The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 109: ...So, the Leftovers?

Chapter 109: ...So, the Leftovers?

Guarding the boundary was among the most boring tasks the Association could possibly assign, perhaps even more dull than inspecting dungeons. Or even mining Mana stones! It was just as the name suggested - standing guard around the whole affected area, so that no monsters could sneak out, and no ignorant - or endlessly foolish - civilians could sneak in. You couldn’t even chat with anyone, because the guards were stationed all separately, in set intervals - close enough to call if in need of help, but too far to be able to have a comfortable conversation. It was just looking left, right, front, back, and repeat.

Luckily, people to hunt the wandering monsters were also needed. So, as they arrived at the scene, Lane instantly volunteered, Arlo and Hallie following right after...

And so, they ended up strolling around the empty, half-devastated streets in pairs. Lane, naturally, going with Damien - Damien decided so, even though Hallie’s ability would have been a better match with his. Not that Lane complained.

At least not about the pairing. What he wanted to complain about though, was the area they ventured into... The snake territory. The second kind of monsters that escaped from the dungeon the previous day slithered through that area, leaving countless shed skins behind. So many, that it was hard to distinguish between their corpses and skins.

"Ugh. It stinks." Lane couldn’t help but cover up his nose, as the putrid stench hit him right in the face. And he thought that those dog monsters stank... But the snakes turned out even worse. If he were to describe it, it resembled a mix of decay, vinegar, pickled fish, and wet fur, with a few notes of sickly sweetness that made one’s stomach lurch. The smell might have actually been less intense, but the nauseating effect it had made it incomparably worse.

"You can turn back if you prefer," Damien only stated matter-of-factly in response.

Even though he was also discreetly covering up his nose.

"Yeah, no thanks," Lane scoffed, instantly putting his hand down so as not to give Damien arguments to send him back to the boundary. As if he’d ever willingly return. No matter how bad it stank, it was still better than the boredom outside, alright? "Now that I think about it, it’s actually bearable..."

"Are you sure about it? It will be even worse when we enter the Gate..."

Excited about the prospect, Lane cut in before Damien could even finish the sentence. "Are we going in?"

For a good moment, Damien was just staring at Lane, rendered speechless. How could anyone’s eyes sparkle so much when talking about an active, high-ranking dungeon that just experienced a dungeon break? He didn’t comment on it though, only shaking his head with a sigh. "Most likely. While it is yet to be officially confirmed, the Association is planning to dispatch all high-ranking Field Teams inside. They don’t want to put the Gate on the auction before exploring it first, and sending the scout team, as it is usually done, is too dangerous right after the break..."

"Hmm. It makes sense." Lane nodded his head, trying to suppress his grin. Of course he wanted to go! He was dying to do so! He was endlessly curious what was inside that caused this unusual dungeon break! And the smell? He could just borrow a mask from Blanc, problem solved! "What about that Gate in the Lapis Lake? It’s also still unexplored, isn’t it?"

He asked without thinking, all of his thoughts focused on the dungeons...

Probably he shouldn’t have asked it though, because Damien instantly stopped in his tracks, his face turning deathly pale.

Only after walking a good ten or so steps forward, did Lane notice that the man was no longer by his side. "Hmm? Damien?" He glanced back... And upon seeing the expression on the man’s face, finally realized.

Although Lane was all fine and alive, and right by Damien’s side, that didn’t necessarily erase all the heartbreak and trauma of the past. The image of ’Noah’ being pulled into the lake, and then his white, lifeless face as he lay in the hospital bed, dead, was engraved in Damien’s mind, and wouldn’t go away. It’s only been a few months, so even a mention of Lapis Lake - especially in any connection with Lane - was enough to bring it back to the front of his mind...

"Eh." Lane let out a long sigh, tousling his hair. For him, his own death was no big deal. It wasn’t his real body, to begin with... Not to mention, he almost died in his real body once before as well, during a dungeon break well over a decade ago... And it was the best thing that ever happened to him, honestly. It was only then that he went from being a good-for-nothing, powerless Esper, to the person he was today.

But that was regarding his own death. There were people - not many, but a few still were - that Lane would truly not want to see dead, so he could sympathize with Damien’s anguish... He still had no idea how he could possibly console the man though, so the best he could do was to change the topic.

"What did you do with the leftovers, by the way?" he asked casually, in the most light-hearted, cheerful tone he could muster. "There was so much of it, that you could eat it for days... Won’t it go bad?"

Damien remained rooted in the spot for a few more seconds, before he finally closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. The color slowly returned to his face, his voice, however, was still a bit shaky, when he said, "You should have thought about it beforehand."

"Hahah, sorry!" Seeing that he succeeded, Lane’s shoulders relaxed. "I just wanted to let you... I mean, to try all sorts of dishes, since Miss Heir-, uh, Miss Nyla was paying!"

Perhaps it was because Damien still hadn’t entirely calmed down, but Lane’s tripping on his words escaped his attention. He only shook his head with a sigh, and - a bit hesitantly - suggested, "Shouldn’t you take responsibility for your mistakes then?"

"Eh?" Lane paused, tilting his head. Judging by Damien’s tone, he didn’t mean any actual ’responsibility’, but Lane still asked suspiciously, "How?"

"Well... There are too many leftovers for one person to finish. So, I invited Clara, Eloise and Samantha for dinner... Would you join us?"