The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

Considering that I’ll be fighting the boss monster anyway...

"I’ll do it."

I decided to accept Ivan’s request.

And immediately after doing so, he smiled at me.

Though, it’s weird to see an almost-skeleton face smile.

Anyway...

"Can I ask something?"

I said to Ivan.

-Sure, what is it?

He responded.

And hearing that...

"Why are you so angry at the boss monster?"

I asked him that question.

-Yeah, I was wondering as well.

-Meep...

Zephyrus and Pyro followed.

-...

Ivan became quiet at my question, and it started to scare me.

Though...

"..."

I didn’t show it on my face.

Then finally, after a while...

-Remember when I said all the servants died?

Ivan finally spoke.

I just nodded at his question.

-It’s not entirely true...

And then Ivan declared that!

-One of the servants survived.

He said.

Then suddenly, his already scary face became even scarier as he got angry!

And with that face...

-He’s the one that led the demon here. He conspired with them to destroy the territory!

Ivan exclaimed in anger.

-For what?!

-For a fucking eternal life?!

His enraged voice sent shivers down my spine.

"..."

I just waited in silence, letting Ivan calm himself down.

-...

-...

Zephyrus and Pyro did the same.

And after a while...

-Raye.

Ivan turned to face me.

"Yeah?"

I responded.

-With your current strength, you can’t win against that bitch.

He said.

’His words are starting to get more vile now.’

It’s kinda funny seeing a skeleton curse.

Anyway...

"Well, I already kinda expected the boss to be stronger than me."

I replied.

Hearing my words, Ivan nodded his head.

And looking me straight in the eyes...

-I’ll help you get stronger.

Ivan said that seriously.

"Huh?"

I was stunned.

And before I could even respond properly...

-I’ll teach you how to properly wield the sword. I’ll be teaching you our family’s techniques.

Ivan followed up.

"Wha...?"

*****

"Hup!"

Swoosh—

Swish—

Fwip—!

I swung my sword again and again.

And seeing me do that...

-Wrong! Your posture, distribution of strength, hand and feet placement... all wrong!

Ivan shouted at me.

"Ugh..."

We immediately started training as soon as I accepted his suggestion to teach me.

-Place your feet and hands like this, and swing like this...

SWISH—!

Ivan said, demonstrating a simple but clean vertical slash.

"..."

Fwip-

I imitated his stance and tried my best to copy his moves, and with that...

Swish—!

I swung my sword straight downward!

-That’s better.

Ivan muttered.

And his words made me smile.

Though...

-But that’s not enough. Do it a few more times.

My smile immediately disappeared after hearing that.

And so...

Swish—

I continued swinging my sword again and again.

-Meep!

Pyro cheered for me.

-Do your best, young man. He might’ve lost a lot of his strength, but Ivan was a very strong swordmaster before.

And Zephyrus did the same.

Swish—

-No! Your hand is holding the hilt too firmly!

Ivan exclaimed.

"Ugh..."

And I just groaned in annoyance.

...

...

After about 8 hours...

"Haaa... haaa... huff..."

I was out of breath, tired from swinging my sword.

It felt like my arms were about to fall off.

And seeing me like that...

-That’s enough for today. You should rest first.

Ivan stopped our training.

’Thank god.’

I thought.

Clank—

And then I let go of my sword.

Thud—

I immediately sat on the ground, catching my breath.

I was so exhausted, hungry, and thirsty.

-Meep!

Pyro, concerned about my condition, quickly approached me.

"Haaa... I’m... huff... fine..."

I said to reassure him, but he didn’t seem to believe me.

-Good work.

Zephyrus said as he flew over.

And looking at him...

"Thanks."

I simply replied and nodded my head.

...

...

After resting for a while, I headed out of the mansion with Zephyrus and Pyro.

I then drank a lot of water in the spring, and while I was there...

I also ate the last stock of Giant Boar meat I had.

’Ugh, my body is killing me...’

I thought, feeling pain all over.

It felt like my muscles were complaining about being overworked.

But even though I want to stop the training...

I can’t.

I need Ivan’s teaching, after all.

’I need to get strong fast and leave this place.’

And so, I need to endure this.

*****

After eating and drinking on the 1st floor...

I cleaned up the left and middle rooms down there, killing the monster wolves and kobolds.

And after doing that...

I went back to where Ivan was.

-You should rest properly, and after that, we’ll continue the training.

Ivan said that as soon as I came back.

"Yeah, I’m just here to say see you later."

And I responded. Read exclusive content at empire

-Meep!

-See you later, Ivan.

Pyro and Zephyrus followed.

And with a smile on his face...

-Haha, yeah, see you later.

Ivan replied.

"..."

Oddly enough, he didn’t look scary anymore to me.

And so, with that...

I went back to the 1st room on the left.

Though, before doing so...

"I’ll be using your room."

I said to Ivan.

And with a laugh...

-Feel free to. So rest up properly.

Ivan said that to me.

Creak—

Thud-

And I left the room.

...

...

And just like that, before I knew it...

10 days had already passed.

...

*****

Swoosh—

-You’ve really improved a lot.

Ivan said, seeing me demonstrate the moves he taught me these past days.

-You’re not really talented, but you make up for it with hard work and pure dedication.

He added.

And hearing his words...

"Thanks."

All I could do was thank him.

"It’s all because you’re the one that taught me."

I added, smiling at him.

-Is that so? I’m flustered.

Ivan responded, smiling.

"Yeah, you don’t really look like it."

And I jokingly added, seeing his creepy rotting face smile.

We’d gotten really close after spending so much time with each other.

-Meep meep!

Pyro then approached me and congratulated me on my improvement.

-You’re not that weak anymore, huh.

And Zephyrus kind of did the same.

And proudly...

"Haha, thanks."

I responded to both of them.

"Anyway, I should rest now."

I added.

Normally, I would train more until I was exhausted.

But today was different.

After all...

I’m gonna fight the Cannibal Tiger tomorrow! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

-Rest well.

Ivan said.

And with that...

"Yeah, I will."

Creak—

Thud—

I left the room with Pyro on my shoulder and Zephyrus on my head.