In This Rebirth, The Male Lead Is Mine [BL]

Of course, for now, it was just a misunderstanding. If Rise were to be asked, he might answer that the two were only in an ambiguous relationship at most.

More accurately, they were a typical Esper and his Guide relationship.

It actually did not take long for Kamille to calm down. It was as though it was easier for his emotions to get unstable because of Rise; the same was also true of how the other could calm him down.

The guiding session took ten minutes, but the guiding itself, only needed half of that time, and it only grew longer because the two did not immediately withdraw from the embrace.

”Ah... Ahem,” Zenos cleared his throat, feeling a bit awkward as soon as the two stopped hugging and appeared ready to talk with him again.

He initially evaded their gazes, afraid that the two would settle their accounts with him, although he never had any fault to begin with.

”The two of you...” Zenos trailed off, scratching the back of his neck.

Rise, in a good mood, only smiled. He was still leaning to Kamille and did not answer Zenos’ himself, he had just coaxed his Guild Leader so he would behave... for now.

Kamille glancing at him sighed. He almost brushed his face with his hand. He had always lost his cool. This was also unfamiliar to him, and Kamille was finding it hard to adapt to the new changes that Rise brought.

However, since he was naturally not expressive, he managed to remain composed after that public act of affection they did.

”We’re fine,” Kamille replied; his expression was completely unlike the one of a few minutes ago.

Zenos gave him an odd look, but even someone as simple as him had common sense at least. And so, after brushing his glance past the two of them, he also managed to go back on track.

He also did not ask for anything beyond their main topic; he was in no position for that.

The two parties, mainly Kamille and Zenos, finally talked more deeply. The trust was not there yet, but their impressions were gradually leaning in that direction.

For the first meeting, this was already a good outcome.

Rise also did not interrupt after that; he only listened curiously. He also did not forget to stop staring too much at Zenos, even when the other was the one speaking.

He was aware of how expressive his eyes were, just like when he saw Zenos and found out his identity.

Being the second male lead, he was one that also had a lot of screen time in the novel. Rise had never met him personally in the past, though.

Rise lowered his gaze and decided to look at his hand on his lap instead, fiddling with his pants. Thoughts began to race through his mind, plans which he could absolutely exploit, but at the same time, Rise also did not know anything about him.

It could be noted that Rise’s impression of this person was only just a character of a novel, and it was only driven by plot, and naturally the events would start five years from now.

As a character himself, he was aware to differentiate the two. He had to consider Zenos as himself and as the character. This was hard for someone like Rise who ever cared to study someone much less interact with one deeply other than Kamille.

This was a bit of a dilemma.

’It’s fine. An opportunity will come for me.’

If there wasn’t, he would create it himself.

Rise licked his lips, lifted his gaze again, and listened to the conversation.

Zenos Lionheart and the Lionheart Clan, are one of the remaining factions in this world. They were also a bigger force, rivaling the current nations.

”We’re not far from the territory of my clan.” Zenos leads them into his territory.

Naturally, Kamille was not naive enough to trust Zenos after a pleasant conversation. They all signed a contract that was specifically drafted with the help of an artifact.

Both were inhabited by gates, and so the contracts were effective on both sides. The beings beyond the gates were a nightmare, yet no one could deny that aside from the disaster they brought, they also gave amazing things, such as magical artifacts and opportunities.

They could better understand this world the moment they entered someone’s territory, much less a huge force like the Lionheart Clan.

Along the way, Zenos began to tell stories about his clan, which was only just boasting as far as Rise was concerned. Kamille listened attentively though, and so did the others aside from Rise, who was only interested in their surroundings.

No matter how exaggerated Zenos was, at least, there sure be some truths with it. And that was also a form of information, wasn’t it?

Rise also realized that when Kamille led them in this direction, it seemed that a beneficial path for them was meeting Zenos. In fact, he also speculated that it seemed it was more beneficial to him than their party itself.

