Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 306 Episode Olga

"It is ridiculous how casual all of this is, no? They even got us drinks. It sort of makes me feel like we are back in the middle ages."

"I see that."

Olga was right. The way they set up the fortress made it seem like they were on a medieval tower made for royalty, or at least that is what they imagined it was like back then — everyone had their own rooms, even those who did not belong to the World Rankers.

There was, however, quite a contrast in the way they were treating the World Rankers, and by extension, Commander Olga. Even though she wasn't a World Ranker at all, she was still their lead person for this entire operation.

"I have heard the others' quarters are not like this at all, only me, you, and the other World Rankers," Olga then approached the drinks that were prepared for her, which were being chilled on an entire block of ice that was just sitting casually on a stone table at the corner of the wall, "You must have really done a number on them when you almost walked out, Commander Rhys."

"Well, since you are practically leading the entire operation next to the Nihons — they should be treating you better even more," Rhys just shook his head as Olga handed him a bottle of beer, "And from what I've seen, I think if you were an Explorer, you'd also be in the World Rankers."

"You… overestimate my abilities," Olga, on the other hand, did not have Rhys's reservations and just opened a bottle and started drinking, "And this is not unprofessional — we are technically not on duty yet."

"I wasn't saying anything," Rhys let out a small chuckle as he followed Olga when she walked away and gestured to him to sit on the bed — of course, there was no meaning to that since there was no sofa in the room and they could only sit comfortably on the bed. Rhys could probably grab the chair at the desk, but…

…he wasn't going to do that.

"You look like you want to say—Gods, this is strong," Olga's eyes widened as she sat on the bed; her eyes, staring at the bottle in her hand, "I… don't think this is beer."

"You already opened it, so…"

"I am going to finish hit, Commander—no. Can I call you Rhys?" Olga subtly tucked her short glowing pink hair behind her ears, some of the strands just fluttering across her face as she did so — almost as if they were trying to fan her slightly blushing face.

"Only if you allow me to call you Olga," Rhys nodded as he sat down on the bed; his body completely straight.

"Done deal, Rhys," Olga reached out her hand, and Rhys just casually shook it with a smile on his face, "See? We are already getting to know each other."

"With just our names?"

"Take it slow there, Cowboy," Olga smiled before just cringing at what she just said, "Gosh, that was so bad. I feel like we're on a blind date and I'm just making it so awkward."

"I think it's a little too late to call it a blind date because…" Rhys then looked at Olga's slightly wet lips, "...You know."

"Right, right…" Olga forced out a small chuckle before trying to hide her nervousness by chugging the bottle, but failing all the same to do so, "...Gosh, why am I so nervous? Actually, I've never really been on a date before so… and you're actually the first boy… man I've ever kissed."

"Hm…" Rhys couldn't really say the same.

"Since we're here to get to know each other, I'll start first because I actually… somewhat already know about you, at least what's on the surface," Olga then let out a very long and deep breath; the smell of alcohol escaping her lips,

"...My family was poor. Mom was an Explorer, but the business isn't like what it is in your country. It's… I guess you could say seasonal? The government and military deal with the Holes 90% of the time."

"I see…"

"And my Mom…" Olga then let out a sigh as she grabbed the bottle with both hands while looking at nowhere in particular, "...Well, she was a very… romantic lady."

"Romantic as in—"

"5 children, 5 different fathers," Olga closed her eyes, "And to quote her, she got lucky with the 5th one — a Noble."

"Your father."

"Hmhm," Olga nodded several times, "My father, who just left her like the rest. This time, however, he left me with her…

…I was my mother's lottery ticket. I wasn't the first, she treated all her children like an insurance policy, an investment."

"Hm…"

"Oh, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to talk about my parents when you—"

"Olga, it's fine," Rhys shook his head, "An investment… I've heard of parents like that — Aquino told me there's a lot in Luzviminda."

"Aquino… Lance Aquino? The previous World Ranker?" Olga blinked a couple of times as she looked at Rhys, "I didn't know you were close?"

"We're not," Rhys once again shook his head, "But he… is very friendly. Have you met him?"

"He… did try talking to me several times. I didn't want to respond because his girlfriend was staring at me the entire time and, truthfully… I find her quite scary," Olga covered her mouth and giggled.

"The 12th Strongest Explorer in the world," Rhys also smiled while shaking his head, "And…? What happened to your mother?"

"She made my older brothers and sister hate me," the smile on Olga's face turned wry, "She practically put all of her money into raising me — putting me in a good school, a private tutor, even teaching me etiquette… I was 6 then, if I remember. Sit up straight, always act like someone is watching, fix your hair and not a single strand should be seen, stand up straight, do this… do that."

Olga then chugged the bottle she was holding, just letting out a hard breath after doing so before staring at Rhys and pointing at him,

"She asked me to run, faster, and faster… and faster. Run away from your brothers and sisters, run away from friends, run away from childhood memories that I deserve, just run, run, and run… and I run like a fucking idiot and… and…"

Olga's breaths started to turn heavy; gritting her teeth to just try and stop them but falling all the same. And very soon, her lips started to quiver and her eyes turned red — she could not even open her mouth anymore as she was afraid that she might just cry there and then.

The only thing she could do was massage her own forehead while shaking her head.

"...And then when I came of age, it was the first time we celebrated," Olga forced herself to smile, "I remember being so happy that day, but by the end of it she left me in front of a military camp and told me to sign up."

"That's…" Rhys did not really have any words to say.

"Funny, right?" Olga's forced smile turned into a chuckle as she wiped the tears that dared to drop from her eyes, "In a way, it was the best thing she had ever done for me — in the military, oddly enough…

…I was free. I was more free in the military than with my mother."

"Hm…"

"I didn't even care that she was getting money from my bank and using all of my pay," Olga closed her eyes again, "Well, I complained once and… it didn't really turn out well as you'd expect. She even told me that it was only her right to use my money as she wished because she gave birth to me and took care of me. And after that, I just did what she trained me to do…

…I ran away from her completely and made no contact ever since."

"You went through a lot, Olga."

"Not as much as you," Olga shook her head.

"You went through a lot," Rhys just repeated his words as he looked Olga in the eyes, "And, for what it's worth…

…I think you did a good job."

"Hh…" Olga's entire body just shook as soon as she heard those words coming out from Rhys's lips. She then bit her lip to stop herself from just leaping and hugging Rhys there and then, "I… I was just trying to live and survive. That is… that is…

…until I met you, Rhys."

"Me…?" Rhys squinted his eyes, "But there wasn't anything special during our first meeting in—"

"That wasn't our first meeting," Olga shook her head several times, "I am breaking the law by saying this and putting my country in jeopardy, but…

…I was in the Underworld territory of Amerka a year ago or so with a team."

"You were there when I was still assigned there? Did… you meet with Commander Ayesha?"

"No," Olga once again shook her head, "I shaved my head as a disguise…

…and we infiltrated the Underworld Corps of Amerka as spies. That is when I first met you, Rhys."