The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

"Huuuu..."

Raye let out a tired sigh as he walked.

He was currently on his way out of Xapham Hall.

"Ugh..."

He was exhausted.

He had burned through a huge chunk of his mana in an instant, pushing himself to the limit earlier—just to make himself faster, just to catch Ramiel off guard.

'If he hadn't assumed I'd be slower because I just woke up from a coma... And if it wasn't for Zephyrus... I wouldn't have been able to catch him off guard.'

Raye declared in his head, his brows furrowing.

He just got lucky.

If Ramiel had been even slightly more cautious, things wouldn't have worked out the way they did.

Anyway, speaking of Zephyrus—

-Hey, Raye.

A voice suddenly spoke beside him.

Fwish-

"Hmm?"

Raye turned his head slightly, spotting Zephyrus flying beside him, flapping his wings hard to keep his round body afloat.

He hadn't unsummoned him yet—partly because he hadn't thought about it, but mostly because it was nice having someone to talk to on his way back.

Moving on—

-Why the hell did you summon me earlier?

Zephyrus asked, tilting his little head.

"Hm?"

Raye blinked at the question.

Then, in the most casual manner—

"Needed your power."

Raye answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

-Hah?

"I needed to borrow your mana to go even faster."

-...What?

"To win the test Ramiel gave me."

-...

Zephyrus fell silent.

He stared at Raye for a few seconds, trying to process his answer in his cute little head.

Then—

-Hmm. Okay.

He just accepted it, as simple as that.

Raye chuckled slightly.

"Thanks to you, I passed it."

He stated genuinely.

And with a complicated feeling settling in his cute little chest—

-Erm... No problem...?

Zephyrus replied awkwardly, unsure how to take the praise.

He felt like he did nothing. After all, he was just summoned.

...

...

Anyway—

After that, the two of them just started heading back to the cabin.

Their pace was unhurried.

Fwoosh~

The cool afternoon air brushing against Raye's skin as he walked through the academy's refixed paths.

For a while...

"..."

-...

Neither of the two spoke, they were just looking around.

But then—

"So... what's been going on at the cabin while I was gone?"

Raye suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Fwap!

Zephyrus flapped his wings lazily, tilting his small head in thought.

-Hmm, well... It's been the same as always. Just minus you and the Old Human... It was a bit lonely.

He answered.

"..."

Raye was speechless when he heard that, especially the last part.

He felt a sting in his heart.

"...I see."

That was all he could say at that moment.

*****

After that small talk—

Raye and Zephyrus just silently continued on their way.

Raye's steps were steady, still unhurried.

Swoosh~

Zephyrus just floated beside him, flapping his wings lazily to keep up.

They talked from time to time, but nothing too deep like before—just casual exchanges now.

Sometimes about the academy.

Sometimes about how weird it felt to be walking like this again after the invasion.

And other times, just simple complaints.

-Hah... I hate flying long distances. My wings feel sore.

Zephyrus grumbled, stretching them out.

Raye scoffed.

"You literally fly everywhere. How can you even get tired?"

"And the cabin isn't even that far."

He said.

-Hey, it takes effort, okay?! Unlike you humans, I have short legs. I can't just casually stroll around!

Zephyrus exclaimed.

Raye let out a small chuckle after hearing that.

The conversation stayed light as they made their way back.

And before long—

...

...

Tap—

They arrived at the cabin.

"We're here."

Raye muttered under his breath before stepping inside.

And as soon as he did—

-MEEEEEEP!!!

FWOOOOSH—!

A bright fireball shot straight at him!

"Huh?!"

Raye barely had time to react before—

TWHACK!

Something small and warm smacked right into his chest!

"Ugh—!"

Stumbling slightly, he looked down—

And there—

"...Pyro?"

The little fire spirit clung to him, his tiny flames flickering wildly in excitement!

Raye then realized—

After he summoned Zephyrus… Pyro was left alone here.

And with that—

A pang of guilt settled in his chest.

"...Sorry about that, Pyro."

His voice was soft as he slowly reached out, gently patting the little spirit's head.

Pyro's flames flickered, his body warming up even more at Raye's touch.

And then—

A small smile formed on Raye's lips.

"Let's eat. I brought beef skewers from Kyle's shop for you."

He said with warmth.

-MEEEP!!

Pyro excitedly responded.

He was hungry now too.

