There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 433

Chapter 433: Chapter 426. Territory Marking

For a few seconds, Bassena froze, unblinking. He stared at the guide, but he didn’t find any alarming signs. Zein still looked relaxed, and there was no tension in his body.

Ah, so it came from a practical standpoint, not an emotional one.

"Ah, right..." Bassena laid his head down on Zein’s shoulder again. "Radia will tell everyone to make one soon--you know...before we go."

Zein smiled. It was such a Radia thing to do. Essentially, those ’will’ also act as life insurance for the family of the guild members who would go to the Deathzone. A sum of money would be sent to a chosen beneficiary in case of death on duty, and from what Zein heard, the amount was more than adequate--enough for the recipient to live decently for the rest of their lives, provided they did not squander it.

Still, it would be rather different for someone with several assets and a clan like Zein. He had been pushing off making one because things kept happening; his wealth kept increasing, and so did the responsibility that came with it.

But now, he could no longer do that.

"Would it be selfish if I left everything in a trust fund?" Zein asked, looking at the ceiling while stroking the platinum hair absentmindedly.

"You mean, for the foundation rather than your clan?" Bassena muttered a reply drowsily. "Why would it be selfish? The foundation is no longer your personal project anyway--didn’t you tie it to the clan? It was named Ishtera and all..."

"Hmm...you’re right."

"Besides," Basena lifted his head to look at the guide’s face. "You should know your clan members enough by now; you know they won’t mind one bit," he shrugged. "They had been living with Iron Shield’s profit anyway, and nothing more."

Zein chuckled. Hearing Bassena talking like this, it was almost as if the esper had become a part of Ishtera House already.

Well...he would be anyway.

Zein looked at the warm pair of ambers and stroked the black scales underneath. Just like the rest of Bassena, the scales that seemed like a disfigurement had become something that Zein couldn’t live without. The scales had also become the symbol of the Serpent Lord, just like the name Bassena Vaski.

"Hey," Zein rubbed one of the scales, the one which color had faded into a dull dark grey rather than black.

"Hmm?" Bassena nuzzled into the guide’s palm, closing his eyes to indulge in Zein’s rare display of clinginess.

"About your name--"

*slam!*

"Hey--ugh, what the hell?"

Zein’s words were cut off by the sound of the door opening, as well as a girl’s voice. Bassena grumbled and mumbled sharply under his breath.

"I was glad that Shin had disturbed us less these days, but now there’s another one?" he hissed while glancing at the door.

"Uhh...are you usually do this kind of thing in the lounge?" Senia looked at them with a grimace.

"No," Zein pulled the surprised Bassena closer and gently pushed the esper’s head back to his shoulder. "We usually did it in his office."

Bassena blinked at the lie that came out so naturally. Well, they probably cuddled once? The rest was more of Bassena asking for a lap pillow during guiding--because he was ’special’. He couldn’t see Zein’s face and had no idea why the guide was saying that, but he liked this. He had to suppress a giggle that wanted to come out, so he just pressed his face against the crook of Zein’s neck.

"Ugh--office romance."

Zein stared unamusedly at the girl who was rolling her eyes. "Why are you still here, anyway?"

"...uhh, I’m waiting for you?"

Bassena stiffened and growled quietly, but Zein patted his shoulder in assurance. "What for? You don’t need a guiding, and I already use my morning to talk to you," Zein replied dryly. "It’s my boyfriend’s time now."

Senia looked at the couple who didn’t even bother to get up and stopped flirting when someone else entered the room. Their tangled body and the way that scary Serpent Lord snuggled up with arms wrapped around tightly seemed to tell her that there was no room for anyone else.

She clicked her tongue and let out a sigh. "...I’ll see you tomorrow then."

Zein did not reply, only watching wordlessly as the girl left and closed the door. Bassena raised his upper body, hovering over the guide so he could look at Zein’s face clearly.

"You sound like someone marking their territory," he said curiously.

"I am marking my territory," Zein raised his leg and perched it on the side of the esper’s hip.

After all, building a fence is a part of territory marking.

"Wow..."

Chuckling at the soft exclamation, Zein pulled the dazed face closer and whispered. "Now be a good boy and lock the door."

"...wow."

* * *

But did those naughty subordinates care? Of course, not! They kept teasing their Commander by praising Zein and calling him their guide. The more Bassena scowled, the happier they were, knowing that the Saint class wouldn’t do anything in front of his beloved guide.