Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 330 Trouble

"...For glory!"

"Uh…"

Rhys did not really know what to do as the people started swinging and flailing raw guts in front of his face. He just wanted to walk away, but it was impossible as he was now being surrounded by more than a dozen, almost naked muscular men; their sweat and the blood of the giant boar, just stuck to Rhys as they cheered and pushed each other.

"...I don't really want to—"

And before Rhys could even refuse to eat the raw guts being brandished in front of his face, all the sweaty muscular men, the citizens, and even the children all stopped eating the boar as they just suddenly glared at him — the expressions on their faces, extremely offended almost as if Rhys had just stepped on the statue of their god.

Rhys had a feeling that if he refused this bloody meal in front of him, he wouldn't be welcome at all inside the joyous city — and that shouldn't happen since he did not even have a map of this new world he found himself in.

And so, Rhys just momentarily closed his eyes as he took a very deep and large breath. And after a few seconds, he nodded his head and grabbed the raw… whatever organ it was from the man in front of him and just ripped it with his teeth.

…The taste was not really very welcoming; it had a taste of heavy rust. But it wasn't the taste that caused Rhys to pause, it was the slightly slimy texture. But he just let out a small grunt and started chewing the organ — the blood oozing out from it, seeping from his lips.

But Rhys did not throw it up, as everyone was just watching him quietly while he was chewing it; their eyes, very slowly widening in excitement. And very soon, Rhys just took in one giant gulp to swallow the entire thing.

"..." But even after he did so, he noticed that the muscular men surrounding him, as well as everyone there still continued to stare at him. He wondered for a few seconds what they wanted, but as soon as he saw the man in front of him with his mouth open, Rhys did the same.

And as soon as they confirmed that there wasn't anything in his mouth…

"For glory!"

Everyone just once again rushed toward the giant boar and started tearing its flesh and guts — some even entering inside it to lavish in its blood. For some reason, however, the entire scenery did not look sinister or evil at all — perhaps it was due to the fact that everyone was just celebrating.

And as a matter of course, Rhys took this chance to finally find his exit and entered to the city — and true enough, everyone seemed to be celebrating some sort of festival as there were people just dancing in the streets and laughing with each other.

Unlike Ithaca, the people of Calydon wore bright clothes. But like Ithaca, most of the men were still barely wearing anything but a cloth and tunic.

"Now…" Rhys let out a small sigh as he felt the blood still dripping from his chin. Fortunately for him, he quickly saw a pail filled with water on the side of the street.

Rhys looked around to see if anyone was using it, but after waiting for a few seconds for someone to get it, Rhys just decided to start washing his face and hair with it.

"What are you doing!?"

And as soon as he did so, he heard a woman's voice just angrily approaching him.

"I'm sorry!" Rhys quickly dropped the pail as he was about to pour it all over him.

"That was gathered by the children for the hunters! Why are you—"

Rhys then looked at the woman, causing her to just instantly stop talking as she noticed Rhys's silver eyes… as well as the water dripping along his sharp jaw and neck, and down to his collar bones.

Of course, Rhys also stared at the woman — as this was the very first time he was actually seeing someone who did not have any dirt on any parts of their body ever since he came into this new world.

The woman's long black hair just flowed with her tan, olive skin, which almost seemed like gold in certain angles. She reminded him of Katarina and Lina if they ever become a single person — minus Katarina's giant breasts, of course.

"Ah…" The woman just blinked a couple of times as she started looking at Rhys from head to toe; her breaths, slightly stuttering along with her lips that did not know what to say, "Who…

…who—"

"Princess Clio!"

And as soon as she had words to say, several men started gathering in front of her — men wearing chest armor and brandishing spears.

"Who are you, Stranger!?" The men pointed their spears at Rhys, "Why haven't we seen you here!?"

"...I'm a traveler from Ithaca," Rhys raised his hands, "I'm just visiting for the… festival."

