“…”
After briefly taking in the sight of Iberis, Lucas turned his head to follow his gaze. Although the memorial service had ended, many people remained in the communal cemetery created for the victims of the recent terror attack.
“Dad, Mom…”
“How are we supposed to live now that you’re gone, *sob*…”
The scene of bereaved families shedding tears and lamenting the sudden loss of their loved ones was like a sad movie. Lucas turned his gaze away from the people deep in despair and looked back at Iberis.
Was it because of the nightmare he had at dawn, or because of the gloomy atmosphere of the memorial service?
The pale complexion contrasting with his black clothes, silver-gray eyes darker than usual, and a gloomy expression like that of a guilty person… Iberis in his black suit looked so fragile, as if he might collapse at any moment.
Lucas bit his lower lip, swallowing a sigh rising from within. Iberis’s mood was so heavy that he didn’t know how to approach him.
I should have stopped him from attending.
Lucas regretted not actively dissuading Iberis from preparing for the memorial service this morning. Although he hadn’t had another nightmare, Iberis’s complexion had been pale since he woke up. His already fair skin looked even more sickly without a hint of color, which was heartbreaking.
‘If I don’t attend now, won’t public opinion turn bad? My condition isn’t great, but it’s not bad enough to worry about. Besides, you should attend such events even if you’re not feeling well.’
Iberis had shaken his head at Lucas’s cautious suggestion to skip the memorial service. He then resolutely attended the service, prayed for the victims, and read a eulogy comforting the bereaved families.
‘Major Hyun!’
‘Please comment on former Major General Logan!’
‘Recently, several governments including the U.S. and China have expressed interest in recruiting you. They’ve promised exceptional treatment – do you have any thoughts on retiring?’
‘There are rumors that you were the target of this terror attack. Is that true?’
As the N-zone terror incident and Iberis’s heroic actions were reported worldwide, numerous journalists flocked to the memorial service. Iberis politely declined interview requests, saying he just wanted to quietly pay his respects today.
Naturally, the journalists didn’t back down easily. The situation only settled when Brenda, Caleb, and other N-0 unit members stepped in to drive away those unrelated to the bereaved families.
‘Thank you… If it weren’t for you, Major, I would have died buried under the collapsed building that day.’
‘Thank you for helping us, Major Hyun.’
‘We’re really grateful you came.’
‘Hey, Major! Is the news article true? Is it really because of you that our mother died?’
‘Who is the mastermind the investigation bureau mentioned? Please answer!’
The reactions of the bereaved families to Iberis’s attendance were varied. Most were grateful to Iberis, but some resented him. This was due to an article published two days ago suggesting that the villains had carried out the attack targeting Iberis.
Fortunately, the former far outnumbered the latter. Public opinion remained favorable towards Iberis. Yesterday afternoon, the military investigation bureau announced they were investigating the mastermind who incited the villains to carry out the terror attack, and Iberis’s good deeds in supporting the bereaved families became known.
Plop, plop plop.
“Hm?”
Lucas was pulled from his reverie by raindrops hitting his face. He looked up at the darkened sky, squinting one eye. The day had been cloudy since morning, and it seemed rain was finally starting to fall.
“Major.”
Lucas clicked his tongue and walked towards Iberis, who was still standing as if rooted to the spot.
“…Luke?”
“It’s starting to rain. Let’s head back before it really pours.”
“So it is.”
Iberis murmured in a subdued voice, only now realizing it was raining.
“It doesn’t look like it will rain much… Can’t we stay a bit longer? Just until those people go home.”
Iberis’s gaze turned to a middle-aged woman caressing a gravestone, heedless of the rain. While conducting the memorial service today, he had felt a strong sense of déjà vu. The atmosphere and scenery of the venue reminded him of his colleagues’ funerals from a few years ago.
Perhaps that’s why he couldn’t bring himself to leave even after reading the eulogy. In the end, Iberis stood at a distance, watching over the bereaved families so as not to disturb them.
“Someone with a low body temperature like you, Major, is more susceptible to catching a cold in the rain.”
