“Give me your hand. I’ll guide you.”
“N-no. I don’t want it.”
Iberis shook his head vigorously, refusing the guiding. Ryan had struggled to guide him even when he was healthy. If he guided Iberis while dying, he would…
“I can win without guiding. I’ll finish quickly and come back. The rift boss seems weaker than the hidden dungeon boss…”
“If you were in a normal state, you might be able to do it alone. But you’re not, are you?”
Ryan glared at Iberis sternly. They had long since run out of sedatives and purifiers, and Iberis hadn’t received guiding since Ryan was injured. Having fought the most monsters, his body couldn’t be in good shape.
“As you said, the rift boss is easier compared to the A+ hidden dungeon boss. Though unknown, it seems to be B or B+ rank. The problem is your body’s condition is at its worst.”
“I’m fine…”
“Like hell you are. Your hands are shaking.”
Ryan cut off Iberis’s words, clicking his tongue as he looked at Iberis’s deathly pale complexion and trembling hands. Despite trying to appear calm, Iberis was on the verge of mana overload. Fighting the rift boss in this state was tantamount to suicide.
“*Cough* Huff, who are you trying to fool… I can see it all, man. I’m at my limit, but you’re in danger too right now.”
“But…”
“Whether I guide you or not, I’m going to die anyway. Since I can’t survive, I want to help you as much as I can before my last breath.”
“Team Leader!”
“My denying it won’t miraculously save me. So accept reality, Iberis.”
“Ugh.”
Iberis’s face contorted at the cruel pronouncement. Ryan smiled bitterly at the tear-stained face.
“You’re one thing, but… shouldn’t the innocent kid get out alive?”
Ryan’s gaze turned to Brenda. He felt deep guilt towards the cadet who had suffered innocently while participating in the operation for practical training.
“I’m sorry, Cadet Cali. I have no words, even with ten mouths, to apologize to you. Getting caught up in our business…”
“No, no! If it weren’t for the Special Team’s consideration, I wouldn’t even be alive now.”
Brenda waved her hands, startled by Ryan’s apology. For the past ten days, all she had done was be protected by the Special Team members, including Iberis.
“I should be thanking you, everyone protected me…”
“It’s only natural… Ugh, huff…”
Ryan winced at the pain rising from within. Then he turned his gaze back to Iberis.
“I’m sorry for putting such a heavy burden on you, but… even if I die, you must live.”
“…Why?”
“The others have asked a lot of you, haven’t they? Are you not going to fulfill those requests?”
Ryan deliberately put on a light expression and voice. Even if Iberis survives this place, his life probably won’t be easy. How can someone who’s lost all their colleagues live with a sound mind? Livio won’t leave him alone either.
Nevertheless, Ryan wanted Iberis to live. Knowing what kind of days he had endured so far, knowing how excellent an Esper he was, Ryan didn’t want a life that hadn’t fully blossomed to wither away in a place like this.
“Even if I get out of here, Major Logan will…”
“No, he won’t be able to touch you for a while. He doesn’t know how much you know, so he’ll try to figure that out first.”
Ryan spoke as if it was obvious. Having served Livio for a long time, he knew his character very well.
“Of course, with that man’s temperament, he won’t stay quiet for long. So… do you remember where I kept the documents I’ve gathered?”
Recently, Ryan had hidden relevant documents in a safe place and only informed a few team members, including Iberis, in case of an emergency.
“Even the evidence gathered so far can deal a big blow to the Major. He probably did this because he knows that too. So use those documents later to negotiate with that bastard Livio or report him to the higher-ups.”
“I won’t negotiate with such trash. If I get out, I’ll kill him right away…”
“Hey, stop that. You’ll become a villain and be wanted. In a one-on-one fight, you have a high chance of winning, but… he has power we don’t have.”
“What use is power if he’s dead?”
“That’s true, but your life will become miserable. If you want revenge, do it legally. Before that, listen to my request.”
“…What do you want to ask?”
“It’s obvious what I want. Can you look after our lovely nephew? He needs eye surgery too…”
Ryan’s eyes became clouded as he thought of the nephew who would be left alone. He gritted his teeth, feeling a creeping attachment to life.
