There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 67 - 66. A Guide’s Harem

It was the quietest the Trinity tower had been. The eyes of the guild members were glued to the video, whether it was those that watched it through the commlink stream or saw it through the conference room screen.

And the quietest of them all was the seventh floor where the guides were congregated.

Because on that recording was something that a green-zone guides like them couldn’t imagine ever doing. No—even someone who worked in the red-zone before like Nora wouldn’t dare to say that they could do it like what was depicted in the video.

It wasn’t some kind of promotional video, or a choreographed stunt. It was a real recording of a place so horrendous that Ashur’s last undead dungeon felt like an amusement park ride. The recording was done with dark-vision cameras, from the rearguard point of view and a bystander civilian.

Edited just to make it look clearer, the video depicted a guide in a SavAsh combat suit—which some of the guides were already familiar with—as well as a filtered mask and night-vision goggles. While the face was obscured due to the equipment, no one doubted the identity of the guide in question as Trinity’s new addition; the man the Guildmaster called Luzein.

The video contained a few clips that were cut and strung together for the sake of concise viewing, from the way the guide followed the espers’ movement without hesitation or delay, to the steady gaze that never showed fear even in front of attacking beasts.

But the highlight of the video was when the non-combatant members of the team were ambushed by another monster as the vanguard was busy attacking the other. The video showed how the guide moved to yank the civilian and the healer away from the vine monster, even coming forward with a dagger to save the one getting tangled in the vine’s hold.

Perhaps it was the intention of the Guildmaster to make it look as dramatic as possible, but the viewers felt as if they were watching a documentary action movie. Such movement might not mean much if it came from physical-type espers like Ashur Iddina, but from a guide?

It was eye-opening.

"Ah..." Ashur gripped the armrest of his chair tightly. Yes, this was it! This was what a guide should be inside a dungeon!

Not only protecting himself, but this guide could even protect civilians and healers. There was no hesitation in his action, no fear inside the highly focused eyes. No complaining about rough terrain and suffocating air.

It sufficed to say that all gaze inside the conference room was being directed at Zein now. The guide himself, rather than feeling proud of his competence, looked annoyed that he was being recorded without knowing about it, and let out an exasperated sigh at the Chief Guide’s grinning face.

"I believe it’s enough proof that what we envisioned was actually doable," the Guildmaster continued with his deliberation.

"I’m not saying that all the guides should strive to be like him, but I had high hope that at the very least, the guides of Trinity had the willingness to gain even a fraction of that vision."

With that last words, the stream ended, and the people inside the conference room let out a collective exhale.

"The Guide Department has the prerogative to manage the matter of the Strike Guide Division. With my full support, please talk to HR and finance about the arrangement," Radia looked at Zein and Abel, who just nodded wordlessly in response. "With this, the meeting this month is concluded. All 5-stars and Guide Luzein, please come to room 04 with me." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"Can you stop calling me that?" was what Zein said first said the moment all five 5-stars came inside the private conference room. Zein realized that it was the same room he used to sign his contract in.

"But it’s fun seeing you annoyed because of it," Radia smiled charmingly, before seating himself in the head armchair like usual.

Aside from them, the only sentient being there was the Guildmaster’s summon creatures, which immediately started to prepare some refreshments for them.

’So you do call me that on purpose,’ the blue eyes narrowed, before Han Shin patted Zein’s shoulder in consolation.

"He’ll stop if you stop getting bothered with it," the healer whispered with a grin, before taking a seat on one of the couches. "It seemed like Rina and Ashur are still dumbfounded."

The two espers who had never heard about Zein due to their absence for the past week looked like their fundamental view of the world was being challenged. They stood there for a while, before sitting dazedly on the couch.

"Ah, you—Esper Iddina, sit here," Zein pointed toward an armchair in front of him, just a bit away from the main sitting area.

Perhaps because he was still in a daze mixed with excitement, Ashur followed Zein’s words without a question, just staring blankly at the enigmatic guide with bewitching eyes.

"Hand," Zein opened up his palm and the esper reached out like an obedient puppy.

"I don’t like this," a pair of amber eyes narrowed.

"Suck it—he’s not your exclusive," Han Shin smirked at the soured Bassena.

It was then that Ashur seemed to regain his senses somewhat and flinched. "What—you’re going to just guide me here like this?" he frowned at Zein, who just nonchalantly grabbed the esper’s hand. "Shouldn’t we go to—mmh!"

The mighty warrior, weapon meister Ashur Iddina, suddenly curled up with bowed head, letting out a muffled moan.

