There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 385

Chapter 385: Chapter 377. The Weight of Duty

The heir of House Kamui, who had been listening to the conversation around the table wordlessly, watched the guide in fascination.

Unlike the other patriarchs, he was merely a child when the incident befalling House Ishtera and killing Zein’s father happened. Obviously, he had never heard about Alteroan or the Paladin, so he couldn’t chime into the conversation. Instead, he took the time to observe the young patriarch.

A young patriarch always meant one thing; a tragedy. Because it would mean the previous patriarch departed young, or that a generation was being skipped for whatever reason. Sadly, it was rare for young patriarchs to succeed in leading their clans. More likely, they would end up as nothing more than a puppet for their relatives or vassals. Only an exceptional talent that came once every century could escape this shackle--like Radia Mallarc.

Seiji knew this. He had become the crown prince the moment he was born as the eldest son, and he felt the privilege of a successor came with a poison of fake vassals trying to curry favor while ignoring the other children. The privilege also came with the burden of having to prove himself to be deserving of being the heir.

It didn’t necessarily have to do with the expectation and burden of duty itself. Sometimes, just the fact that he carried an Old House name behind his own already felt like an iron cuff around his neck, reminding him that he had to mind what he said and how he acted in public.

And so he found himself wondering how Zein felt. The guide was younger than him, but the blue eyes had never wavered in front of the other clan leaders. He wondered if Zein felt the same burden he felt, or was the man simply took it easy because there was no one left in his family to pressure him.

"But Ishtera, are you still going to the Deathzone?" House Caishen’s patriarch asked with a frown. His concern was understandable; Zein was the last remaining Ishtera, and yet he was going to embark on a mission with a high mortality rate.

Ludya Mallarc stirred at this, slightly leaning toward the young patriarch. "That’s right. Couldn’t you just stay back like my grandson?"

"No," the guide replied calmly. There was a fascinated look in the blue eyes as he realized these clan leaders were worried about him--or at least his clan. "I am the combat guide in charge of the main vanguard," the blue eyes glanced toward the table where Bassena Vaski was. "And I know the Deathzone more than anyone who will get involved."

Those were irrefutable facts. They couldn’t expect the five-star espers and Bassena Vaski to keep going back and forth after each battle to get guided by Zein. But of course, for Zein, that was just a surface-level reason.

"But you’re--"

"Patriarch," the blue eyes, as clear and firm as ever, looked at Zhou Caishen without a shred of doubt. "Your House--all of you--must have a duty you uphold."

Whether it was to maintain the social and economic stability of the Federation, preserve culture and tradition, or keep up the security, every clan had its purpose of existence. Even the Horins were proud of their effort in digging into the forgotten history of the Old Age, and despite their crime, had contributed to establishing several research centers for historical preservation.

"It’s the same with me," Zein said with a smile. There was a pride in the way he uttered it, through a firm voice and straightened back. "I have a duty to uphold."

"To...eradicate the Deathzone?" Seiji asked carefully.

"No," the guide smiled as the blue eyes turned to the heir. "To protect something inside the Deathzone."

The words weren’t uttered with youthful recklessness. The conviction in those blue eyes and soothing voice left them unable to argue. The heir of Kamui, especially, felt his shoulder getting heavier.

It wasn’t a light burden, and Luzein Ishtera didn’t take it easy. He upheld his responsibility as the patriarch of an Old House and preserved his duty.

And that was what Seiji should remember once he became the patriarch. Indeed, it was a good thing that he came today.

As the heir of Kamui thought about today’s meeting deeply, Zein glanced at a certain table and stood up. "Excuse me," he bowed his head politely to the seniors and left the table.

He strolled past his friends’ table and patted Abel’s shoulder--who came in the middle of his conversation with the Old House’s leaders--before continuing to the fidgeting Eiyuta’s ladies.

"Oh, Luzein--"

Zein raised his hand to stop them from standing up. Instead, he crouched between Ria and Sherri’s chair so they didn’t have to crane their neck. "Why don’t you go take a rest in the hotel? You’ve taken a long journey here, and there’s still a long journey waiting for you tomorrow."

"But--"

"Have a proper meal," Zein glanced at the plate of canapes on the table. "And take some rest. You don’t have to be here until it’s over."

The ladies, despite already looking exhausted and having been fidgeting because they knew no one else there, looked at each other in hesitation. So Zein took their hands and held them. "Are you trying to turn me into an inconsiderate nephew who can’t even take care of his aunts?"

"N-no, no--that’s not--we would never...!"

The two retired guides swiftly shook their heads, and Zein pressed his lips to hide his smile. "Then you’d go?"

Now, both of them nodded quickly, as if they didn’t want to disappoint Lucia’s one and only son. Zein smiled and stood up, looking at Fianna who had been accompanying the three ladies from the start. "Take them and have some rest too," he said, before shifting his gaze to a young woman who was talking with Arlo. "Lisa, help my aunties while they stay here."

"Oh, you don’t have to--"

"Yes, Young Master."