There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 676: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 11

Chapter 676: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 11

"You’re going this far?"

Han Joon stared at the door of his private gym, which was locked. Not only locked, but black curtains also covered the glass wall. As if the big padlock wasn’t enough, there was a mana barrier sealing the door too, and a big floating warning to not use the gym was placed.

"You might as well bared the entrance to the hallway," Han Joon chuckled.

He understood then; the extent of their resolve.

After the short summer vacation with the babies ended, Han Joon’s daily schedule was altered completely. With the insistence from everyone including the babies, he was banned from doing anything that would put a burden on his body.

"Until we find a way to solve your condition, just stay put!"

That was what they all told him. It was the first time he found himself in a position where he was getting scolded heavily out of concern. The new sensation wasn’t bad, and he almost felt his cold core warmed up a little bit. Actually, it felt nice enough to make him obediently nod--even making a pinky promise with Han Shin and the babies.

It wasn’t bad, really, having his darling fuss over him. The only downside was being told they should reduce the time they had sex because it counted as a physical burden. After all, they never ended up doing it only once. It took hours of arguing back and forth while circling their bedroom for Radia to accept that their sexual activity actually provided some warmth to Joon’s body.

In the end, it was still reduced, but not as much as before. But he got a bonus because his darling was all over him, telling him to stay put while Radia did all the work. How nice.

But it was rather funny when he found that sign in front of the gym. He didn’t plan to do any hard workout, really--just light cardio. More than anything, he walked there out of habit.

Really...he wondered when his darling put this on.

"Why would I take the risk?" Radia muttered in a light grumble. "You can even bypass the shadow guards and my mansion security. I will be the stupid one to use a normal lock."

Han Joon smiled and glanced at his darling, who was walking toward him. "But don’t you think this is rather excessive?"

"I don’t even know if this is enough," Radia crossed his arms. "Aren’t you the best infiltrator in the Federation?"

Han Joon let out a light laugh while turning away from the gym, walking back to the hall entrance where his darling was. "Were," he corrected. He couldn’t say he was an active esper anymore, and since he was banned from using his mana unless for an emergency, it was safe to say he might never use his skill anymore.

Might as well be giving up the title he didn’t need. Right--wasn’t there that kid his darling recruited some years ago? Sadeva or something. He arrived in front of his darling while pondering, so he didn’t expect to have the red hair pressed on his chest.

Hmm? Did his darling sulk again? Well...he did come to the gym after making a promise not to go. Better apologize before--

"I’m sorry..."

Han Joon blinked when he received an apology first while thinking about doing it. But...why? What was this apology for?

"I said you didn’t have to be an esper," Radia said. He really didn’t need Han Joon to be anything, but he said it without even asking what his husband wanted.

But he thought about it again, and he remembered how hard Han Joon tried to be a good esper. No matter what his motivation was, saying he didn’t need to be an esper was like stripping him of his effort to be one. Those three decades of effort since he was a toddler...would someone be fine if those efforts ended up being useless?

Radia wasn’t sure he could. Wasn’t that why he couldn’t let go of his position? Even if it wasn’t his life aspiration, it was still something he had worked on for a long time, so he had no intention to retire early.

He said what he said out of emotion instead of a logical conclusion, and he was ashamed. Especially when he saw the bitterness in Joon’s face as the word ’were’ came out of his husband’s mouth.

Han Joon smiled and patted his darling back. "Will you leave me if I’m no longer an esper?"

Radia looked up and glared sharply. "Are you crazy?"

"Then that’s enough for me," Han Joon said with the charming smile he only showed his darling. "I’m not going to refuse if you want to compensate me for that apology, however."

Seeing the charming smile turned cheeky, Radia grabbed the handsome face and bit the grinning lips in retaliation. Just slightly, as much as his conscience allowed him without feeling guilty.

Because he felt like would experience that a lot going forward.

* * *

Han Joon really didn’t mind retiring as an esper; he didn’t even mind forfeiting his license. It would prevent him from going into dungeons or using his skill in public, but he would still be allowed to move during emergencies like dungeon breaks or assaults.

Still, since nothing was set in stone yet, Radia said he didn’t have to go that far. Seemed like his darling still felt guilty about restricting his activity.

