“Well…”
Iberis hesitated to accept Lucas’s suggestion. N-Zone is a dangerous area with a demon realm teeming with monsters and where rifts could appear at any time. As the one in charge of guarding N-0, the frontline area, it was burdensome to be away for ten days, let alone a day or two.
“Wouldn’t three or four days be enough?”
“That’s not a real break. We’d just be going to and from the European branch.”
“But ten days is too much…”
“You’ve been working non-stop for years without a proper break. Given how hard you’ve worked… No one would dare complain even if you took ten months off, let alone ten days.”
Lucas gently cut off Iberis’s words and tightened his arms around him. From what he had observed so far, Iberis didn’t know how to ‘rest’.
Just because a unit is located in a dangerous frontier doesn’t mean it’s always busy. Soldiers are prone to injuries in combat, and many often suffer from trauma in severe cases, so rest is actually emphasized.
The N-0 unit had decent welfare. Unless there was an emergency, they worked five days a week with two guaranteed days off, and each person could create their own work schedule to choose their days off. They could also freely use annual and half-day leaves.
As a unit specialized in regional defense, they had less administrative and other work compared to others. Unless monsters appeared from the demon realm or rifts occurred, they were relatively relaxed.
However, Iberis always found work to do even on leisurely days. At most, he’d take a short nap or read a book. Even on his days off, he would exercise in the fitness room, check on the work of the duty officers, or go to his office to review documents.
Everyone called him a ‘workaholic’, but to Lucas, he seemed like someone who didn’t know how to rest rather than someone who enjoyed work.
This was understandable. While his peers were gaining knowledge in school, making friends and learning social skills, and broadening their horizons through travel, Iberis became a boy soldier, receiving various training and fighting countless monsters on the battlefield. After officially enlisting, he suffered severe aftereffects from taking on all sorts of tough jobs like rift attacks.
Most people would have taken it for granted that Iberis, an S-class esper, would take the initiative and often asked for his help. So he probably thought everyone lived like this, without questioning or complaining.
Iberis’s world was that narrow. Of course, Lucas had no intention of leaving it that way. He wanted to show Iberis that there were many places where he could have diverse and fun experiences, beautiful scenery and enjoyable entertainment, not just bloody battlefields.
“As I’ve said many times, please don’t try to shoulder everything alone. If you keep working non-stop, you might burn out. To maintain good condition, you need appropriate rest in between. Just getting away from work for a while can refresh your mood.”
“…Is that advice as my primary physician?”
“That’s part of it, but… to be honest, I want to go on a relaxed date with you on this occasion.”
“What?”
A date? Iberis’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected this at all. Seeing this, Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
“What’s with that reaction? Even if we’re not lovers, I think we’re close enough to go on dates.”
“No, it’s just…”
Iberis fumbled for words, flustered by Lucas’s apparent hurt. He had received a confession from Lucas and was holding off on answering, so going on a date wouldn’t be a problem. As their guiding stage progressed, they had become physically closer, narrowing the psychological distance as well.
That’s why he hesitated even more, wondering if this was okay. He felt like he was being swept along by Lucas. He also worried if it was alright to give such leeway when he hadn’t made up his mind yet.
At the same time, he felt a little excited. As Lucas said, Iberis hadn’t left N-Zone for years.
“Is it not okay?”
Lucas pulled the contemplating Iberis closer and buried his face in his chest. Then he slightly raised his head, looking up at Iberis with puppy-like eyes, as if begging for a treat.
Using his looks again.
Iberis bit his lip as he looked down at Lucas, who was giving him a pleading look. It was really unfair of him to do this, knowing Iberis was weak to his face.
“If you don’t want to go on a date with me, you can refuse.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to…”
“Then?”
“…If I’m away, other people’s workload will increase. I feel a bit sorry about that.”
“What’s there to be sorry about? Taking a vacation is your right. If anything, you’ve probably covered for them far more often, right?”
“Hmm.”
“Besides, the Mars Guild has resumed activities. Former Major General Logan will fill in for you. Let’s see him work hard.”
