Chapter 35: Red Zone (1)

A red zone was the most dangerous zone, second only to the forbidden zone. Strictly speaking, the rank of espers and guides dispatched to this place should be a minimum of A-class.

However, the Guide Association was always short-staffed of guides, and their branch always had lower rank requirements. Still, Ayen was an E-class and should never be considered on the list.

Devion’s confusion and anger were valid. Khal also looked displeased when he found that out. If Ayen made it clear not to meddle, the two already used their power to reassign Ayen again.

Unlike them, Ayen knew the reason, or more accurately, who made it happen.

“It had been decided, and I’ll go.” Ayen put the stop on the discussion. He did not want the two to be involved in such matters.

Ayen was trying to live peacefully for as long as he could.

Devion was about to say something more, but paused, his gaze meeting Khal, who shook his head. Unlike Devion, Khal was more perceptive.

His brows knitted, but he fell silent.

“When will you depart?” Khal asked instead. Ayen was grateful for that. He did not want them to part on a bad note.

His stay in this place was memorable enough that he wanted to cherish it. Although short and more like an illusion, Ayen admitted that he had never been so at peace in years.

“In two days,” he answered. “I’ll guide the two of you before I leave.”

The next guiding session would probably happen months from now, and so he wanted to guide them first before he left.

“Mhm, we’ll do that.” Khal nodded, glancing at Devion, who also nodded in agreement.

The matter was dropped like that, and the conversation also paused. If Devion was not talking, they usually did not talk much. Devion clearly was not in the mood for a conversation.

Ayen could not rely on that, and neither could Khal. They continued watching the television, their thoughts unknown.

The next day, the three-person world suddenly welcomed two visitors. This was not the first time, but already the third time. The same two visitors at that.

“Ah, hello, Mr. Ayen.” A reserved but obviously enthusiastic greeting for a woman sounded as soon as Ayen went downstairs. She was about to sit on the couch, but stood straight to greet Ayen.

“Hello,” Ayen politely replied. His eyes were watching her, and he turned to her side as the man sitting on the couch also stood up and greeted him. More exaggeratedly, he bowed.

“Hope we’re not a bother, sir.” His robust body stood out, especially when greeting someone smaller than him in such intense bowing.

Ayen stressed out one more time that there was no need to, but this was the third meeting, and he was still like this. He decided to ignore it as there would be little opportunity to meet in the future.

“It’s fine,” Ayen shifted his gaze to the woman, “I’ll be in the kitchen,” he informed.

Seeing them nod politely, Ayen walked to the kitchen. It was still about 9 am in the morning, and the two would not return anytime soon.

Since Ayen was staying, the two always returned to eat lunch with him. While he heated the breakfast, he also began to think about what to cook for their lunch.

Devion usually cooks breakfast and dinner, and Ayen mostly cooks their lunch. Since they had visitors, he had to add more.

Still, it was still early, and so aside from preparing, he did not cook immediately. After washing his plates, he returned to the living room.

The two were busy talking with each other when he got there, but stopped as soon as he appeared. They appeared awkward; just as he was about to think of returning to his room to ease the tension, the woman talked to him first.

“Mr. Ayen,” she called; if Ayen could recall, her name was Farrah. She was a famous S-rank esper, and he saw her face a lot on the news.

Ayen paused and waited for her. Her curly hair waved loosely as she snapped her head across from her, the man kicking her subtly. Ayen noticed it and glanced at him, who lowered his head, looking guilty.

The same as her, he was also an S-rank esper, but interviews were scarce, and his appearance was not widely known. Calson, that was his name.

“What is it?” Ayen did not wait for her and asked directly.

He always found it odd that the two were always too polite with him. Then again, they seemed to have a weird idea about his relationship with Khal and Devion.

“Are you really… leaving?” Once she spoke, she averted her gaze and almost covered her lips.

Ayen narrowed his eyes. Was that a question that needed to be hesitated about? These two… were acting unlike an S-class esper.

Ayen did not think much about it and nodded.

“Yes.” That much was confirmed.

“Uh?” she exclaimed as if stunned, and so did Calson. Though he did not react loudly, his face showed he was stunned and confused.

Ayen was surprised. He did not think they were close to warrant such a reaction from him. This was their third meeting, and they never spoke to each other that much beyond greetings.

This probably was the longest conversation they had.

The first time they met, Ayen was so shocked he almost ran upstairs to hide. He did not know that there would be visitors coming. Fortunately, Khal and Devion were still there and introduced the two to him.

Apparently, they were Khal’s subordinates and the ones tasked with collecting the spoils. They were also ’trustworthy’ and did not need to be kept in the dark.

Still, the three did not openly tell them either. The two were merely guessing as Ayen was clearly a Guide and not an Esper.

Ayen could not recall anything as to why they reacted like that.

“Is there a problem?” he had to ask.

“Uh…” Farrah paused and looked at Calson, who was not looking at her. She smiled forcefully, then stood up and bowed. “Sorry… I’m only shocked.”

Ayen was taken aback yet again.

“No need to…” Ayen nearly stumbled in his words. He was not very used to such treatment, so he did not know what to say. “Why are you shocked?”

Farrah stood properly and did not answer immediately. Instead, look at Calson with a heated gaze as if asking for help. Calson rubbed the back of his head and finally could not stand that gaze and answered in her stead.

“Sir Ayen is our leader’s guide, so… we thought you’d stay here with him… them. We thought the leader wouldn’t let you leave, especially with what happened…” Calson paused and suddenly stopped when he realized he had said so much. “Ah… sorry.”

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