There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Chapter 98. Security Blanket

"So, again, you tamed him just like that?" Han Shin asked as they climbed the small hill inside one of the dungeons owned by Trinity.

Zein scoffed at the phrase. "What do you mean tamed? Is he a beast or something? He wasn’t even going berserk in the first place."

"Nyenyenye~" the healer made a silly jeering sound. "He still walking out of the training room like the happiest man in the world after shutting himself for half a day," and with a higher tone, he added. "And it only took you fifteen minutes too!"

Zein rolled his eyes, and back to observing the guides on duty today. "Eyes to the front, Leo. Use your ears to pick up the beast’s sound, not eavesdrop."

"It’s not eavesdropping if it’s loud enough to be heard, Captain," the particularly short guide replied with a grin. But spotting Zein’s raised brow, he immediately looked forward again, while being smacked by another guide in the back, prompting the rearguard espers to laugh.

Compared to the other two dungeon raids, this time was comparably more relaxing. The environment was pretty mild, with bright sun and blue sky. It almost felt like they were on a stroll for a picnic rather than dungeon raiding.

This time, they did an easy training with the rookie espers inside the eternal dungeon. Zein only took three C-class guides here--the three with the worst performance among the division members.

It didn’t mean they were bad though, just that they were quite behind compared to the others. Two of them also the youngest guides, added at the start of this year, so maybe the lack of experience had something to do with it. But it made them a good fit for the rookie espers, who were also comparatively young. And in this kind of lax environment, friendship was easily built.

Han Shin, meanwhile, came not as a healer but more as a researcher. There was a material he needed and he wanted to procure it by himself in fear of someone ruining it. But so far, all he did was just pester Zein.

"Do you know what people called you?" he suddenly asked. Zein didn’t answer, since he knew the healer would just tell him anyway. "The Serpent Tamer,"

"What kind of nonsense..."

Seeing Zein’s exasperated expression, Han Shin laughed out loud, filling the place with a cheery sound. Thanks to that, they garnered the beasts’ attention, and the espers had something to work on.

"Anyway, spare some time next Wednesday," Han Shin said while hiding behind Zein. It was quite weird seeing an esper hiding behind a guide from a miasmic beast, but with their builds, it didn’t look weird one bit.

"Why?" Zein asked after giving some instructions to the guides per usual.

"It’s my birthday," the healer replied with a grin. "We’re having a small dinner party...and after party,"

Han Shin giggled, and Zein had a flashback of getting nearly drunk at that last party the healer invited him to. Seeing the narrowed blue eyes, the younger man immediately added.

"Don’t worry, it’s truly a small party. Just us, and Reina, and Bas, and Radia..." he paused for a bit, lips parted as if he wanted to say another name, but quickly pressed his lips. "Mm...yeah, just that. Safe, right?"

Zein had a feeling that he knew which name he would say, but it wasn’t his business how Radia and Han Joon managed their secret, confusing relationship.

"Sure," Zein answered finally, after making sure that his three chicks were all safe and sound.

"You’ll really come, right? Right?" Han Shin asked twice, persistently, while tugging on Zein’s sleeve, capitalizing on his wide, clear black eyes and boyish face. "Promise me?"

"I promise," Zein replied firmly, grabbing the healer’s elbow to get him to continue walking. "Where are you going to do it?"

* * *

Zein did not quite understand at first, why Han Shin had his birthday dinner at someone else’s house. Like...the guy had an apartment, a dorm room, and his family’s manor, but still chose to do it in Radia’s mansion.

"Because it’s bigger?" Bassena shrugged as they drove together toward said mansion, situated just outside the Mortix complex, a little bit closer to Althrea’s border wall.

"But isn’t it just a small gathering?" Zein tilted his head slightly. "It’s just...what? Five people? Do we really need a big space?"

"Six; Reina’s older sister is also coming," Bassena replied while pondering about the answer he should give the guide. "The simple reason would be that he won’t need to think about cleaning up, since the house staff will do that. He doesn’t have one in his apartment."

Zein smirked at that. Surprisingly, it was quite an acceptable reason. "Does he have none in his family’s manor?"