There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 676

Chapter 676: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 11

"You’re going this far?"

Han Joon stared at the door of his private gym, which was locked. Not only locked, but black curtains also covered the glass wall. As if the big padlock wasn’t enough, there was a mana barrier sealing the door too, and a big floating warning to not use the gym was placed.

"You might as well bared the entrance to the hallway," Han Joon chuckled.

He understood then; the extent of their resolve.

After the short summer vacation with the babies ended, Han Joon’s daily schedule was altered completely. With the insistence from everyone including the babies, he was banned from doing anything that would put a burden on his body.

"Until we find a way to solve your condition, just stay put!"

That was what they all told him. It was the first time he found himself in a position where he was getting scolded heavily out of concern. The new sensation wasn’t bad, and he almost felt his cold core warmed up a little bit. Actually, it felt nice enough to make him obediently nod--even making a pinky promise with Han Shin and the babies.

It wasn’t bad, really, having his darling fuss over him. The only downside was being told they should reduce the time they had sex because it counted as a physical burden. After all, they never ended up doing it only once. It took hours of arguing back and forth while circling their bedroom for Radia to accept that their sexual activity actually provided some warmth to Joon’s body.

In the end, it was still reduced, but not as much as before. But he got a bonus because his darling was all over him, telling him to stay put while Radia did all the work. How nice.

But it was rather funny when he found that sign in front of the gym. He didn’t plan to do any hard workout, really--just light cardio. More than anything, he walked there out of habit.

Really...he wondered when his darling put this on.

"Why would I take the risk?" Radia muttered in a light grumble. "You can even bypass the shadow guards and my mansion security. I will be the stupid one to use a normal lock."

Han Joon smiled and glanced at his darling, who was walking toward him. "But don’t you think this is rather excessive?"

"I don’t even know if this is enough," Radia crossed his arms. "Aren’t you the best infiltrator in the Federation?"

Han Joon let out a light laugh while turning away from the gym, walking back to the hall entrance where his darling was. "Were," he corrected. He couldn’t say he was an active esper anymore, and since he was banned from using his mana unless for an emergency, it was safe to say he might never use his skill anymore.

Might as well be giving up the title he didn’t need. Right--wasn’t there that kid his darling recruited some years ago? Sadeva or something. He arrived in front of his darling while pondering, so he didn’t expect to have the red hair pressed on his chest.

Hmm? Did his darling sulk again? Well...he did come to the gym after making a promise not to go. Better apologize before--

"I’m sorry..."

Han Joon blinked when he received an apology first while thinking about doing it. But...why? What was this apology for?

"I said you didn’t have to be an esper," Radia said. He really didn’t need Han Joon to be anything, but he said it without even asking what his husband wanted.

But he thought about it again, and he remembered how hard Han Joon tried to be a good esper. No matter what his motivation was, saying he didn’t need to be an esper was like stripping him of his effort to be one. Those three decades of effort since he was a toddler...would someone be fine if those efforts ended up being useless?

Radia wasn’t sure he could. Wasn’t that why he couldn’t let go of his position? Even if it wasn’t his life aspiration, it was still something he had worked on for a long time, so he had no intention to retire early.

He said what he said out of emotion instead of a logical conclusion, and he was ashamed. Especially when he saw the bitterness in Joon’s face as the word ’were’ came out of his husband’s mouth.

Han Joon smiled and patted his darling back. "Will you leave me if I’m no longer an esper?"

Radia looked up and glared sharply. "Are you crazy?"

"Then that’s enough for me," Han Joon said with the charming smile he only showed his darling. "I’m not going to refuse if you want to compensate me for that apology, however."

Seeing the charming smile turned cheeky, Radia grabbed the handsome face and bit the grinning lips in retaliation. Just slightly, as much as his conscience allowed him without feeling guilty.

Because he felt like would experience that a lot going forward.

* * *

Han Joon really didn’t mind retiring as an esper; he didn’t even mind forfeiting his license. It would prevent him from going into dungeons or using his skill in public, but he would still be allowed to move during emergencies like dungeon breaks or assaults.

Still, since nothing was set in stone yet, Radia said he didn’t have to go that far. Seemed like his darling still felt guilty about restricting his activity.