Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 119 Are You Really An Explorer, Rhys?

"Again! Too slow!"

A few weeks had passed, and the security around Wilder's Harem finally dissipated as the threat against Rhys did not show even a single sign of growing. As for the members of the Wilder's Harem, they did not waste their time at all during the past few weeks.

Although most of them were Lowborns, they were grueled and trained by Ayesha herself in combat, specifically weapons combat. As to how they were able to get guns and rifles, Ayesha did not really share any specifics.

Of course, none of them were able to grab a weapon immediately, Ayesha had to break all of them first to make sure they were actually ready to hold a weapon. And after running around the Danger Zone and fainting a couple of times from exhaustion, they were now training with guns and all sorts of martial arts.

Lina was tasked to teach them all they needed to know about Holes and the Underworld, and how to survive. She was also teaching them how to use their abilities, as no matter how meager or weak they might be, Lowborns still have abilities that could prove useful to them.

And while the two women were actively taking action, Katarina was busy managing everything — and with 90% of the members of the guild not being Explorers and Lowborns, she had practically spent most of her time talking with the Explorer's Association, justifying why they should not disband the guild.

As for Rhys, well, he has once again finally journeyed down the Underworld in a Forest region — but not to explore.

"Rhys, let's do another one! Someone get the minotaur's head!"

He was currently surrounded by the dismembered heads of several High Threat monsters. There was not a hint of blood on him, however. In fact, there was not even a hint of blood anywhere.

He was just sitting there all relaxed even when surrounded by decapitated heads… as they were not decapitated heads at all but just prosthetics.

"Someone touch up his make-up!"

"I'll do it! Well… not like there's any need to."

It wasn't only the fake monster heads that surrounded Rhys, but also several people each with their own tasks. Some holding lights, one holding an obviously expensive camera, and one was rushing toward Rhys to put makeup on his face, supposedly.

Rhys was not in the Underworld to explore but for a photoshoot for a magazine.

"Mr. Wilder. I'm… just going to remove the concealers, okay? They're not really doing anything since… since you're so perfect already." One of the make-up artists pushed everyone away as she stood in front of Rhys and quickly clipped his hair to the side.

"Please, Ma'am. You can just call me Rhys," Rhys slightly smiled as he raised his head so that the make-up artist wouldn't have a hard time with him.

"Oh, and… and you can call me anything you like if you want to," the make-up artist let out a giggle as she very gently patted Rhys's face with a soft sponge, "And the one who put all this foundation on your face should be put to prison, you don't need any of this. I've worked on a lot of celebrities' faces, some even claiming to be the most handsome man in the world. And I'm telling you, Rhys…

…you're different."

"That… thank you, Ma'am," Rhys breathed out.

"Even your breath smells good," the make-up artist whispered as she leaned her face suspiciously closer to Rhys, "Are you sure you're even an Explorer?"

"I am, Ma'am."

"You should just become a full-time celebrity instead," the make-up artist lamented as she looked at Rhys's face, "I've… I've actually been watching your stream, but you haven't had any action for months now."

"That's… true," Rhys also let out a sigh. It is true that it has been a while since Rhys had really even done anything that could be considered in the jurisdiction of an Explorer. In fact, this is the first time in weeks that he had even stepped foot in the Underworld, and it is to get his photo taken.

But then again, his main purpose for becoming an Explorer was to be known, and that is exactly what he is doing now.

"Hurry up with the make-up! We don't want to get caught by monsters!"

"What are you worrying for!? We are in a cleared area — no monsters are going to actively come to us unless they're really hungry for these!"

"These what!?"

"Deez nuts!"

"What the fuck!? Who said that!?" The shoot director quickly scanned his people to see who was talking to him, but everyone just feigned ignorance and did whatever task it was they were doing.

"You should relax, boss. And they're right — unless we have something here that could attract those monsters, they won't come here."

"I don't fucking care. Make-up, hurry up! And where's the goddamn fucking minotaur head!?"

