There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Chapter 109. Verbally and Mentally

There was a certain vibe around the studio where the discussion panel was about to be shoot. The staff was getting excited, but also anxious. They felt like they were about to see some interesting confrontation, but also worried things would go wrong because of it.

It was akin to a feeling of watching a famous squad about to do a dangerous dungeon raid.

The day started as usual when they suddenly received startling news about how the Serpent Lord was coming with his ’tamer’, the guide that had been the center of attention among the sentinel community.

As people who worked on a show discussing the sentinel business, of course, they couldn’t help but get excited. After all, aside from being famous as a center of a new concept, the man was also known to be elusive. There was no public appearance aside from an official dungeon raid, even though Trinity loved to publicize their members as if they were showbiz talents.

Only one--one public appearance ended up making a headline because it involved the Capital’s biggest guild, Celestia. It prompted a lot of talks even in the Capital, from poaching rumors to romantic scandals.

For people working in media, Trinity’s new guide was like a gold mine of news and clickbait. Just making an article about how the guide came to accompany the Serpent Lord on his shooting would already generate attention.

But as if the heaven told them it wasn’t enough, another astonishing news came; a representative of Celestia would be a surprise guest for this episode.

There was no need for speculation as to why someone from Celestia announced to be here just after the news about the elusive guide’s appearance spread. And of all members, they sent their rising star, the Moonlight Princess.

"They won’t suddenly start fighting, right?" one of the staff crouching behind the cameras asked her colleagues.

"Of course not!" someone quickly rebuked. "They’re from prestigious guilds, not the boonies. They have a reputation to uphold, you know," the man, an AD, said. "Well...I don’t know about fighting verbally and mentally, though..."

"As long as we don’t have to get involved, I’m all for watching it," someone else chimed in with a giggle. "That aside, I’m more curious about the guide himself, like...what’s he actually look like?"

"Right, right--why is he always wearing that mask?"

And then, suddenly, the conversation shifted fully toward the mysterious guide.

"Maybe because he’s a guide? You know how they have to wear a mask in the dungeon, so maybe an occupational habit?"

"Even though it’s in the green zone?"

"That’s why I said occupational habit."

"Or maybe he’s just ugly and wants to hide it--"

"You’re just saying it because you’re jealous he’s rumored with the Serpent Lord--anyway, there’s no such thing as an ugly guide,"

"But he could have a scar or something underneath, you know..."

"Couldn’t he just heal it with a healer skill? Or plastic surgery--like that esper from Fiery Sun? Trinity swam in money after all,"

"Or maybe he’s not as good-looking as other Trinity members?"

"Would someone wear a mask all the time just because they are slightly less good-looking? Don’t spout nonsense,"

"That’s right. Besides, he didn’t seem like someone who lacks confidence, from the way he carried himself."

"But we only saw him for a bit earlier..."

"Well, I think we’ll have plenty of chance to observe today--oh, sush! They’re coming!"

The congregating staff suddenly spread out toward their own stations, although their eyes were directed toward the same place.

There, walking inside the set, was the Serpent Lord and his tamer, Trinity’s new guide--along with the assistant that acted more like a manager, and another man that looked like an esper bodyguard. Bassena Vaski, the usually charming but rather distant man, was busy explaining things inside the set to the guide with an easygoing smile.

The deep and beautiful blue eyes followed the esper’s enthusiastic gesture, nodded slightly from time to time, and asked some questions himself. They looked cordial, and whoever witnessed their interaction would think the guide was perfectly fine in Trinity.

When the Serpent Lord was happily playing tour guide, however, someone suddenly walked toward them, and the staff winced secretly.

It was someone from Celestia--an executive from the guild that came to accompany the yet-to-be-seen Princess.

"Good morning, Sir Vaski," the man greeted Bassena with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

One of that business smiles, Zein thought, which people from the green-zone seemed to be experts in making it. Like Radia, or Bassena sometimes. Why? They could just not smile if they didn’t want to.