“Remember when I added you to the list of potential legal guardians for Adrian if I die in the line of duty? *Cough* Huff… Everyone else is dead, so you’re the only one left. Just help that child until he can stand on his own.”
“…I will.”
Iberis forced out a response. He didn’t want to hear Ryan’s last wishes, but he knew there was no way to save Ryan now.
“Good, that’s all I ask. Now, let’s do the guiding.”
Ryan smiled faintly, having finally gotten the answer he wanted. He then extended his hand to Iberis.
“The guiding…”
“Come on, for you and Cadet Cali to get out of here, you need to kill the boss and clear the blocked path. My judgment is that you need guiding for that. So, give me your hand quickly.”
“…”
“Hurry.”
Despite Ryan’s urging, Iberis continued to hesitate. Frustrated, Ryan grabbed the still hesitating hand. At that moment, a fierce cold rose, creeping up his skin.
“Ugh, ha, this is no joke. How did you endure with a body like this…”
Ryan twisted his lips, letting out a pain-filled groan. An intense cold swept over him, making his teeth chatter. Yet, he summoned his mana with every ounce of strength he had left.
“Nngh…”
Ryan used all the mana he possessed for Iberis’s guiding. Even this wouldn’t be much help, but it was far better than doing nothing.
“*Cough* *Cough*! Ugh, hah, Iberis… I’m truly sorry I couldn’t be a good superior or a good guide. I’m just causing you trouble till the end.”
“No, that’s not true. Team Leader, you were the best superior and guide for me…”
“Haha, a guide with less than 50% matching rate, what nonsense… Ugh.”
Ryan groaned, unable to continue speaking as a sudden chill surged through him. He felt the icy mana infiltrating his body, slicing through his internal organs and freezing everything from his skin to his blood vessels. Realizing his time was almost up, he hurriedly spoke.
“It seems some have asked you to avenge them… *gasp* But I… I don’t want you to live like that.”
His voice grew weaker and his pronunciation became a mess, but Ryan continued stumbling through his words. He gazed at his young subordinate with eyes full of affection, just as he would look at his nephew.
Was it because Iberis was around the same age as his nephew Adrian? Was it because he knew about Iberis’s unfortunate upbringing? Or was it because he felt sorry that Iberis couldn’t mingle comfortably with others due to his overwhelming abilities?
He couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason, but Iberis had been someone he cared about since they first met. Ryan felt both proud and sorry for his subordinate who had grown up too quickly.
“Live, Iberis. Somehow survive and be happy. Forget about us and live well on your own.”
Ryan hugged Iberis tightly and whispered affectionately with all his heart. Until now, he couldn’t embrace him due to their low matching rate. His body could barely withstand the cold Iberis emitted for a moment.
But now, since he would never guide him again, there was no reason to hold back. Ryan conveyed warmth for the first and last time to Iberis, who would face difficult days ahead because of them.
“How can I forget… *sob* Team Leader…”
“Don’t get consumed by revenge, okay? *Gasp* It’ll only make you suffer. And, uh, what else… Ah, someday a guide who matches you will appear, not a nobody like me, so hang in there until then. You might even find your name match… Anyway, you’ll definitely be happy. I guarantee it. So, *cough* *gasp* live long for my share too…”
“Team… Leader?”
After barely finishing his words, Ryan gasped once as if short of breath, then his head dropped.
“T-Team Leader Ryan? Wake up!”
Iberis hurriedly examined Ryan as his breathing stopped and his body stiffened.
“No, no, *sob* please… Team Leader…”
Seeing Ryan’s unseeing eyes, Iberis’s face crumpled and a sorrowful cry burst out. He held Ryan’s limp body and wept for a long time.
* * *
“…Major, Major!”
“Hah!”
Iberis opened his eyes with a harsh gasp, like someone who had just surfaced from underwater, at the urgent voice calling him.
“Are you alright?”
A voice full of concern seeped into his muffled ears. Panting, Iberis blinked as he felt warm hands cupping his cheeks. After blinking several times, his blurry vision gradually cleared, revealing Lucas’s tense face.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
