Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 130 A Calamity Before the Calamity

Esme Jordan.

Considered to be the strongest Explorer in the entirety of the country, and second in the entirety of the world. Not much is really known about her, other than her slightly wild and unpredictable power.

With the blood of the goddess Demeter flowing abundantly through her veins, she had the ability to completely lower the temperature in almost a mile radius — but that wasn't all, she also had the ability to summon and control plant life.

The blood of Demeter flowing through her veins has a purity level of 66%, making her the third purest Noble in the world; she will not even be able to hide her prowess due to her long obnoxious glowing white hair that completely contrasts her dark skin.

And right now, unbeknownst to a completely distracted and dumbfounded Lowborn, the strongest Explorer in the country was already slowly making her way toward him.

"Is there something on my head, Black Hair?"

"...No."

And as Esme started touching the top of her head, Rhys finally snapped out of his stupor and noticed Esme standing right in front of him.

"You really are quite the specimen as they say you are," Esme started looking at Rhys from head to toe; not even shying away from her expressions, even nodding to herself as she saw Rhys's chiseled jaw, "A shame to hide it with all that hair. My name's Esme."

"Rhys Wilder, Ma'am," Rhys stood up straight and almost saluted as he was reminded of Ayesha. The two clearly have differences in their vernacular, but the both of them have this inclination to just say whatever they want… perhaps it is just the trait of the strong?

"And I apologize for staring at you, Ma'am — I have never really seen such beautiful hair before."

"Really? I quite hate it," Esme grabbed a lock of her hair, "I dread them in locks so that they wouldn't glow so much, but now I just look like a Christmas tree with strip lights…

…I much prefer your hair."

"You want to be a Lowborn?" Rhys breathed out.

"No, your people suffer too much injustice," Esme let out a soft chuckle as she waved her hand, "I just like the color of your hair and the history that comes with it — the people of old who fought for and with their lives even though they were powerless. The people now tend to forget that."

"Hm…" Rhys could not really help but be weirded out by Esme. This was their first meeting, and she was already talking about something this deep — and it wasn't only him feeling her intensity. Edward, Cillian, Kenneth, and the other guild masters could really only keep their mouths shut and watch on the sidelines as the two just suddenly had an… intriguing conversation out of nowhere.

Unbeknownst to Rhys, however, the others perceive him how he perceives Esme — he also just suddenly talks about deep issues out of nowhere.

"Anyway, I actually approached you for a reason," Esme started shaking her head to prevent herself from talking further, "You've met my sister. Well, half-sister — and I appreciate you for putting her in her place."

"Your sister…?" Rhys tried recalling if he had met anyone that even remotely resembled Esme, but no one really came to mind.

"Cynthia Myers," Esme giggled, "You met her almost a year ago now while you were deployed by the Underworld Corps, she's the one with the purple hair."

"Cynthia Myers," Rhys started to recall the Noble girl he encountered before he and Ayesha dealt with the Cyclops Barbarian — and from Rhys's memory, Cynthia had skin even whiter than Lina's, "...She's your sister?"

"Half-sister. We have the same mother," Esme smiled, "That is one of the things we have in common, no?"

"...What are the other things?" Rhys squinted his eyes as he saw the smile on Esme's face slowly turning into a smirk.

"Maybe when you're ready to hear it," Esme nodded as she started turning back, "I hope we can run into each other inside the city, Black Hair."

[Alright, everyone listen up!]

And almost as if on cue with her stepping away, the leader of the Rescue Team finally approached the guild masters; talking through a megaphone as he gestured to them to come near.

[We have already evacuated 50% of the citizens of Mankappan, and that's the Government's margin to let you guys in! Although your main goal is to completely eradicate the monsters, I hope that you will also make it your priority to at least save all the people you can save!]

"They should have just fucking let us in hours ago!" Edward voiced out his opinions, causing most of the guild masters to nod their heads. The others, however, shook their heads — the Rescue team is specifically that, a team of Explorers trained and specialized in rescuing people.

It is unknown whether the presence of their guilds could have made the situation better for the Rescue team… or far worse.

[I want all of you to coordinate with each other, and the leader we chose for this Extermination is the guild master of Wilder's Harem, Rhys Wilder.]

"What the fuck!?" Edward once again voiced out his opinion, "Why would you even choose the greenhorn!? And a Lowborn at that!"

This time, everyone shared Edward's opinion as they all nodded their heads and glanced at Rhys — even Rhys agreed with Edward.

…Why him?

[Because we have received reports that…

…Arachnea might have been sighted in the Underworld.]

"!!!"

And as soon as the leader of the Rescue team said that, everyone's eyes just widened in shock.

"Arachnea…?"

"Isn't that a myth!? Why would a god even be in the Underworld!?"

"Bro, of course, she's real. We're literally descended from gods. Who's the stupid motherfucker that said that!?"

"Are we really sure it's Arachnea?"

[Everyone, please calm down,] the sigh of the leader of the Rescue team traveled through everyone's ears, [There is no complete confirmation, but for an optimal outcome, we decided that the leader of the team will be Rhys Wilder, since he had already encountered Arachnea and survived.]

"What the… that was real?"

"I thought that was just fake news."

"Wait," Cillian, the leader of the Ages of Man, raised his hand, "No offense to the handsome Mr. Wilder, but Commander Ayesha was the one who fought Arachnea — he is only alive because of her."

"That's right!"

[Former Commander Ayesha is already leading a team in the Underworld along with the Underworld Corps.]

"Oh…" Rhys blinked a couple of times — so that was why Maria insisted Ayesha and the others not come.

"I see," Cillian placed his hand on his chin as he glanced at Rhys, "I still will not follow Rhys's commands — it will take away the synergy of my guild."

"Damn right!" Edward thumped his armor, "I won't follow a fucking greenhorn! And that guy is obviously out for me and my guild!"

"I will also work on my own," Esme glanced at Rhys, "I came here alone, I will work alone."

[That—]

"It's fine," Rhys raised his voice before the Rescue team leader could say anything else, "I do not really see how I can help since I was given such short notice about this — my guild will help the Rescue team instead, and I will act independently with the information you gave us, Sir."

[...Very well,] the Rescue team leader could really only nod and sigh, [Then I will not ask any of you to collaborate with Wilder's Harem anymore — please, proceed inside the city!]

And as soon as the Rescue team leader said that, all the guild masters all rushed inside the city with their guilds.

Rhys also returned to his soldiers to give his orders, but before he could do so, however, Sylas West suddenly approached him.

"Rhys, can we please tal—"

Before Sylas could finish his words, however, the soldiers of Wilder's Harem all raised their rifles and pointed them at him without even any hesitation.

"!!!" The members of the Cerberus guild that was still near Sylas all came back him up as they also raised their weapons and activated their powers.

"Stand down," Rhys, however, ordered his men to lower their weapons — and they did, even with the members of the Cerberus guild still glaring at them.

"...Why are these guys so creepy?" The members of the Cerberus guild could not help but just take in a gulp as they saw the members of Wilder's Harem just standing there without even saying a word or moving a single muscle.

"What do you want now?" Rhys looked Sylas in the eyes.

"...I want you to apologize for almost hurting your Emilia," Sylas returned Rhys's glare; his voice, although slightly wavering as still filled with resolution, "I know… I know that you loathe me for what I did. And that is totally justifiable because even I can't forgive myself for what I did back then — but Emilia has nothing to do with that, she's a victim…

…My victim. Please, don't let her be yours."