The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 252: Still Lane Allen

"...I might be gone for the next few days," Lane said suddenly, as they were lying on the bed, cuddling after dinner, dessert, and the second dessert in the form of bed testing.

At those words, Damien’s hand, which was stroking Lane’s hair, paused. "Where are you going?" he couldn’t help but ask.

"Well... Just here and there... I have a few things I need to take care of, as I probably won’t have much time after I join the Association..."

"Are you... going on a dungeon raid?"

"Nope, nothing like that! Just... Traveling out of the Capital a bit," Lane said dismissively, avoiding giving any specifics.

"Then... Will you keep in touch?"

"Yeah, sure. I’ll just be visiting a few places, but not any Gates, so I won’t be going out of range..." Not for long periods of time, at least. "But I might not be able to talk on the phone," he soon added. "Messages are alright, though."

Damien was silent for a while, stroking Lane’s head again, but with much more unease, that could be clearly felt. He was clearly bothered by something, but was reluctant to ask...

In the end, though, he had to make sure. "When you leave to travel... You will still be Lane Allen, right?"

It was kind of a dumb question on the surface. Of course Lane Allen would still be Lane Allen, no matter what, unless he applied for a name change or something. And even then, he would still consider himself ’Lane Allen’. After thirty years of his life, this name was woven into his identity so deeply, that Lane couldn’t possibly ever fully separate himself from it, despite all the negative connections his surname had. It was just like with his face - he could still like it just fine, even though it was the result of his father and mother’s DNA getting mixed.

But it wasn’t his name that Damien was asking about, and Lane knew it. The question was actually... about his body. Whether he would stay in it or not...

"I will keep my promise," Lane sighed. "No possessions, right? That was one of your conditions."

Not that he even thought about possessing someone this time. The place where Lane was headed to was Forbidden Zone No. 74, and he was going there as the Boss. He couldn’t do it in a possessed body even if it wasn’t for his agreement with Damien, since it could result in many complications... No one there knew about his possession ability, and if he arrived in a different body pretending to be himself, it would become problematic if he had to use any abilities...

To be honest, he didn’t really feel like going. He would much rather just enjoy his days off for now, before he joined the Association and was busy with his new job... Play games and watch movies during the day, and then roll around in bed with Damien at night.

But he had to. Or maybe not ’had’, but simply should. His underlings had been sending him so many plans and proposals, filled with tons of ideas of what steps the organization might take next toward their goals... And it simply wasn’t practical to try to discuss it through e-mails. It was better for Lane to make the trip, check out the situation in the Zone, and discuss everything with his subordinates... ƒгeewёbnovel.com

It was such a headache, but bailing out right now just wouldn’t do, no matter how disinterested in those grand plans he became.

Besides... It wasn’t just for him that he was doing it. How would he ever look his grandmother in the eye if he backed out? Even if - or maybe precisely because - she had no expectations for him, Lane still didn’t want to fail her.

"...I’m sorry," Damien sighed, interrupting the silence.

"...Sorry for what?"

"For what I’ve just said. You have promised me already... I shouldn’t be questioning you about it again."

"Oh, you mean the possessions?" Lane let out a light chuckle, snuggling closer to Damien. "No worries, I get you! If I were you, I wouldn’t have trusted myself as well!"

After all, taking Lane’s history into account... He had spent close to half of his life switching bodies. So, although he wasn’t tempted to do it at the moment... There was no saying that if he got into a situation where possessing someone could solve his problems, Lane wouldn’t actually go for it. The thought would probably at least cross his mind.

Once you’re used to solving your problems certain way, and it’s effective (at least temporarily), it’s only natural you might want to keep going, even when you know it’s not right.

However, while Lane might not have been offended by Damien’s lack of trust, Damien still couldn’t help but feel guilty. "Regardless, I shouldn’t have asked that..."

"Ah, whatever." Lane rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Don’t worry about that, seriously... But, if you really want to make it up to me... What do you say for another round?" He flashed a wide grin.

A type of grin that immediately made Damien rub his neck, where a clear hickey still remained on a proud, public display! By now, everyone in the Association probably knew that he had a ’new’ boyfriend...

Alas, such concerns were not too important. In Lane’s opinion, and soon enough, they had also vanished from Damien’s head, as Lane leaned forward, capturing Damien’s lips. Damien didn’t even get a chance to discuss the marking issue, as he was soon swept away, any words that might have made it out of his mouth transformed into moans and groans instead...

And the bed shook with their moves, creaking softly from time to time, as wooden furniture had a tendency to do. It was a high-quality bed, though, big and sturdy, and it could withstand the torments without any issue. Granted, as long as Lane didn’t attempt another display of Espers’ supernatural strength...

But he didn’t, for now. He just thrusted his hips rhythmically, strong enough to hit the mark well, but at the same time, gentle enough not to cause too much pain. All while his hands and lips tormented Damien’s skin...