"Done!" Rhys's make-up artist finally leaned away as she was done removing the makeup on his face, "By the way… I'm free after this, do you want to have dinner?"

"I'm…" Rhys looked up at the woman's face, specifically the 5 Hearts floating above her head, with 3 already filled up and he hadn't even done anything yet, "...I'll think about it."

"Then—wait, your finger is bleeding!" The make-up artist was about to leave, but she quickly noticed the blood suddenly dripping from Rhys's finger.

"Oh, this is nothing. I might have hit it with one of the props," Rhys forced out a chuckle as he just wiped the blood on the back of his clothes.

"Ah, I have a napkin!"

"It's fine…" Rhys showed his finger to the make-up artist, "...See? It's already healed."

"That's… amazin—"

"Make-up! We don't have all day!"

"Alright! Fuck!" The make-up artist quickly packed up her bag and rushed away, "We have Rhys here, why are you worrying about some monsters!?"

"Just stand by! Mr. Wilder, are you ready!?"

"Yes. Just tell me what I need to do, Sir," Rhys said as he slightly fixed himself.

"You don't have to do anything, Mr. Wilder. Just sit there and be pretty…

…although that won't be too hard for you."

Rhys's photoshoot lasted for another hour, before Rhys once again found himself surrounded by several people wanting to get their own photos with him. Rhys did not really mind, however, as he just smiled at everyone.

Aside from the cameras of their phones, however, Rhys was actually also subtly glancing at the video camera that was taking all the behind-the-scenes of his photoshoot.

"Rhys… is it really true you have a girlfriend?"

"Why are you even asking personal questions like that? Didn't you already see his girlfriend? She's really pretty."

"...I think I'm prettier."

"You…? Have you even seen her?"

"She doesn't—"

"Monsters!"

And before the women could start fighting, a loud cry could be heard screaming in the air. Everyone turned their heads in the direction of the scream, only to see one of their staff crawling on the floor… with what seemed like several large birds with oversized round heads and even larger beaks carefully walking toward their group.

"What—I thought there weren't supposed to be any monsters here!? Where are the Explorers we hired to guard—"

And before the shoot director could finish his words, one of the large birds suddenly started gagging. And there, everyone watched as it just puked out an entire man, no… two men.

Two of its flock also started doing the same, vomiting 3 more men.

"Are… are those all of our guards!?" The shoot director could not help but just scream and run. Even then, however, he did not let go of his camera and even started taking photos of the birds, "Everyone, just… just run, leave everything and—"

And before the shoot director could even take three steps, he saw Rhys run past him.

"Mr. Wilder!? What are you doing!? You should just run and—" And once again, the shoot director's words were interrupted as he quickly stopped running and started taking photos of what was happening in front of him. How could he not, when the photos he was taking now were worth more than everything they had already taken beforehand?

Rhys, fighting and saving them from monsters. It did not last long, however, as Rhys was able to quickly dispatch the birds in no time at all — and except for the Explorers that the studio hired, no one else died.

"...Hm."

And there, everyone just watched as Rhys neatly arranged the Explorers' corpses; not even minding that their bodies were filled with all sorts of dirt and goop. And of course, the shoot director did not let this chance pass as he took several professional photos that they could use in the magazine.

As for everyone else, they could not help but just continue to stare at Rhys, admiring him for his actions…

…not even knowing that it was Rhys who actually led the monsters here.

"...Ayesha and Katarina are right," Rhys stared at his finger that he knowingly cut earlier. He then turned to look at all the dead Explorers he laid down before letting out a very long and deep sigh,

"I'm sorry… I thought you guys would be stronger."

"Mr… Mr. Wilder, more monsters!"

"Hm…" Rhys just nodded his head one last time at the dead Explorers before turning around and looking at the monsters approaching their group again,

"...Don't worry, I'll save you…

…I'll save all of you."

***

"What the fuck is this!?" Back in the office of the guild master of the Cerberus Guild, Edward was once again throwing everything he could get his hands on, "He was gone for several weeks and all of a sudden…

…he's on the front page of a magazine!?"