“Is this it?”
Iberis asked, observing the guards at the entrance. Behind the massive iron gates, a grand mansion that looked like it came straight out of a movie was visible.
“Yes, this is Blake Manor.”
Lucas replied, glancing at the driver who was saying something to the guard. His usual gruff baritone voice couldn’t hide an underlying excitement. Despite trying to act nonchalant, he seemed thrilled at the thought of meeting his younger sister after a long time.
“Oh, it’s opening.”
Iberis, who had been smiling silently, exclaimed as he saw the iron gates opening sideways. Soon, the car carrying the two of them moved smoothly again.
“…It’s a complete fortress.”
Iberis marveled at the scenery unfolding outside the window. Lucas’s family home was nothing short of a fortress. Along the path connected to the mansion, security devices such as CCTVs, wireless motion sensors, sound detectors, and alarms were densely installed.
Not only that, faint signs of human presence could be sensed from various spots in the shrubbery. Guards were hiding, ready to respond immediately if an intruder appeared.
“Are all the guards stationed around the mansion Espers?”
Iberis turned to Lucas with sparkling eyes, having detected the guards’ mana with his S-class Esper senses. It was a habit developed from living as a soldier to be vigilant and assess the surroundings when in an unfamiliar place.
“Ah, yes. Most of them are retired, but… they range from at least C-class to A-class.”
“Hmm, must have cost quite a bit?”
Iberis made a small snorting sound as his guess was confirmed. While the general public might refer to ability users who retired from active duty due to injury or aging as “toothless beasts,” they were still a force to be reckoned with.
That’s why those in professions easily targeted by villains, such as big business owners or politicians, often employed retired ability users as bodyguards.
“I don’t know about C-class, but from B-class up, it’s quite expensive, isn’t it? Ten of them? No, it seems like more…”
The value of an ability user varies depending on their rank and experience. Hiring just one decent Esper would cost at least several thousand. But the energy felt from the immediate surroundings was already more than just one or two. Iberis narrowed his eyes, roughly counting the number of mana signatures he could sense.
“Exactly thirty-six. We’ve set up a security company, and they work in three shifts, twelve at a time, rotating 24 hours a day.”
“That’s more than a company-sized unit? The annual salary alone must be… Can you afford it?”
“Well, money is the least of our concerns.”
Lucas shrugged lightly. Befitting an ancient noble family with connections to the royal family if you go back a few generations, he had inherited enormous assets. Moreover, with the success of Blake Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals, his wealth was still growing in real-time.
“Not knowing when the enemies who killed my parents might try something, I had no choice but to focus on defense. I paid special attention to safety since I couldn’t always be by Regina’s side.”
In the past, the first thing Lucas did after becoming Viscount Blake following his mother was to repair the burned-down mansion. He restored the exterior of the building exactly as it was when he lived with his parents, and modernized the interior through extensive remodeling.
This was to ensure that his younger sister, who had acquired a permanent disability due to the aftereffects of using abilities beyond her limit immediately after awakening, could move comfortably anywhere in the mansion. At the same time, he installed various safety measures to prevent another tragedy.
“So Regina doesn’t go to school and just stays at home?”
“She’s being homeschooled for safety. There are quite a few children of similar age among the employees… For seven years now, she’s been going to a study room set up in the annex as if attending school, learning various subjects according to a timetable. She even takes exams.”
“Are the employees trustworthy…?”
“Yes, almost all the employees working at the mansion are people who, like me, lost their families in the accident 10 years ago. Like the Thomas brothers.”
“I see.”
Iberis nodded, knowing the story of the Thomas brothers from Lucas. They must be tightly knit, having united to avenge their families.
“Since we share the same goal, I don’t think there’s much chance of betrayal, but… human affairs are unpredictable, so we conduct internal audits irregularly with General Bismarck’s help.”
“If it’s investigated by the Defense Force’s intelligence department, it must be reliable.”
“The security guards and some of the homeschooling teachers are the only outsiders… We thoroughly investigate their backgrounds before hiring and have them sign confidentiality agreements. We also add a bit of intimidation within legal bounds.”
