Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 175 A Hero

"...We never really won anything."

"...How come you're the only one that knows this version of our history, Your Majesty?"

Rhys was not trying to sound doubtful, but he was. Throughout his entire life, he had been taught the same history over and over again — the gods were their saviors. But most importantly, it did not, and should not really matter to him.

"Because we have kept this secret for a thousand years, Master Rhys," the King breathed out; the relief that his exhale contained still very much filled with a hopeful weight, "And we are not the only ones that know this — around the world, there are protectors of our true history."

The King once again pointed at the painting where King Aethelblac supposedly faced Zeus, or more specifically, he pointed at the other silhouettes who were with the First King.

"There is a prophecy, a prophecy that King Aethelblac left us," the King then looked Rhys in the eyes,

"The prophecy states that a saviour will rise—"

"No."

And as soon as Rhys heard the King's words, he did not even let him finish his sentence as he took a step back; shaking his head as he looked away from the King.

"...No?" The King muttered.

"No," Rhys once again shook his head before staring at King Aethelblac's portrait, "After the commotion in Amerka has died down and I train your grandchildren — I am going home."

"But Master Rhys…" The King forced out a chuckle as he approached Rhys, "...This is your destiny. Everything that has happened to you has led you down this path. Can you even imagine the odds of you being here, in this same exact place, Master Rhys? You, an Amerkan, meeting one of my wayward grandchildren and—"

"I'm not a savior, Your Majesty," Rhys bowed to the King; his voice, slightly trembling along with his hand as he turned to look at it, "The things that I have already done, the things that I will do — I'm not on the path of a savior, I'm far from it. I'm sorry…

…but I have other plans."

"Other plans…" The King also turned to look at Rhys's trembling hand before closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh, "I see… The world has been unkind to you, Master Rhys. And for that…

…I truly do apologize."

And once again, as the King also bowed to him, the only thing that Rhys could do was quickly gesture to him to raise his head.

"If only you were born here, I know you would not have been treated the way you have," the King looked at Aethelblac's portrait, "The Amerkans and some of the other countries are still stuck in their ways. But what is done is done…

…I just hope that you could find it in your heart to forgive, Master Rhys."

"Forgive…" A smile escaped Rhys's face, "...Thank you, Your Majesty. I too, wish that you've met a more hopeful version of me. And I am sorry that we're not the same — I didn't join the military, the Underworld Corps to serve my country; I joined for a different reason. I'm… not a hero."

"Master Rhys, heroes are not born and created…" The King shook his head and chuckled, "...They are called upon by the people. And I believe… I believe that when the time comes the world calls for you…

…you will answer."

"If I don't end up in prison yet."

"Pft," the King's chuckles immediately turned into a burst of laughter as he started patting Rhys's arm, "You still have a sense of humour, you're not that far gone, Master Rhys."

"...That wasn't a joke, Your Majesty," a chuckle also escaped Rhys's mouth as he followed the King and he started moving back up the stairs.

"There is actually also another who had seen visions of King Aethelblac and talked to her," the King then casually revealed to Rhys, "Victoria."

"...Is that why you previously promised her King Aethelblac's birthplace? In Wessex?"

"Yes — and now that you yourself have chosen that land as your reward for rescuing my family… I know that it is meant for you, Master Rhys," the King breathed in proudly, "Do you see? Destiny, Master Rhys, destiny. I was hoping to spare my family that burden of the world, and now you are here."

"...I chose it because I wanted to know more about King Aethelblac," Rhys sighed, "His hair is… black. Maybe I could talk to him again in the place where he was born."

"I do hope so, Master Rhys…" The King nodded before walking back to the table where they were previously discussing with the others, which now had a set of tea and biscuits ready for them,

"...I heard Linette and the others would like to tour you around the cities tomorrow. But for now, how about we talk some more? No more prophecies, I just want to know more about you, Master Rhys."

***

"Say 'Ah'..."

"You guys are insufferable, why am I even here?"

"Because you're our tour guide. It's been years since I've been here, and you have nothing better to do."

"How dare you, I have many activities."

"Oh, really? Like picking flowers in the castle and crocheting with your mother?"

"At least I have a mother, you—I… I'm sorry, Rhys."

"Why the fuck are you apologizing to him and not me!?"

Rhys was hoping to relax.

He finally had a good night's sleep, with Lina by his side, completely exhausted from their nightly activities. And now, he was hoping to relax and just tour around the city before he started training Lina's cousins…

…but it would seem that Fates truly had other plans for him as Lina and Vicky had been arguing for more than an hour now, and the people at the small restaurant they were in had been staring at them for just as long.

"Uhm… excuse me."

Fortunately for Rhys, the real savior has arrived in the form of a waiter holding a piece of paper in her hand.

"Why are you here?" Vicky quickly glared at the woman, "We're already done ordering. Now scoot, darling."

"Uhm… I'm sorry," the waitress seemed extremely uncomfortable, but she didn't leave and instead turned to Rhys, "Is… is it okay to have your signature, please!?"

"Oi, leave him alone," Vicky almost snarled at the waitress, "Don't you know who we are?"

"That—Y…Your Highness!" And as soon as the waitress realized who Vicky was, she quickly bowed her head and backed away. Before she could take her second step, however, she felt a certain warmth grasping her wrist. She quickly turned to look as to who was holding her, and as soon as she saw who it was, her legs almost gave out there and then.

Fortunately for her, Rhys stood up and pulled her closer to catch her.

"I'm… I'm…" The woman's eyes froze along with her breaths.

"It's okay, give it to me," Rhys then gently stepped back from the woman and grabbed the piece of paper from her hand… which turned out to be a cut-out page of him in a magazine when he did a photo shoot for a certain perfume brand. He stared at the photo for a few seconds, before just placing it on the table and signing it.

And as Rhys handed the photo back to the waitress, the waitress instinctively embraced Rhys.

"Oi!" Vicky stood up from her chair, but Lina grabbed her hand and gestured to her to calm down, "Wh—are you mental? That's your boyfriend."

"He is," Lina smiled as she just looked at Rhys, "And we're going to have hot, steamy sex once we get home. Vicky, if you want to be able to handle Rhys, you shouldn't be so insecure."

"Excuse me? Insecure?" Vicky sat back down and scoffed, "Me? I'm not insecure."

"Everyone knows you have a complex about your height and looking like you haven't even had your puberty even though you're already like 40."

"I'm 30, you fucking dimwit. You—"

"Oh my god, it's Rhys Wilder!"

And before Vicky and Lina could start arguing again, several more women started approaching their table. No — it wasn't just several. All of the women in the restaurant and even those who were outside started running toward them.

"F… fucking hell," Vicky and Lina could not help but just raised both their hands as they were suddenly being pinned down, "Where the fuck did all these horny women come from!?"

Rhys, the one at the center of this mob, could not help but also back away as he started getting drowned by the mob; his vision, blocked by all the flickering hearts floating above everyone's head. And so, the only thing he could really do was gently push away all the women and grab Lina's hand before quickly sinking into the shadows.

"Run…" And as they emerged from outside the restaurant, Rhys did not even hesitate to drag Lina and run — escaping into the mall beside the restaurant and quickly hiding in one of the public restrooms,

"...Are you alright?" Rhys asked, "We should probably come back for your cousin, she—"

"Huf…"

Rhys abruptly paused with his words as he turned to look at the hand he was holding, only to realize it was smaller than Lina's hand. He then slowly turned to look at the owner of the hand…

…only to see Vicky gasping for her breath.

"This…" Vicky breathed out,

"...This is awkward."