thought of one method: ‘imprinting’.
If he could successfully imprint with Iberis, it would not only prevent the worsening of various physical readings but also potentially lead to a complete cure. The problem was that Iberis was extremely negative about imprinting.
After a heated discussion on this topic previously, Iberis had been postponing the decision under the excuse of needing to think about it. Knowing this, Lucas found it hard to speak up.
“The treatment you’re talking about… is it imprinting?”
Iberis easily guessed the method Lucas had come up with, seeing his hesitation to answer.
“…That’s correct.”
Lucas, momentarily taken aback, promptly admitted it. It wasn’t something he could hide anyway. If so, it was better to persuade Iberis to accept the imprinting.
“As I mentioned before, if we imprint…”
“…Let’s do it.”
“Pardon?”
Lucas, who had been contemplating how to change Iberis’s mind, opened his eyes wide at the unexpected response.
“Let’s imprint.”
“Have you… made up your mind?”
Lucas asked with a bewildered expression. He had expected Iberis to refuse outright.
“Yes.”
Iberis smiled freely at Lucas, who looked as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. Unlike his previous adamant refusal, it was a willing smile.
“Is there a reason you suddenly changed your mind?”
Despite Iberis agreeing to his proposal, Lucas cautiously asked instead of rejoicing. If this was a decision made on impulse, swept up by momentary emotions, Iberis might regret it if the outcome wasn’t favorable. So, to prevent any potential conflicts, he needed to make sure.
“Honestly, considering the chances of you getting hurt or sick because of me, I’m not keen on it… but it’s far better than leaving this world without you.”
Iberis bit his lip after candidly expressing his true feelings. Ironically, what had been decisive in helping him make up his mind was Livio.
‘Aren’t you afraid of dying?’
‘Now that you’ve come to like someone, do you find yourself clinging to life?’
If he hadn’t heard those words, he might still be wavering now. A bitter smile appeared on Iberis’s lips as he recalled his conversation with Livio.
Even before awakening as an ability user, he had lived a life where death could come at any moment. After becoming a soldier, he had to cross the line between life and death countless times while suffering from chronic lack of guiding.
That’s why he could remain calm when given a terminal diagnosis. He had become numb to death.
However, meeting Lucas made him realize that wasn’t true. He had simply given up, exhausted by repeatedly experienced failures and frustrations.
“I told you before, I hope the time you can have with me will be very long.”
“…Yes.”
“Actually, I feel the same way. These days, thanks to a certain someone, living has become quite enjoyable.”
Iberis cupped Lucas’s cheeks with both hands. Then he leaned in and placed a light kiss on his lips.
“The everyday life you’ve given back to me is precious and happy, and there are so many things I can’t do alone… I want to be with you for a long, long time.”
After a brief kiss, Iberis voiced his wish while close enough to feel each other’s breath.
“If I could just stay by your side, I’d be okay even if my illness doesn’t heal, even if I have to shiver from cold for the rest of my life… but you wouldn’t be, right?”
“You’re asking the obvious. I don’t want to live in constant worry, not knowing when you might fall ill.”
“…You’re such a fool, willing to do something that might hurt you because you don’t want to see me sick.”
“Eunsu, I’d rather be hurt than see you in pain.”
*Chu* Lucas gently sucked on Iberis’s luscious lower lip before releasing it and whispering. His greedy self couldn’t be satisfied with Iberis simply being by his side.
“Iberis, I’d do anything if it means keeping you in this world even a day longer. Even if it means cutting into my own flesh.”
“Yes, I knew you’d say that.”
Iberis chuckled as if to say ‘you’re hopeless’. Yes, this was the kind of person his lover was. A stubborn one who would jump into a fire pit for what he wanted.
In the end, he had lost again this time. But he didn’t feel bad about it. Perhaps his subconscious had foreseen this outcome based on past experiences.
Though he hadn’t expected to proceed with imprinting so quickly like this, it was time to be brave. Nothing could be gained by running away out of fear of a negative future.
“Lucas.”
Having made his decision, Iberis met Lucas’s golden eyes, filled with affection and desire for him. Then he softly vowed:
“If, just if. If our imprinting goes wrong and you end up sick like me… I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.”
“…”
“And, um, whether it becomes known that you’re my Name partner or rumors spread about our imprinting, I’ll thoroughly control the surroundings so that no one dares to even think of touching you. Even then, some crazy ones might still come after you now and then… but I’ll make them regret it until the day they die.”
After conveying his formidable resolve, Iberis’s eyes crinkled in a smile. He had already proudly declared before Winfried that he would protect Lucas first before fearing for his safety, so it was puzzling why he had stupidly agonized over it.
“So… let’s imprint.”
“…Gladly.”
Lucas answered as if he had been waiting for this day. He then enveloped Iberis in his arms as if he would never let go, and their lips met.
Iberis also embraced Lucas back, actively welcoming him. As their lips locked deeply and their bodies of different temperatures pressed together without any gap, their mana also mixed as if they had been one from the beginning.
* * *
“Ah! Haa…!”
A sharp moan echoed through the humid air. Iberis let out a cry mixed with sobs at the slow stimulation inside him. With each of Lucas’s movements, lewd sounds of their connection grated on his eardrums.
Perhaps due to the noticeably slower act than usual, the shape and heat of what filled his inner walls felt even more vivid.
Embarrassed and flustered by this, Iberis kept hiding his bright red face with the pillow or blanket. At such times, Lucas would snatch the bedding from Iberis’s hands as if telling him not to run away, and increase his pace. Then, before Iberis could feel shame, he would be overwhelmed by the sensation striking his entire body.
“Hnng, mm…”
Intoxicated by the intense pleasure, Iberis ran his hands over his swollen belly. Then he looked up at Lucas with unfocused eyes. His vision was blurry due to the tears welling up from physical stimulation.
Disliking this, he raised his hand to touch Lucas’s cheek, and soft lips, in contrast to his sturdy body, planted kisses on his palm.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