“Ah.”
Iberis let out a small exclamation as he recalled something he had momentarily forgotten at Lucas’s words. Although the investigation ended with Isaac Miller’s death and Livio Logan officially apologized for his employee’s misconduct, public opinion in N-Zone didn’t easily calm down.
People who lost loved ones in the terrorist incident showed strong hostility towards the Mars Guild. Some bereaved families, unable to believe the military investigation bureau’s announcement, demanded a thorough investigation of the truth. Some even refused compensation from the guild, saying they couldn’t accept money from their enemies.
The media played a big role in the hostile attitude of the bereaved families and residents towards Livio. After the incident, past corruption committed by Livio and his bad relationship with Iberis were widely reported, planting seeds of doubt in people’s minds.
“N-Zone residents are still cursing the Mars Guild. To recover their rock-bottom reputation, former Major General Logan has no choice but to work until his feet sweat. So don’t worry.”
Lucas, who had used the media to create this situation, opened his mouth with satisfaction at the favorable result. The evaluation of cooperative guilds is conducted annually through opinion polls of the military units they work with and the residents of the respective areas. If they don’t score above a certain threshold, it becomes difficult to be selected next time.
Although they voluntarily cooperated with the investigation and apologized with follow-up measures, they had already lost the trust of N-Zone residents. To make up for it, they would have to work tirelessly for a while.
Regardless of his dislike for Livio, he was an S-class esper like Iberis. If he filled in the gap, there shouldn’t be any problems in N-Zone. Lucas decided to make full use of Livio just this once.
“…Alright.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll take annual leave. A week should be fine.”
Finally, Iberis agreed to Lucas’s proposal with the condition of one week.
“You’ve made a good decision.”
Lucas smiled brightly, having finally gotten what he wanted. He hoped this vacation would heal Iberis’s body and mind and become an opportunity to get even closer to him.
“Our talk went on longer than expected. Send a message to Lieutenant Cali that you’ll be late.”
Lucas glanced at the clock on the wall and lightly lifted Iberis onto his thighs. Now that he got what he wanted, it was time for guiding.
“Okay, wai- mmph…”
Iberis, who was about to take out his phone from his pocket, flinched as their lips overlapped when his position changed. His lips parted naturally at the soft sensation and warm temperature.
Lucas pulled the slender wrist to wrap around his neck and tightly embraced the slightly trembling waist. Then he pushed his tongue between the parting lips.
“Hah, mmm…”
Iberis’s eyes slowly closed as the tongue that entered between his lips gently swam inside his mouth. As the moist flesh rubbed against each other, breaths and saliva mixed, and a sensual heat rose.
“Luke…”
Lucas let out a low growl as a soft voice flowed through the gap of their connected lips. Then he set his teeth on the small flesh.
“Ugh!”
Iberis let out a groan and straightened his back as his tongue was bitten. His mind went blank from the intense stimulus, and his fingers curled.
Lucas trapped the stiffened tongue in his mouth and sucked hard. When he separated their lips with a wet sound, a thread of mixed saliva stretched and then disappeared with a snap.
Right after, Iberis’s phone fell onto the bed. His hand had lost strength from just one kiss.
“Ha, huu, you said to send a message… How can you interfere?”
“On second thought, I think Lieutenant Cali would understand if you’re late by now.”
Lucas whispered in a low voice as he kissed the cheek that had turned pink like it was dyed with flower water. Meanwhile, he unbuttoned the shirt with his hand.
“Wait, hnn, we agreed to only do light guiding during work hours from now on.”
Iberis hunched his shoulders as lips touched the neck exposed through the open collar.
“Hmm? Did we?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know, huu, because it’s hard to focus on work after guiding, ngh, I clearly said last night that we should do that…”
Iberis, who was protesting while breathing heavily, let out a sharp moan as Lucas sank his teeth into his nape.
“Now that you mention it, I think we did. You said we should only do mana showers and kissing, right? Hmm, but I don’t remember agreeing to that?”
Lucas chewed on the delicate skin, clearly showing his displeasure.
