75%
Lucas frowned at the unchanged figure from yesterday. Since becoming a pair with Iberis, their matching rate had consistently remained at 75%. He thought it might be normal for the first few days, but after more than two weeks without any change, he started to worry.
“A plateau?”
Lucas muttered in a low voice, staring intensely at the results. The matching rate between an Esper and a Guide usually plateaus after reaching a certain level. In some cases, it even becomes fixed, as if that’s the limit allowed for the two.
For this reason, many Esper-Guide pairs didn’t see even a 1% increase in their matching rate for years. It was actually strange to be impatient about no change in just a few weeks. As long as the matching rate remained effective for guiding, there wouldn’t be a problem if it didn’t increase further.
However, Lucas and Iberis’s situation was a bit different from the norm. Although they had become a pair, it was only temporary. They needed to achieve an 83% matching rate within the year to be officially recognized. If they failed to meet the condition set by the committee, their pairing might be dissolved regardless of their wishes.
Given this situation, Lucas couldn’t help but be sensitive to the visible figures.
“What’s the reason?”
Tap, tap. Lucas pondered, tapping the test paper with his pen. In fact, increasing the matching rate wasn’t an easy task. The rapid increase in their matching rate so far had been an exceptional case that surprised everyone.
Looking at the situation positively, it could be seen that Iberis had escaped his chronic guiding deficiency. When they first met, he was like land cracked from a long drought. His health condition had improved with Lucas’s guiding, like much-needed rain.
But a single rainfall doesn’t end years of drought. Iberis’s body constantly craved Lucas’s guiding. That was likely why their matching rate had continued to rise. Then, as his body recovered enough to sprout new shoots, it had passed the rapid growth phase and entered a stable period.
“Hmm…”
Lucas frowned, letting out a small sigh. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for Iberis personally. After all, it was a sign that his body was improving.
However, looking ahead, it was worrying. It was impossible to predict when the stagnant matching rate would rise again. Lucas, who needed to increase it by 8% within half a year, couldn’t help but feel anxious.
One reason for the lack of increase in the matching rate might be that Iberis had become accustomed to his own mana and Lucas’s guiding. To change the current state, a stronger stimulus than before was needed. If level 1 guiding and mana showers weren’t enough, what remained was…
“…Level 2 guiding.”
Lucas bit his lip as he softly uttered the method that came to mind. Hesitation clouded his golden eyes, which had darkened more than usual.
While Iberis was more skilled than anyone in combat, he was more awkward than anyone in relationships with others. He was especially vulnerable to people within his inner circle and those he had opened his heart to. If Lucas persuaded him like when he pushed for living together, he could probably easily get permission for level 2 guiding.
The problem wasn’t Iberis, but himself. Lucas wasn’t confident he wouldn’t make a mistake during level 2 guiding. Who could remain unaffected while kissing someone they were emotionally attracted to?
Even now, he was struggling to suppress the desire that boiled up inside him every time he did a mana shower. Kissing Iberis? Just imagining it made his chest tight.
“Haa.”
Lucas pressed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He had no intention of denying that he was attracted to Iberis at this point. However, putting a name to that emotion was a different matter entirely.
For the past few weeks, Lucas had desperately ignored his feelings, constantly telling himself that it was still okay, that he just needed to not go any further. This was because he felt that if he fully acknowledged and accepted the desire that tempted him every time he was with Iberis, everything would truly change.
But that too was reaching its limit. Lucas didn’t know how long he could hold out. That’s why it was all the more difficult to suggest level 2 guiding to Iberis.
Tap, tap.
Lost in endless contemplation, he chewed on his lip while fidgeting with an innocent pen. It was quite a while before Lucas left the conference room.
* * *
“Is everyone alright? No suspicious individuals?”
– Yes, Major. Team 2 reporting. We’re currently patrolling the schools in N-8 sector in order.
– Team 3 here. We caught a pickpocket while patrolling the market in N-7 sector. We’re about to hand them over to the local police station.
– Team 4 reporting. We’re inspecting the military hospital in N-9 sector. There doesn’t seem to be any particular issues here.