"Why did you approach the Princess!?"

"What are all of you doing!? I am the one who approached him!" Princess Clio raised her voice, but before she could actually do anything, another woman pulled her to the side.

"Princess Clio!" The woman whispered loudly; gritting her teeth as she continued to pull Clio away, "Your father told you not to talk to other men!"

"I will talk to who I want to talk to, Phaedre!" Clio tried to pull away from Phaedre as she once again looked at Rhys, who was also looking at her — or so she thought, Rhys was actually looking at the Hearts floating above her head.

But as soon as the princess' guards noticed him looking, one of the guards tried stabbing him without even any warning.

"Stray your eyes away from the princess!" The guard bellowed. He was about to shout something else, but then Rhys just casually caught his spear. The guard tried pulling his spear away but found himself unable to do so for even a single millimeter.

"What are you doing!?" Clio once again escaped from Phaedre's grasp, "Why are you trying to kill that man, I only—"

"Princess!" But alas, Phaedre just also once again pulled her away, "Let the guards do their job! You can't be seen doing this! You're about to be wed in a few days!"

"Arrest him!"

Princess Clio could really only watch as Rhys was now surrounded by the guards — to her surprise, however, Rhys was still looking at her even at the threat of the spears. It wasn't hard to do so at all, since he towered over the guards.

"That…" Princess Clio quickly looked away, "...That man is in trouble because of me. I… I only wanted to reproach him for taking the water."

"I told you not to approach any men," Phaedre let out a small and deep sigh as she shook her head.

"But the water—"

"Speak the truth to me, Princess…" The tone of Phaedre's voice slightly became high-pitched as she leaned closer to Princess Clio as they walked, "...Is the water really the only reason why you approached him?"

"What are you saying?" Clio's eyebrows lowered.

"I have eyes, Princess — I see how that man could swoon even the gods with his face."

"That's… that's blasphemy!" Princess Clio shook her head.

"Oh, how can a man look so beautiful, and so strong at the same time?"

"Sshh! Cease… cease that talk, right now," Princess Clio whispered before just once again glancing back, only to see Rhys being escorted by the guards, "What… will they do to him?"

"You are going to get married to one of the Princes of Thebes," Phaedre clicked her tongue several times while shaking her head, "I also heard he is gallant, smart, and incredibly handsome. You do not need to be looking for some measly commoner."

"...More handsome than that man?" Clio squinted her eyes.

"That…" Phaedre cleared her throat, "...I suppose we would know in a few days time."

In the span of a few moments, Rhys was forced to eat raw guts, and now he was thrown into some sort of worn-out shed by several guards.

Mikkos sure did point him in the right direction — and now, the sack Mikkos prepared for him was being checked and stolen by the guards.

"This… where did you get a gryphon's talon!?" One of the guards slammed the planks serving as Rhys's window.

"I… killed it, Sir," Rhys just sighed.

"...You're a hunter?" The guard then squinted his eyes as he looked at all the blood on Rhys's tunic, "Were you here for the boar, then?"

"...Yes," Rhys nodded, "I didn't do anything, Sir. Please, just let me go."

"It is your fault for even looking at the princess," the guard scoffed before just turning around, "You'll be staying here until they decide what to do with you — and since everyone's preparing for the arrival of Princes Ducetios of Thebes…

…You'll be here for a few days."

And with those words, the guards just left him in the dilapidated shed… taking all his treasures with them.

"...Should I just break out?" Rhys let out a long and deep sigh as he placed his hand on the wall. But after a few moments of thinking about it, it was best not to become wanted yet in this world where he knows nothing.

And so, he just sat on the ground and waited for something to happen — and as the moon covered the entire sky, something did happen.

"..." Rhys quickly stood up as he heard someone approaching the shed — only to see someone covered in robes moving toward him.

"I… brought you some food."

And of course, it was none other than Princess Clio.

"What do you want, Princess?"