There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Chapter 97. Anger Management

Trinity’s third-level basement was almost like a different world on its own.

For a start, it was huge. An arena that was enough for friendly competition between espers of any type was set in the middle. Three sides of the arena were filled with doors leading to private training chambers of various sizes; from one that was enough for meditation, to one that could contain a destructive skill.

For that, the whole area was made of reinforced material that could withstand esper’s mana, as well as fitted with barrier formations. Should a high emergency occur, the place would be the safest bunker in eastern Althrea. An arsenal, a medical center, and a logistic warehouse were there too, both to be accessed by the espers and for emergencies.

When Zein came down to this place, Lex had already waited in front of the elevator. Without further ado, they walked straight to Bassena’s training chamber, garnering a look from the few high-star espers using the area today. Seeing Zein following Lex, they knew instantly where the guide was heading, and watched in interest.

Unlike the other rooms, Bassena’s room was only accessible to him, and wasn’t allowed to be used by anyone. It was because the room had much more mana-resistant material, catering to the saint-class destructive power. It could only be opened from the inside unless they used the guildmaster’s key card. All means of communication were cut off inside the training chamber to allow the espers undivided focus, and the only way to contact the room was through the intercom beside the door.

The door to Bassena’s private room was noticeable from how further away the other doors were. There was also no waiting list screen for scheduled usage in front of it since he was the only user. And no one--no one--would ever disturb Bassena Vaski’s training time unless it was a total emergency.

Or so they thought.

In front of the intercom, Lex pushed the speaker button for Zein. "Bas," the guide spoke calmly, and did not delay in his demand. "Let me in."

Zein did not bother with courtesy or sweet words. It didn’t suit him and only sounded empty. But he had confidence that Bassena would unlock the door, for all the feelings that the esper had for him.

Although, on the occasion that it wasn’t, then...well, what could he do? He’d just wait until Bassena came out. He could bombard the esper’s commlink with messages if he must, although he rarely used the massaging app.

Fortunately, not long after, a beeping sound came from the door, to the silent exclaim of the other espers. So as long as it was the right person, they could disturb the Serpent Lord with no problem? _{fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm}

Without wasting any more time, Zein entered the room and closed the door, which automatically locked itself, and looked around.

The room was basically a plain, empty cube. It had nothing but a shimmering mana barrier on all sides of the wall, the floor, and the ceiling. Zein could see deep gashes all over the surface, which were in the middle of self-reparation. As he wondered about how much money was poured into making this room, something nuzzled his side, and he saw the wriggling darkness tug at him.

Turning his head to the side, he saw Bassena sitting on the only furniture in the room; a simple velvet bench that could be used as a small bed. Leaning back to the wall, the esper glanced at him with a simple, little smile.

"Hey," Bassena spoke quietly. Either because he was tired from training, or because his head was still messy.

Zein walked closer with the darkness that coiled his hand like a child asking for a walk, retracting his mask while at it. "Are you always this diligent, or are you just throwing a tantrum?"

Bassena laughed lightly at that, leaning forward with arms propped on his knees and fingers on his chin. "Neither," he said.

"Neither..." Zein repeated, stopping beside the esper.

"This is...my anger management effort," Bassena said, chuckling at himself.

"Were you angry?"

The amber eyes flashed then, but Bassena immediately closed his eyes, as if doing preventive measure. "I was upset...when I saw the news,"

"Mm," Zein nodded--he already predicted as much.

"I know I could just ask you about it and you’ll give me an answer, but..." Bassena let out a bitter smile as his brow knitted in a frown. "There’s a part of me that got afraid of the possible answer. If--if--it turned out to be an answer that I don’t like..."

Bassena paused, and tilted his head slightly to look up at Zein, who had been watching him keenly. "I don’t want to end up saying hurtful things to you--things that would upset you and make you distance yourself from me."

"So..." Zein turned his gaze toward the room, which was still undergoing self-repair from how damaged everything was. "You turned to this?"