The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 170: Damien’s Double?

The man wasn’t Damien, of course. But the resemblance was uncanny, especially at the first glance...

Lane had to blink a few times, and only once the initial shock subsided, he started noticing the differences.

First of all, the man was visibly OLDER than Damien. By twenty or so years. Which instantly tipped Lane off about his identity.

So that was Austin Moore. An A-ranker recruited by the Allen Guild, and Damien’s father. Lane already knew that their abilities were almost identical (except that Damien was much stronger)... But he didn’t think their appearances were also nearly the same!

Well, at least as far as physical features were concerned. Because when it came to how they presented themselves, they were like fire and water.

Damien was always proper and perfectly put together. His hair combed back, not a strand out of place. His clothes ironed, all buttons fastened, everything perfectly straight. Almost unnaturally so. The only times when he looked even remotely messy were right after a fight, or when he was mentally unwell... Or, well, when Lane made him messy in bed!

Austin, on the other hand, was much more chill. His hair was disorderly, his clothes all casual and askew... It looked good, but at the same time... odd. Most likely because Lane was used to something completely opposite, so such a relaxed style just didn’t seem suitable with that face!

And the clothes were even more... off. Lane didn’t have many opportunities to see Damien in casual clothes so far, as the man was pretty much always in his uniform, working, but each time he did, the clothes were old, worn-out, and from the cheapest possible chain store you could find! And it wasn’t much better with his sisters - while their wardrobes weren’t AS bad, they were still clearly very cheap.

But Austin? He was wearing brand clothes! Really good brands, at that. Not THE most expensive that were out there, but still top shelf. Brands that Lane himself had some clothes from, as LANE ALLEN. So, ridiculously expensive.

They did look good on him, of course - he had Damien’s face, after all - but that was not the point. Since the father had so much money to spare, why did his family seem to struggle financially?

Lane never asked Damien about it... But the man clearly wasn’t too fond of his father, to put it lightly. He even went so far as to change his surname...

Well, now that they were on the same team temporarily, Lane would keep an eye on Austin. There must have been more to it, because it was unlikely... no, impossible, that Damien was just pouting because he didn’t get the money from his father. That’s just not who Damien was.

...That would have to wait though. Because as much as Lane wanted to approach Austin and find out what kind of person he was, as soon as the meeting was over, the three people who waved at him earlier, two guys and one girl, spawned right in front of him, blocking his way!

"Hi! How was the summit? Were you there when the dungeon expanded?"

"How was Miss Nyla? Did you get a chance to talk to her?"

"Right! I’ve heard the rumor that she was injured? Is she okay?"

"Idiot! Of course she is! She’s almost an S-ranker!"

"Oh, yeah, I guess. But still..."

"Shut up, you two!" The girl slammed their backs, finally interrupting the flood of questions. "How is he going to answer you, when you don’t even give him a chance?"

"I’m really sorry about those two," she sighed, turning to Lane. "They both wanted to go as well, so they’re really curious. And this idiot here has a crush on Nyla, so-"

"Hey!" one of the guys, the taller one with dark hair, turned bright red.

"What? Am I wrong?"

"That’s not... I mean, well..." the ’idiot’ fumbled with his words, his face turning even redder, although it seemed hardly possible. "Uh, I might, but..."

Lane couldn’t help but look at the man with pity. His feelings were very much understandable - Nyla was Lane’s twin, after all, so of course she was gorgeous and powerful (even though she wasn’t an S-ranker yet), and a great catch - but also... just as much hopeless. Nyla would never be interested in him, and their parents were unlikely to ever even consider him as a potential match either! He was just an ordinary Awakened, good enough to get into the Allen Guild... But that was about it when it came to his achievements.

That was a truth the man would have to discover on his own though, as it wasn’t information ’Oscar’ should have. So, instead, Lane just put on a light smile, and said, "Miss Nyla was injured, but not to severely, and has been long healed. I didn’t have much opportunity to talk to her though, so I’m afraid I can’t tell you much."

"Oh... Then you don’t happen to know anything about her engagement?"

Lane’s eyes twitched. "Her... engagement?"

"Yes," the other guy joined in again. "There’s a rumor Miss Nyla is going to marry Team Leader Damien Lennox from the Association."

"...Hah?" Lane sneered, his whole face twisting in disdain. How was a rumor like that circulating? Were the Allens really dumb enough to let such information spread, when their offer was CLEARLY and CATEGORICALLY, ABSOLUTELY rejected?

"That most definitely won’t be happening," he reassured the guy, huffing and puffing. "No engagement, and most certainly no marriage. Don’t worry, Miss Nyla won’t marry Damien Lennox, ever."

"Uh... That’s great?" the guy blinked, taken aback by the reaction. Could it be that Oscar... also had a crush on Miss Nyla? Otherwise, why would he be so upset by the thought? As if he personally took offense at it?

Damn, he must have been really madly in love with her!

"Don’t worry," the guy patted Lane’s shoulder, trying to console him, "Even if it won’t work out for you, and Miss Nyla marries someone else... I’m sure one day, you’ll find your happiness!"

"...What?" Lane tilted his head, blinking in confusion. Why was he suddenly the one being consoled?