And with that—

The three of them ate lunch... They're a bit late for lunch though.

*****

After finishing lunch…

Tap-

Raye stepped out of the cabin.

Swoosh~

Rustle- rustle- rustle—

The afternoon air was cool, the gentle rustling of leaves filling the quiet space.

Tap- tap- tap—

He walked a few steps forward—

"Hup."

Twap-

And sat down on a tree stump.

And there—

"..."

He fell into silence.

His mind drifted back to everything that had happened today.

His meeting with the Headmaster.

The rewards he proposed.

His quick duel with Ramiel.

And… how he ended up accepting to teach him.

Thinking about it now—

'It all happened so fast.'

"..."

Raye felt that it was somewhat unreal.

But shaking his head—

"I should just be glad everything went as planned."

Raye just said that.

Raye also remembered that tomorrow, he'd be busy too.

He'd meet with the headmaster again to receive his rewards.

Then, he'd meet with Ramiel to start their training—

The hellish training.

Just thinking about it made his body tense. He already knew Ramiel wouldn't go easy on him. No matter how exhausted he was, no matter how much his body ached, he'd have to push through.

But Raye didn't mind.

It was exactly what he needed.

And after that…

"I'm going to check the magic engineering lab and start with my plan as soon as possible."

He muttered, his gaze lowering to his hands.

The plan.

It was something he had been thinking about for a while now. A project that could potentially change everything—but only if he got it right. He had to get started as soon as possible.

There was no time to waste.

So with that many things happening to Raye tomorrow, did he rest?

No!

Instead—

He just went right back to training!

'I don't have the luxury to take it easy.'

He declared in his head.

And just like that—

Raye continued his usual training.

Hours passed.

He trained until 9 PM...

Until his stamina was completely drained and his mana was exhausted.

And only after pushing himself to the limit—

Puff—

"Ugh..."

—Did he finally collapse onto his bed.

"..."

His body felt heavy.

His mind foggy.

And just like that...

He fell asleep.

That was the only time he rested.

Oh, and also—

-...

-...

Zephyrus and Pyro were curled up beside him, fast asleep on the bed too.

...

...

*****

The Next Day—

"Ugh..."

Raye woke up early as usual.

And the first thing he did?

"Time to work."

Was to chop logs.

Thwack- thwack- THWACK—!

The sharp sound of his axe splitting wood echoed through the quiet morning air. He worked swiftly, stacking the chopped logs neatly to be used as firewood later.

Then after finishing that, he went and started preparing breakfast for him and the two.

The aroma of cooked meat and fresh bread soon filled the air.

And with that—

Raye walked back in the cabin, straight to the two who were still sound asleep on his bed.

"...Wake up, you two."

He calmly said.

-...

-...

Neither of them responded.

Raye sighed.

And then—

Bam!

-MEEP?!

-Uagh?! W-What?!

With a simple flick to their foreheads, both Zephyrus and Pyro jolted awake in confusion.

"Breakfast is ready."

That was all Raye said before leaving his room and sitting down to eat.

-...

Still half-asleep, Zephyrus and Pyro groggily floated toward the table, joining him for the meal.

...

...

Then after eating breakfast—

Fwip-

"I'll get going now."

Raye grabbed his weapons and set out alone to the Northern Forest.

His goal?

It was to check the traps that Old Man Rey had placed.

...

...

The trek was peaceful, the cool morning air refreshing as he moved through the dense woods.

And soon—

Raye found what he was looking for.

Two deers were caught in the traps.

Both were already dead.

So with swift efficiency—

"Hmm."

Fwish-

Raye secured them and carried them back to the cabin.

...

...

After getting back and processing the deers' bodies—

"Time to stretch."

Raye started his normal training.

Like push ups, running, sit ups... Anything that strengthens his body!

He did these for an hour or two!

Only stopping once he felt satisfied.

And at that point, sweat dripped from his body, and his clothes clung to his skin. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

And after seeing that—

"Guess it's time to wash up now."

Raye made his way to the nearby river.

And there—

SPLASH!!!

He jumped in the water to clean himself.

The cool water was refreshing as he bathed, washing away the fatigue from his training.

Then once he was done...

"Ugh... Cold..."

Raye returned to the cabin, dried off, and changed into his uniform.

Fwip-

And with all of that finished—

"I'm leaving now."

Raye finally set off, headed toward the Xapham Hall.