In This Rebirth, The Male Lead Is Mine [BL]
Chapter 102: Hope

Chapter 102: Hope

Unknowingly, the group had arrived in the territory of the Lionheart Clan. It was more like a small town, but there were huge and firm walls around it, protecting the clan from monsters that roamed around.

There was not any kind of resemblance to a human city in their world, but it was more like the party was transported to a fantasy game. The city greatly resembles the medieval theme of a game or a novel.

The guards at the gate quickly became alert at the arrival of newcomers, but as they noticed Zenos, they lowered their weapons, but they remained cautious.

They approached the city even more as the two parties faced each other before the city gate. The leader of the gaurds stepped forward and greeted them.

Naturally, Kamille and his party kept silent as Zenos also stepped forward. They were already in the contract, and that not only included Zenos but also the clan he was affiliated with, the Lionheart Clan.

Zenos being the leader of his clan was enough as a guarantee for the contract to take effect, making it legal to agree on everyone’s behalf. The same principle applied to Kamille, his party, and even his guild.

"Berd!" Zenos called out, brimming with a smile as he greeted the guard. In his hand was his identification badge.

He was unlike the typical image of a clan leader, Zenos seemed more approachable.

Berd immediately saluted upon confirming Zenos’ identity. "I apologize, Clan Leader."

He looked behind Zenos. "Uh... they are?"

Zenos glanced behind him and made eye contact with Kamille; he nodded and shifted again to the leader of the guards.

"I can vouch for them, they are my guests." Zenos smiled slightly, showing his teeth. It was obvious that he did not want to say much more than that.

The guard was also perceptive and refrained from asking. After saluting again, he let them pass.

Zenos patted his back again. "Let’s go,"

He led the group again inside. As they passed by the gate, a clean city greeted them. Unlike its desolate and ruined surroundings, the inside of the city was filled with life.

The activities of the people were quite lively.

This amazed the party somewhat; Rise also liked the contrast. After all, people still had to live even with their circumstances and impending destruction.

What was more important was that they had not died yet.

This city was actually something to be inspired by.

"What a lovely city," Rise unexpectedly expressed his feelings, which surprised others, but he only smiled and did not say anything further.

He loved that kind of fire. He wished... It would never die.

As he lifted his gaze, Kamille also happened to be already looking to him with a gaze that was observing him. Rise offered him a smile and clung to Kamille as always.

Words seemed to not need to be said. Rise was aware that Kamille had already noticed it. He was always suspicious, and would continue to be so.

"I’m sorry for this," Zenos apologized as he told the party to stay put first. "I’m still gathering the elders, and we’ll negotiate more officially. Also..."

His voice lowered slightly and evaded Kamille’s gaze as if ashamed of what he was about to say. "We’ll make sure everything you said is true."

Zenos was truly thin-skinned. What he also made sense and something that Kamille also anticipated. After agreeing with the matter, Zenos left them to meet the so-called elders.

"At least he’s not stingy with his guest," Rise chuckled as he commented, looking around.

The party was left in a two-story villa, and while the location was on the outskirts, the party took it more favorably. It had a huge space, and they did not need to interact with others as well.

What was more, if worse came to worst, they could also escape the city on such wide ground. Of course, the worst situation was unlikely to happen because of the contract, but Espers like them would not be complacent.

That was only a form of assurance at most; they still had to be vigilant, especially as they were standing in someone else’s territory.

"Can we rest now?" Hayes cautiously asked. His stamina was average at best, especially in the environment, where he was uncomfortable to begin with.

The earth under his feet affected him more with each passing day.

"So weak," Rise sneered from the side.

Hayes’ temple throbbed, wanting to respond. However, he held it in.

No, this is Guild Leader’s lover. I should be more patient.

Hayes repeated it in his mind like a mantra; perhaps if he repeated it a thousand times or more, he would be able to hypnotize himself that every little thing that came out of Rise’s lips was nice.

He nodded, admitting it wordlessly.

Rise pursed his lips, thinking it was no fun, and did not interrupt anymore. After glancing with Kamille and asking permission with his gaze, he climbed the stairs towards the second floor.

Once he was out of sight, everyone’s tense shoulders suddenly eased. Kianna even breathed a relieved sigh.

Kamille and Rise had different types of intimidating presences. While Kamille exuded authority, Rise seemed to incite fear more. This was not just because of his bad reputation but something that even the people present could not truly explain it more clearly.

Kamille noticed this, but he did not comment or scold them. He himself knows that getting to know Rise looked easy, but it was actually hard. It was as though Rise had this wall around himself, preventing others from getting close to himself.

"Guild Leader, that Esper already returned to our world." Hayes belatedly reported. This was not truly important, and so even Kamille did not notice or never cared in the first place.

A special gate had this mechanism as well. Using the ring that the federation provided, one could shatter them to leave the gate. The ring contained the essence, or more like the identification of this world.

Once the ring shattered or similar objects contained this essence, this world would begin to reject or expel that individual, marking them as harmful to it just like those monsters but powerless against them.

As expected, Kamille only made a curt reply and quickly shifted to another issue. He did not even bother to ask for who that Esper was or what happened before that Esper met Zenos.

He swept his glance at the members of the party.

"Rest for a while." This was more a reminder than an order. Yet since everyone was exhausted and really needed rest, everyone nodded.

After saying that, he also turned around and began to climb the stairs as well, seemingly to follow Rise upstairs.

It was crazy that these innocent cubs began to think in that direction the moment that they witnessed the two hugging; they could never return to what it used to be, looking at their every interaction as innocent even if they actually were.

When Kamille was already out of their sight, the cubs exchanged awkward glances. This was like gossiping about their boss at work which... made them incredibly embarrassed.

"Uhm... should we?" Kianna inquired in a vague and hushed manner.

She looked at the stairs where the two had gone. Her meaning was also clear for everyone.

Oren only glanced at the stairs before he turned around and went to the available room on the first floor. Looking at him, the others also tacitly agreed.

Well, they could just rest on the first floor!

"Sister Adelline, let’s just room with each other." Kianna, who already got along with Adelline, hooked up with the older woman and smiled.

Adelline, someone who had a rather fond and weak side for cute, could only nod in a daze. And soon she was already dragged by Kianna to the other available room next to Oren’s.

Hayes blinked and shifted his gaze to the rooms occupied by the other members before glancing at the stairs. Contemplating for a while, he also began approaching another room.

For his life and also mental health, it was better to avoid anything Rise-related. With that, the members were off to rest for a while, leaving the other two with ambiguous relationships upstairs.

When Rise arrived at the second floor, he did not truly explore it and only directly approached a huge balcony that could be seen by the hallways.

From there, he could at most see the outlines of the roads and a few buildings. The house was not high up and also in a secluded area, and so, the view could not be said to be amazing.

Leaning his body in the railings, Rise gazed down before looking far ahead. Nothing truly interested him, but at the same time, he felt so attached for some reason.

Perhaps, he just loved how people clung to their survival. As he said, he liked this inspiring aspect of this city the most.

"It’s a hopeless city." Rise suddenly mumbled, his tone sounded dejected for the first time.

Footsteps were heard as warmth touched him. Someone was already standing beside him.

Rise did not turn his head, already aware of who it was. The newcomer did not make a noise as well and only made his presence known by standing there close to Rise.

Rise blinked and watched the busy streets. With his advanced vision, it was not difficult to clearly see with this much distance. At least, he could vaguely see those expressions.

Expressions filled with hope.

The silence stretched for a few minutes; a while later, Rise eventually turned his head to the side and he gave a smile.

"Let’s explore the city, Guild Leader."