“What did I do?”
Lucas tilted his head and asked back. His expression showed that he truly didn’t know what he had done wrong.
“What do you mean ‘what’! Why did you do that earlier? You know how vindictive Guild Master Logan is! I knew you were fearless, but… Your opponent is an S-class Esper! Even if you’re an S-class Guide, he could just burn you to ashes if he wanted to!”
Iberis, uncharacteristically raising his voice, was exasperated by Lucas’s reaction, which resembled that of a puppy unaware it had caused trouble. He couldn’t understand what nerve Lucas had to provoke Livio.
“Well, you never know until you try. Besides, you would have protected me before he could burn me, Major.”
“Huh?”
“You just protected me now, didn’t you?”
Iberis blankly looked up at Lucas’s deep, intense eyes, which were now forming gentle arcs. Unlike when confronting Livio, Lucas seemed to be in a good mood.
“What are you smiling about? Are you saying you acted recklessly because you trusted me?”
“Hmm, a little? But more than that, I just got irritated because someone I personally dislike was being annoying.”
“…You dislike Guild Master Logan?”
“Yes, I hate him. He committed a crime and got away with it. And then he acts like he’s the victim.”
“Ah…”
Iberis sighed, finally remembering a conversation they had before. A few months ago, Lucas had confessed that he suspected Livio of being his enemy.
“I acted emotionally without realizing it, but I don’t think I did anything wrong. After all, Guild Master Logan was rude first. And it’s not like I said anything incorrect.”
“That’s…”
Iberis’s words trailed off, his lips moving silently as he felt a sudden tightness in his chest. Separate from his surprise at Lucas’s actions, he honestly felt a sense of satisfaction. Until now, almost no one had directly mentioned or criticized Livio’s wrongdoings.
Both three years ago and now, many people chose to turn a blind eye to the situation, even though they knew Livio was wrong. Because he was a key conservative figure and a major general in the defense force, the military court discharged him instead of sending him to prison. While it might have been a punishment from Livio’s perspective, who was obsessed with the military, to Iberis it was essentially letting a criminal go free.
And that wasn’t all. Because he was a talented S-class Esper, numerous countries promised various benefits to recruit him, despite his criminal status. As a result, Livio became the leader of a guild called Mars.
As the situation unfolded, people even started supporting Livio. They sympathized with him, saying that his carefully built career was ruined because of a few mistakes and a bit of deviation. At the same time, they envied him for starting a second life as the head of a guild receiving extensive support from the Japanese government. Those who came to sympathize with or admire Livio branded Iberis a traitor and pointed fingers at him.
As this atmosphere intensified, those who thought Livio was wrong naturally kept quiet. They were afraid of facing disadvantages if they sided with Iberis or said the wrong thing. It was easier for them to stay uninvolved in a matter that didn’t directly concern them.
Not just them, but even Brenda and the unit members tried to avoid talking about Livio in front of Iberis. It was consideration born from worry about reopening his wounds. As a result, Livio’s name somehow became taboo in N-0 unit.
But Lucas was different. Not only did he not cower when facing Livio, but he also openly mentioned his wrongdoings. He also freely spoke about the topic everyone else avoided in front of Iberis.
It wasn’t meant to comfort Iberis or gain his favor. Lucas was simply and transparently expressing his genuine dislike for Livio. That’s why it resonated more deeply with Iberis.
“If you’re done scolding me, shall we go for guiding now?”
“Huh? When did I scold you? And why guiding…”
Iberis reflexively flinched at the warmth enveloping his hand, snapping out of his poignant reverie.
“You just used your ability, didn’t you?”
Lucas answered as if stating the obvious, tightly gripping Iberis’s hand. Despite warming them up nicely in the morning, they were now so cold that a chilly air seemed to flow outside the gloves.
“Just for that little bit…”
“That ‘little bit’ turned your hands to ice. As your dedicated guide, I strongly recommend guiding.”
“Wait…”
“Let’s reschedule the meeting that was interrupted by the unwelcome guest for the afternoon. Everyone, back to your duties.”
Lucas, giving orders to the unit members on Iberis’s behalf, quickly led him into the building. As the two disappeared, one of the unit members cautiously approached Brenda.
