Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 71 For Your Own Good

"I think there has been a misunderstanding."

"You hear that? Lowborns are sly like that — even now, he tries to reason. Listen, if a Lowborn from the Underworld approaches you, they are only after one thing; your money."

"Are… there really Lowborn in the Underworld?"

"Yes!"

"...Why? Isn't it more dangerous for them there?"

"Pft, what do you mean why? Lowborns are just retarded like that!"

"Quiet! Only questions are allowed in this class! And to answer your question, girl — Lowborns are in the Underworld because…"

And as the professor continued to have a conversation with the Explorer trainees, Rhys could not help but just stand there in front of them; listening to them as they talked about Lowborns as if they weren't actually people, but a liability and a hindrance.

The treatment for Lowborns has always been bad, but they were actually teaching trainees to avoid them? Rhys no longer really tried to call for the professor's attention and just listened to the class.

And the more he hears, the more his remaining hand very slowly turns into a fist. He was wrong, they weren't treating them as a liability at all…

…they were treating them the same as the monsters of the Underworld.

"I… I'm sorry I'm late!"

And before the lecture could become any worse, someone suddenly barged into the room; his breaths, completely filling the entire room.

"The… the makeup department couldn't get the dirt right and—What the… who is that? I thought it was my turn to play as a Lowborn!?"

"..." The old professor could really only just stare at the man who suddenly entered her class. And after a few seconds, she very slowly turned toward Rhys. She looked at her for a few seconds, before checking her phone in front of the class. And after a few seconds of doing so, she focused her attention back on Rhys and raised an eyebrow,

"Why didn't you say anything!?"

"I did, Ma'am," Rhys said as he looked the professor in the eyes, "You did not listen."

"It doesn't matter," the old professor just waved her hand, "Go find a seat somewhere so we could continue the class."

The professor did not even glance at him as he started gesturing to him to find a seat. As for the trainees, they could not help but be confused as they watched Rhys walk to the back of the class and sit there.

"What's… happening? Did they hire two actors?"

"Why is that tall guy sitting at the back of the class?"

"Enough!" And before the trainees' whispers could fill the entire class, the professor slapped her stick on the blackboard, "It seems there was a certain mix-up because our newest trainee could not even be bothered to speak up. But be honored, a real Lowborn is sitting with us today."

"What…?"

And as soon as the professor said that, the people who were sitting close to Rhys all subtly scooched away; their faces, clearly showing signs of disgust.

"He's… he's a real Lowborn…?"

"I thought Lowborns aren't allowed here!? What's the use if they can't become Explorers!?"

"Enough!" Another crack snapped in the air as the professor once again whipped her stick on the blackboard, "Lowborns are allowed here through special admission from the military. That is another thing you should know…

…not all Lowborns are useless, sometimes they could be used to carry our luggage or cook for you in the Underworld, which is what your fellow trainee probably did in the military."

"Pft…"

The trainees tried their best not to laugh as they looked at Rhys. Rhys, however, just remained stoic as he waited for the class to resume. But as it did, all he really learned from the professor was how much the world truly despised his kind.

But perhaps what surprised Rhys the most was how long this class on how to treat Lowborns actually lasted — 4 out of the 6 hours of theoretical class was used in this. This is no longer just learning about Lowborns, this was flat-out trying to brainwash future Explorers to treat them like animals.

And the fact that he was here, and the professor continued the class as usual proved that it worked for her and the previous generation — she didn't even care or acknowledge his presence at all.

The last 2 hours were used to teach the trainees how to treat other Explorers they meet in the Underworld, and how to differentiate and treat Explorers that are under the government, or under a private guild.

But truthfully, Rhys couldn't really concentrate at all, he could just learn from the internet about the other stuff. He just asked the old professor to sign his completion form as soon as the theoretical class was over and quickly made his way out of the class before anyone could actually try and talk to him.

1 week. He just had to endure this for 1 week and he could head on his way to becoming an Explorer…

…at least the practical classes in days to come should prove to be useful.

"..."

It was not, not at all.

Rhys found himself in one of the Academy's training halls, with the other trainees either sparring with each other, or fighting some sort of skeletal machine that could transform itself into different monsters. There was no problem with the training hall at all, in fact, Rhys was initially mesmerized by the technology they were using.

The Underworld Corps could not even compare with the equipment they were using here. State of the art and top-of-the-line, there was even a part of the hall where people were using Virtual Reality glasses to virtually explore the Underworld; with added effects to simulate the regions.

And all of this technology… and Rhys could only watch on the side as most of the trainees either just have fun, or not treat the exercise seriously at all. Did Lina and Ayesha also start out like this?

"Oi, you."

"...Sir," Rhys quickly stood up straight as the combat instructor supervising the class suddenly approached him. When the in

"You think I'm just going to sign your papers with you not even participating in the class?" The combat instructor was not really that tall, but his bald head and his thick mustache made him look somewhat intimidating.

"I'm…" Rhys scanned the training hall, and no one really wanted to spar with him, or allow him to use any of the machines next, "...waiting for—"

"I do not want to hear your excuses. I have been observing you for more than 3 hours now while coaching the other trainees, but all you've done is just stand there," the combat instructor started taking off his jacket,

"You are going to die out there like 99% of your kind… do you really think I'm going to let you become an Explorer?"

"N—"

"No," the combat instructor once again did not let Rhys speak as he gestured to him to follow, "That is why I am going to personally make sure you fail before even taking the Explorer Examination. You do not belong in this kind of world…

…This is for your own good, kid."

'Finally.'-- Rhys thought. Someone actually treating him like a human.