The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 160: ...Again

Chapter 160: ...Again

The creamy white ceiling of his hotel room loomed over his head.

Lane blinked. Once, twice.

But it didn’t work. It remained the same.

He was back in the hotel room he booked in country B. His connection with Xavier’s body... broken.

So he died. Died again.

Why was it that when he really WANTED to survive, he always ended up dying anyway?

Although, he probably was the last person who had the right to complain.

With a heavy sigh, he lifted himself up, and dragged himself out of bed. No matter how he felt about it, what was done was done... So rather than dwell on it, he should focus on what to do next. He took a quick shower and went to the restaurant downstairs, as he considered his options.

Should he just return to the Capital first? Xavier was already dead, so there was no need for Lane to put himself through another airport headache. He had told Damien that he didn’t always repossess someone immediately after dying, so he could take his time. As long as he didn’t take too long, so as not to worry the man...

But wouldn’t it be weird? If, after dying in country K, he then woke up in a body of someone back in his home country? It was supposedly unknown how the possessions happen, so technically everything was a fair game, but...

Then what, possess someone from country K?

Lane shook his head, swallowing his food mindlessly.

No, then he’d have to immigrate. And while Lane had no personal experience, it seemed like such a pain in the ass to deal with. And would take TIME. Time that he could otherwise spend with Damien.

And besides, possessing a civilian again? Then he’d have to act as a Guide! Which was something he didn’t really want. He had already bought a few dungeons he wanted to clear with Damien, and if he were to be a Guide again... He wouldn’t he able to fight so freely.

Although... Adding guiding while having sex with Damien seemed tempting...

But, still no. Maybe next time.

Then what? The only option left was to possess one of the summit’s participants from their country. That would solve the location and immigration problems...

But it came with its own issues. Lane had access to a lot of information about their identities and abilities, but he had no clue about their wavelength compatibility, which could cause problem with their Guides before he transferred to the Association. And it still wouldn’t solve the flight-

’Ah?’ All of a sudden, Lane paused, hit by a sudden stroke of inspiration. His lips slowly curved up in a wide grin.

Now that he knew what to do, he quickly finished the meal, tossed his things in the car, and set off for country K, where the summit was.

***

Damien sat in the hospital room, his shoulders slouched, as he stared at the body on the bed in front of him. Cold, lifeless, with the face covered up with a white cloth. Despite all the efforts put into resuscitating him, Xavier never opened his eyes again, and was eventually pronounced dead.

Once again, Damien’s boyfriend died in front of his eyes, and there was nothing he could do about it.

With a heavy sigh, he dragged himself up to his feet. As much as he didn’t feel like moving... He was the leader of the Awakened Association’s delegation. He couldn’t just sit around feeling gloom, he had things to do.

Besides, ’Jonathan’ would be back soon... Right? He should be. That was his ability. Damien knew it...

But he still couldn’t escape feeling worried.

What if something went wrong this time? ’Jonathan’ stopped breathing around the time they crossed the Gate. What if that messed up with his ability? And he... would never be back? Sure, Damien had this suspicion that ’Jonathan’ wasn’t actually dead, and he wasn’t ’Jonathan’ but rather ’Lane Allen’... But that was just that, a SUSPICION. There were about just as many arguments why it COULDN’T be true as there were supporting his theory. So it wasn’t exactly reassuring...

Damien shook his head, trying to chase the thoughts away, as he stepped out of the hospital room. Either way, he shouldn’t allow himself to dwell on it. He should focus on work and wait a few days, and then...

"Team Leader Lennox?"

Damien stopped in his steps, and lifted his eyes, meeting Nyla’s gaze. She had already received proper attention from the healers, and her face was back to normal, albeit a bit pale... And her eyes were red and puffy, as if she had cried.

"I’m so sorry for your loss..." she muttered, her voice weak and shaky.

"...Thank you," Damien nodded his head, and was about to walk away, when the woman called after him,

"Please wait a moment!"

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"Umm..." Nyla rubbed her fingers, her eyes dodging to the side, as she seemed to hesitate over something. Damien waited patiently in silence, until she finally said, "I just... Well, there’s something I think I should tell you. Mr. Owens told me not to... But I think you should know, after all..."

Damien’s shoulders flinched upon her words, and he couldn’t help but tense up. Still, he tried to remain calm, as he asked, "What is it?"

"Well, the truth is... It’s because of me that Mr. Owens died," Nyla admitted. "It’s because he protected me... He jumped in to save me, and that’s how he got hurt... He told me it’s best that you don’t know, if you just think he was just being reckless... But I... I’m sorry if I’m out of line, but..." She paused, not knowing what to say.

"Oh, and! He also let me borrow his spare daggers. I thought I should at least return them to you..." She handed over the daggers Lane gave her, all cleaned up and wrapped in cloth.

Damien stared at Nyla, a mix of conflicted emotions coursing through him. So that was what happened? Honestly, he didn’t quite know what to think or feel...

"Thank you for telling me," he eventually said, accepting the daggers. "And... Don’t blame yourself for it. It was his decision to save you... And I’m sure he didn’t regret it," he added, before nodding Nyla goodbye, and walking away, clutching tightly onto the daggers.