There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)

"With enemies that attack indiscriminately, unless the raid captain told you to hide, just stay put in your formation. Don’t confuse the defender by scattering around."

"Projectile attacks can come from anywhere, so compress your body and raise your shield."

"Your two shields are there to protect your brain and heart--don’t mind your face! No one cares about you being pretty if you are dead!"

"If you can’t predict the timing, just deploy your shield from the start--it will recharge by absorbing mana in the dungeon so don’t bother about preserving it."

"Are you offering yourself to the beast? Stay close and press your back together--protect each other!"

"Don’t close your eyes! You’re dead meat if you can’t see the enemies!"

The espers pressed their lips at the sounds of the Guide Captain barking instructions from the back at the other guides. Sometimes not even from the back--he would come forward and snatch the guides from harm’s way, or fix their defensive posture. The quiet, reserved man suddenly turned into a naggy instructor.

Those who were positioned near the three guides would occasionally hear mumbles like so scary...he’s so scary or something like aah, I don’t want an additional set and lamentations such as he’s soo~ going to send me back to the chamber...

It made them unconsciously smile and held their laugh--not because they thought it was funny, but because it reminded them of the old days, when they just started their career. Rather than guides, they seemed more like rookie espers, and it brought some nostalgia to the squad members.

But that only applied to the three guides though. Their Captain, meanwhile, felt more like a veteran esper who had gone through life-and-death situations more times than one could count. The man knew the sign and timing of the beast’s attack better than the surveyor sometimes, and could casually deflect attacks with his daggers.

And it wasn’t just a matter about the beast that he instructed the guides. He also constantly coached them about their role as a guide.