The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

(Leon's POV)

Looking at the difference in our stats...

'Fuck...'

I cursed in my head.

A complicated expression lay on my face as I turned toward Raye.

While I did win the fight, it still felt like I lost.

If somehow, Raye were even a bit stronger...

'I feel like I would've lost.'

I looked down at the cut on my chest, touched it, and remembered our last exchange.

Even after using my full speed to catch Raye off guard, he was still able to respond.

Before my sword could reach him, he managed to place his dagger in front of him. There was even a spell covering the dagger.

'Was it [Gust]?'

Anyway, because of that, his dagger held on and didn't break, allowing him to block my attack.

Though, with the strength behind my strike, Raye was still sent flying.

But when he realized that...

'He launched a basic spell called [Wind Blade] at me!'

It was so sudden that I couldn't respond to it!

And so, it hit and wounded me.

Remembering all that...

"Tsk."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance, a bitter expression on my face.

Tap- tap- tap—

I climbed down from the arena.

"As expected of Leon!"

"It was obvious you'd win!"

"Raye had no chance against you!"

I heard people cheering for me, but I ignored them.

They didn't know what they were saying.

"This whole fight..."

I wasn't able to land a clean hit on Raye. Instead, he wounded me.

'This is my loss.'

From that point on, I decided to push my training even harder.

'Next time, things will be different.'

I resolved myself.

*****

(Raye's POV)

'Ugh... my whole body hurts.'

I thought as I was getting healed by the healers.

I felt like passing out, but I was trying not to show it on my face.

'The headmaster and professors are still watching.'

I need to show them that I can take a hit.

'But damn...'

Was Leon trying to kill me?

I was lucky I managed to block that. If I hadn't, I'd be lying in bed for days, even with the healers' help!

I cast [Wind Blade] in a panic back then, trying to deflect the attack away from me.

'But I was too slow, and it hit Leon instead.'

I was really caught off guard by his speed. When my plan started working, I got complacent and relaxed.

'And now I'm in this state. I shouldn't have lost focus.'

I grumbled in my head. But there's no use crying over spilled milk now.

'Let's just hope I did well enough not to get demoted from B-Class.'

Just then...

"Good work out there."

I heard a familiar voice beside me.

Looking toward the source...

"Oh, thanks."

I saw Jerusha walking toward me, smiling like a child.

"Your condition's pretty bad. You okay?"

She asked.

"Hmm."

I simply nodded in response.

Then I pointed at the two healers working on me.

"They're good."

I added.

"Is that so...?"

Jerusha mumbled, placing her index finger on her chin.

Then after a moment...

"Let me help!"

"[Spirit's Grace]!"

She cast a spell on me.

It's a spirit magic that restores stamina and heals small wounds.

"Ohh..."

I immediately felt a lot better.

I looked at Jerusha, wanting to thank her. But before I could even try to...

"It's my turn to fight now, bye!"

She left immediately.

"..."

I just silently watched her go.

She arrived in the arena quickly, her opponent was a nobody who challenged her.

And at the start of their match...

"Start."

"[Firestorm]"

SWAASHHH!

"GAAAHHH!!!"

Jerusha won immediately.

'Ugh, I hate named characters. It's unfair, I'm telling you.'

I thought. I feel bad for her opponent, we're basically both stepping stones for the important characters to shine.

"Hmm?"

I saw Jerusha looking at me from the arena, she has this smug smile on her face as if telling, "See how great spirit magic is?"

I was pretty tired, so I just closed my eyes.

But then...

"I didn't know you were close to Senior Jerusha."

I heard another familiar voice. I already knew who it was without looking. So, with my eyes still closed...

"We're not close, she's just super friendly to everyone. Even to someone like me."

I replied to Lena.

"Hmm, well... She wouldn't approach you first even so."

Lena rebutted.

I casually waved my hand, signaling her that it was nothing.

"She's just curious about something, for sure."

I stated.

I know Jerusha's personality. She probably got curious about me after seeing I was different from the rumors and that the spirits were interested in me.

'That's all there is to it.'

She's just that kind of person.

"Well, if you say so."

Lena responded.

"Oh, how's your condition?"

Then she asked.

"I'll live."

I replied.

"Hmm, good then."

Lena said.

"I'll go back to watching the duels. See you later."

Then she left.

'What do you mean, see you later...? Leave me alone.'

I thought, but I had no energy to voice it out.

So instead, with my eyes still closed, I tried to rest...

"Urgh...?"

But I could feel some pricking gazes on me.

It was uncomfortable.

Not being able to bear it, I opened my eyes and looked around...

"...?"

Then I saw a lot of male students glaring at me.

'What the fuck did I do?'

I asked in my head. I seriously had no idea.

*****

After my fight with Leon, everything went as it did in the game.

The main characters fought normally and performed amazingly.

Lena won immediately as soon as her match started.

And after making sure nothing from the game's story was changed...

'Finally escaped from that room.'

I left Xapham Hall early. I had been given permission because I'm done with my match anyway and I'm exhausted.

While my injuries were healed, I was tired as hell because it used up my stamina.

'My whole body feels heavy as fuck.'

Anyway, after leaving the facility, I immediately went back to the cabin...

*****

Arriving at the cabin...

"You look awful."

Old man Rey greeted me.

"Well, something happened at the academy."

I responded awkwardly.

"How did it go?"

He asked.

"I don't know."

I replied, scratching the side of my head.

I really don't know if I did well or not.

But then...

"If you did your best, then I'm sure you did good."

The old man said that reassuringly.

Hearing that put a smile on my face. Then proudly...

"Yeah, I bet I broke through their expectations!"

I exclaimed.

"Hah! Getting cocky already, huh."

The old man laughed.

"Anyway, I prepared our meals. Let's eat."

Then he invited me for lunch. I didn't even tell him I'd be coming home early, but he still prepared a portion for me.

Knowing that widened my smile...

"Oof, I'm starving."

And with that, we started eating lunch.

...

...

After eating, I slept through the rest of the day.