The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 316: Tenth Attempt [1]

Chapter 316: Tenth Attempt [1]

In the blink of an eye, the time for Lane’s exam re-take has come. It was already his tenth attempt...

"Good luck," Damien said, as he walked him to the exam room. It was his day off today, so he didn’t have anywhere else he needed to be... So, he could come to accompany Lane today. While the man was inside, taking the test, he would wait for him in the lounge room nearby, doing some paperwork or planning the next team training... He had always re-adjusted the training after every session, based on his team members’ performance. There was no need for him to go that far, since his training plan was already good enough, and very strict, but for Damien, it felt as if it was never enough. He was very inexperienced for a Team Leader, having been working as an Awakened for only around three years now, so he tried to make up for it with his diligence.

Even though he was the only one who felt that way. As far as everyone else concerned, Damien was a model Team Leader... Even now, when the rumors about him bringing his carefree boyfriend into his team were circulating around. It was said that his boyfriend was an A-ranker, so people gave him the benefit of the doubt, and assumed that regardless of their relationship, it was a decision made based on his boyfriend’s capabilities, rather than his personal feelings.

Said boyfriend was now standing right next to him, dressed in seemingly casual clothes, his hair slightly messy, but somehow looking well put-together, despite his laid-back attitude. Like a person who carefully chose their outfit, only to claim they’ve just threw on the first thing they grabbed, or a girl who spent an hour getting ready to take her selfie, only to say she just woke up this way... He wore a somewhat lazy smile on his face, looking perfectly calm, as if he were confident he would ace the test he was about to take.

Even though he had already failed it nine times, with his last result having been 56%, which was still 14% below the passing mark.

Was he confident, though? Truth be told, absolutely not. Because of all that had happened with Ethan, Lane didn’t get to meet up with his examiner beforehand, nor did he find a chance to hypnotize his fellow exam takers... And now, it might be too late. Once he was in the exam room, he wouldn’t be able to act rashly, as there were cameras around... It would have been risky to mess around in the past, let alone now, when there was a spy from the Allen Guild lurking around. Not to mention, Ethan was probably not the only spy... If Lane did anything suspicious during the test, even if he were not caught cheating, it would undoubtedly raise the Allens’ suspicions, and put them even more on guard.

Which was something Lane couldn’t afford, as it could complicate his future revenge plans.

But at the same time, if he didn’t... If he failed the test again, then he might not be able to join Damien on the trip to Eldenveil. And while he doubted that anything would happen - Damien was not an idiot, he wouldn’t fall for Ethan’s schemes... He still didn’t like it.

So, with all that in mind, how could he possibly not be nervous, at least a little bit? It was just that he didn’t let it show.

The minute arm of the clock moved, pointing out at five to eleven AM. The exam was about to start soon.

"You should go in," Damien said, holding back a sigh. Between the two of them, he looked far more nervous, as if he was the one taking the test... And Lane’s laid-back attitude didn’t made him feel any better. Although Lane claimed that he had ’studied’ over the past few days... How could Damien not be able to tell? Most of Lane’s so-called studying hadn’t been done at home, but in monsters’ company... Which was hardly the right environment for peaceful studying of laws and regulations. It could have been helpful with the questions about Mana, monsters, and dungeons, or with the practical exams... But Lane had never had any issue with those from the start!

Lane glanced at the clock, and let out a sigh. Other Espers taking the exam were already inside, and so was the examiner...

"Yeah, I should. Just, before I go..." he leaned closer, and before Damien could react, he captured his lips. When Lane was in his real body, they were around the same height, which made catching Damien by surprise much easier. And with Lane’s speed, although Damien’s reflexes were great, by the time he realized what was happening, Lane’s lips were already on his...

"For good luck," Lane smiled, pulling back. At the same time, he reached into the pocket on Damien’s chest, and took out a pen. "I’ll be borrowing that. I forgot to bring a pen, you see..."

Damien just stared at him blankly. Out of two things Lane had to bring - his ID and a pen - Lane had forgotten one... But he wasn’t surprised.

It wasn’t even the first time.

"I should be able to pass now," Lane grinned, pressing the pen against his lips, still slightly moist from the kiss they had shared a moment ago. "With your pen as a good luck charm... I had passed the exam last time I took it with your pen, didn’t I?"

Once again, Damien didn’t say anything, only gave Lane a long look.

Naturally, he remembered it precisely. Lane must have meant the time he took the license exam as ’Noah Murray’... Although Damien didn’t know that ’Noah’ was actually ’Evan’, or Lane, at that point, he found out not long after. So, all those memories became important to him...

But that was not the point. Back then, Lane had indeed passed the exam...

Except that was the Guide exam, which was much easier than the Esper one! And even then, he had only scored around 50% of the points!

How was Damien supposed to feel reassured by that?!