The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 42: A Chat Over Beer

"Haaah... It’s just so frustrating. I mean, what kind of sane person would make a conclusion like that, just because the guiding feels the same?" Lane grumbled, putting his can on the table with a loud clang.

He had just finished telling Ava all about his troubles with Damien suspecting his identity. They were having some pizza and beer at his place after their guiding session, and Lane quickly took advantage of the situation to complain about his Team Leader. Ava was the only person he could share things like that with, after all.

"It does seem very far-fetched," Ava agreed. "However, are you sure that was all?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Well, knowing you, you probably made some other mistakes that led him to suspect you."

"Hah?! Nope, I most definitely didn’t!" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Despite Lane’s confident denial, Ava just continued to stare at him without a word. Until finally, Lane rolled his eyes, unwillingly admitting,

"Okay, fiiine. I was a bit careless at first. Still, it’s just that my behavior was somewhat similar. And also the fact that I like sweets. But that’s all, really! How could I have expected that just because of it, he would think I’m his dead former Guide? Just think about it, if you were in his place, would you have made such a ridiculous assumption?"

Ava took a sip of her beer, pausing to think for a minute. "Probably not. If your wavelengths felt exactly the same though, I most likely would have wanted to conduct some research on you."

"Yeah, of course you would," Lane chuckled, rolling his eyes again. A moment later, though, his face grew more serious, and he bit on his lip, glancing at Ava with unease. "About that. If they were to examine the bodies, whether when I’m possessing them or when they’re already dead, would they be able to find anything?"

"That depends on what you mean by ’anything’. Those two bodies, were either of them Awakened?"

"Nope, they were both civilians."

"Then yes, they would both be considered medical mysteries. It’s not something that could be found in a simple medical check-up, but if they researched it properly, taking samples and analyzing the cell structures, they should be able to discover the lack of manachondria. Especially if they dissected a well-preserved corpse, the structure of the nervous system and synapses in the brain... Well, it would also be somewhat visible in the brain scan, but the results would be inconclusive. The lack of manachondria, however..."

Lane clicked his tongue, struggling to keep up with Ava’s explanations. "Speak human."

Interrupted all of a sudden, Ava paused, before letting out a sigh. "The main point is, the basic check-up is fine. Full, proper research can discover they both have similar, non-existing ’condition’, but nothing that would prove that they are the same person."

A relieved sigh escaped Lane’s throat. "So, no connection to me as well, right?"

"That..." Ava hesitated briefly. "That would be highly unlikely."

"Unlikely? So not impossible?"

"Well, technically not impossible. However, it took me a few months to find any traces of your DNA in the corpses you provided, and I knew what I was looking for. Do you think that anyone at the Awakened Research Institute would conduct such extensive research? With their lack of funds, I would be surprised if they even examined your cell structure. Unless your Team Leader is someone important?"

Lane shrugged his shoulders. "One of the only two S-rankers in the Association could be considered important, I guess."

"Wha-?" Ava almost choked on her beer. "An S-ranker? Wait... Is your Team Leader Damien Lennox?"

"Hmm? Yeah, why? You know him?"

Ava’s eyes, which most of the time looked completely disinterested in everyone around her, or at most exasperated, started shining with brilliant light. Resting her elbows on the coffee table, she leaned over it, toward Lane. "Can you get me some samples? Please?"

"...What?" Lane lifted his brows, bemused.

"He is a real medical mystery! Well, kind of. An S-ranker who’s such a late bloomer is rare these days. And I’ve heard that he spent years in dungeons before. Typically, high-rankers are the quickest to awaken, especially if they come into close contact with Mana. So, for him not to awaken for so long... Even his younger siblings awakened before him, despite never entering any dungeons..."

"Well, I’m just curious. But he’s from the Association, so it’s hard to get a chance to examine him..." Ava let out a heavy sigh.

"Wait, hold on." Lane rubbed his furrowed brows. "Years in dungeons?"

"Oh, you didn’t know? He used to work mining Mana stones as a civilian for close to eight years. There’s a guy in ManaTech who was friends with one of his siblings, so the information is pretty reliable."

"Huh..."

Now that Lane thought about it, Damien’s hands were rather harsh and calloused. He had never given it a thought before, but it wasn’t something that would happen in a month or two. Rather, it was a result of years of hard, physical work...

But close to eight years mining Mana stones...

A shudder passed through Lane’s body.

To do work like that for so long and not go crazy, Damien really must have had some godly patience!

It was scary, way too scary. If he were to observe Lane with the same patience, trying to find any proof of his identity... Lane had no confidence he would be able to endure it!

No, now that he knew all that, Lane had to escape from Damien’s grasp. Although he also intended to observe the man... He could always do it from a safer distance.

He reached out for another can, and took a few big gulps of beer, calming down. "Alright then. I will get you a sample if I get a chance... No promises, though."

"Thanks, you’re the best!"

"...I said no promises," Lane reminded, but Ava didn’t seem to care. She was too excited about the perspective of new samples.

He couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. And other people thought that Ava was so stoic and cool, all calm and mature...

"Anyway, where were you last time?" he asked, changing the topic.

"You mean two months ago? In that new A-rank dungeon owned by the Windbreaker Guild. We have been monitoring the ecosystem, paying special attention to..."

They continued to chat about dungeons and monsters, discussing both Ava’s research trips, as well as Lane’s recent experiences with the dungeon break and the dungeon expansion.

It was only a few hours later, when they were both pretty drunk, Ava finally mentioned, in a seemingly casual tone,

"By the way, I met Nyla the other day."

"...Oh?" Lane’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the can, partially crushing it. "Where?"

"In ManaTech, of course. They’re looking for a new weapon for her."

"What’s the occasion? It’s not her birthday yet."

"Well..." Ava spoke slowly, weighing her words. "They’re expecting her to advance to the S-rank soon. So, they’re planning to order a new, more powerful, custom-made weapon."

"So she’s finally ranking up? About time! Miss Heiress cannot have any lower rank, after all!" Lane twisted his lips in a smile. His eyes, however, kept twitching. "Is it a sword again?"

"...Yes."

"Of course," Lane scoffed, lifting his can. He soon noticed it was completely crushed though. Acting as if there was nothing wrong, he casually put it down, grabbing another one.

Silence fell between them, with only some music Lane put on playing quietly in the background.

"...You’re not gonna ask?" Ava finally spoke again.

"About what?"

"Anything."

Lane shrugged his shoulders. "What does it have to do with me?"

Ava didn’t answer. She just stared at Lane intently.

All of a sudden, Lane recalled something.

’Speaking of ranking up...’ That’s what Ava said in the car.

So that’s what it was all about? That she had seen Nyla, and Nyla was about to rank up soon?

Then why did she wait till now to say it? Because they were in the car, and Lane was driving?

Lane couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Really, Ava was super intelligent and had been his best friend for years, but there were moments when it felt as if she completely didn’t understand Lane.

Did she think that the mention of Nyla would affect Lane in any way?

Why would it? He didn’t care what was going on with her.

Not at all.

Not even the tiniest bit.

Lane lifted his can, and downed it all in one go, pushing all the thoughts away.