Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 289 End of the Road

[...several people were injured and one dead. It was also earlier reported that the biker gang was creating trouble in a nearby petrol station — whether or not what happened was an accident is not yet clear as of this moment. 4 were arrested but three were unfortunately able to flee from the scene. For those who are just tuning in, the incident happened on route…]

"That… that's good. It seems they're not suspecting us at all."

Ippo's sigh of relief almost filled the entire van as soon as Rhys turned off the news radio. It had been several hours since their encounter with the biker gang, and yet there was no mention of them in any news outlet.

"I think we're in the clear," Rhys also let out a sigh as he looked out the window, "Good driving out there, Mr. Sakurai. You kept calm."

"I… I did nothing," Ippo let out a small chuckle while scratching the back of his head, "It's normal to be calm in situations like that — I told you, I was an Explorer once. You know, I think I remember who you are now, Mr. Wilder."

"...You do?" Rhys glanced at Ippo.

"Yeah, I can't mistake that handsome mug for anything else. I've seen you on TV, Mr. Wilder," Ippo blew out air while shaking his head, "If I knew who you were in the first place, I wouldn't have been as nervous. You should have just told me…

…you're on a peace-keeping mission, right?"

"Peace-keeping?"

"Shh," Ippo raised both his palms for a second as he subtly glanced at Rhys, "Of course, it's a secret. The people in the back… they're from the Underworld, right? I heard the news, you're trying to establish a connection between their race and ours. Oh man, I'm glad I was born in this era… and oh man. I can't believe there's a famous person in my van. Can we take a picture?

I want to show my wife and kids."

"...No."

"...I guessed that," Ippo sighed, "So, this mission… are you trying to bring them to Amerka, is that why we're heading to the ocean?"

"You could say that," Rhys nodded.

"Then it's true, you're the only one who could talk to them," Ippo widened his eyes in disbelief, "I feel like… I feel like I'm part of something great again, you know? Of course, I'm actually just an unwilling driver. Well, I was. I'm blabbering, aren't I? Sorry, it's just doing my job, you don't really get to talk to anyone — and I'm old. Old people like to talk.

Ah, that's it! That's the ocean!"

"Rhys… Rhys!"

And soon, the view of the ocean came into view — and just at the right moment when the sun was rising on them.

"Helios… Helios really is moving here," Malenia and the other gorgons could not help but just push each other as they saw the rising sun and orange horizon, "This place… it's so beautiful, Rhys. All of you… have lived here your entire life?"

"Hoho… I guess they haven't seen that before, huh?" Ippo then opened Malenia's side of the window, causing all of them to back away, "You don't have to worry, no one would see you."

"It's fine, Malenia," Rhys nodded at Malenia and the others, "Your lower halves aren't exposed anyway."

"W…wow," Malenia leaned her head out the window, "It's… it's a familiar scent, but completely different. It almost feels… endless."

"We've always been told that this place is a Forbidden Land, where all those who have done evil are punished. A prison, hell…" Ranni, Malenia's shrine maiden, almost shed tears upon seeing the view, "...But from what I have seen so far, we are the ones that are trapped in a small space — these people are free, High Priestess."

"But they are punished by the gods…" Malenia blinked a couple of times as she glanced at Ippo, "...And yet they do not seem like it."

"Because your books aren't true, Malenia," Rhys quickly sighed while shaking his head, "And that only means one thing…

…your hero of prophecy doesn't exist."

"He does, I am looking right at him," Malenia did not waver at all with her words; no longer looking at the beautiful scenery in front of her and instead just staring at the back of Rhys's head, "I know that you are."

"...Why?"

"Because I believe it to be so."

"W—" Rhys turned to look at Malenia, but before he could even say anything, Malenia looked away and once again stared at the horizon that was glowing ever so softly. The glow was touching Malenia's slightly smiling face; the gentleness in her eyes, reflected the light even more softly than she received it.

A small smile also crawled on Rhys's face as he saw that. His smile, however, quickly faded away as he focused back on the road.

"I saw that, Mr. Wilder," Ippo smirked as he glanced at Rhys.

"Hm?"

"The smile on your face when you were looking at her," Ippo nodded several times as the smirk on his face turned into a cheeky smile, "I may not understand what she was saying, but I do understand that the snake lady fancies you, a lot. I've seen the way she looks at you too the entire ride."

"It's… nothing."

"It's not nothing," Ippo shook his head, "You know, when I first heard about you from my daughter. You know what I told her? I told her to stay away from any of your content because you're clearly a womanizer, and you are — I've seen the photo of you with several women, Mr. Wilder."

"...Right."

