The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 208: Back

Lane woke up in a hospital bed. It was hardly unusual at this point. Rather, it was about as common and ordinary for him as going to get groceries for a regular person. Although, Lane didn’t actually know how often ’normal’ people went to buy groceries, so such comparison could not be the most accurate.

Either way, the point was that he was used to it. Very much so.

The weird thing was... that he didn’t feel weird anymore.

Slowly, hesitantly, he lifted his arm. He gulped loudly, mentally preparing himself, before he finally dared to steal a glance. A quick look, then turning his eyes away, blinking five times, before doing a double-take. Then repeat it several times.

No matter how many times he checked, the sight remained the same. A slender hand, with long fingers and fair skin.

His own, Lane Allen’s, hand.

He pulled on his hair, bringing a strand in front of his eyes. It was soft and pastel pink.

He rolled his tongue. The piercing clang against his teeth.

He felt his body. Tall, slender, and toned.

It was his body. He was ’Lane Allen’ again, without a doubt.

He was back.

Lane let out a relieved sigh, dropping his arm back on the bed. Although he was still very much confused... At least he was still alive?

His body was still numb and sore from the venom, and his leg injured. He had also suffered a concussion from the fall down the stairs, as he soon found out when the nurse came to check in on him, but all things considered, he had a lot of luck. Somehow he survived, and with proper rest and care, would be able to achieve full recovery. How was it possible when he had been on the brink of death at least an hour (or more, he couldn’t exactly tell how long it took for him to leave the dungeon, not in the muddled state he was in) before crossing the Gate, Lane didn’t know...

He didn’t ask, though. It could have something to do with his ability, whatever it was, and Lane wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. Not to the hospital staff, not to the authorities, and most certainly not to his parents. Not until he himself figured out how exactly his new-found power worked.

Due to the severity of his injuries, it took almost a week before Lane could be discharged. Which was funny, considering that his mother was a healer, and could heal him completely in two or free sessions... But it’s not like Lane expected any better of her. He was just glad that he wasn’t pulled out of the hospital and tossed into a dungeon before he could even recover. That already felt considerate enough of his parents.

He was picked up by his driver (of course. It’s not like his parents had time to spare to pick up their son, as he was getting discharged from the hospital!), and brought back to the mansion.

And he was unlucky enough to run into Miles at the top of the staircase in the main hall.

"Ah. You’re back," Miles’ voice was, as always, disinterested and cold. "Ready to get back to work?"

’Work’ as in dungeon raids.

Lane pressed his lips together, his body all tensing up.

No, he was not ready to go back into the dungeons. Not physically, and not mentally. He needed some time to figure out things first, perhaps ask Ava for help. Although she was not one of the Awakened, she was smart. And the only person Lane could truly trust. With her insight, it might be easier for Lane to sort it all out, and understand his power. Until then, though...

"The doctor said that I shouldn’t walk around too much for at least another two weeks, or else my calf might never fully recover," he tried.

The doctor also said that perhaps this time could be shortened, considering that Lane was an Awakened with a seemingly good recovery rate, but naturally, Lane chose to omit that part.

Fortunately, Miles didn’t question him, he just gave him a cold glance. "How useless."

...Of course he would think that way.

Well, it was just whatever. Lane shrugged it off, and headed to his room.

But then Miles said something else, something that made him freeze in place.

"You’ve cost us a promising C-ranker, so you’d better get back to work as soon as possible, to at least try to repair the damages."

"...What?" Lane glanced back, his breath almost dying in his throat, but Miles was already down the stairs. He had more important things to do than having a conversation with his son, after all.

Not that any explanation was actually needed. Lane wasn’t so dumb as not to be able to put two and two together. The C-ranker Miles had mentioned... must have been the man who had helped Lane. The man whom Lane had possessed.

No one bothered to tell Lane before what had happened to his savior. And while he was aware of this grim possibility... He still entertained some hope that it wasn’t so. After all, if Lane had survived, why wouldn’t the man? As for the reason why Lane was back in his body, there were other explanations. For example, maybe his ability had a time limit, and it expired. Or maybe it was because his body recovered, so he woke up. Or maybe he managed to actually activate his ability before he blacked out...

But no.

"Hah!" Lane exclaimed, leaning against the wall, and slowly sliding down to the floor.

He really must have been a child of misfortune or something. The one time someone takes pity on him, they end up dead. Just how laughable was that?

Maybe his parents were right. Maybe Lane was nothing but trouble, and if he wasn’t tossed aside, the Allens couldn’t thrive.

He sat like that, staring blankly ahead, until one of the doors opened not far away from him, and Nyla stepped out. Their eyes briefly met...

"Uh..." Nyla lowered her head, fumbling with her hands. She was dressed in her dungeon attire, the best currently available. The attire provided decent defense. The attire that Lane couldn’t get.

Heh. If their places were swapped, and Nyla would be injured in a dungeon, there would be no shortage of people willing to help. Working as a team, they would reduce the risk of any of them dying during the rescue.

Lane shook his head, dragging himself up to his feet. It was pointless to even think about that.

"Have fun on your raid," he scoffed, and disappeared in his room, closing the door shut. And not receiving any answer.