There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 323

Chapter 323: Chapter 315. We Only Need One

There was a frown on Zein’s face that made Senan tense. But he also could feel that Zein wasn’t as displeased about it as before.

Still, it was clear that the guide didn’t see it positively.

"I have no use for a clan," Zein said after a long silence, putting his plate away as the shadow child gave him a bottle of water and a bowl of sliced fruit like a faithful attendant.

Senan wished he was the one who did that; he should be that faithful attendant, tending to his young master’s needs and protecting him.

And while he already said Zein had the right to do anything he wanted with the family, it was hard to let go of the only thing he held precious in his life; his loyalty to the House. Deep in his heart, he still couldn’t let it go; the fact that the clan would be demolished just like that.

No, Senan did not expect the House of Ishtera to regain their former glory. He didn’t need the House to be glorious at all. He was just struck by the fact that he didn’t know anything about his young master’s security situation, and only found out by chance.

How shameful. To be unable to protect his young master in the past, and still unable to protect him in the present.

"How could you say that?" Senan frowned, the plate in his hand trembled slightly as his grip tightened. He looked up, staring at the surprised guide. "Don’t you need manpower to go to the Deathzone?"

Zein frowned slightly, and the dock fell silent. No one moved but the shadow children, who were still grilling meat for everyone. But those people were too scared to put the meat in their mouths, observing the guide while holding their breath. Observing their Master.

When Zein kept his silence even after a minute had passed, Senan opened his mouth again. "I can’t prevent you from doing it, but..." the old man sighed, "At the very least, can’t you let this old man fulfill his duty before he dies?"

"Don’t talk like someone who’s on their deathbed," Zein replied with a sharp tone, eyes narrowed unpleasantly.

"I’m sorry," Senan couldn’t help but smile at the scowl on the guide’s face. Zein might not show it much, but Senan knew that he cared about them. Wasn’t that why he abolished the Templar of Arms Master? Because he wished freedom upon them. "Still...I’m almost at the age where I’ll retreat from activity," Senan shifted his body, crouching with one knee on the ground. "Won’t you give me one last chance to show my respect to your father?"

At last, Zein shifted his gaze from his esper who was fighting on top of the lake with the female five-star to look at Senan. When the blue eyes flicked to the other members of the Iron Shield, Senan immediately spoke again.

"And it’s not just me," the old man said. "Perhaps not the new generation like Arlo and Lisa, but the older ones, like me..."

As Senan mentioned them, some of the older Espers, the one who was already born during that eventful day, lifted their eyes to meet the guide’s gaze. They were the ones who grew up being groomed to be the future Ishtera’s knight. They were the ones who swore themselves to protect the House of Ishtera.

"We want to stand with you," Senan looked into the blue eyes, speaking firmly. "We want to protect you."

Right after he said it, Senan lowered his head and smiled bitterly, mockingly to himself. "I know this is my selfish thinking, but...right now, I am truly too ashamed to face Master Roan in the afterlife."

Zein took all the gaze of the esper who wordlessly looked at him, and as he turned his head to look at the fighting over the lake again, he felt the heaviness of having the patriarch title attached to his name. The heaviness of having people who were willing to follow him.

"It doesn’t need to be a clan," Senan shifted closer to Zein’s chair, trying to haggle his grounds. "If you don’t want to build a clan, won’t you give us permission to be a brigade?"

"You don’t need my permission to do that kind of thing."

"But we wanted to be your brigade, Young Master," this time, it was Cohen who said it. "We want to be able to guarantee your safety, become your hands and feet, and help you when you need it."

"At the very least..." the old man spoke again, bit his lips for a moment before taking in a deep breath. "At the very least, I will be able to face Master Roan proudly."

It was heavy. Zein had always wondered how Radia could shoulder a multi-billionaire group and a guild simultaneously without looking like he was breaking apart from the pressure. He closed his eyes and swallowed his sigh.

"I’ll think about it," he said finally.

Senan widened his eyes, visibly perking up. "Young Master..." he couldn’t help the delight bubbling inside his chest, even though Zein hadn’t given them any positive answer.

But it was definitely better than instant rejection.

"Senan,"

"Yes, Young Master?"

"I found my mother."

It wasn’t just Senan that froze with eyes blown wide. Most of the esper who came that night had met Lucia before, so they all stared at Zein in shock. "What--"

"Her remains," Zein let out a long, heavy breath. "I found her."