Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 282 Friend

"Hero… you should rest — or do you… require assistance again? I can call my shivellans and—"

"No. I'm just… thinking."

After refusing it initially, Rhys ultimately decided to rest in Hortho for a while. And even though Rhys did not really feel like it since all he did was kill and torture some people, they were still treated well by the Governess since they practically liberated their entire city.

The Governess wanted them to stay in her house, but Rhys and Malenia opted to stay inside one of the taverns instead since there were a lot of them including the shivellans and the driver, who was in dire need of rest after their long journey was interrupted by the exciting events that transpired.

Rhys, however, did not rest at all as he kept thinking of what Rheadan said to him. A human that could talk to the races of the Underworld.

Were they special like Rhys, or was the blood running through their veins allowing them to talk to the gorgons? Either way…

…it wasn't good.

Rhys needed to be the only one who could talk to the species of the Underworld; his entire plan to conquer the Surface rests on it. And by the way Rheadan described the man, he seemed to carry the features of someone from the East.

Unfortunately, there was no way for Rhys to know which country they were actually heading to since the Underworld's only anchor point, the Helios, just looked the same no matter what side of the Underworld they were looking at it from.

"What… are you thinking about, Hero?" Malenia slithered closer to the table where Rhys was sitting on the floor by himself, "Do you happen to know the person who bought the sacred nymph from Rheadan?"

"No, not at all," Rhys let out a small sigh as he slightly scooched to the side to give Malenia some space. Malenia was actually going to rest her limb on the other side of the table, but her face just quickly reddened as she made her way beside Rhys, "I'm… just thinking of a reason why anyone would try to hurt a nymph."

"Hm…" Malenia squinted her eyes as she looked at Aengela, who was actually sleeping on Rhys's lap, "I, too, see no reason to hurt an innocent creature such as a nymph. They are sacred beings, Hero — meant to be protected, and in return would protect. But as for keeping one in captivity, the reasons I see are plenty…

…to change the environment, for one — turn what once was a lifeless desert into a field of verdant life."

"...I think I know where we're heading now," Rhys quickly looked at Malenia as soon as she said that.

"Already?" Malenia let out a small gasp as she saw Rhys's silver eyes looking at her. Both of them had the same eye color, but there was a certain glow in Rhys's eyes… or perhaps she was just thinking that and she truly was just flustered that Rhys was staring at her.

"Yes," Rhys nodded as he looked at the table, "It's the most technologically advanced country in the wo—in the Surface, Nihon."

"Nihon…" Malenia breathed out, "...I am afraid my knowledge about your world is as little as what I know about you, Hero. What is the Forbidden Land like? Is it completely different?"

"Completely different," Rhys smiled as he remembered how surprised the cenleons were in seeing a human city for the first time, "I can't really explain it, you would just have to see for yourself, Ma'am."

"Hero… please just call me Malenia," Malenia quickly shook her head as she gently held Rhys's hand, but quickly shying away and removing it, "I am here to serve you, not to be served."

"Then just call me Rhys," Rhys let out a small breath as he gently grabbed the hand that Malenia moved away, "Please."

"H…" a small and almost yelping gasp escaped Malenia's lips as she looked at Rhys's hand, "...Rhys."

"That's good," Rhys smiled, "I'm not some sort of… savior from a prophecy, Malenia. But I do promise you that if you need help, I'll be there for you."

"...And you whisper that you are not a hero," Malenia also let out a small breath as she smiled.

"A friend would also do the same," Rhys then sighed as he let go of Malenia's hand, "You should get some rest, we might have to spend a long time inside the carriage again."

"A friend…" The smile on Malenia's face persisted as she looked at her hand. But after a few seconds, she nodded and started slithering away, "...Then, I shall offer myself to the world of dreams, Rhys."

"Good night, Malenia."

"...Good night?" Malenia blinked a couple of times.

"...You'll get it once we travel to the Surface," Rhys let out a small chuckle, "I'll—"

"Would you like to rest in my room?" And before Rhys could finish his words, Malenia suddenly turned around again and looked at him in the eyes, "I… I know you have your own, but maybe you want the company. I… I know you do not need to sleep like the rest of us, but—"

"I…" Rhys returned Malenia's gaze before nodding, "...guess I could relax for a bit."

"Ah!" Malenia's face brightened up before suddenly turning red again, "We… are… well… we're only resting as friends."

"...Of course," Rhys squinted his eyes as he stood up,

"Friends.'

***

"I'm… I'm cumming!!"

Malenia's upper body was almost as curled as her snake limb; her eyes, just looking at the ceiling while her insides were being ravaged by Rhys. They did not stay as friends for long at all.

By the fifth second they entered the room, Malenia quickly asked Rhys about what he and Miquella did… and then asked if they could do the same. Truly, the gorgons' inability to keep their thoughts to themselves was a blessing depending on the situation.

"Hn…ho…" Malenia's entire body trembled as she came; her decently-sized breasts, jiggling along with her golden necklace. And as Rhys removed himself from inside her, she once again found herself convulsing violently before just dropping to the sheets, instantly drenching it with her and Rhys's juices.

"R...Rhys," Malenia used the last of her energy to practically crawl toward Rhys, pulling him down beside her; coiling her snake limb and embracing him, "I… I wish to remain by your side…

…forever." And with those words, Malenia practically fainted from both exhaustion and pleasure. As for Rhys…

…his eyes suddenly lit up as soon as Malenia said that — the stone ceiling he was looking at, very slowly turning gray and even more stone.

Rhys quickly shook his head and blinked his eyes several times, trying to control the ability he suddenly received. And like with the rest of his abilities, he only really needed a few seconds to get used to it — mastering it, however, was another realm entirely.

He then leaned away to looked at the sleeping Malenia, only to see the single large Gray Heart now floating above her head. Until now, he still doesn't know what will happen if he actually filled up the large Gray Heart — will he gain 100% of their ability?

Amongst all the women in his life, Ayesha was the one who had her Gray Heart filled up the most. Does that mean…

…he could actually get 100% of Ayesha's raw strength?

"..." Rhys then quickly shook his head again to remove the thoughts he was having in his mind. He wanted to fill up the hearts, but it shouldn't be because he wants to get their abilities — he promised himself he wasn't going to become like that.

And it's true… he does love all of them equally — some would say that was impossible, but it wasn't. Perhaps another perk of the Blood of Eros.

And now… there was another woman in his life.

Rhys placed his lips on Malenia's forehead, causing her to slightly snuggled even deeper… and coil her limb even tighter around him.

"Ha…" Rhys could really only let out a small but very deep sigh, "...Life."

A few hours later, Malenia woke up; quite fresh and filled with vigor as they once again continued their journey to their destination; their carriage, upgraded. The Governess felt bad that they could not prepare a feast for their liberators. And so, she just decided to give them the best carriage and lizards they had — allowing Rhys and the others to travel faster.

And the carriage, well, Rhys and Malenia were putting it to good use. Unfortunately for the shivellans who were waiting to be called upon by their High Priestess to help relieve Rhys… they were no longer needed.

And finally, after what seemed like more than a day of continuous travel, Aengela woke up.

"Stop."

Malenia quickly covered herself as soon as she heard Aengela's voice; almost burying herself in the sheets as she truly did not expect Aengela to wake up while they were doing it — well, from the noise she was making, she should be more surprise she didn't wake up sooner.

Fortunately for Malenia, Aengela did not wake up from her moans at all.

"Hero — I can no longer pinpoint my sister's location."

"...Did we go the wrong way?"

"No…" Aengela then looked down,

"...She should be somewhere on the other side. We have reached our destination."