The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

After the confession between Raye and Jerusha that happened in the hospital...

Raye stood up. He had decided to go to the cabin and rest. He’ll leave Zephyrus and Pyro here with Jerusha to not wake them up.

"I’ll see you later."

He said as he looked at Jerusha. She was sitting beside Old Man Rey’s bed.

"Yeah, I’ll stay here and wait for the others."

She replied.

"No need to wait, they’re still outside."

Then Raye said that with a smile, looking at the door of the room.

And at his words...

"?!!"

Jerusha suddenly felt some presences outside the room. And immediately after that—

"So you know, huh..."

Lycus entered the room, embarrassed. Behind him were the others.

Raye smiled at them, and with a shrug—

"Yeah, I realized it after calming myself down—after Jerusha confessed."

He declared that.

Jerusha’s face reddened as she avoided everyone’s gazes.

"What...? How did you get through my magic?"

Lena asked Raye with a confused look on her face. And looking at her—

"Hmm... I just got stronger."

Raye answered with a casual wave of his hand. Lena was about to say something as she opened her mouth, but before she could even do so—

"Anyway, I’ll be going first, guys... I need to rest."

Raye said that. Lena just shut her mouth and let it go.

"Sorry for listening to your conversation, you two... We just got, erm... really curious and carried away."

Lycus apologized in everyone’s stead.

"It’s okay, you guys would’ve known what happened anyway after you accidentally walked in on me confessing earlier. At least now we don’t have to tell you the story."

Raye just shrugged, then looking at Jerusha...

"What about you?"

"I’m fine with it as well. It’s not like I’ll keep it a secret from them... In fact, I probably would’ve told them about it in excitement when they got here."

She said, blushing with her head down. Though, she’s looking at Raye with a sweet smile on her face.

"..."

Raye smiled back at her.

And seeing them like that, Lycus and the others got uncomfortable watching and looked away, scratching their cheeks.

Then after that—

"I’ll go now. Let’s catch up later, guys."

Raye said that as he looked at the others with a smile.

And after exchanging goodbyes and greetings with the others... he left the room and headed to the cabin.

His steps were light and the smile on his face didn’t disappear. Raye’s heart was still beating really hard from the confession that happened earlier.

And as he remembered that—

"Haha..."

A small laugh escaped his mouth.

"I’m glad I confessed."

Raye mumbled on his way.

*****

(Raye’s POV)

Creak—

"..."

I got to the cabin not long after.

It was silent and empty. But still—

"This place is spotless."

I can see no speck of dust. Looks like it was cleaned using magic. Everything is just as it was when I left with Zephyrus and Pyro.

No, actually... it’s better.

Tap- tap- tap—

I silently walked toward my room.

"Should I continue fixing the cabin?"

I muttered to myself.

The cabin is already good and well. What I’m saying is if I should make upgrades to it.

But after remembering Old Man Rey, I just trashed the idea aside.

’I’ll just do it once he wakes up.’

I thought to myself as I entered my room.

Then after that, I laid down on my bed and drowsed off.

I was so tired that I fell asleep immediately. I haven’t slept properly for the past week. As a matter of fact—I only had one or two good nights of sleep over the past 10 months... or 30 days.

I need this rest.

"..."

So with the adrenaline I was feeling from confessing gone, I fell into a slumber.

*****

I woke up hours later... It was already afternoon.

The sun is preparing to set.

"Haaaa..."

I stood up with a yawn and started fixing myself.

I fixed my bed, cooked, and ate something—just roasted boar meat.

Then I went to the nearby river and took a bath. A proper bath after so long!

And while I was in the river, I remembered that the academy will start again.

In about a week...

A frown appeared on my face. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"The game story will shift now."

I grumbled silently.

In this part of the story, the war against demons will continue... As a matter of fact—

"With the invasion they did in the academy months ago, it already started."

Soon, more demons will terrorize the empire. Their population will grow like crazy alongside demon worshippers.

And because of that... the royal family will ask for assistance from Zion Academy and other academies as well.

All the four prestigious academies will answer, as they were founded precisely to nurture students to fight off demons.

And so with that—

"The [Hero Parties] will be made."

Each of the academies will appoint their strongest student to make up their own team to set out and save cities from the demons.

Leon was obviously chosen by Zion Academy in the game—he will then make his party and journey the world until he reaches the Demon King.

But this time around—

"I’ll participate actively and try to be chosen as Zion’s representative."

I mumbled with a calm look on my face.

I’m not saying I’ll steal the role... But if Leon, the protagonist, lost the title of the strongest to me—

Then he’s not fit to fight the Demon King.

He’ll just meet his doom later on, along with the party he will build.

Something obviously went wrong if he’s weaker than me, and I’m sure it’ll be because of my existence as well.

"That’s why I’ll take responsibility."

I was passive before about the main story of the game. I let Leon do everything.

That’s because I didn’t care about anything but my survival.

But now...

A lot of things will be destroyed if Leon loses.

A lot of people I care about will be in danger if the demons win.

I have people I want to protect...

And if Leon can’t do it—

"Then I’ll do it myself."

-----

In a week... An assessment duel will take place before the academy officially starts.