The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 358: Back Already?

Chapter 358: Back Already?

"...You’re back already?" was the first thing Ethan said, as he woke up and noticed Lane and Clara. He hadn’t expected the duo to return from their mission so fast, which was why he had previously gone to sleep (he was just a Guide, after all, he couldn’t stay awake for as long as high-ranking Espers and still be fine, he needed more rest), and only woke up when the scent of roasted meat reached his nose. The scent was so mouthwatering, that his empty stomach instantly grumbled, forcefully waking him up...

But the presence of the two Espers back at the camp surprised him more than the food, instantly stealing his attention. Well, even if it didn’t, it’s not like he could satisfy his hunger anytime soon - there were only two Smokeless Campfires for the whole team, and one of them was an old model brought by Hannah Jones, which was so old and slow that no one really used it anymore. No one aside from the Association members, or perhaps maybe also some tiny Guilds that struggled to make a living and were on the verge of disbanding. Because of that, it took a long time to roast the meat for everyone, and Ethan, who had been asleep until now, was naturally at the end of the line.

Not that he was particularly concerned. He actually had some supplies for the sake of an emergency... But they were expensive, high-quality rations that he had bought out of his own pocket. He didn’t want to take them out, lest he might be pressured to share! And while he wasn’t exactly the kind of person who was that weak to peer pressure, he wanted his teammates to like him and be on his side, so he couldn’t do anything that made him look too selfish.

He took out his phone, checking the time. If he calculated correctly, it should be just over 40 hours since Lane and Clara had departed on their mission... Which was quite a good time for a scouting mission in a C-rank dungeon, which might even be a B-rank dungeon depending on the expansion. Especially considering that it was dark most of that time, which must have slowed them down a lot. Even the Allen Guild’s scouting teams wouldn’t be ashamed with a time like that...

Granted, as long as the information they gathered was detailed and accurate enough. But how good of a job could Espers with thread and ’air manipulation’ abilities possibly do? Not to mention, the two were almost constantly at their throats!

Ethan let out a quiet chuckle thinking about it, before turning to Clara. "Was Lane that much of a disaster that you had to come back from the mission earlier?"

But, to his surprise, Clara only shot him a dark look. "We gathered all the information we need, and completed the mission successfully."

...What?

"You mean, you somehow managed to babysit Lane throughout it?" Ethan tried again.

Only for Clara to say in a dull, monotonous, tired voice, "We collaborated well."

Just this.

Or maybe ’just’ wasn’t the right word to use here. Because that short, simple, three-word sentence was the most unbelievable thing, especially when it came from Clara’s mouth! Sure, ever since the woman had discovered that Ethan was after Damien, she no longer joined him in mocking Lane together, but she still hadn’t held back from berating or criticizing the man. It was just that she was more guarded toward Ethan, but her attitude toward Lane hadn’t changed. Not once had Ethan heard her say a single decent, let alone positive, word to describe Lane...

But ’we collaborated well’? In her mouth, that could be counted as a compliment!

He turned his eyes to Lane...

Only to see a satisfied smirk playing in the corners of his lips. Although, whether that was caused by what Clara had said, or by the fact that he had managed to secure his preferred pillow (that is, Damien’s lap) once again, it was hard to tell.

Regardless, what exactly had happened on their mission? Did Clara hit her head, or did she perhaps go inside from spending too much time in Lane’s presence, until she had finally snapped and lost the ability to think for herself?!

Ethan gritted his teeth. He knew he should have gone on that mission with Lane!

He thought about it for a moment, before getting up, and moving closer to one of the Smokeless Campfires, to chat with the people gathered there. Since he had slept through Lane and Clara’s return, he didn’t know anything about the situation. Of course, he could ask Damien... But Damien would only tell him about the results of the mission, while Ethan was hoping to also get any clues about Clara’s interactions with Lane...

Unfortunately for him, no one had much to tell. All that he managed to learn was that the two returned to the camp tired and dirty, but alright, bringing the monsters they had killed on the way with them. Clara had reported their findings, and they had drawn an ugly, but detailed map expansion, including the new area which had opened after the Wall had receded.

...Which was hardly the information that Ethan needed.

But it couldn’t be helped. The only two people who knew how the mission had gone were Lane and Clara. The latter showed no desire to tell the story, while the former... The former might be willing to tell, but his account of events couldn’t be trusted!

Ethan sighed, and slouched his back, resting his chin on his hand, as he waited for his turn to receive the meal. The meat smelled so enticing, that his mouth was salivating, and his stomach grumbled loudly, expectant of the upcoming feast...

Until finally, his turn arrived. He grabbed the dark brown roasted meat, with a bit of a golden-ish sheen, huffed on it as not to burn his tongue, and eagerly bit in, full of expectations...

Only for his face to turn ashen the next moment. The meat didn’t taste good, not in the slightest! Especially when compared with the aroma, which promised a true delicacy... After waiting for so long, sniffing the mouthwatering scent, to actually taste this questionable meal, it left him beyond disappointed!

And he wasn’t even given a chance to fill his stomach properly, because the next moment, a cry came from above. The monsters were here...