"Yes, it’s a good morning for me," Bassena replied with that fake charming smile that Zein hated. But this was an okay occasion to use it, so Zein just watched in interest.

The man from Celestia didn’t look fazed by Bassena blatantly not greeting him back, and just continued to speak with a pleasant tone that reminded Zein of his public relations teacher.

"I would like to apologize for this sudden change. The president suddenly asked for our appearance to make the show more interesting," he tilted his head, looking somewhat sincere and shady at the same time. Zein had no idea what this person playing at. "I hope it’s not inconveniencing you,"

Bassena, however, tilted his head with unchanging face. "Hmm? Is it really something to be concerned about?" he replied lightheartedly, almost sounding bored even. "I don’t really trouble myself with trivial stuff."

Zein thought; was it really hard to say I don’t care?

"Hahaha, as expected of the Serpent Lord," the man letting out a good-natured laugh, which would be convincing if it wasn’t for the unpleasant glint in his eyes. "You’re always ready to face unexpected challenges."

Challenge? What challenge? I don’t see it anywhere--he might as well say it like that, Zein thought.

"That unbothered attitude of yours is charming as always," the man replied with a chuckle. The tone that he used reminded Zein of that time he came across one of the twins’ teachers who criticized the boys and called them unruly.

"Perhaps it’s just a distraction?" Lex chimed in quietly, and Bassena smirked in response.

"Perhaps,"

Bassena glanced at Zein’s guard, and seemingly wanted to say something when someone stopped them, again.

"Oh, Sir Vaski, I saw..." the energetic, short producer, James, almost ran toward them, looking even more breathless than when he burst into the dressing room earlier. He stared at Bassena, glanced toward the man from Celestia who was talking to one of the camera directors, and looked back at Bassena. "You’re not going to start a fight, right?"

Bassena rolled his eyes in response. "What am I--five?"

Zein thought; you told me you’re a baby.

And then Bassena patted his shoulder, and Zein tilted his head with confusion. "Don’t worry, I have my tamer here."

"...oh? Oh!" the producer exclaimed then, clapping his hands as if he reached a eureka moment. "Yes, yes, okay...I see what it is, hehe..."

What? What did you see? Zein almost rolled his eyes at this producer or whatever. He slapped Bassena’s hand too while at it, giving the grinning esper a side-eye.

"Ah, but I have to talk to you about some changes in the segment’s sequence. The Princess isn’t here yet, so it’s a perfect time!" the producer pointed into the set, where other panelists had started to fill.

Bassena was quiet for a few seconds, as if contemplating something, before finally nodding. "Alright..." he turned toward the guide then, and asked with a playful smile. "You’ll be fine alone, won’t you?"

"What am I, five?" Zein mimicked the esper, who was grinning in response. "And I’m not alone," Zein pointed toward Jock. Lex also would be with him once the show started and Bassena didn’t need his assistance anymore.

With another smile--the soft and genuine smile he liked to reserve for Zein--the esper followed the producer to the set and Lex took Zein to a spot where he could see the shooting properly. There was also a chair with Bassena’s name on it, but he wouldn’t be able to see the set if he sat down.

So until he got bored, Zein just looked around the room in his spot, at the high ceilings with beams and lighting bulbs. The many tools, cameras, and cables somehow reminded him of the lab--in which they both confused him with devices that were unfamiliar to him.

But it also felt different, like a new world--new horizon. Looking at occupations that he never saw before was a nice experience, and he was reminded once again of why he moved away from the borderland; to experience new things, to see different sceneries, to meet new people.

Hmm...Zein felt like it might be good to send a letter or two to Captain Agni and Ron, telling them how he fared here. He wasn’t sure if the news here would travel all the way to the borderland after all...

"Hee...so this is the one they talked about..."

Just as Zein was drowned in his own thought while absentmindedly looking at the set, a voice invaded his space suddenly. Before he knew it, a young woman--probably around Dheera’s age--was standing beside him, staring at him with palpable curiosity.

Even without people telling him, Zein could tell it was that Princess--Senia Azra.