There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)

Eight hours after finding the shard, they had a nicely cooked breakfast of warm stew, courtesy of sleepless Bassena. Thanks to the abundant water, they could even afford to have a hot shower each, as well as fill their drinking flask. Fresh and satiated, the group surfaced after Zein coaxed the shy shard to come inside his sealed storage space, and immediately headed toward the previous dungeon gate.

Fortunately, the purification device was still safely installed; meaning that no beasts attempted to come close.

Immediately, they were greeted by a sulking Spirit Queen who stayed inside the dungeon. It couldn’t be helped; without making a contract with anyone, the Queen might get corrupted by the miasma--just like before they liberated the dungeon.

But being left alone inside an empty dungeon must have been annoying, because she screamed at them right away. She was tiny and talking in spirit speech though, so it only sounded like a mosquito’s buzz.

While Eleanor tried to appease the Queen, Zein deliberately walked slower so he stayed at the back. Naturally, Bassena matched the guide’s pace, which made them nicely isolated from the others, who watched the Queen’s tantrum in amusement.

"Hmm...it’s almost as if you want us to have a little date back here," Bassena stroked his chin as he spoke with a lowered, dubious voice like some amateur investigators.

The esper chuckled at his own words, knowing it wasn’t likely the case. But Zein made an unexpected answer. "I do," the guide said with a smirk at Bassena’s flabbergasted face. "I kind of missed you last night."

"...oh," Bassena scratched his nape. The bed inside the tent was a row of singles, so he thought Zein wouldn’t notice. "Sorry, I had something...to think about."

"I know," Zein smiled behind his mask and held the esper’s hand. "Did you talk to Han Joon?"

"How did you--" Bassena closed his mouth, sighing. "Mm..."

"Have you solved it?"