“Hmm.”
“Although we’ve built some trust over the years of living together, on days when I visit like today, it’s designated as a temporary holiday, so teachers are not allowed to approach the mansion at all. Even for the security guards, only a limited number of people can enter the mansion on normal days.”
As they were conversing, the car stopped in front of the mansion. Up close, the main building was as magnificent and splendid as a palace fit for a king. Thomas and five or six others were waiting to greet them in front.
“We’ve arrived.”
The driver, who got out first, walked quickly to open the back door. Then he stepped aside to make it easier for the two to exit.
“Shall we get out?”
Lucas, who had stepped out, extended his hand towards Iberis. At that moment, a clear and energetic voice resounded loudly.
“Brother!”
Iberis, who got out of the car with Lucas’s escort, turned his head towards the voice. He saw a girl in an electric wheelchair.
“Brother…!”
“Regina.”
Lucas smiled brightly like a flower towards Regina, who was sitting in a wheelchair pulled by Thomas, with her arms wide open. It was a smile full of affection and tenderness for his sister.
“I missed you! So much!”
Regina, who approached Lucas operating her electric wheelchair, stood up shakily. Then she hugged him tightly.
“Me too.”
Lucas hugged Regina back and whispered affectionately. After briefly reuniting with his sister, he introduced Iberis to her.
“Say hello, Regina. This is the Major I serve.”
“Major?”
Regina peeked out while still clinging to Lucas like a koala. Only then did she notice Iberis and opened her eyes wide.
“Hello, Regina.”
Iberis greeted her with the gentlest expression and voice he could manage. True to being Lucas’s sister, she was beautiful like a doll with golden hair that seemed to be woven from sunlight and gleaming golden eyes.
“Ah, hello…”
Regina bowed her head shyly at the appearance of a stranger. Then she hid in Lucas’s arms. It was just like a cautious cat.
“I’m Iberis Hyun. I hold the rank of Major in the Defense Force. Nice to meet you.”
The brother is a dog, and the sister is a cat, Iberis thought absently as he revealed his name and affiliation to Regina. At that, golden eyes identical to Lucas’s appeared again.
“I’m Regina Lowell Blake… You work with my brother?”
Regina continued haltingly. Although she was scared of the unfamiliar person, she seemed curious as he was her brother’s superior. After all, it was the first time she had met one of Lucas’s colleagues.
“Yes, I’m indebted to the Captain.”
“Indebted…?”
“The Captain is my guide.”
“…! Are you an Esper? What’s your ability?”
Regina showed interest when Iberis revealed he was an Esper. Having grown up around many ability users, she was generally favorable towards Espers and guides.
“Well, it’s ice…”
“Ice! Like the Snow Queen?”
Regina’s eyes sparkled at Iberis’s answer. The ‘Snow Queen’ was a popular character from an animated film series.
“That’s right.”
Iberis bent slightly to meet Regina’s eye level and reached out towards her. Having visited the nursery where Adrian worked a few times, he knew well what children liked. Soon, transparent ice sprouted from his fingertips and instantly transformed into the Snow Queen character.
“Wow!”
Regina exclaimed with her mouth wide open when she saw the ice sculpture Iberis made. It was a reaction clearly more childlike than her apparent age.
“Would you like it?”
“Yes!”
“Here. Be careful, it’s cold.”
“Thank you!”
Regina beamed when Iberis placed the Snow Queen sculpture on her hand. It was such a quick change of attitude that her earlier shyness seemed unreal.
“Brother, look at this! It’s the Snow Queen!”
“Yes, it’s pretty. Is your hand not cold?”
“Not at all!”
Regina giggled and showed off the ice sculpture to Lucas, clearly satisfied with the gift. Her wariness towards Iberis seemed to have completely disappeared. The innocent girl thought that someone with a face as handsome and beautiful as her brother’s, and who had the same ability as her favorite character, couldn’t possibly be a bad person.
