Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 232 Offering

"Why is this human not bound!?"

"Which tribe are you from!?"

"State your intent!"

Of course, it wouldn't be as simple as just walking into the city and being welcomed by the other tribe. Rhys already knew he was going to have trouble even trying to get near the so-called city, but he didn't think that even Edissa's tribe would be at the glares of the cenleon knights.

Knights — that was the only way Rhys could really describe them.

Unlike Edissa's group, who was completely naked when Rhys met them and did not seem to have problems in being so, the cenleons in front of him were completely armored; the only thing you could see with them were their tails, paws, and head.

Cenleons, from Rhys's observation the last few days, were highly reliant on their flexibility and agility — they were almost twice as big as humans, but they were incredibly fast. Wouldn't the armor hinder their natural ability to move?

"Please, our tribe is seeking refuge in the grand city of Nahisha!" After finally being given the chance to speak, Maha sat down on all fours and even placed his hand on the ground, and he was not alone; the rest of the tribe and even Edissa got down as he did so, "I am the leader of a ruined tribe, my village was on the path of the winter of death — this is all that remains of my people.

I wish to submit, my title surrendered."

"Hm… which tribe?"

And while Maha started speaking with the guards, the only thing Rhys could really do was scan the surrounding area. Nahisha was in a Mixed Region — a Swamp Region, and a Rocky region. There were a lot of trees, most crawling through boulders and thick rocks. Even the walls of their city seemed to have been born by the merger between the two.

The water lines that crawled randomly through the damp ground were covered by flat wooden bridges — the city and their region had all the right to be chaotic and messy, and yet Rhys could not help but be in awe of how clean and proper everything was. If anything, it reminded him of the old estates of Nihon, bringing out the elegance of nature.

…The insects, however, were another matter. No wonder the cenleons were wearing thick armor, Rhys could see what seemed to be a mosquito the size of a large dog just casually resting on the wall—well, saw. It was suddenly eaten by a fog kameleos, the very same species Rhys encountered during his Explorer Exam.

It… was amazing — these people found a way to live with these creatures, and it all seemed so natural. Why… couldn't the humans have done the same?

"Him, we are offering him!"

And while Rhys was once again busy in his own world, Meelo suddenly stood up from the ground and started violently pointing at Rhys. Rhys just glanced at Meelo for a few moments before looking at the guards.

Rhys did not even have to think what sort of conversation they had to know what was happening — Nahisha was not going to let Maha's tribe inside the city without any offering, and Rhys, a human, just happened to be here.

"Are you mocking us!?" The guards, however, seemed to not be as excited or proud as Meelo as their claws and fangs showed themselves while approaching Rhys; their eyes, looking at him from head to toe, "You dare offer your leftovers to us!?"

"..." Rhys could really only look at his missing arm before looking back at the guard, and after a few moments, Rhys closed his eyes as he tried his best not to laugh. This expression, however, caused the guards' eyebrows to lower as they glared at Rhys.

"Why is this human laughing!?" The guards then put their attention to Maha and Meelo, "Did you poison or drug him!? And you are giving him to us!?"

"No… no! We did not such thing!" Maha quickly lowered his head even further; his eyes, now glaring at Meelo, "He… he is not an offering!"

"Then does that mean you came here with nothing to off—"

And before the guard could even finish his word, they all turned toward Rhys as he suddenly dropped to the floor and started convulsing.

"Ah! I knew it, you poisoned him! Guards, this is a ploy! They are attacking us!"

"Wait, no! Please!" Maha finally stood up while shaking his head vehemently, "We have truly lost our home, please! This is not what you think it is!"

"We are done with words, kill the—"

"Pft."

And once again, everyone was interrupted as they heard a soft chuckle coming from Rhys, who was now standing up with an amused expression on his face,

"Sorry…" Rhys then let out a small sigh, "...Humor is new to me."

"The… the human speaks!?"

And with that, the attention of all the guards was on Rhys — even those who were on top of the wall could not help but look down; their ears slightly fidgeting as they tried to confirm if they heard it right.

"I do," Rhys nodded, "My name is Rhys, and in exchange for letting these people in, I'm offering information."

"What the—It's sorcery!"

And as the guards once again bared their claws and fangs at Rhys, he realized he may have made a mistake. And it was solidified as soon as they started rushing at him without any word or hesitation.

The only thing Rhys could really do was close his eyes and lament his situation. And as he opened them again, a pair of hands was already swinging toward him; their claw, almost like daggers.

Rhys, however, just casually took a step to the side and slightly leaned back; not only avoiding the initial attack, but also avoiding the attack of the one lunging at him to the side. It wasn't his intention to hurt anyone, so he just lightly kicked the guard in front of him, pushing himself away at the same time.

"Stop this," Rhys groaned while casually dodging a sneak attack from behind; stomping his foot on the ground and lightly kicking the damp dirt and probably lots of algae onto the guard's face — the guard, however, was able to dodge it.

Rhys had noticed it before during his duel with Muran — although Muran was clearly weaker than him by a mile, Rhys noticed their innate insane reflexes. But of course, it was nothing compared to the ability he received from Arachnea.

The guard who avoided the dirt continued to rush toward Rhys, but Rhys just casually pushed him away; causing him to roll several times on the ground before recovering again.

"Edissa…" Rhys then glanced at Edissa, who absolutely had no idea what to do, "...Does your tribe really need this city?"

"Yes…?" Edissa blinked a couple of times as she watched Rhys just casually toying with the guards, "We… can't join a smaller tribe, they will just see us as competition and kill us."

"Hm…" Rhys let out a small sigh before he finally stopped dodging; the thick water crawling beneath their feet, now suddenly rising along with Rhys's hand. Rhys did not continue to raise his hand, however, as he just closed it into a fist and suddenly lowered it.

And as soon as he did so, the damp ground beneath the guards' feet suddenly started to crawl into their armor… before just suddenly turning heavy and bringing all of them down to the ground,

"...Enough. Let me speak to someone with authority."

"You—"

And as one of the guards still tried to speak, Rhys once again slammed all of them to the ground using the damp dirt inside their armor.

"I'm not a sorcerer or a wizard or whatever you think of me," Rhys then sat on the ground, imitating the cenleons' way,

"I'm… a Son of Eros."

Rhys then revealed as he looked at everyone — although this information might be best kept a secret, he was sure that anyone who wants to know it, already knows it. Arachnea knew who he was, and if the gods were interested in him, then he was sure they were already watching him.

It was best to use it as armor instead.

"Son of Eros…" The guard looked at Rhys with wide eyes,

"...Who?"

"Hm…" Rhys sighed, "...Right."

And it would seem it was the same as in the Surface, no one knew the god whose blood flows through his veins. Rhys was about to say something else, but before he could do so, a small rumble trembled in the air as the large gate finally started to open.

"I heard there was a talking human wanting entry to the city?"

And there, a cenleon, probably younger than Edissa, walked out of the gates along with an entourage of knights… who were carrying spears and halberds, which judging from the color of their blades, were made from their claws.

"P… Prince Dubhai, please return to the city! It is not safe here!"

"Ah, is it you! Are you the talking human!?"

"Yes." And as this slightly jolly cenleon hopped its way toward him with his exaggerating large glasses, the only thing Rhys could really do was… smile,

"Yes, I am."