“Um… Lieutenant.”
“Hmm?”
“Are the Major and the Captain… dating?”
“What?”
“Well, it’s just that the atmosphere between them seems…”
“Dating? Nonsense! That’s ridiculous!”
Brenda grimaced, aghast. Despite her reaction, the unit member didn’t back down easily.
“But lately, they’ve been…”
“They’re a pair, so of course they’re closer than others. Don’t let your imagination run wild. And don’t go blabbing about this elsewhere! That goes for all of you! If any strange rumors start circulating about those two, you’ll be the first ones to go. Got it?”
Brenda grabbed the unit member’s shoulder and gave a stern warning. She too had noticed the peculiar atmosphere between the two recently, but she knew well that it should remain just a thought and never be spoken aloud. After all, someone precious to Iberis meant another weakness for him.
That’s why Brenda thoroughly silenced the unit members. It couldn’t hurt to be careful, especially now that Livio had appeared.
* * *
“Damn it!”
Livio, his pride severely wounded in front of his guild members, cursed as soon as he got into the car. He had made an arduous visit to check on Iberis’s condition with his own eyes, only to be humiliated by an arrogant guide.
“That young brat dared to…”
“Calm down, Guild Master.”
“How can I calm down! Damn it! Luke Illum…”
Livio gritted his teeth as he thought of Lucas. He wanted nothing more than to go back and reduce that guy to ashes right away.
“You shouldn’t have just handed over your business card… You knew the chances of Luke Illum coming to our side were slim, didn’t you?”
“Are you saying this is my fault?”
“No, no, that’s not it. I misspoke. I just…”
Yuki, who had been trying to soothe the furious Livio, stammered when he glared at her.
“Sigh, forget it. Come here and do some guiding.”
“Yes.”
Livio, sinking into the car seat, held out his hand to Yuki. He pulled her in and embraced her as she approached hesitantly.
“G-Guild Master.”
“Stay still. I won’t jump you here.”
Livio held Yuki in his arms as he fell into thought. Thanks to her guiding, the boiling in his gut had subsided, but his anger towards Lucas remained. He grew more agitated as he dwelled on it, knowing that if he had kept his position as major general, Lucas would never have dared to act that way.
“It’s irritating…”
Livio, who had been taking deep breaths with his eyes closed, muttered in a low, raspy voice. Meeting Lucas today had given him a strange sense of déjà vu.
Long ago, he had suspected Lucas might be Armand’s son, and after learning he was an S-class guide, he had classified him as a key figure and received regular reports on him. So it wouldn’t be strange to feel familiar with him.
But it was different from simply recognizing him. His heart raced strangely, as if he had encountered someone he should never meet.
“…Investigate Luke Illum again from the beginning.”
“Pardon?”
“Re-investigate his entire history, from childhood until now.”
Livio opened his eyes and ordered Yuki to conduct a thorough investigation of Lucas. He trusted his instincts. When he had this uneasy feeling, it was better to double-check, even if it was troublesome.
“Come to think of it, Luke Illum is working with a company run by the Blake family, right? Focus on that. Even if he’s not Armand’s son, there must be some connection.”
“Understood. By the way, what were your impressions of Major Hyun after seeing him in person? Does he seem to have any issues?”
Yuki asked cautiously, watching Livio’s expression. Although the main purpose of visiting N-0 unit had been overshadowed by the irritating captain, the original goal was to check on Major Hyun’s condition.
“I’m not sure.”
“Pardon?”
“His energy seems weaker than before, but his complexion actually looks much better. Probably because the guiding deficiency problem has been resolved.”
“Indeed… Compared to the photo taken two months ago, his face looks brighter. Less pale too.”
“Right?”
“If the Major had developed some illness due to guiding deficiency and is now recovering under Captain Illum’s care…”
“His physical condition will improve over time. That’ll make it harder to eliminate him.”
“If we’re going to make a move, it would be better to do it as soon as possible.”
“Exactly.”
Livio frowned, deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke with a look of determination.
“…You’ve identified all the organizations operating in N-sector, right? Contact them and the villains who hold grudges against Major Hyun, and place a request.”
“A request? What kind of…”
“The assassination of Iberis Hyun.”
