The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

(Lycus’ POV)

SLASH!

After killing two goblins in front of me with my left claws...

"GRAAAH!"

SLASH!

I went and immediately killed two more with my right!

BAM!

SPLASH—!

Then I jumped to the side and killed another one!

I killed one after another...

Fighting non-stop just like earlier.

The only difference is...

"[Bang]"

-Kieek?!

Raye is covering for me.

’He’s killed about twenty goblins now.’

I thought, briefly glancing at Raye, who’s just standing at the back, watching the scene from afar.

It only has been a minute since he joined the fight, I didn’t know he was capable of something like this.

’I have to admit it. I’m only doing well right now because of him.’

Thanks to Raye’s assistance, I’m getting brief breaks here and there, and my stamina isn’t draining as fast.

Raye handles the goblins while I rest.

And because he’s there...

’I don’t need to worry about my blind spots anymore.’

So with that...

"Hup!"

BAM!

I fought like a madman, killing every goblin within my range.

And when one of them slips past my guard...

"[Bang]"

They’re taken care of before even reaching me!

*****

(Raye’s POV)

’This guy is so reckless.’

I thought, watching Lycus fight.

He’s completely ignoring his back because he knows that I’m here to cover for him!

"How can he trust me so easily...?"

I muttered, frowning.

"[Bang]"

-Gah!?

Thud—

Then I shot down a goblin that leaped into the air, trying to ambush Lycus.

’Well, like I can talk. I’m entrusting my safety to him too, after all.’

With Lycus at the front, he’s making sure no goblins reach me.

These monsters aren’t stupid—they already know I’m the one killing them from a distance. That’s why they’ve started targeting me.

Though...

"Hup!"

SLASH—!

Lycus is preventing them from succeeding.

"Hmm?"

Just then, I noticed six goblins at the back, detached from the group fighting Lycus.

They were loading bows and crossbows with arrows.

"I thought I already killed all the long-range weapon users."

I mumbled to myself.

"[Bang] [Bang] [Bang]—"

Then I shot at them with my left hand while covering Lycus with my right.

And after killing them all...

"We’ve won this."

I declared that with a shrug.

-Meep!

Pyro chirped in agreement.

*****

After about two minutes...

"..."

"..."

Raye and Lycus stopped moving.

They then looked at each other.

And to break the awkward silence...

"Good work."

Raye said that to Lycus.

"... You too."

Although reluctant, Lycus responded.

They had killed every goblin in the area—a total of 136 goblins!

And Raye had killed 40% of them.

’I’m tired now.’

Raye thought, sitting on the ground.

"Haaaah..."

He let out a heavy sigh, his mana nearly depleted.

-Meep...

Pyro, sitting on his shoulder, deflated like a balloon. He was exhausted too.

"So you do have a spirit."

Lycus remarked, approaching Raye and noticing Pyro.

"I’m guessing the skill you used to help me is one of your special abilities?"

He asked.

Raye looked up at him.

"That’s right."

Then he replied.

-Meep!

Pyro chirped, as if greeting Lycus.

Noticing this...

"Ah, hello."

Lycus responded to him.

’So everyone can naturally see spirits except me, huh.’

Raye thought, watching their interaction.

Then after that...

"Fuuuuu..."

Lycus took a deep breath and sat beside Raye, there’s a bit of distance between them.

Anyway, there...

"..."

"..."

The two of them waited for a professor to appear.

They didn’t speak to each other, but the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

And glancing at Raye...

’I guess he’s not as bad as the rumors say.’

Lycus thought that to himself.

*****

(Raye’s POV)

After a few minutes of waiting with Lycus...

"Lycus!"

Sofia appeared behind us.

"Sofia?"

Lycus immediately turned to her upon hearing her voice.

And seeing that Lycus was safe...

"..."

"Huh?"

Sofia ran and hugged Lycus, not minding that he was covered in goblin blood.

’Awkward...’

I thought, slowly backing away from them.

"I’m glad you’re safe."

I heard Sofia whisper to Lycus, her voice was shaking.

Then with a soft smile on his face...

"I’m glad you’re safe as well."

Lycus replied, patting Sofia’s head reassuringly.

’These two are always like this, even in the game.’

I thought, frowning slightly as I averted my eyes away from them.

And in doing so...

"Oh."

I met Professor Jacqueline’s eyes.

"So you were here as well."

She said, looking at me.

"I came to help Lycus when I heard the situation from Sofia."

I immediately replied.

Hearing my words, Professor Jacqueline nodded her head...

"You did a good job."

Then she said that.

"Thanks."

I simply replied.

And by then, Sofia and Lycus had let go of each other already.

The professor turned to them...

"Good work to you both as well."

Then she praised their efforts.

Sofia bashfully bowed her head, while Lycus simply nodded.

And after all that...

"Okay, now let’s see."

Professor Jacqueline said, examining the area where Lycus had fought.

And after taking a good look of it...

"..."

She went silent.

"Hmm?"

Curious, Sofia peeked as well.

And seeing the scene...

"..."

She went silent too, though shock was evident on her face.

Their reactions were expected.

After all, they were looking at a mountain of dead goblins.

"You two did all of this? In less than ten minutes?"

Professor Jacqueline asked, clearly surprised.

And confidently...

"We did."

Lycus responded.

-Meep!

Pyro chirped proudly to answer as well.

*****

Anyway, after that...

Professor Jacqueline dismissed me, Lycus, and Sofia for the day.

She said that we should rest.

And she will inform the other professors of the situation.

So, I decided to come back home to the cabin.

But as I was walking out of the forest along with Sofia and Lycus...

"Thank you, Raye."

Sofia spoke.

I looked at her, my eyes widened.

I didn’t expect her to thank me.

Anyway, shrugging my shoulders...

"It’s nothing."

I responded.

But just then...

"No, you really helped me back there. I would’ve been in trouble if it wasn’t for you."

Lycus followed that.

And slightly bowing his head...

"Thank you."

He thanked me as well.

"..."

I was speechless, I’m even more surprised now.

I’m flattered that one of my favorite characters in the game is thanking me.

Not wanting to show that...

"Sure, you’re welcome."

I simply replied to Lycus.

And after that...

"I’ll get going then."

Tap- tap- tap-

I sped up and left them behind.