The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 226: Holiday Hours

Two days later, Lane was waiting for Damien again in front of his apartment building, except far less anxious this time, just leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, and sucking on a strawberry lolipop.

He didn’t have to wait long, though, as only a minute or two later, Damien appeared at the end of the street. It was no coincidence, of course - Lane had been texting with Damien, and when Damien told him he was about to get out of the subway, Lane jumped out of from the balcony of his new apartment, and rushed toward Damien’s place using Sky Step.

"Hi," he grinned at the man as Damien got closer.

Resulting in Damien’s brows furrowing in confusion. "You’re already here?"

"Yeah, I told you I will leave as soon as you’re out of the subway."

"Yeah, but... Never mind," Damien shook his head, realizing that Lane must have used his abilities to get there.

Which was illegal... But with everything that he knew about Lane now, it felt kind of pointless to scold him every time he used an ability without authorization. It would be better to focus only on activities that were harmful to others, and let such use for convenience slide.

"Let’s go inside," he just said, unlocking the door. "Have you eaten yet?"

"Mn."

"Alright. You don’t mind if I make something for myself first, do you?"

"Nope, not at all!"

Although Lane shook his head, his face still dropped, turning a bit sullen. Not because Damien was about to cook, of course, but rather because if he had known earlier, he would have waited with dinner! Now he was still too full to eat anything...

Maybe it was because he was tired, or maybe because he was hungry and wanted to whip up something quick, or maybe because he was cooking only for himself, but the dinner Damien made was very simple, especially when compared with what he had served on his date with Lane - just plain chicken with rice, and simple salad on the side.

"Sorry, do you want some after all?" Noticing Lane’s eyes glued to his plate, Damien couldn’t help but ask. "There is some still left in the kitchen..."

"Ah, no, I’m good," Lane just waved his hand dismissively. Not that he thought himself above such meals - food was food, and during dungeon raids, he was used to eating far more bland meals just to fill in - but he truly was stuffed. He was staring only because he couldn’t help but wonder whether Damien ate such simple meals out of preference or necessity...

"Well, anyway!" he leaned over the table, changing the topic. "How are your holiday hours? You haven’t used any this year, have you?"

"Hmm?" Damien lifted his brows, surprised by the question. "No, I never use them. Why?"

"Then can you book a few days off in three weeks? I’ll tell you the exact dates later."

Damien hesitated. "I’m not sure... We’re quite busy..."

"It’s important. Please?" Lane pouted his lips, staring at Damien with puppy eyes. "I want to introduce you to Diana... My grandmother, I mean. I’ve already asked if I can bring you with me, and she agreed!"

Under a few conditions, of course, but still. It was surprising, actually, how fast she responded, considering that she took a month to react to Lane being locked up by the Allens... But Lane didn’t dwell on that, just taking it as a good sign.

"Hmm..." Damien pondered over it for a while longer, before reluctantly agreeing. "I will put in the request... But don’t expect much. I doubt Section Leader will approve it..."

The corners of Lane’s mouth lifted up in a self-satisfied smirk. "Oh, don’t worry about that. I have a feeling he might have more pressing issues on his head than arguing with you about your holiday hours!"

"...What do you mean?" Hearing the mischievous tone of Lane’s voice, Damien couldn’t help but eye him suspiciously.

Which caused Lane’s smirk to widen even further. "Oh, nothing much... It’s just some gossip I’ve heard... Apparently, some... unsavory things about our dear Section Leader’s life had been leaked to the public, things highly inappropriate for someone in his position!" freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"...Gossip, huh?"

"Well, alright. Perhaps not ’gossip’, but rather clear, indisputable evidence!"

"And I assume it has nothing to do with you?" Damien threw Lane a doubtful glance.

"Well, who knows..." Lane shrugged his shoulders.

Either way, the man deserved it. He should have minded his business and clung to his seat if he liked it so much, not go make trouble for others (Damien)! If he weren’t getting in Lane’s way, overworking and bothering his boyfriend, then would Lane have gone after his head? Probably not!

Eventually, Damien seemed to have reached a similar conclusion, as he let out a long sigh. "Alright. Just tell me one thing. This evidence, is it all real? You haven’t fabricated anything, have you?"

"Nope! He dug his grave all by himself!"

"Fine then, I won’t ask any details." Although he still didn’t look too happy about the situation, Damien decided to let it go. After all, while Lane might have had ulterior motives in exposing Section Leader Bowen, what he did was ultimately a good thing... this time.

"You’re going to inform your grandmother that you’re an S-ranker then?"

"I’m actually SS now!" Lane announced proudly. "But no, I’m planning to go with an A-rank, at least for now. S-ranks attract too much media attention, I don’t think it would be good in my situation, considering I had my awakening so many years ago..."

"Hmm... Perhaps it might be better this way. Have you decided what ability are you going to report?"

"Not yet... It’s rather hard to pick just one, if I’m going to be stuck with it for the foreseeable future!"

"Why, are there that many of them?"

"Well..." Lane’s eyes dodged to the side, as he shifted in his seat, feeling a bit uncomfortable all of a sudden, bringing that up. Still, soon he admitted, "Yeah, quite... a few. Which is why I was wondering, would you like to go with me on a short trip to a Forbidden Zone? I would show you them all, and you could help me choose?"