Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 60: The Lowborn Cripple

"Recruits! Those who can't keep up will be sent to the deeper base of the Underworld Corps!"

"Wh… how long have we been running…?"

In the forest region that was serving as the perimeter of the Underworld Corps, the fresh recruits were currently gasping for breath; their vision, already blurring as they followed the officer in front of them; his right sleeve, being left behind in the wind as he ran.

"I… I don't know."

"Marcus, I thought you were going to do something!?"

The recruits who were at the front of the line started lightly hitting and pushing each other.

"I… I will, I'm just trying to find a chance!"

"You've been saying that for half a day now!"

"F… fuck! This crippled Lowborn is dead once we stop!"

Sadly for them, it was impossible for Rhys to actually get tired. The recruits probably spent another 3 hours of literally running for their lives before Rhys finally gave them a chance to rest. Their butts all fall to the ground at the same time; their breaths, barely even breaths at all.

Rhys glanced at them for a few seconds before nodding to himself.

"You have 15 minutes to catch your breath. We will return to the base in—"

"The fuck we will!"

And as Rhys was about to scout the nearby areas, the recruits that were in the front of the band stood up and started approaching Rhys; their faces almost contorted as they raised their voices,

"We have been running nonstop for more than half a day! This is abuse!"

"Abuse…?" Rhys looked at the one that stepped forward, Marcus. Marcus could really only take a step back as Rhys very slowly walked toward him.

But after remembering that Rhys was only a Lowborn, Marcus once again stepped forward; Subconsciously standing on his toes to try and be at the same eye level as Rhys.

"Yes!" Marcus raised his voice, causing the other recruits behind him to all nod their heads.

"Hm…" Rhys looked at the other recruits as he let out a breath, "And do the others agree that what I am doing is abuse?"

The other recruits did not really say anything, but their subtly nodding heads and expressions of annoyance told Rhys everything he needed to know.

"Very well," Rhys nodded, "All of you drop and give me 60."

"Wh—I just told you this is abuse of authority! But of course, you are probably excited. This is the first time a Lowborn like you gets to experience something like this," Marcus scoffed. And even as he started berating Rhys in front of the other recruits, Rhys just remained completely silent.

"What!? You can't say anything because it's true!? You seem to be forgetting that once we leave this place, you will return to being the Lowborn you are, you overgrown fuck!" Marcus raised his hand at Rhys. And as soon as he did so, however, Rhys suddenly pointed a finger at his leg. And before Marcus could wonder what he was doing, he felt a sting suddenly snap on his leg. He quickly turned to look, only to find himself losing his balance.

"!!!" All the other recruits could really only gasp as they saw Marcus falling to the ground; blood, now oozing from his leg.

"Did you just—"

And before Marcus could say anything, Rhys suddenly stepped on the back of his head and slammed his face on the dried ground.

"Abuse?" Rhys looked at the other recruits as he did not give Marcus even a chance to lift himself up, "All of you seem to be forgetting that you waived your rights as soon as signed up for the Underworld Corps. This isn't a playground."

"You… you shot him!" One of Marcus's friends pointed at Rhys's hand, which was still formed similar to a gun.

"I did. Want to see me do it again?" Rhys did not even blink as he shot Marcus's other leg, causing him to scream in anguish, "I am doing all of you a favor. This man, I know his kind — do you know how many people I have watched die because of men like this?"

"..."

"Do you know how many of our brothers and sisters I have watched die because of one single man thinking he is more important than everyone else?" Rhys put more weight onto his leg; causing a small crack to whisper in the air,

"More than a thousand, dead. Because of men that refuse to follow orders…

…now form a line and follow me, we are all going back to the base."

And with those words, Rhys released Marcus and started walking away.

"S…sir!? What about Marcus!?"

"Carry him, he will receive disciplinary action. As will the rest of you," Rhys started jogging, "That's an order, Recruits."

"S…sir, yes Sir!"

***

"More than a thousand dead…because of men who refuse to follow orders...Pft!"

"Stop teasing the Boss."

"I'm allowed to do that! He shot me twice when one should have been enough to scare those pansies! That wasn't in the script!"

In the canteen of the Command Building, Rhys was currently shaking his head while chewing his food. And beside him laughing… was Marcus.

"Have you really seen a thousand people die, Boss?"

There were other people at his table, all carrying smiles on their faces as they looked at Rhys.

"I'm not your boss, No. 4," Rhys only waved his hand as he gestured to the others to just continue eating, "And I have watched people die… perhaps too many."

Rhys subtly turned to look at the dog tags hanging from his neck — and there were probably more than a dozen tags there."

"..." The rest of the Faceless crew bowed their heads down and sighed.

"For the Former No. 2," one of them raised their metal mug, causing Rhys and the others to do the same. And before anyone could say anything else, a loud roar suddenly reverberated throughout the entire canteen.

"Recruit!"

And immediately, the Faceless crew all wore their masks and started looking away from Rhys. It wasn't only them, everyone in the canteen all looked away; some even feigning sleep.

"Recruit!" Ayesha stood in front of the door, causing the entire canteen to quake as she roared, "I heard you scared our fresh recruits again! How many times have I told you not to do that!?"

"Oof, Boss is in trouble again."

"Rhys! Come to my office, now!"

And as Ayesha slammed the door closed, Rhys could really only shake his head and sigh; the others, still refusing to look at him even as he followed Ayesha out.

"..." Rhys stayed completely calm as he headed to Ayesha's office, only sighing as he reached the door. And before he could even knock, Ayesha opened the door and leaned her head out; looking in both directions of the corridor before suddenly pulling Rhys inside — quickly slamming him onto the wall and grabbing his face.

And as she looked into Rhys's eyes, the expression on her face completely softened as it turned red.

"Take…" Ayesha then whispered into Rhys's ear,

"...Go take a shower, that's an order."

"..." Rhys returned Ayesha's gaze. The 5 Hearts floating above her head, now gone. Replaced by a larger Gray Heart with a little bit of red filling up its bottom,

"Yes, Ma'am."

And without even any hesitation, Rhys placed his lips on Ayesha's.