The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 199: Expendable Young Master

It was already evening when Lane finally returned home, after spending the whole day first at the mall, and then at Ava’s. Nobody cared whether he was back or not anyway. He could have even stayed the night if he wanted to... The only reason why he didn’t was that unlike him, Ava was ambitious. She had to rest and study well, and Lane didn’t want to get in her way.

He got out of the car, and entered the mansion, greeted by the servants opening the door for him.

"Welcome home, Young Master!"

Young Master. Heh.

It was funny to still be called that way, when his parents had been hiding his existence for years, not recognizing him as a potential heir. But, outcast of the Allen family as he might have been, here within those gilded walls, he was still the firstborn. At least for now, while he was still a minor, he received the ’proper’ treatment - money, servants following his orders, a personal driver... Well, his parents had to keep him chained somehow, so that he wouldn’t bother trying to run away. Not that he could get far, even if he did... But simply providing him with all the ’necessities’ spared the Allens from having to waste so much as a minute on Lane.

"Young Master, the dinner is currently being served. Would you like to join..."

"I’ve already eaten." Lane only waved his hand dismissively, and headed toward his room. Just as he was about to climb up the stairs, faint scraps of conversation drifted to his ears through the open door leading to the dining room.

"...eight time already. Perhaps she is still too young, so it won’t work."

"Why wouldn’t it? The youngest Awakened is seventeen, just two years older than Nyla. It’s too early to give up."

Lane involuntarily paused, perking up his ears.

So they have failed again. He already knew that their parents had been trying to force Nyla’s awakening, but eight times already? They sure weren’t wasting their time.

"Should we try sending Lane in then?" Catherine suggested, making Lane flinch. "We could save on the guards then."

Of course. Since Lane was an unwanted child, and not the heir anyway, who cared if he died? Wouldn’t it actually be convenient?

But fortunately or unfortunately, Cyrus Allen, Lane and Nyla’s grandfather from their father’s side, rejected Catherine’s proposal. "It’s not a matter of money. We would have to bribe the police to let a kid inside anyway," he pointed out. "And if we were successful, it would only be more troublesome. It would be hard to stop any news from leaking if he became the youngest Awakened."

"Father is right," Miles agreed. "It is essential that Nyla awakens first."

"Perhaps we should try this new Gate then..."

The conversation continued, but Lane was no longer listening. He fled to his room, locking himself in, before he was caught eavesdropping. Because if he were, he would end up getting dragged into it.

It wasn’t that he was particularly shaken by what he had just heard. Why would he be? His parents and grandfather hadn’t said anything unexpected or anything, Lane already knew all too well how they viewed him. A mistake, that would be best swept under the rug. Or buried sixty feet under, better yet. But if there was anything they could still use him for, they wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

It was all completely predictable.

So, no, he wasn’t hurt or anything. He just couldn’t be bothered dealing with them, that’s all.

He took out a box of cookies from his stash in one of the drawers - he might have told the servants that he had already eaten, but that was hours ago. He was getting quite hungry now, actually, he just didn’t want to dine with his family, that’s all - and threw himself on the bed, turning on the TV. He didn’t pay much attention to the screen, though. He just watched absentmindedly as the characters ran around, trying to escape some monsters, as his thoughts started wandering.

Should he give it a try? Entering one of the Gates, that is. Although the Allens had decided not to send him in, it seemed... Perhaps he could sneak in on his own? Find one that wasn’t well guarded, or try to bribe someone to let him in... It was dangerous, and he could potentially die, yes...

But if he succeeded? If he awakened, and revealed it to the media before the Allens could stop him. Wouldn’t he become, like, a celebrity? And once he was famous, perhaps he would be able to make a life for himself...

It was at least worth a shot.

Imagining his future as a powerful Awakened, with an ability much greater than his parents, grandfather, aunts, uncles and whomever combined (it was unrealistic, yes, but so what? A person could dream, at least that much should be allowed), he slowly drifted into sleep, with the TV and the lights still on.

Until a few hours later, he was woken up by a loud noise.

He sat up on the bed, blinking as he chased the drowsiness away. It was still dark outside, and the clock showed it was just past 3 AM.

...Just what the hell was going on?

The Allen family’s mansion was in a heavily guarded possession in a fancy neighborhood, with large gardens and a high fence... Or rather, a wall, surrounding it from all sides. Thus, it was always peaceful and quiet. No rowdy neighbors disturbing their rest, no loud screaming matches between the residents - both Catherine and Miles, as well as Cyrus, were cold and collected people, so even when they had disagreements, they rarely raised their voices, while the fiery Aunt Gracie didn’t live with them - thus the nights and days were always uneventful.

But now? Everything was shaking, the furniture, the walls, the floor, the ceiling, as if there was a hurricane! And it was accompanied by thuds and crashes, as if the furniture and other items were tossed around by an overwhelming power.

Well, perhaps not ’as if’. It must have been the case, or else what could make such rumbling noises?

Either way, there was no way Lane could just ignore it and go back to sleep. He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and slid off the bed, quietly sneaking out of his room.