The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 108: Do I Have To Go?

Chapter 108: Do I Have To Go?

The next morning, as per instructions posted on their group chat, the team gathered in the parking garage instead of the training hall.

"Good morning everyone!" Damien greeted the group once everyone - that is, Lane who came in last - arrived. "First of all, thank you to everyone who came in yesterday to help during the dungeon break. As you already know, another A-rank Gate has erupted, and a part of the city is infested with monsters. Therefore, instead of training, today we will go to the scene to help guard the boundary. Any questions?"

The team remained silent.

"Great. Then, let’s get moving. Ah," Damien paused, glancing at Lane as he remembered something, "I would like to remind everyone that the deadline to apply to attend the international Awakened summit passes next week. Please make sure to complete your applications beforehand."

’Oh, so it is optional.’ Lane slid into the passenger seat without even thinking, rolling a strawberry lollipop around on his tongue. Yesterday, during the dinner with Nyla, it sounded as if it was set in stone that both he and Damien would go...

But then again, perhaps it was? Just because the rest of the team could choose whether they wanted to go or not, it didn’t necessarily mean Lane was also free to do so. While Damien probably couldn’t fill in the application for Lane... If Lane wanted to say ’no’, how would he explain it?

He had been to the summit twice before, and it was a... so-so event, in his humble opinion. There were boring parts - mainly all the banquets, speeches, and meetings, where all the bigshots from all over the world could mingle and build their networks. But there was also a lot of fun stuff, with duels, all sort of Awakened competitions, and frequently also raids. Overall, not a bad way to take a break from everyday stuff. The only reason he was unwilling to go to the summit was... because it was overseas.

How was he supposed to attend the summit in his possessed body, when the connection would be broken shortly after boarding the plane?!

Of course, it wasn’t impossible to make it work somehow, but... It would be such a pain in the ass.

"Ahem. So, Team Leader," he started, trying his best to sound as casual as he could. "What do you say I stay in the Capital?"

"Stay in the Capital?"

"Yeah. I mean, instead of attending the summit."

Damien turned his head a bit, instinctively wanting to steal a glance at Lane, but in the end, he kept his eyes on the road. He only furrowed his brows in confusion. "You don’t want to go?" He already had a hunch the previous day, but...

"Ah, it’s not that I don’t want to... It’s just that..." Lane hummed lightly, scratching his neck. "It’s just I’m afraid I’d bring nothing but trouble to Team Leader if I were to go..."

"As if you’d ever worry about that," Damien muttered under his nose. Almost inaudibly, but Lane could still hear his words.

And his eyes widened in surprise. He stared at Damien as if he saw the man for the first time. "Hah? What did Team Leader say?"

"I said that you don’t need to worry about that," Damien’s voice was so serious and calm that if it was anyone else other than Lane, they would most likely assume they must have misheard it the first time.

But Lane wasn’t going to be so easily fooled! If it wasn’t for the fact that Damien was driving, he would have already pounced on the man and grabbed him by the chin, until he squeezed the admission of ’guilt’ and made him take responsibility... Not that Damien was wrong, but.

In current circumstances, however, he could only tilt his head and ask, "Why so?"

"Because I will be by your side, of course. Even if you act out of line, I’ll make sure to stop you in time and rectify all of your... mistakes."

"Hmph." Lane folded his arms, twirling the lollipop’s stick. There wasn’t really anything he could say to Damien’s ’reassurance.’ Obviously, if he TRULY wanted to cause mayhem, then Damien wouldn’t be able to stop him... But he should have no reason to do so, and even if he did, revealing such plans to an important member of the Association wouldn’t be a good idea.

Especially not to Damien. The kind of person Lane currently wanted the man to think he was was more of a drifter - a lost soul possessing other people after death, and just trying to live on while enjoying his time on Earth. So why should he cause trouble at the summit?

"If you’re worried about running into... certain people, I can also try my best to ensure you won’t have to see them," Damien added after a moment of pause. "So fill in the application, alright? I would be truly glad if you went with me."

"Yh." Lane twisted his face, his eyes twitching. ’He’d be truly glad, he says.’

For some reason, he found Damien’s request much harder to refuse than if the man tried to order him to go instead. That hint of anticipation mixed with unease in Damien’s soothing, low voice made his insides annoyingly ticklish.

"...Fine," he finally conceded. "I’ll apply today, once we’re back."

From the corner of his eye, he noticed that the corners of Damien’s mouth seemed to have moved up a little, a tiny bit, he could have seen wrong though. Either way, it wasn’t actually a bad idea, for him to go - after all, the Allens would also be there - Nyla for sure, but maybe also Miles or Catherine, or some of his aunts, uncles and cousins - so it was best if Lane could keep an eye on Damien. So that the Allens wouldn’t manipulate and take advantage of the man! Who knew what sort of nefarious techniques they could resort to to lure Damien over to their side?

Lane nodded to himself.

Yes, regardless of all the inconveniences, it was best for him to attend, all things considered!