Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 284 Nihon Genes

"...I'm a tourist."

Rhys knew there was no saving this situation, and so he just blurted out the first thing that popped out of his mind — but of course, that made everyone just highly suspicious of him as they all squinted their eyes at him... or perhaps they weren't, it was hard quite hard to tell.

"Rhys Wilder...? He really was a Lowborn!? I thought that was another one of the Amerkan's propaganda."

"Let me see, let me see him!"

And as soon as he was recognized, all the guild members got out of their vehicles and started approaching Rhys, looking at him from head to toe as if he were some sort of rare animal in the zoo... which he probably is.

"What the—why is he so good-looking? He looks like that one actor who did the perfume commercial."

"That was him, you stupid."

"Are all Amerkans this handsome?"

"Rhys... Rhys Wilder, sir. Can I get your autograph!?"

"Enough!"

And before Rhys could actually get mobbed by the guild, all the members just quickly scattered away and bowed their heads as soon as a deep and almost grunting voice roared in the air. Judging by how everyone was making way for him, the man wearing a long black coat was their guildmaster, he was also the only one who had some sort of rose pinned to his chest.

His long blue hair, waved and bounced with each step. His hair was silky, almost comparable to Arachnea's hair.

Rhys could really only hide his sigh as the man approached him; the man's eyes, glaring at Rhys from head to toe — but unlike the other guild members who held a certain curiosity and awe in their gaze, there seemed to be nothing but contempt in the man's eyes.

"My name is Kirijo Junpei," the man, Junpei, also bowed as he introduced himself to Rhys, "Guildmaster of the Herculean Rose."

"I am Rhys Wilder," and of course, Rhys returned the courtesy by also bowing. Junpei's name all but confirmed that they were, in fact, in Nihon territory.

"I am aware of who you are, Mr. Wilder," Junpei squinted his eyes, almost closing them as he did so — Junpei's was quite feminine, but still quite extremely handsome. Perhaps the reason why almost all the guild members who stepped out of the truck with him were also somewhat good-looking women—no.

Now that Rhys was looking at everyone clearly, there were perhaps only 4 other men, "What I want to know is what you're doing here, in Nihon? You're also suspiciously fluent in the language, which makes you suspicious entirely."

"The truth is..." Rhys could really only just sigh while shaking his head, "...I was attacked by a roc and ended up being brought here — I didn't really want to kill it since they're important to the Underworld's ecosystem."

"H...how noble of you, Mr. Wilder," one of the women standing behind Junpei whispered out; her face, somewhat turning red as she also looked at Rhys from head to toe. Since Rhys was only wearing thin clothes he received from the gorgons, the lines of his muscular body were quite obvious... as well as the bulge between his legs. The woman was about to say something else, but Junpei glared at her.

"A Roc...? When was this?" Junpei's eyebrows began to lower, "Our sensors would have detected something that big."

"If I was, I wouldn't be in the Underworld."

"Pft."

"You..." Junpei's eyes once again twitched as he heard the women of her guild slightly giggle at Rhys's words, "...You're trying to illegally enter the country, aren't you? Everyone knows what you are, Mr. Wilder — it's in the news. You're an assassin of Nobles...

...don't tell me you're here to assassinate Hanamichi Rukawa?"

"W—"

"Someone check what our sensors are reading..." Junpei then gestured to some of his guild members, "...I have a feeling they're not monsters at all. You have someone with you. A team of assassins, perhaps? You're in the Secret Service, right?"

"No, I'm—"

"What the fuck is that!?"

And before Rhys could say anything, all the guild members started backing away. Rhys did not even need to look back to know that Malenia decided to reveal herself, the only thing he could do was just once again sigh while still having his palms up.

"Why don't we all calm down and relax?" Rhys smiled, "You're right, you're right. I'm here on a mission — but not to assassinate."

"Stop lying! Everyone, get ready to—"

"If I were you, I'd stop here." And soon, it was Rhys's time to lose all the friendliness he had in his voice, "I'm here on a secret mission — you've discovered me, and now I am asking you to just leave."

"You're... with monsters."

"They're not monsters, they are gorgons," Rhys sighed while shaking his head, "You've seen me in the news... so, you know that I can talk to the other species. I'm here on a diplomatic mission, and we just happened to be stranded here."

"Lies, all lies!" Junpei then stretched his arm to the side, and as he did so, a long whip filled with thorns materialized in his hand. And although filled with hesitation, Marie stepped back as her face started to morph and grow fur, and the others followed suit as they all put up their guard.

"I am asking you one last time, Sir," Rhys slowly lowered his hands,

"Just leave."

"Oh, no, no...

...that's not happening."

"Then..." Rhys shook his head,

"...You're already dead."