The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

Nom- nom- nom—

As Raye continued eating, savoring each bite—

"Hm...?"

He suddenly paused.

Fwish-

His eyes flickered toward Jerusha as his cheeks were still puffed with food.

"...?"

Jerusha, who had been quietly watching over him, blinked in surprise.

"What is it? Do you need something?"

She asked, tilting her head slightly.

GULP—

Raye swallowed his mouthful of food before responding.

"Can you tell me what happened while I was out?"

He asked.

His voice was calm, but his gaze was sharp and unwavering.

A month was a long time. Too long.

Raye needed to catch up on what happened.

And Jerusha, hearing his request—

"Oh, okay."

She nodded without hesitation.

Of course, she'd tell him. Raye deserved to know.

And so—

As Raye continued eating, Jerusha sat beside him and began.

"I figured you'd ask that, so I'll start from the beginning."

She had come prepared.

After all—

She had brought plenty of food. More than just one packed lunch.

She knew how hungry Raye would be.

And as he ate—

"So this is what happened after that—"

Jerusha began telling him everything.

...

*****

...

Nom... Nom... Nom...

Raye chewed his food slowly.

Processing everything Jerusha just told him.

Apparently—

There had been no classes held ever since the demons' invasion.

The academy focused on rebuilding the town and helping the citizens recover from the attack.

Meanwhile—

The other academies were lending aid.

Their staff members and students, they hadn't gone back yet.

Also, the security around the academy was being enforced.

And how the demons got inside the barrier... It had been investigated.

And based on the investigators—

The way the demons got in...

"It was an inside job..."

Jerusha declared, her expression serious.

And hearing that—

"..."

Raye's stomach twisted.

"Someone had deactivated the defenses from the inside."

"The staff in charge of security were attacked."

"Some unconscious. Some dead."

Jerusha followed.

It was a backstab.

A betrayal.

And the culprit behind it—

"It was Rickrey Marcos."

Jerusha muttered, a frown appearing on her face.

"..."

Raye stopped eating all and all.

The metal spoon that he was using was bent weirdly as he clenched his hands into fists so hard.

And with a cold look in his eyes...

"That bastard...?"

Raye mumbled that, looking slightly down as Rickrey's face appeared in his mind.

It was the same Rickrey that lost against him in the sparring match and against Devin in the tournament.

It was the same arrogant bastard who acted like he was above everyone.

And as Raye thought that he couldn't get any more trash—

"According to the investigation, Rickrey gained a lot of strength because he... He became a demon contractor."

Jerusha suddenly went and stated that.

"..."

Raye became silent.

"That fucker..."

He muttered under his breath.

His grip on his spoon tightened even more—

SNAP—

The cheap metal broke under his fingers.

Jerusha noticed it.

"..."

But she didn't say anything.

Because—

She understood.

Rickrey wasn't forced into this.

He wasn't tricked.

He deliberately chose to betray humanity and let the demons run rampage in a civilized place.

He chose to side with the demons.

He chose power over the lives of many innocents.

And because of that—

People died.

Raye took a deep breath.

"huff..."

And slowly exhaled it out weakly.

"...How did they find out?"

He asked Jerusha.

His voice was calm.

But Jerusha could hear it.

The restrained anger from his tone.

The silent storm.

"..."

Jerusha looked at Raye.

Her expression was crumbling as she slowly frowns.

"The survivors saw him."

She said.

"He wasn't even hiding it—he was fighting alongside the demons, Raye."

Then she added.

"...Tch."

Raye clicked his tongue.

Rickrey wasn't even hiding it.

Meaning—

He was proud of what he did, he saw nothing shameful or bad about it.

And that he doesn't plan to return to this side anymore—in humanity's side...

And that—

That pissed Raye off even more.

"...What else?"

He asked.

"Ugh..."

Jerusha closed her eyes for a moment.

Then—

"The teachers and the headmaster already confirmed it. They're treating him as a high-priority target now."

"His execution is guaranteed if they catch him."

She followed.

"...Good."

Raye responded to her.

His voice—

Still calm.

But his eyes—

His eyes were filled with something else.

"...But the problem is."

Jerusha continued.

"They don't know where he is now."

"...I see."

Raye muttered.

Rickrey disappeared after that invasion.

Typical.

"Villains like him are cowards... After all."

Raye whispered to himself.

Rickrey knew that he'd be hunted and be treated as a most wanted enemy..

And yet—

He still did it.

"Fuuuu..."

Raye exhaled again.

Then—

"..."

He closed his eyes for a moment.

And opening his mouth—

"Fucking bastard."

He muttered that.

...

*****

After eating and catching up with the general events—

"Where are the others?"

