There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 385 - 377. The Weight of Duty

Chapter 385: Chapter 377. The Weight of Duty

The heir of House Kamui, who had been listening to the conversation around the table wordlessly, watched the guide in fascination.

Unlike the other patriarchs, he was merely a child when the incident befalling House Ishtera and killing Zein’s father happened. Obviously, he had never heard about Alteroan or the Paladin, so he couldn’t chime into the conversation. Instead, he took the time to observe the young patriarch.

A young patriarch always meant one thing; a tragedy. Because it would mean the previous patriarch departed young, or that a generation was being skipped for whatever reason. Sadly, it was rare for young patriarchs to succeed in leading their clans. More likely, they would end up as nothing more than a puppet for their relatives or vassals. Only an exceptional talent that came once every century could escape this shackle--like Radia Mallarc.

Seiji knew this. He had become the crown prince the moment he was born as the eldest son, and he felt the privilege of a successor came with a poison of fake vassals trying to curry favor while ignoring the other children. The privilege also came with the burden of having to prove himself to be deserving of being the heir.

It didn’t necessarily have to do with the expectation and burden of duty itself. Sometimes, just the fact that he carried an Old House name behind his own already felt like an iron cuff around his neck, reminding him that he had to mind what he said and how he acted in public.

And so he found himself wondering how Zein felt. The guide was younger than him, but the blue eyes had never wavered in front of the other clan leaders. He wondered if Zein felt the same burden he felt, or was the man simply took it easy because there was no one left in his family to pressure him.

"But Ishtera, are you still going to the Deathzone?" House Caishen’s patriarch asked with a frown. His concern was understandable; Zein was the last remaining Ishtera, and yet he was going to embark on a mission with a high mortality rate.

Ludya Mallarc stirred at this, slightly leaning toward the young patriarch. "That’s right. Couldn’t you just stay back like my grandson?"

"No," the guide replied calmly. There was a fascinated look in the blue eyes as he realized these clan leaders were worried about him--or at least his clan. "I am the combat guide in charge of the main vanguard," the blue eyes glanced toward the table where Bassena Vaski was. "And I know the Deathzone more than anyone who will get involved."

Those were irrefutable facts. They couldn’t expect the five-star espers and Bassena Vaski to keep going back and forth after each battle to get guided by Zein. But of course, for Zein, that was just a surface-level reason.

"But you’re--"

"Patriarch," the blue eyes, as clear and firm as ever, looked at Zhou Caishen without a shred of doubt. "Your House--all of you--must have a duty you uphold."

Whether it was to maintain the social and economic stability of the Federation, preserve culture and tradition, or keep up the security, every clan had its purpose of existence. Even the Horins were proud of their effort in digging into the forgotten history of the Old Age, and despite their crime, had contributed to establishing several research centers for historical preservation.

"It’s the same with me," Zein said with a smile. There was a pride in the way he uttered it, through a firm voice and straightened back. "I have a duty to uphold."

"To...eradicate the Deathzone?" Seiji asked carefully.

"No," the guide smiled as the blue eyes turned to the heir. "To protect something inside the Deathzone."

The words weren’t uttered with youthful recklessness. The conviction in those blue eyes and soothing voice left them unable to argue. The heir of Kamui, especially, felt his shoulder getting heavier.

It wasn’t a light burden, and Luzein Ishtera didn’t take it easy. He upheld his responsibility as the patriarch of an Old House and preserved his duty.

And that was what Seiji should remember once he became the patriarch. Indeed, it was a good thing that he came today.

As the heir of Kamui thought about today’s meeting deeply, Zein glanced at a certain table and stood up. "Excuse me," he bowed his head politely to the seniors and left the table.

He strolled past his friends’ table and patted Abel’s shoulder--who came in the middle of his conversation with the Old House’s leaders--before continuing to the fidgeting Eiyuta’s ladies.

"Oh, Luzein--"

Zein raised his hand to stop them from standing up. Instead, he crouched between Ria and Sherri’s chair so they didn’t have to crane their neck. "Why don’t you go take a rest in the hotel? You’ve taken a long journey here, and there’s still a long journey waiting for you tomorrow."

"But--"

"Have a proper meal," Zein glanced at the plate of canapes on the table. "And take some rest. You don’t have to be here until it’s over."

The ladies, despite already looking exhausted and having been fidgeting because they knew no one else there, looked at each other in hesitation. So Zein took their hands and held them. "Are you trying to turn me into an inconsiderate nephew who can’t even take care of his aunts?"

"N-no, no--that’s not--we would never...!"

The two retired guides swiftly shook their heads, and Zein pressed his lips to hide his smile. "Then you’d go?"

