There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Chapter 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."

"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!"

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?"