There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 480

Chapter 480: Chapter 473. Drafting

"Around here?" Bassena looked down at the rock mountains with dense formations that didn’t give any path for travelers.

"Yeah, down there somewhere," Zein nodded. As usual, the shard gave signals in a range, so he couldn’t pinpoint the exact location unless he got really close.

From up here, however, there didn’t seem to be any way to get closer to it. But then again, he didn’t have esper’s vision, and being held by Bassena while flying prevented him from looking better.

"Do you think it’s possible to look for a way?" he asked the espers.

[I can’t see anything] Ron said from one of Bassena’s children of darkness that circled them. [There might be a path across the mountain, but I have no idea about the path into the mountain...or even down there]

"Maybe if we bring an earth magician...someone from Rina’s squad," Bassena muttered. "But even if we find a way..."

"It’ll be difficult for the rest of the team," Zein nodded. Even he himself had no confidence in traversing these tricky rock formations. According to Ron, there were numerous pits of acids, poisonous gas pockets, and thorny plants that could give all kinds of bad effects including paralysis and petrification. "We need a special team for this."

"Let’s get back for now and think more about it," Bassena nodded and tightened his hold on Zein’s waist. "Hold on tight."

Once again, Bassena teleported them across the ravine, and then teleported a few more times toward their base. They saw Julian and Naoya, who were on watch duty, stop to greet them as they made their patrol.

"That’s fast," Naoya said. "I had thought you’d take a whole day at least."

"It’s easier than we thought," Bassena said, letting Zein go and releasing Ron from his children of darkness. "I don’t think we’d need to go far next time."

"Oh, nice!" the archer nodded and pointed at the stadium with his thumb. "Anyway, you have guests, Zein."

"Me?" Zein raised his brow, before guessing it by himself. "Ah..."

* * *

The member of the advance troop, in the middle of their rest and queue for guiding, stared at the group circling one of the firepits in amusement. Not because they were newcomer they hadn’t seen before, but because they came in a depressed state--particularly the leader.

"How...I can’t...I can’t believe Young Master lived near this kind of place for years," the man lamented with his face buried in his palm. "I’m such a failure."

The much younger man beside him patted his back. "Yes, yes you are, Uncle. It’s alright--no one is perfect."

"What’s the point of lamenting about it now? We should just protect him from now on."

"Hear, hear."

"You guys are so ridiculous," the girl who came with them and sat rather further away shook her head.

"Says someone who kept thinking a ghost would come out during the entire journey,"

"S-shut up!"

"How lively. I don’t know you’ve become so close," Zein smirked as he looked at the members of Iron Brigade and Senia, who just arrived at the stadium.

Senia choked on her saliva and coughed as she turned around. "Z-Zein..."

The members of the Iron Brigade immediately stood up in attention, bowing slightly toward the patriarch they hadn’t seen in a long time. "Young Master," they greeted simultaneously.

It was fascinating for the guild members, who had never Zein around his household member--except for Arlo. Seeing the reverence in the Iron Brigade’s way of addressing him, it finally down to them that Zein was a patriarch for an Old House.

"Young Master," the old man who was busy lamenting earlier came forward and held Zein’s shoulder, scanning the guide from head to toe. "Are you alright? Have you been well? You’re not hurt anywhere, aren’t you?"

Zein would usually dismiss the concern quickly, but it had been a while since he saw his household members, and Senan looked like he was about to cry--or had been crying already--so he shrugged and said gently. "See for yourself."

And the old man truly checked his condition thoroughly, raising his arms and circling him, looking for any sign of injury. "You do know we have a five-star healer here, right?"

"I know--but who knows where their priorities lie--"

"I am the highest priority here, Senan. So calm down," Zein chuckled and patted the old man’s shoulder. He looked at the rest of the brigade members; eight in total--nine with Senan--and most of them were veteran espers. "How’s the journey?"