”Before, this was a huge forest,” Zenos sighed and kept going with his stories. While he appeared dejected with the memory, it could also be discerned his enthusiasm to tell the outsiders this story.

And because of the contract, he also eased up slightly, which also showed how talkative he appeared.

”Our Lionheart Clan also has jurisdiction in this territory. The forest, which also held the glory and memories of my ancestors, had now become ruins.” Zenos’ tone was quite heavy, and his gaze was also filled with reminiscent thoughts of the once huge vibrant forest.

Rise wandered his eyes as they passed by the dark and dead forest. Just like Zenos said, traces of trees could still be seen, but they had long died with no vitality left within them.

”You’re quite far from the human city?” Kamille inquired, as part of the contract, any questions from him must be answered by Zenos, given that it only relates to the basic situation of this world, the gates, and the nobles.

Any confidential questions, Zenos was allowed to decline to answer.

Hearing this, Zenos scoffed; disdain was evident in his eyes. ”As I said earlier, those ’human cities’ you called were only the ones clinging to their power.”

”The current governments of each nation were hypocrites, proposing to unite against one enemy by merging, but until today no one conceded their positions and let one nation be the master above their head.”

Zenos’ impression of those nations was filled with contempt he did not even bother to conceal. At this moment, Rise finally pays more attention to his words.

With a sneer, he continued, his cat-like pupils flashed.

”They wanted to unite as long as they were in the dominant position. That’s what those three nations were clinging to.” Zenos almost facepalmed after recalling this ridiculous situation they were in.

While walking to their destination, only Zenos were talking while occasionally being asked.

”This world is already on the verge of destruction, and they were still fighting for dominance,” Zenos clicked his tongue in annoyance.

”What about the different factions?” Kamille asked once more.

Zenos dutifully replied again, and the annoyance diminished slightly.

”The clans or the factions, just like ours, were all part of different nations as well. Whether it was from the ruined nations, the current ones, or independent, we’re all open to the unification.”

Zenos held a bitter smile.

”We are already in a situation that we can only hold tightly through the one rope of survival, we might as well unite.” He sighed. ”But as you can see, the unification never happened, even if we’re willing.”

So as it turned out, the nations began to use the clans or factions for their own benefit and make their chances to be in the dominant position in the unification. As though who had the biggest supporters would be the winner of an election.

When the situation escalated to that point and it seemed a civil war was even about to happen, the clans managed to realize that everything was not right.

It seemed they were not going to the unification against the enemies but on their own destruction instead, and what was absurd was that before they were destroyed by invaders, they might see their own extinction from their own hands.

Each clan had become fed up with it and slowly returned to their territory, doing their best to survive themselves and clearing gates on their own.

Gradually over the years, as the land became infested by the monsters from the gates and the gates themselves slowly dominated this world, the humans were also slowly crumbling, with fewer and fewer of the manpower to raid these gates or defend the cities.

The clans did not even think that unification would happen at all. Since, even as the territory shrank, the nations continued to become so headstrong with their stance.

”It seems someone did not want to unify your world.” Being immersed in the story, Rise could not help but voice out his thoughts.

Naturally, their gazes fell on him.

”Logically, this world is already at the end of its rope. You also said even the clans are willing for the unification and only the nations are stubborn; at least one from them is the most uncooperative.”

Rise crossed his arms as his lips curled amusingly.

”This situation, and every important participant is willing. I also guessed even the civilians were part of those willing participants. The unification only made the chances of your survival higher, isn’t it?

”So... Why have the nations deliberately stalled the negotiation for years?”

Zenos blinked; in that span of a few seconds, many thoughts seemed to run through his mind before he sighed more dejectedly.

”Yes, someone already speculated that.” With a heavy heart, the words escape his mouth. ”There’s a traitor in the three nations.”

That was the logical answer. A traitor, someone already bowed down to the beings beyond the gate.

And honestly, Rise... was more than familiar with that title.

Traitor of humanity.