The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 134: Diana

Chapter 134: Diana

The woman, Diana, lifted her eyes. Grey eyes, so alike Lane’s.

"Hi, good to see you again," she smiled back at Lane, sending her book away with a wave of her hand.

A fake hand.

"Mn, yeah." Lane nodded, standing in place, all fidgety, his fingers playing with the hem of his hoodie. He was like a little kid asking for candy, bashfully glancing at the woman from underneath his long, blond lashes.

As excited as he was, it was kind of awkward and strange, meeting this grandmother of his. While it was over a decade since they’d first met, when she barged into the Allens’ mansion after her awakening... After that, they hardly got to see each other, and could only communicate through messages.

Because for the past twelve years, Diana had been stuck in the dungeon, barely alive, her body put together with a mix of modern medicine, abilities, and Mana technology, which was still only in its early stages back then. Even now, while the technology had advanced to the point that she could move around on her own, she could only survive by absorbing Mana from her surroundings. The moment she left, all her fake limbs and organs would quickly drain her Mana, destabilize her wavelengths...

And the world would have to deal with its very first SS-ranker on rampage.

"Are you going to just stand there? Come, take a seat." Diana pointed at the seat in front of her.

And so Lane obediently sat down. Even though secretly he was a bit disappointed... Wouldn’t grandmothers typically ask for a hug, when their grandchildren came to visit?

But then again, Diana had never been a ’typical’ grandmother, so there was no point expecting she would start acting like one now. At least she cared for Lane, unlike the rest of the Allens.

"So, tell me, how are the Allens?" Diana’s cold grey eyes focused on Lane.

Lane’s shoulders flinched. That’s the first thing she was asking about?

...But then again, Diana hated the Allens no less than Lane, so it was understandable that she was curious about that. They were similar in many ways, the two of them. Just like Lane, Diana left the Allen family - although as she was the wife of Cyrus Allen, and the mother of all his children, including Miles, her existence wasn’t completely erased, and she was only pronounced dead instead - and she was on bad terms with them ever since then. And just like Lane, she was hoping for their downfall.

"Well, still the same. The top Guild, completely unrivaled," Lane scoffed, taking a sip of coffee the maid brought for him. Strong and bitter one, with no milk or sugar served on the side. Lane didn’t complain though. While he did prefer his coffee sweet, he was okay with a bitter one...

"But you’re keeping tabs on them, aren’t you?" Diana pressed.

"Of course! I currently have eleven spies planted in, and I receive regular reports about all of their activities."

"And there’s nothing you could use?"

"Uh, not much... I am taking note of every potential weakness, but it won’t be easy to take them down..."

’Especially now that you’re incapacitated,’ Lane thought, but didn’t say it out loud. Diana knew her own state very well herself, so what was the point of reminding her that all of her power and glory was gone?

But Diana brought it up herself, sighing heavily. "If only I was in good health... Then I would be able to help you out..."

"Please don’t say it! You’ve already done so much!" Lane quickly rushed to reassure her. "If it wasn’t for you, I would be long dead by now!"

"Ah, you’re exaggerating," Diana waved her head dismissively. Still, the corners of her lips lifted slightly in a tiny smile.

Lane WAS exaggerating, actually. While it was true that it was thanks to Diana and the threat she posed that Miles agreed to strike a deal with Lane instead of trying to quietly ’dispose’ of his son, Lane would still have been able to get away even if he was on his own. He wouldn’t lead such a comfortable life as he was doing now, but he was a powerful Esper, he’d find a way to survive.

Diana, however, didn’t know that. In her eyes, Lane was just a mere F-ranker with no useful abilities as an Esper.

"Anyway, I’ve heard there were a few dungeon breaks in the Capital in the recent months? Could you tell me more about that?"

With the change of the topic, Lane could finally relax a bit. "Sure thing! They probably didn’t say all that much on the news, did they? Well then, the first was the A-rank dungeon break around half a year ago..."

Lane went on, describing excitedly all the events to Diana in as much detail as he could - while hiding his own involvement in them, of course. He had heard it all from ’a friend of a friend’, or some of his, ahem, spies - and they chatted for a bit about the Gates, abilities, and where the world was headed...

"I should probably head back now." After a few hours of chatting, Lane finally got up.

"Already? Are you heading to the summit?" Of course, Diana was aware of everything that was going on. While she never left the dungeon, she received all the news from outside.

"Ah, well. I’m just an F-ranker, so I’m not taking part... I’m only accompanying Ava, but I won’t be joining in, since it would be bad if the Allens were to spot me."

"Hm, that’s true. Made sure to stay under the radar until you’re ready to attack."

"...I will." Diana’s last remark soured Lane’s mood a bit, but he still nodded his head obediently.

"Good boy. Have fun with Ava then, and remember, keep a close watch on the Allens!"

Once again, Lane bowed his head to his grandmother, and stepped out. Once he left the dungeon, Ariana, Diana’s illegitimate daughter and Lane’s secret aunt, less than a decade older than him, was waiting for him outside. They exchanged a few words, primarily about Diana’s condition, and Lane departed, heading back to country B, where he planned to leave his real body in a high-security hotel. He couldn’t do it at the mansion, since no one there knew about his possession ability...

And for some reason, Lane really didn’t want them to find out.