“I won’t get wet. If it rains heavily, I can make an umbrella out of ice.”
“…You’d use your ability for something so unnecessary?”
Lucas’s eyes immediately turned fierce. Iberis pouted his lower lip at the blatantly disapproving attitude.
“That level of use can hardly be considered using my ability. Besides, I haven’t done anything for almost two weeks now. Don’t you know that not using abilities enough can cause problems as mana builds up in the body?”
“I do know, but…”
Lucas was momentarily at a loss for words and pressed his lips together. As Iberis said, ability users needed to use their powers occasionally to release and circulate the mana accumulated in their bodies. However, he still felt it was a waste to use power for such a trivial purpose.
“I’ll ask Lieutenant Cali to bring an umbrella.”
In the end, Lucas backed down. This would have been unthinkable under normal circumstances, but today was an exception. Iberis’s expression was that bad. In times like these, it might be better to just let him do as he wished.
“If there are extras, tell them to distribute them to the bereaved families too.”
“…Alright.”
While Lucas was sending a message to Brenda, the rain intensified. As more raindrops fell through the leaves, he tried to move Iberis further under the tree.
“Hey, Luke.”
At that moment, Iberis, who had been staring blankly at the pouring rain, moved his small lips.
“What is happiness?”
“…Pardon?”
Lucas slightly furrowed his brow at the somewhat unexpected question.
“You know, a long time ago. There was someone who left me a last wish to be happy.”
“…”
“But no matter how much I think about it, I don’t know. How can I make life interesting and feel satisfied every day?”
A sigh escaped, and the white breath dispersed in the air. Iberis recalled the vivid dream he had earlier.
‘Live, Iberis. Somehow survive and be happy. Forget about us and live well on your own.’
‘You’ll definitely be happy. I guarantee it. So, *cough* *gasp* live long for my share too…’
Why did the Team Leader leave such a last wish? What made him so sure that I would be happy? A deep shadow fell over Iberis’s silver-gray eyes. Though he had been mulling over Ryan’s last words all day, once again, he couldn’t find the answer.
It wasn’t that there had never been enjoyable moments in his life. Looking back, there were quite a few memories that could make him smile. But right now, Iberis didn’t consider himself happy. Especially not after that incident a few years ago.
“That person told me to live long and happily… But I’ve failed at both.”
“…”
“Maybe that’s why he appeared in my dream today. To scold me.”
Iberis mumbled bitterly. For the past few years, he had tried his best to fulfill the last wishes of his deceased team members. He wasn’t sure if he had done it properly, but all that remained was to take revenge on Livio and be happy.
However, he wasn’t confident he could succeed at either. He had already failed at revenge once. As Ryan had suggested, he had tried to resolve it legally through whistleblowing, but Livio had slipped away like a loach without any punishment. Still, it wasn’t too early to give up as the chance to punish him hadn’t completely disappeared.
The problem was ‘being happy’. Iberis was a person accustomed to sadness and misfortune. He had suffered all his life from the pain of having a lower body temperature than others, and he had repeatedly lost people dear to him.
And that wasn’t all. Despairing at the unchanging reality, he had fallen into severe depression and at some point came to resign himself to everything. At some point, Iberis’s goal had changed to just enduring each day. Then, to make matters worse, he received a terminal diagnosis.
Could someone like him really become happy? Honestly, it seemed impossible.
Knowing this, he had tried to accept and escape the death that came for him. At that time, he only wanted to be free from the guilt that bound him and the endless cold that tormented his body. Although Lucas had forcibly pulled him back from the brink of death.
“You haven’t failed, Major.”
“Huh?”
Iberis was pulled from his gloomy thoughts by the firm voice penetrating his ears. As he turned his head, he saw Lucas with a somewhat angry expression.
“It’s still possible for you to be happy and live a long life.”
Step. Lucas approached Iberis closely and grasped his hand firmly. Then he interlaced his fingers with Iberis’s long, slender ones, locking them tightly. As if he would never let go.
