Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 46: Back Down To Reality

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Back Down To Reality

"Can I roam around for a while, No. 1?"

"Feel free to do whatever you want, No. 6. Just be back here by 16:30."

"Ah, No. 6. Hold your long fucking legs, I'm coming with you!"

The Lowborns. No one really talks about them.

Perhaps no one cares, or perhaps they are disgusted by the mere presence of their name included in their conversation. And whenever they do get to the news, it is news of them committing a crime. Stealing, trespassing, squatting.

In truth, Rhys also did not have that good of an opinion about other Lowborns too. It is also true that they do steal and they trespass — and most of what Rhys has seen on the internet was them being rude to everyone.

And now that Rhys was walking through this so-called village of theirs in the Underworld, seeing the rusted metal sheets that served as their walls, the steel wires that held them together, the rotten wood. None of them truly had a choice, did they?

"You were right, No. 2." And as Rhys passed by a little boy who was sitting on the ground, just wearing an oversized white shirt that seemed to have not been washed for years, he stopped walking and glanced at No. 2 who was walking beside him,

"I guess I lucked out."

"W—don't fucking mind what I said, I don't know anything," No. 2 once again stuttered as he slightly looked away, "I am sure you had it rougher than most too."

"No," Rhys shook his head, "I had food, a house, an education...

...My tragedy lives in my memory, these people are still living in it."

"No, one look at you and I could see you're also still living yours," No. 2 approached the little boy that was sitting on the ground, gently brushing his hand on the boy's hair and wiping the dirt on his face,

"I have seen the worst of people. Do not become one of them, Rhys."

"..."

No. 2 then grabbed a pouch of jerky from his pockets, giving the last piece to the boy, whose eyes immediately lit up as soon as he caught scent of the dried meat.

"Ah! Tavi, don't bother the little lady!"

"Oh, it's fine, Ma'am," No. 2 immediately raised both his palms up as the boy was suddenly pulled away by who he could only assume to be his mother, "He wasn't bothering us at all."

"Mama... mama!" The boy did not seem to know how to speak yet, the only thing he did was smile and show the beef jerky to his mother. As soon as he did so, however, his mother snatched it from his hand.

"G...give that to me!" The mother glanced at No. 2 and Rhys, before just looking away and leaving abruptly.

"Hey, that's for your fucking son!"

"..." Rhys could really only watch as the mother ate the piece herself, leaving only a small crumb for her son.

"Fuck," No. 2 clicked his tongue before just letting out a small but very deep sigh, "I told you, No. 6. Bad people are everywhere, the only difference is the number of options they have."

"Hm," Rhys grunted.

"Want to help these people, No. 6? Don't become one of them," No. 2 started waving his hand as he walked away, "Let's go before we get mobbed, they're already starting to gather."

"..." Rhys looked around, only to notice that there were people hiding behind the metal walls; their eyes, almost glowing as they looked at him and No. 2 as if they were prey,

"Oooh."

Everyone let out a small hum, even No. 4 was signing with his hands and making weird noises with his mouth.

"You seem to truly curry much favor with the Commander. I know we have talked about this before, but are you truly not in a relationship with her?" No. 5 squinted his eyes, causing his fat cheeks to rise up.

"No," Rhys let out a sigh as he finally let go of the doorknob and walked away, "I'll just take a shower later. Call me when we have a mission again."

"No. 6."

"Hm?"

"She's not in the building," No. 1 tapped Rhys on the back, before pointing down,

"She's back on the Surface."

***

"Rhys Wilder, Ma'am. You called for me?"

"Recruit, you—Well, by the gods. Is that really you, Rhys Wilder? Did you just get taller in two months?"

"I haven't measured yet, Ma'am."

"Come, sit."

Rhys lowered his salute as he entered Ayesha's tent. And like before, there was a scent of smoke of a certain sweetness lingering in the air. And as he sat down in front of Ayesha's desk, he once again noticed the small teddy bear... this time in Ayesha's hands.

"Damn, I barely even recognize you, Recruit. Your hair is still eating your face, but I could see you smiling from a mile away."

"...Am I?" Rhys blinked a couple of times as he touched his face, which he hadn't done in a very long time since he was always wearing a mask.

"You are, you seem happy," Ayesha looked Rhys in the eyes.

"I... guess I am?" The sides of Rhys's lip very slightly moved up as he returned Ayesha's gaze, "No. 2 and the others, I don't know what they look like, I have barely even spoken their names...

...but they have become very good friends."

"Good, that's very good," Ayesha nodded several times before placing her teddy bear on the desk and standing up, "I did not actually summon you here to ask about you. You have a call from the outside."

"A call...?" Rhys then watched as Ayesha dialed something on the phone from his desk and handed it to Rhys, "Is it from Dr. Lopez?"

Or perhaps Lina?

"..." Ayesha once again looked Rhys in the eyes,

"...Your sister."

And with those words, Ayesha watched as the glimpse of a smile on Rhys's face just faded away instantly.

"...Oh."