Now, both of them nodded quickly, as if they didn’t want to disappoint Lucia’s one and only son. Zein smiled and stood up, looking at Fianna who had been accompanying the three ladies from the start. "Take them and have some rest too," he said, before shifting his gaze to a young woman who was talking with Arlo. "Lisa, help my aunties while they stay here."

"Oh, you don’t have to--"

"Yes, Young Master."

Before Ria of Sherri could argue, Fianna and Lisa had already replied with a strange delight on their face that the Eiyuta ladies could not fathom.

"When...can we see you again?" Ria grabbed the edge of Zein’s sleeve.

Zein took the hand into his own. "I’ll see you at dinner."

The elation was apparent in the two retired guides’ faces. They stepped forward and almost gave Zein a hug, just the way they used to do to Lucia. But they stopped on time, stiffening awkwardly, only for Zein to hold their shoulder and give them a light embrace. But they looked like they were about to cry, so Zein hurriedly let them go. Perhaps he should do it in not such a public place.

The two espers happily and kindly escorted the ladies out, and Ria and Sherri constantly looked back until they were out of the door.

"They looked like they want to put you in their pocket," Bassena whispered.

"Like all aunties, I guess," Zein chuckled. Even the rough and hard-hearted women in the red-zone had a soft spot for the children of the next generation, just like how the grandma’s daughter doted on Zein and the twins. "You’ll come with me tonight."

"Of course, I will. Where else would I be?" Bassena sounded offended. "I’ll even be your chauffeur tomorrow."

* * *

By chauffeur, it meant a pilot, and the Eiyuta ladies looked more in dread than in relief. It wasn’t enough that they would travel with an aircraft for the first time, but they would also have Bassena Vaski control said aircraft. And that was after the whole fright of seeing the leaders of the Old Houses gathering yesterday...

"It would be too long using land transportation," Zein told them as he led the three ladies to the helicopter. By now, he had gone on one so many times that he could even help them settle on the back seat.

"Is it far, the lakehouse you told us about last night?" Sherri asked.

At first, they had thought that Zein was only going to put them in the same chamber inside the columbarium. But last night, Zein had told them about his plan, of uniting his parents in a single, companion urn; letting them be together after the cruel separation upon which the world unfairly struck them.

And of course, they eagerly expressed their willingness to bear witness to this...union. Besides, they would like to see the place where Lucia had her wedding.

"Quite. It’s rather secluded, so we’ll have to go through the mountain if we use the car."

"Waste of time," Bassena smirked cheekily as he checked on the control.

"And...and what of the urns?" Ria asked carefully.

Smiling, Zein raised the hand that held his storage ring. "They’re safe here. Are you ready?"

"No," the three ladies shook their heads. "B-but, please don’t mind us."

Bassena chuckled and lifted the aircraft, glancing at Zein as he recalled the way the guide stiffened during the first time, just like the three passengers on the back. Now, Zein had been so used to it that the man started to ask if Bassena could teach him how to pilot one.

Hmm...they probably should buy one on their own, rather than keep on using Mortix or Trinity’s one.

When they arrived at the estate, there was already another chopper with a deep red color. Unquestionably, it belonged to Radia. "See, I told you it’s good to build a larger helipad," Bassena commented.

Zein scoffed and peered down. Aside from the helicopter, he could see the line of cars belonging to the Iron Shield, and a group of people congregating around the dock.

"Oh, it’s beautiful," Ria sighed when she stepped off the helicopter. What greeted her was the expanse of white blossoms, the air filled her lungs with their delicate fragrance.

Thanks to the magical wonder of the dungeon technology, they used growth serum to quickly bring the saplings to their peak condition--even those who had become the victims of the night ambush. The renovation teams had done such a great job in a short time to return the appearance of the estate to how it used to be, and even made it more beautiful. Senan had even planted the vegetation with his own hands once the weather had gone warmer.

The only thing left to do was the interior, Zein heard. It was habitable, but very sparse and with no detailed works.

"It has a better scenery at the back," Zein said.

"Oh, the lake?"

Zein nodded and led the ladies around the house. The members of Iron Shield bowed and nodded as they passed through the shrub path beside the house. At the end of the path, taking their breath away in awe, was a spread of a calm lake reflecting the color of the sky. The edge of the water was blurred by the fluttering petals of plum blossoms, welcoming them like confetti.

Indeed, it wasn’t a day for sorrow.

It was a day of celebration, and Zein thought that the bright blue sky was a mirror of his beautiful dream. He looked at the man who had now become the mountain of his dream, the amber eyes as warm as the sunlight of early spring.

"Such a perfect day, don’t you think?"