– Team 5…
Iberis slowly walked while listening to the reports from each team through his wireless earphones. Today, the N-0 unit he led was tasked with patrolling the civilian residential areas of N-7 to N-9 sectors while the monster population control operation in the Death Lands was underway. This had been decided at the unit commander meeting four days ago.
‘I’ve reflected a lot after getting an earful from Captain Illum. I think I relied on you too much as well. I sincerely apologize.’
‘Major Jonas is right. So, I was thinking we should handle this mission without you.’
‘If there were no S-class Espers, it would be different, but this time we have the Mars Guild Leader. From what I saw last time, he’s no joke. I may not like him, but his skills are undeniable, so we should be able to manage without your help. We’ll pass the troublesome tasks to him, so you should get some rest.’
‘When we go to carry out the operation, N sector will be empty. Major Russell said she’d stay behind, but it’s difficult for her to cover the entire N sector alone. So we’d like you to help guard it. If you remain, those villain bastards will probably stay quiet too.’
‘It’ll probably be awkward working with the Mars Guild, right? When we were cleaning up the outskirts last time, the atmosphere was really bad. Well, it would be stranger if you got along. So don’t push yourself and leave this job to us. Understand?’
The unit commanders of N sector cited various reasons for wanting Iberis to sit out this operation. Instead, they assigned him the task of maintaining security in N sector.
Iberis didn’t refuse the commanders’ proposal. Not only did he not want to work with Livio, but he was also worried that if he used his ability, Livio might discover that his condition wasn’t good. Lucas also agreed with Iberis’s opinion.
As a result, half of the N-0 unit members remained at the base to keep guard, while the rest formed teams of three or four to patrol the residential areas of N-7, N-8, and N-9 sectors.
“Understood. Good work. Contact me if anything happens.”
After ending the communication, Iberis awkwardly looked around. The person who had been beside him until just now was nowhere to be seen.
“Why are you standing there?”
“Luke?”
Turning his head at the voice from behind, Iberis reflexively took the takeout coffee cup Lucas was offering. It seemed he had gone to buy coffee.
“I thought you might be thirsty.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Iberis briefly expressed his gratitude, checking the disposable cup with faint steam rising from it. Although it was now the height of summer, his drink was still warm.
“I asked for it to be lukewarm, so you can drink it right away. Should I have bought an iced one?”
“No, this is fine. When I eat cold things, I often get stomachaches… This temperature is just right.”
“That’s good. I’ve been curious, can you not eat cold foods at all, like cool drinks or ice cream?”
“Huh?”
“The ice ability user at headquarters sometimes eats shaved ice and such. Though they’re a lower rank than you, Major…”
“Ah, of course I can eat them. It’s just, well, I refrain from it because it would be troublesome if I got sick while working.”
Iberis brought the disposable cup to his mouth with a bitter smile. A sweet taste filled his mouth.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a vanilla latte. You don’t like bitter things, Major.”
Ice clinked as Lucas took a sip of his iced Americano and spoke as if he knew everything. Living together had allowed him to roughly figure out what foods Iberis liked and disliked.
“Are you tired?”
Lucas spoke while observing Iberis, whose complexion seemed strangely dark. For the past few weeks, he had been in a consistently low mood. More precisely, he had been like this ever since Livio visited the unit.
“What’s there to be tired about? Just walking around like this is easy. It’s just… it feels strange to be excluded from an operation for the first time in years. I wonder if it’s okay for me to be here like this…”
Iberis trailed off, lowering his eyes. A few days before the operation, there was a cleanup of the Death Lands’ outskirts. Both Iberis and Livio participated then.
And on that day, Livio demonstrated overwhelming firepower in front of everyone. He used his abilities lavishly, as if showing off to Iberis. People kept marveling at Livio. Regardless of his personality or past crimes, an ally with powerful abilities was always welcome anywhere.
Seeing this, Iberis felt intense anger and bitter defeat. Unlike himself, who had been given a death sentence, Livio seemed perfectly fine. It made his blood boil to see him living well after ruining so many people’s lives.