"Hey, hey, hey~" Han Shin turned in his seat to look at the guide and esper with a big grin. "Keep it safe for work, please."

Zein tilted his head at the esper that slowly lifted his head with a flush and a shy expression. "You’re the sensitive type, huh?"

There were espers and guides like this sometimes, who felt pleasure from guiding, especially if it was done right. With Zein, whose guiding was to the point yet smooth, who would let out a nice scent and refreshing feeling inside the esper he guided, it was easy to get addicted. And for someone sensitive like Ashur, it would feel almost like a drug.

"Yeah...I don’t like this..." Bassena hissed from the couch, arms crossing to hide his clenched fists.

"Ash, I think Commander wants to kill you," now that she was in a private setting, Rina did not bother to act elegant anymore, laughing at Bassena’s expression. She watched the guiding pair with interest, her grey eyes shining. "I’m getting curious now though..."

"Ngh—this is..."

"Wait," Zein closed his eyes for a bit and adjusted his flow. Sometimes, if he was feeling petty and had to guide someone annoying, he’d make the guiding process rather unpleasant—cold and grating. He used it this time, to lower the pleasurable feeling. Normal esper would feel like their blood ran cold, but Ashur only felt like the intense drug had gone down considerably, and breathed a sigh of relief as his system was calming down. "How is it?"

"Better..." the esper answered with a long exhale, peering at the guide sheepishly. The blue eyes had turned slightly brighter, like the surface of a lake under the sunlight, and it felt mesmerizing.

The hypnotic feeling, however, broke with the low, unfeeling comment. "You’re so high maintenance."

As Ashur parted his lips speechlessly, Han Shin was cackling on the side. Fortunately, the comment seemed to make Bassena less murderous too, so all was good.

"But why are you gathering us all here, Guildmaster?" Rina asked, after Han Shin finally stopped laughing.

"To sort out the guiding schedule," Radia answered while making a signal to one of his summons. "We’ll get the schedule sorted out, since our dear guide has more work on his sleeves other than taking care of us," the door opened then, and a stern-looking girl walked inside, in a white civilian suit and a bronze badge. "Ah, here comes the assistant,"

Zein turned his head toward the girl without stopping his guiding. Abel did tell him that someone would be sent as his assistant to sort out his schedule, since he also needed to juggle between Trinity and Mortix. It seemed like the girl was his new assistant.

She looked quite young, but sported a strict, model-student vibe. Her gaze was steady, even among all the 5-stars and Zein, and she bent her waist in a perfect bow toward the occupant of the room.

"Alice here will be in charge of Luzein’s schedule and needs," Radia smiled, and Zein held himself back from looking annoyed. "Why don’t we start from your fixed appointment, Mister Guide?"

Swallowing his sigh, Zein glanced at the girl, who immediately walked toward him with a tablet ready in her hand. "I go to Mortix on a whole Tuesday, and then Thursday after lunch," he started, remembering the agreed time with Eugene and Anise. He looked around the room next, before adding. "I’m fine doing it anytime, but please arrange it around the training schedule."

Han Shin tilted his head. "Training?"

"For the new division," Bassena answered him instead of Zein.

"Is morning or night fine too, Sir?" Alice asked while writing on her tablet, voice firm and flat, almost like a program.

"Yes," Zein answered shortly, eyes back at Ashur. "In case of someone reaches red, you can disregard any of my schedules and arrange immediate guiding."

"Understood, then the esteemed Espers..." she shifted her gaze toward the espers, hand at the ready.

"Please notified us whenever there’s an empty slot in his schedule. The twins would most likely make the appropriate arrangement, you just need to confirm it with us," Radia told her, and she responded with a nod.

"Understood, Sir. Then," with a trained, soldier-like discipline, she bowed once more and retreated from the private room.

Han Shin looked at the door with a grin on his face, before turning his head toward Radia. "You looked for someone who’d vibe well with Zein, huh?"

Someone reserved and reticent, someone who loved quietness. Radia just smiled subtly while sipping on his coffee, and then looked straight with gleaming crimson eyes.

"Now," he clapped his hands once, looking at Ashur. "Will you be able to follow our conversation, Iddina?"

"Uhh...yes, I think..."

Radia smiled and looked straight again. Rina, who was slumping before, straightened her back and put on her serious face again, knowing that the Guildmaster would finally reveal his real reason for gathering them here.

"Alright, now to the real objective of this meeting," he paused to look at both Rina and Ashur. "What do you know about Deathzone?"