Raye asked that to Jerusha.

And without further ado—

"Well..."

She started telling Raye about the others.

...

...

Devin and Kyle—

"They were back at the shop and they're operating it again."

"But at the same time, they were helping in rebuilding the town by donating money used for the constructions."

Jerusha said.

Kyle, even with only one hand now, was still working hard.

That guy—

'He wasn't going to let something like that stop him, huh.'

Raye thought with a smile.

And Devin—

'Well, that idiot wasn't the type to sit still.'

He was doing whatever he could to help.

Even if that meant heavy lifting or fixing broken buildings with sheer force.

"...Those two never change."

Raye muttered.

"I agree."

Jerusha just nodded her head with a smile on her face.

Then—

Lycus, Leon, and Allen next.

"The three of them were training..."

"Together."

Jerusha mumbled.

Which meant—

They were going all out.

Leon, a swordsman.

Allen, a duelist.

Then Lycus, a feral beast in human form.

Each of them had their own fighting style.

And if they were training together—

Then they were refining their skills with every bout they have!

They were pushing themselves to do even better!

Preparing for the next battle!

"...That's good."

Raye whispered, hearing that the three of them are getting along now.

Then, next—

Sofia.

"She was producing mana and health potions like a factory... In just minutes."

Jerusha ssid that with a frown.

"That girl's insane."

Raye muttered, he knows first hand just how high quality was the potions Sofia was creating.

"That's true... Hehe..."

Jerusha chuckled after hearing Raye's words.

"She's been working non-stop."

She said.

"Some of the injured townsfolk are already recovering thanks to her potions."

Then Jerusha added.

"...I see."

That was a relief.

Having someone like Sofia around—

'It made a huge difference.'

Raye thought to himself.

And then, finally—

Lena next.

"She's always in the library... And she's studying about healing spells now."

Jerusha proclaimed.

"...She's been studying healing magic?"

Raye asked to himself, muttering.

"Yeah."

Jerusha nodded.

"She's been reading everything she can get her hands on. Advanced healing spells, ancient techniques… anything that might help."

She explained.

"..."

Raye was silent.

He knew why she was doing it.

'Someone probably almost died in front of her and Lena hated how powerless she was when that happened.'

And now—

"She's pushing herself."

Raye weakly whispered under his breath.

And knowing Lena's personality and a similar scene from the game—

"...Has she been eating properly?"

Raye asked that.

And at his question—

"Erm..."

Jerusha hesitated.

"She eats."

She said.

"But she barely leaves the library. I've tried bringing her food, but…"

"...She just thanks me and keeps reading."

And then she followed, letting out a tired sigh.

"... She's an idiot."

Raye muttered.

But—

He understood.

Everyone was dealing with this in their own way.

And Lena…

She just didn't want to be useless ever again.

"...Haaaa."

Raye exhaled.

Then—

"Thanks for telling me."

He said that to Jerusha.

"Of course."

Jerusha smiled a little.

Fwip-

Raye nodded.

Then—

"..."

He closed his eyes.

Processing everything.

The town.

The academy.

His friends.

The traitor.

Rickrey.

The demons.

And the noble demon.

There was a lot to think about.

But one thing was certain—

Raye needed to get stronger.

Fast.

Then finally, after readying himself—

"Also... How are Pyro and Zephyrus?"

Raye asked that, scratching the side of his right cheek and looking toward Jerusha.

He had been worried about them.

But—

Feeling that his connection with them was still intact...

Raye knew they were doing fine.

And hearing his concern—

"The two of them are at the cabin."

Jerusha muttered that with a smile.

"They're taking care of it and protecting it. They'd be happy to see you—I'll bring them over later."

"...Haaa."

Raye let out a relieved sigh, his shoulders loosening slightly.

"I'm glad."

He mumbled weakly.

Though—

"I don't suggest summoning them right now."

Jerusha added.

"Hm?"

Raye looked at her with questioning eyes.

"They're probably inside the Northern Forest now."

"Meditating and recovering their mana."

Jerusha continued.

And hearing that—

"I got it..."

Raye nodded.

"I'll let them rest for now."

He understood.

Spirits, like mages, needed time to recover their mana.

Especially after something as draining as the invasion.

And seeing Raye being so considerate—

"I'll bring them later so you three can meet."

Jerusha muttered that.

She knew—

Raye wasn't in any condition to summon his spirits casually right now.

And noticing her kindness—

"Thank you."

Raye smiled at her.

A genuine, sweet smile.

"..."

Jerusha blinked.

Then—

She looked away.

"...It's nothing."

She muttered under her breath, her ears slightly pink.