And well...it was indeed suffocating. The only thing Han Joon was allowed to do was a light jog around the mansion and teaching that did not involve physical activity. His only respite was probably the simulation chamber and virtual reality games that Shin introduced him to, but he was afraid he would get too attached and addicted, using it as an escape. Thus, he only did it for an hour or two every day, substituting the time he usually used to exercise in the banned gym.

Truly...it was hard getting used to not doing anything. What did those trophy wives and husbands usually do in their free time? What did they do if they missed their partner?

After thinking hard for a while, Han Joon closed the book about Esper’s core he was reading and fetched his key for the new car his darling gifted him last week. Something like compensation for restricting his activity.

Naturally, he should use the car to visit his darling.

"It had been a while," he chuckled as he looked at the Trinity Tower. When was the last time he came to this place? Must have been when he was still sneaking around looking for a chance to have Radia for himself.

This would be his first time going through the lobby. How interesting.

The receptionists, who were already raising their heads before he arrived at the front desk, looked at him for three seconds before gasping.

"M-Mister Han!"

They greeted him in surprise while bowing behind the desk, garnering attention from the other guildmembers passing through the lobby. Naturally, people had the same reaction.

While they knew their Guildmasted had married Han Joon, they rarely saw them together. The man rarely visited the guild--at least, not openly. It was not an exaggeration to say that his visit could be considered historical.

"Is my darling here?" Han Joon asked. He knew Radia would be in the guild from the butler, but who knew if something came up?

The receptionist flinched for a second, and after spending another three to digest that Joon was talking about Radia, they replied in flusters. "Y-yes! Yes, Sir! The Guildmaster is present!"

"Can I go see him, or should I make an appointment?"

"Of--of course you can, Sir!" the receptionist swiftly typed something on the computer before getting back to him. "We have registered your link ID to be eligible for the highest floor. Please scan it inside the elevator."

"Thank you," Han Joon gave a light smile that made the receptionist hiccup. "Ah," he paused before walking away, and leaning forward while widening his smile slightly. "You haven’t told him, have you? It’s a surprise visit."

They nodded swiftly while clasping their mouth. Han Joon recalled Zein used to say that the guild employees were cute, and he agreed. It was nice that they did not complicate things and quick-witted.

Ignoring the stares as usual, he accessed the elevator and went to the highest floor. It was nice and quiet as usual. Not much had changed except for the name in front of the vice guildmaster’s office, which had been changed to that female defender.

Just like how Bassena rarely stayed in his office, so did the new deputy. Good. A smile formed naturally on Joon’s lips when he opened the Guildmaster office’s door.

His darling raised his head with a frown, which instantly turned into astonishment when he saw Joon. "Huh?"

"It feels different coming here properly like anybody else," he said while looking around. "Oh, you don’t have your summons today?"

"Joon?"

Radia blinked and stood up dazedly. He glanced at his commlink to check if he was missing a message, but there was none from his husband.

"I’m sorry for visiting suddenly," Han Joon smiled at his darling’s dumbfounded expression. As always, Radia was lovely. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Well...it works," Radia blinked, still in a daze as he received his husband’s kiss. "But, why..."

"I was just bored," Han Joon shrugged. "And I missed you."

The confusion melted away into nothing, and Radia pulled his husband again for another kiss, laughing as their lips touched.

"You should have called," Radia stroked the cold cheek. "I could send Nyx to fetch you."

"Then it won’t be a surprise," Han Joon chuckled, holding his darling waist and pulling the summoner closer. "And the drive is quite nice for wasting time. It’s also a new experience to come here through the door."

Radia laughed as he too just realized the fact that he didn’t even know how Han Joon could come to his office undetected before. Which path did the man use? Radia was curious, but he didn’t want to ask before the mystery of it was enchanting in itself.

"Hmm...this is quite nice, isn’t it?" Han Joon looked at his darling’s face, tucking the red strand behind the summoner’s ear. "Should I just follow you around like an escort? I can bring your coat around or something, and watch you to my heart’s content."

"Mm..." Radia laid his head on Han Joon’s shoulder. Honestly, it was quite tempting. He didn’t have to hold back when he missed his husband’s touch. Just being able to look at that handsome face every time he felt tired would heal him immediately. Sighing, he almost said ’should we do that?’ before his rationality snapped him into reality.

He pulled back and raised his face, looking at his husband firmly. "No."

The rejection washed away the smile from Joon’s lips.

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