Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 50: A Mistake

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: A Mistake

"...Please?"

"Hector... Do you want to lose your job?"

Hector has a choice to make. Either lose his high-paying job working for the government and possibly not get hired anywhere else, or get folded in half by Commander Ayesha for not taking care of his bodyguard who she seemed somewhat fond of.

Even when they were discussing the details of the Dig back in the tent earlier, Commander Ayesha was actually still talking about Rhys — about how the government should actually hire more people like Rhys instead of people like... him, Hector.

Suffice it to say, it wasn't really a choice at all.

"Lady Cynthia, please..." Hector once again pleaded, this time even looking at Cynthia's entourage and subtly gesturing to them to go, "...This truly is a restricted area, I can't really bend the rules."

"I was told I would get first-hand experience and learn more about a Dig here!" Cynthia's voice once again became high-pitched as she pointed at Hector, "I'm not just acting like an entitled bitch here, Hector. My family literally paid for me to be here! Everything here, we provided."

"I know, I know. And we are very thankful to you for providing all of this and making the government's job easier," Hector finally started to calm down as he assessed the situation, "But if you want to learn the process, then you should abide by the process. So please, please just... return to your tent."

"..." Cynthia looked Hector in the eyes for a few seconds, before just letting out a sigh and nodding her head, "Fine...

...But I want the Lowborn fired for staring at me."

"..." Rhys, who was just watching the scene unfold in front of him, did not really say anything as Cynthia once again violently pointed at him. They have always been told that the Nobles live in a completely different worldview than them. He didn't know what that meant, but now he does.

Authority.

The Nobles live in a completely different level of authority than the rest of the world. Rhys was trying to understand how someone could just blatantly act like they own the place, but in this case, Cynthia sort of really does.

"I'm... afraid he is not from my jurisdiction, Lady Cynthia."

"Then why did we choose you to lead this Exploration?" Cynthia seemed visibly confused with Hector's words, "Bring me someone that has the power to remove him, then!"

"That—"

"I heard someone calling for me."

"!!!"

And before anyone could even say another word, breathe, blink, or even react even a micro fraction of an emotion, a shadow suddenly loomed behind Cynthia. Her entourage wanted to say something, but all of them just shut their mouths and stayed still as they stared at this... shadow. Even the one that Rhys restrained on the ground, just remained on the ground even though he was actually no longer restrained.

"Recruit, I knew I'd find you in trouble. What did you do this time, eh?"

"Weird, right? As long as it's not a Hole yet, you won't just be sucked down. Pft, that's what she said," Ayesha then stepped forward. And as she did so, Rhys instinctively covered his face as he thought Ayesha's foot would fall straight on his face. Instead, however, her body just pivoted up, or down from the edge. From his perspective, it almost looked as if she floated up diagonally until she also stood on the walls of the inside of the hole.

"It's just magic. Don't think too much about it," Ayesha just shrugged as she walked forward... relatively. It was an entirely different perspective. What was once a very large hole in the ground suddenly became a vast and very deep cave, with a ceiling as high as a tall building.

"So..." Ayesha then glanced back, "...It will be too slow if we follow your pace, so I'll be dragging you."

"What do you mea—!!!"

Ayesha suddenly lifted Rhys and threw him over her shoulders, locking his knees with her arm and then locking his wrist with her fingers. And without even waiting for Rhys to say anything else... she ran.

Rhys's lungs immediately locked up as he felt himself almost losing consciousness. The G-Force from the gravity shift was nothing compared to this.

***

"That's it, Recruit. That's our target."

"Kh...rgh."

"If you even dare to vomit in front of me, boy. I'll force you to eat it."

"..." This is definitely an abuse of authority too, but Rhys could really only swallow his vomit; literally. He needed to find a way to increase Ayesha's Affection, and this was the only way he was going to be able to do that.

Rhys then started to calm himself down as he looked ahead, only for him to very slowly look up as he finally saw the back of the so-called Cyclops Barbarian. And the very first thing that came to Rhys's mind was that he was looking at nothing but a tower of muscle... and that was just its leg. The rest of it, its entire body was probably as tall as a skyscraper.

Even from afar, he could hear the fibers of the Cyclops' muscle tightening as it dug through the ground with its bare hands.

Ayesha... was going to fight that?

"Go ahead, Recruit."

"Huh...?" Rhys then very slowly turned to Ayesha as for the very first time, she actually pushed him in a gentle manner.

"Fight it," Ayesha nodded as she shooed Rhys, "Go ahead. Don't be shy, Recruit."

And then, also for the very first time, Rhys finally heard Ayesha's desire.

'Go ahead, Rhys Wilder. Try fighting it. Show me what you can do.'

"...Oh."

Okay. Perhaps this entire thing was a mistake.