The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 274: Next Step

The rest of the holidays passed by peacefully. They went sightseeing, to the beach, then to the hotel’s spa, and had some drinks in the pool in the evening - the last two were not really Damien’s things, as he saw them as overly expensive indulgence, but went along with it since Lane wanted to, and had to admit it was quite nice (although still too pricey). The tension was still in the air, and Lane was clearly bothered by some things, but since he was determined to pretend that everything was fine, Damien had no choice but to let it go. It’s not like he could squeeze it out of the man, after all.

And just like that, in no time at all, it was already time to return.

"What’s your plan now?" Damien asked, once they sat on the plane (once again in the first class, of course).

"With my rank and all?" Lane looked away from the window, snacking on the strawberries dipped in chocolate. "Well... First, I’m going to change my rank registration. I’ve thought it over, and I think it’s best to settle everything with the Association before telling the Allens anything."

"But doesn’t that go against your deal?"

Lane shrugged his shoulders. "Well, yeah, but I’m planning to break it anyway, no?"

"Still, wouldn’t it be better to renegotiate new conditions first?"

"With the Allens? No chance!" Lane scoffed, tossing another strawberry into his mouth. "If I told them what I’m going to do, they would definitely try to stop me!"

It would be a different thing if Lane had revealed himself as a high-ranker years ago. They would just say that they hid his existence for his safety, so that he wouldn’t become a target of anyone envious of their success. As Lane was just a ’poor, defenseless F-ranker’, they had to do it, to protect him! Well, technically they still could spin this narrative now, but Lane joining the Association would still be a problem. Since he was ’useful’ now, then he should finally contribute to the family and the Guild! That’s what they probably were going to say.

But Lane didn’t want to join the Allen Guild. Not now, not ever. He would much rather get locked up in an unfair contract with the Association. Not that this option sounded good or anything, but...

Eh, whatever. If he ever got tired of it, or he and Damien broke up, he could always just run away. He didn’t have to be tied by anything. The Association wouldn’t be able to hold him down!

"Well, anyway," he said, changing the topic. "Are you going to come with me? To the registration, I mean. To make sure that they don’t try to arrest me or anything."

"They wouldn’t..." Damien started, but then paused. Sure, if Lane came to the registration to get re-tested, and turned out to be an A-rank, then that on its own wasn’t a crime...

But, it was pretty much evidence of a law violation. No matter how you looked at it, it simply wasn’t possible for an awakened F-ranker to suddenly change into an A-ranker. To begin with, in order to advance their rank, the Awakened in question would have to use their ability a lot, most likely for YEARS. Which Lane wasn’t allowed to do, since he didn’t even have an Esper license. And even if he did, things still wouldn’t add up. If he put enough effort, he might have became an E-ranker, maybe D-ranker, if he tried extra hard. But F-ranker becoming an A-ranker? Impossible! There had to be something fishy about it. Thus, even if Lane didn’t end up getting arrested, he would get detained for sure. Of course, Damien could just step to intervene then, but...

"You’re right, we should go together," he nodded his head in agreement. He was the one who proposed it in the first place, so he couldn’t just leave Lane to handle it all alone (even though it was just the natural consequence of Lane’s own actions)! "We could go right after we land, or on my next day off..."

"And when’s your next day off?"

"This... To be honest, I don’t know." Since Damien took a week-long holiday, there was bound to be piles upon piles of paperwork waiting for him to complete... On top of all of his other duties. He was probably going to be quite busy for the next week or two, at the very least.

Lane tapped his fingers on the armrest. He wasn’t exactly in that much of a rush to join the Association, as most of the work they did, even as Field Agents, was boring and dull... There was that thing with Nyla. He had told her to either complete her earlier agreement with their parents soon or postpone it as much as she could, but he had no idea which option she chose. If it were the latter, then it might not be good for her if Lane were to drag it on...

"Fine, let’s do it today, to get over it as soon as possible," he eventually said. Although they were only just on their way back from holiday, and Lane wanted to spend the day rolling around in bed with Damien, to compare their bed with the one they had in the hotel... Perhaps it could afford to wait a bit. "But, do you have any idea how to handle it?"

"Yes, more or less."

Well, if Damien said ’more or less’ with this much confidence, then Lane probably didn’t have anything to worry about. It was nice to have such a dependable boyfriend.

A few hours later, they landed at the airport, picked Lane’s car from the parking, and headed straight toward the Association Headquarters. Still in their casual, holiday clothes, with the scent of the country E’s ocean breeze clinging to their sun-kissed skin. The Association’s members probably had never seen Damien looking so relaxed and casual, with his hair down. It was such an unusual - and stunning - view, that the receptionist couldn’t help but stare, with her mouth agape...

Lane’s eyes twitched, and he leaned over the counter to shift her attention to himself. "Hi, I would like to retest my rank, please," he smiled, his eyes turning into crescents. "Name’s Lane Allen, I’m already registered as an Esper..."