The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 79: Training Center

The day was still early, but the stadium was already bustling with noise, from shouts and clangs of weapons, to even small explosions. Despite - or perhaps precisely because - the Forbidden Zone being a lawless place, the rigor in the training center was harsh, more so than at the Association or top Guilds. Even from the entrance, one could smell a pungent mix of sweat, blood, mood, smoke, decay, and plenty of unidentified substances.

Blanc paused in his steps. "Boss, if you’re in a hurry, should I go pick up the Fertilizer and the samples from the laboratory?" he suggested.

The advanced mask with air filter he was wearing might have blocked all the smells, but what it didn’t protect him from, was the mud covering the ground. There were traces of it even in the hallway, and the main field could only be worse. Blanc’s sparkling white shoes wouldn’t take it too well.

"Yeah, go on." Lane gave the man a light nod. "Bring it to the office once you’re done."

"Thank you, Boss." Blanc bowed, and instantly vanished from the spot, dashing away as if his life depended on it.

Vulcan followed him with his eyes, scrunching his face in disapproval. "Boss, are you really going to make him the leader?" fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"Yeah."

"But he-"

Ping!

The phone in Lane’s pocket vibrated.

"Wait a sec," Lane lifted his hand, stopping Vulcan’s incoming complaints, and scooped out his phone.

Damien.

[It’s not a good idea. Forbidden Zones are dangerous. You should think things through.]

Lane let out a sigh. He hesitated for a moment, his thumb hanging above the screen, before typing, [Well, too late for that. I’ve already moved.]

"Alright then. You were saying?" he turned back to his underling.

"Boss, you saw yourself. He won’t even enter the center. How can someone like that be the leader?"

"Does he never come to watch the training?"

"Well..." Vulcan averted his eyes. "...He does watch from the tribunes sometimes," he unwillingly admitted.

"But he never takes part in it!" he quickly added, before Lane could say anything.

Lane didn’t seem to care about it though. "Then that’s enough. He’s not a combat Esper. As long as he is familiar with all the members, he’ll do just fine."

"But-"

Ping!

[You can still come back. If you have trouble leaving, let me know. I can help you.]

[But I want to advance.] Lane quickly typed back.

"Look." He placed his hands on Vulcan’s shoulders. "I understand your concerns. You’re higher ranking, stronger, and a talented fighter, that’s true. I value you a lot. Which is why I let you remain as a vice leader. However, you are clearly not suitable for managing the Zone. The phone thing last night was just a tiny mistake, but it wasn’t your first one. And while such small slip-ups might seem insignificant, they could potentially-"

Ping!

The phone vibrated again. Lane paused, glancing at his pocket, but in the end, just continued his speech.

"They could potentially lead to serious consequences in the future. I need someone who has a good eye for both the bigger picture, as well as the details. And Blanc, despite all of his faults, is the right person for the job. You know it as well. He even has all the necessary experience."

Vulcan still appeared unconvinced. "But the combat..."

"That’s when you can step in. You can still oversee all the combat aspects, and lead the military division. Just make sure to discuss all the important issues with Blanc. You’re good at connecting with the team, so I’m sure you can handle Blanc as well, if you try hard enough."

"...I’ll give it a try."

"Now that’s better." Lane gave Vulcan a firm pat on the shoulder, and finally checked his phone.

[I understand. However, you can also advance at the Association.]

Lane rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth lifted a bit underneath his mask. [But it’s slower.]

"Alright, let’s go in now. How are the new recruits doing?"

"Not bad, for the most part. Especially the B-ranker with metal manipulation, and the C-ranker with wind blades. During the mock raid two days ago, the two of them..." Now that the topic was on combat affairs, Vulcan was like a fish in the water. His nervousness gone, he gesticulated wildly, describing the battles to Lane.

Ping!

In the meantime, the phone vibrated again.

[You are still under contract with the Association. If you disappear now, it will be difficult for you to find a job afterward, even if you advance in ranks.]

Lane briefly glanced over the message. He didn’t answer though. Just turned off the screen, and put the phone back, listening to Vulcan’s report.

"Alright. Pick five best from the newer recruits. I will have a little spar with them," he said, once the man was done.

"...You will, Sir?"

"Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on them. I have no interest in bullying the newbies," Lane chuckled.

"Yes, Sir!" Vulcan nodded, and shouted at the group, "Everyone, take a break! Carmen, you stay!"

Riiing! Riiing! Riiing!

Just as Lane was about to step onto the open field, the phone in his phone started ringing.

Damien.

Since Lane ignored his message, he was now trying to call him instead.

Lane started at the screen for a moment. Damien had a very nice voice, low and smooth. He was kind of curious how it would sound over the phone...

But he couldn’t pick up. Because even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to say a word.

Lane’s voice was different from Aidan’s, after all. There was no way Damien would fail to notice.

The call ended. As soon as Damien’s name disappeared and the screen went dark again, Lane pressed on the button on the side, turning off the phone. He stuffed it in the spatial bag so that it was all safe and secure, and stepped forward, entering the field.

"Carmen, was it? Come at me with all you’ve got."

"But..." Carmen glanced at Vulcan.

No one besides the top members really knew who Lane was, and even they had only seen him with the mask on. From Carmen’s point of view, he was just a random Esper. He was brought by Vulcan, so it was obvious that he was someone important... But that didn’t necessarily mean he could fight well.

Vulcan, however, only nodded his head. "Go on. Do as he says."

"...Okay then. Here I go!" Carmen lowered her stance, stretching her arms to the side, and pulling two rusty metal poles from the ground, sending them Lane’s way. Lane only glanced at them, kicking off the ground lightly, and dodging the poles, which stabbed onto the ground a moment later, exactly where he was just standing.

"Not bad," he whistled. "But you need to be faster. At this speed, you can’t possibly hope to hunt anything!"

"...I’m just warming up." Carmen clenched her fists and quickly opened them again, bursting the pipes, and turning them into a swarm of tiny needles, which once again charged at Lane - this time, attempting a wide attack from different directions.

It wasn’t enough though. Nowhere near enough. Lane dodged them all easily, relying only on his regular agility, without even activating any of his abilities.

Carmen was visibly taken aback. Although she hadn’t given it her all yet, to avoid her attacks with such ease, as if he could drink coffee and read a book while doing it...

Gritting her teeth, she pulled her arms back, focusing as she gathered Mana, creating two blobs of liquid metal around her hands. Once they grew big enough, she extended her hands forward, shooting the metal at Lane. It circled around him, surrounding him from all sides, creating a tightening cage, until he disappeared from sight.

Just as she thought she won though, a massive hole appeared at the front, glowing dark sludge dripping from the edges, devouring more and more of the metal cage.

Carmen’s metal manipulation and Toxic Ooze might have both been B-rank abilities, but Lane was far superior in terms of speed, Mana and experience. In the blink of an eye he was able to produce so much ooze, that the metal cage stood no chance against it.

Lane leisurely stepped out through the hole, repelling all the dripping sludge with a wave of his hand. Then, before Carmen could even react, he shot forward, reaching her in a split second. With a light tap on her shoulder, he electrocuted the woman. Not enough to hurt her, just to temporarily incapacitate her, bringing her to her knees.

"You fought well," he praised, encouraging Carmen. "Your grasp on your ability is excellent. However, you need to work on your speed. Your attacks are too slow, and you take too much time to think between them. Learn to act on instinct, and you will become a great fighter," he advised, before turning back to the group.

"Alright, next!"