Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 40: Not This Time

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Not This Time

"How many died, Millis?"

"13 confirmed, 5 MIA, Commander Ayesha."

"Zeus, shit...That's the number of the latest batch of recruits with Rhys Wilder. Anyone actually from his batch?"

"Two of them, Ma'am."

"They just got here."

Staff Sergeant Millis was now back in the walled base, along with the new recruits who were currently sprawled down on the ground like lifeless puppets, with only their chests moving heavily as their breaths created an orchestra of gasps.

Rhys was also there, seated on the ground with his hair fully covering his face. He was also breathing heavily, but not because he was exhausted, no — he was still thinking of how Ayesha just killed the red orthros he painstakingly tried to keep alive, while killing almost a dozen dogs.

But the more he thought about it, the more he thought it didn't really matter. How was he going to be able to take care of the dog in the first place while he was in service? But still, even then, he couldn't help but lament.

"I am sorry, Ma'am," Millis stood in front of Ayesha; his mustache that was previously turned up, now completely down as he didn't even dare to speak loudly in front of the commander, "I will talk to their family so—"

"No. I need you to check how those mutts got so near to our base in the first place, take Pervert and Baldie with you," Ayesha gestured to Erik and James, who already assisting the new recruits to get help with their medic,

"I'll do it, I'll talk to the families."

"Thank you, Ma'am," Staff Sergeant Millis saluted, before glancing at Erik and James and gesturing to them to follow him.

"..." Rhys could not help but watch Ayesha's back as she walked away. His first impression of her was that she did not really care whether or not the recruits die, considering that is part of what everyone in the Underworld Corps signed up for and how brash and harsh she treats everyone, but no.

It might have been hard for everyone else to hear, but not for Rhys. There was a certain tremble in Ayeshas's breaths; subtle, minute, quiet. But Rhys could hear it, because he had heard it many times before... from him.

A breath of guilt, the breath of someone who thinks they shouldn't have survived.

"You did good, recruit."

"..." Rhys suddenly found his head covered with a towel. He looked up, only to see James and Erik both nodding at him.

"Man, you're the toughest fucker I've seen in a long time," Erik let out a deep breath, "No wonder you're the Commander's boy toy."

"...I'm not."

"Agree to disagree, Rhys Wilder," James smiled, "I honestly thought you would not return to us."

"Because he was a Lowborn?" Erik raised an eyebrow as he almost snarled at James.

"What happened!?" One of the medics hurriedly asked as they started healing his wound.

"He... just started bleeding when he lifted me up," Rhys calmly said as he took a step back. A lie, of course, as he used Lina's wind control to cut the recruit's carotid artery.

"Fuck, must have opened up a regenerating wound!" The medic waved his hand, "This is common with people with high regenerative abilities. Move, move! Bring him to the tent!"

"...It is?" Rhys squinted his eyes as he watched as the medics carried and took the recruit away, "That's... interesting."

"What did you do to him!?" One of the other recruits once again rushed toward him and grabbed him by the collar, "I saw that! You put your hands on his—"

"What in the fuckery is going on here!?"

Fortunately for Rhys, or perhaps the other recruit, Staff Sergeant Millis suddenly came to the rescue. To whose rescue, exactly, will never be determined.

"I just came back here because I forgot to bring a map, and I see you fighting!? And what is with all this blood!?" Millis started looking at the recruits one by one, his mustache fully erect and almost tingling with each furious word that escaped his mouth.

"It's the Lowborn! He's the reason why our brothers are dead!" The other recruits did not stop wasting time and immediately pointed at Rhys.

"T—"

Before their complaints could reach anyone's ears again, however, Millis rushed toward the recruit who was grabbing Rhys and smacked him right on the face... strong enough to the point that he bounced from the ground.

"The reason why your brothers are dead!?" Millis roared, "The reason why your brothers are dead is because the rest of you panicked and deserted them! All of you, except for Rhys Wilder and the handful of recruits who bravely fought to save their comrades, will be sent to a deeper camp!"

"Wh—"

"You signed up for the Underworld Corps to sacrifice your life!" Millis stood up straight and placed his hand behind his back, "Dying for nothing... is the greatest dishonor and shame you could commit."

And as the breaths of sorrow started to echo in the air, Rhys could not help but just stare at Millis — not because he suddenly came to his aid, when he was previously obviously against him, no.

It was because there were now 5 Gray Hearts floating above Millis's head.

"..." Surely, this is just some sort of brotherhood scale? But if so, then why did James and Erik not have one?

'I want you to slather me with your sweat, you brave muscular Lowborn boy.'

No. No, it was not a brotherhood scale. It would seem his abilities also worked on the male spectrum.

Rhys found himself very slowly taking a step back as Millis continued to scold and scowl at the other recruits. There was a line that Rhys was not willing to cross even in his for revenge, no matter what, and this was one of them.

It... was best to stay away from Millis as much as possible from now on.