"But I can see now that you're a different kind of person from the rest of us," Ippo pointed at Rhys, "Me? I can only love one person — my mind and my money can only handle that much. pft… But you? Wow, I can tell you're a lover through and through — you don't even have to juggle between them, you just eat them all up at the same time."

"Well… I don't really know what to say to that," Rhys could really only blink a couple of times as he looked at Ippo.

"I can just feel it, you have that… feel in you," Ippo laughed, "I can feel that you are good to these people."

"...I'm not a good person."

"I didn't say you are," Ippo scoffed, "But you could have threatened me directly or just outright tried to hurt me to get what you wanted, but you didn't. I'm not saying you're a good person, Mr. Wilder… I am saying that you're safe."

"...And what does that mean?"

"That's for you to figure out," Ippo chuckled; the small wrinkles on the side of his eyes slightly showing, "But stay away from my daughter."

"That…" Rhys quickly raised both his palms, "...You got me."

"Ha—that's what I—It's them again!"

And before Ippo could finish his words, a thunder once again revved in the air as the biker gang once again showed themselves following behind the van.

"S…seriously, can't these guys just all disappear!? I'm just trying to make an honest living!"

"There are no people here," Rhys then let out a small but very deep sigh as he opened his window, "It's time to get rid of them once and for—"

"Who is that!?"

And before Rhys could actually jump out of the window, they passed by a tall, dark woman standing in the middle of the road; her long and very thick hair, just blowing along with the harsh wind.

And as soon as Rhys saw that, he returned back to his seat and relaxed.

"W…what's going on, Mr. Wilder!?"

"It's fine," Rhys just gestured to Ippo to continue driving. Ippo was going to ask what was happening again, but as soon as he looked in the rear-view mirror, he saw the woman just blocking the biker gang with her arm.

"Wait… I know her," Ippo's eyes widen, "She's one of your women. I recognize her from one of the photos!"

"You recognize her instantly…

…but not me?"

And with Ayesha clearing the biker gang, the rest of the ride once again became peaceful. Well, 15 minutes of it that is, since they have already arrived at the end of the road, quite literally.

"I knew you were going to bring trouble with you, Recruit. Do I have to drag your balls everywhere for you?"

Ippo parked the van further out into the shore, but they could not really approach closer to the water since there were a lot of rocks — there weren't any people there, not even a lot of cars moving across the nearby road; a perfect place to come and go inside the country.

"Where's the ship?" Rhys quickly looked around for the ship, which should be in view with how large it was.

"Well, nice to see you too, Recruit. And what are you even saying? The ship's obviously back in the Underworld."

"Right... I'm just getting everything mixed up."

"We thought you were dead, gone," Ayesha crossed her arms while letting out a sigh.

"You did…?"

"No, of course not," Ayesha scoffed, "You, dying? What a joke and—what the fuck are those?"

"...Gorgons, long story."

"Right…" Ayesha glanced at the gorgons who were looking around, some of them even picking up the rocks. Ayesha then glanced at Ippo for a few seconds before gesturing to Rhys, "...We need to talk."

"Where's Katarina?"

"You'll see, but we need to talk first."

"...Right. Mr. Ippo, can you wait on the van for me? I'll just talk with… my boss," Rhys pointed at Ippo.

"No problem, Mr. Wilder," Ippo smiled and nodded several times. Waving his hands at the gorgons as he walked away — surprisingly, the gorgons also waved back, causing the smile on Ippo's face to just stay there even when he got into the van.

And then, his wide smile widened even more as he saw a gold necklace just resting on the passenger seat.

"This…" Rhys did say he was getting paid handsomely — but a large gold necklace? And with the weight and the craftsmanship, he could probably live comfortably for the rest of his life.

"M…Mr. Wilder!" Ippo could not help but stutter as Rhys returned to the van and sat beside him on the passenger seat, "This… this is too much. I can't—"

And before Ippo could finish his words, Rhys suddenly grabbed the golden necklace…

…and wrapped it around Ippo's neck.

"I'm sorry…" Rhys looked away and closed his eyes. And very soon, a small snap just whispered in the air,

"...I'm really, really sorry. No one… no one could know I was here."

And as Rhys opened his eyes, he only stared at his feet... before he started hitting himself on the head, again... and again, and again until blood started to fill the side of his face.

"My fault... this is my fault..." Rhys whispered. But after a few seconds, he took in a deep breath and calmed himself down,

"I'll make sure your wife and daughter receive the compensation. I'm… really so—"

"...Hero?"

And before Rhys could finish his whisper to the dead, Malenia's whisper reached his ear as she stood right outside the van; her eyes... just reflecting Ippo's lifeless body.