The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

(Jerusha’s POV)

"A gun?"

I asked. I didn’t know what Raye was talking about.

"Erm... That was the name of the skill I made with Pyro."

Raye then answered, sounding a bit awkward.

-Meep!

Pyro then followed proudly.

I still have a lot of questions about this gun thing...

"Can you do it again?"

But I put them all aside for now and asked Raye to show this gun skill to me one more time.

I wanted to see what just happened.

At my request...

"Sure."

Raye replied without hesitation.

"Thank you!"

I was super glad to hear his response.

Raye then raised his right hand again and pointed at the same tree before.

And immediately after...

Fwoosh—

The same small ball of fire appeared on the tip of his index finger. Its front was pointy, and it was rotating really fast.

Just then...

"[Bang]"

I heard Raye’s voice.

And this time, I didn’t miss it.

Swiiish—

The ball of fire flew out.

Thud—

Then it hit the tree Raye was pointing at!

Thud—

It also pierced through and hit the tree behind as well!

"..."

I was speechless.

’What the heck...’

Even with me focusing, it was still fast.

’It will be hard to dodge that.’

I thought.

And that’s not all. The mana used for it was so small, but its damage was comparable to mid-class spells!

’It was all thanks to the rotational force applied to it.’

I was able to identify what made Raye’s attack so special.

But even knowing that, I couldn’t fully replicate what he just did.

’The best thing I can do is imitate it.’

I didn’t know the principle behind his imagery, after all.

I really wondered where he referenced this skill of his.

Anyway, moving on...

"That was an amazing skill. I’m really impressed."

I complimented Raye.

I didn’t expect him to make such an absurd skill, I was really shocked.

"Hmm."

Hearing my words, Raye just stood there, nodding and looking all smug.

-Meep!

Pyro was doing the same while perched on his shoulder.

’I’ll let them be like that because they really did a good job.’

I thought as a small smile appeared on my face.

But what Raye said next...

"Want to see the next one?"

...made my lips twitch.

’Did I hear him right?’

I asked in my head.

And to make sure...

"You made another one?"

I asked Raye, still smiling.

"Yeah."

-Meep!

Raye and Pyro answered, nodding their heads.

"We were able to make two."

-Meep!

They added.

"..."

I couldn’t believe it.

With how exceptional the skill Raye had just shown me, I thought he poured all his time into making it.

’But you’re saying he was able to make two special skills in less than a week?’

Even I wasn’t able to do that during my first spirit contract!

"So, want to see it or not?"

Snapping me out of my thoughts, Raye asked me that.

And immediately...

"Ah, I want to!"

I nodded my head and replied.

Seeing me like that...

"Then, look."

Raye said.

Clap—

Then he clapped his hands in front of him, both arms stretched out.

Swoosh—

Mana started gathering from his hands.

And this time, the mana being used by Raye was fairly large.

"[Lit up]"

Raye mumbled.

Swaaaaa—

"...!"

Then a huge fire covered his hands!

Fwip—

Raye then started pulling back his right hand, leaving the left in front.

And as he was doing so...

The fire started taking a form!

"..."

I watched in silence, anticipation slowly building up.

And a few moments later...

I saw it.

The fire...

’A bow and arrow?!’

...took the shape of a bow and an arrow!

And when Raye’s hand was fully stretched back...

"..."

His stance was that of an archer, ready to fire an arrow!

As I was watching him in awe...

"[Shoot]"

Raye said that.

Swoosh—

Then the fire arrow flew out!

Boom—!

And it hit the tree!

Fwoosh—

Dust clouds rose from the impact, and dirt flew everywhere.

"Ugh..."

I shielded my eyes with my right arm.

And when things finally calmed down...

"..."

I lowered my arm and looked at where the arrow hit.

And there...

"..."

I saw the lower part of the tree burning.

Its trunk was blown off, and the upper half lay on the ground, burning as well.

"Wow..."

I was amazed.

My head turned to Raye...

"Huff... haaaaa..."

I saw him catching his breath. He was already out of mana.

’What a shame.’

I thought as a frown appeared on my face.

’If Raye had a bigger mana pool, he’d be able to make something even greater than this.’

I was sure of it.

"What do you think?"

"Hmm?"

Raye’s question brought my attention back to him.

He was looking at me now, waiting for my response.

I smiled...

"You’re really talented at this."

Then I told him that.

Hearing my words...

"Fuuuu..."

Raye sighed in relief, then closed his eyes.

-Meeeep...

Pyro did the same. He looked like a deflated balloon.

’Cute.’

And after resting for a bit...

"Anyway, I’m gonna meditate now."

Raye said that.

"I’m all out of mana anyway."

He added, then he sat on top of a big rock in a lotus position and closed his eyes.

Just like that, he started meditating.

Looking at Raye...

’I still can’t believe it.’

The skills he showcased—the gun and the fire bow and arrow...

It was unreal how he came up with them in less than a week.

Also, he’s contracted to a newborn low-class spirit.

’If this isn’t talent, I don’t know what is.’

-Meep!

"Hm?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

As I was deep in thought, Pyro jumped off Raye’s shoulder and came toward me.

-Meep! Meep!

I didn’t know what he was saying, but he was cute.

I picked him up from the ground...

"I’ll play with you until Raye is done meditating."

Then I told him.

-Meep!

Pyro looked so happy, it seemed like he understood my words.

And to make him even happier, I called for a few spirits to play with us.

-Meep!

...

...

*****

(Raye’s POV)

Monday morning...

"Haaaaa..."

I yawned as I walked through Xapham Hall.

I was still sleepy after exhausting my mana last night when I demonstrated the skills I came up with in front of Jerusha.

But remembering her reactions and words...

"Hah, worth it."

A smile appeared on my face as I said that.

-Meep!

Pyro agreed with me.

Because our bond had grown stronger, I could now understand him much more clearly.

Anyway, I created my special skills by following Jerusha’s water trident.

Since her special skills were based on a weapon, I based mine on them too.

I even tried using a modern weapon as my imagery—the gun—and I succeeded!

’I got stronger.’

I thought.

A small smile rested on my face as I felt satisfied with my progress.

And at that moment...

"Stronger, huh."

I decided on my short-term goals.

’I’ll raise my grades.’

’I’ll get stronger too.’

And finally...

"I’ll go from a third-rate villain to a support character."

I declared.