The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

"Sir? Your orders are here!"

Raye was woken up from his nap by the innkeeper.

The food he had ordered was now at his door.

"Ugh..."

Raye immediately stood up when he heard that.

And looking back at the bed...

-meep...

-mhmmn...

He saw Pyro and Zephyrus sleeping peacefully.

’I should probably let them be for now.’

Raye thought, a smile on his face.

Tap- tap- tap—

He walked toward the door of the room.

Creak—

And after opening it...

"Oh, did I disturb you?"

The innkeeper greeted him.

"Nah, it’s all good."

Raye replied, slightly shaking his head.

"I’m glad, then. Anyway, here are your orders."

The innkeeper followed, handing Raye a big-ass tray with lots of food on it.

"Well, half of your orders are still being prepared, but I’ll bring them up here as soon as possible."

The innkeeper added awkwardly.

"Thanks, I’ll count on you."

Raye said as he took the tray from him, and after that...

"Well then, see you later."

"See you."

Thud—

They finished their small talk.

Looking at the tray in front of him...

"..."

Raye’s mouth started to water!

Just the smell alone was already making him hungry!

"Finally, properly seasoned and cooked food."

Raye mumbled to himself.

And after that...

"Hup."

He placed the tray of food on the table...

Nom—

And then he started eating.

-Meep...?

-What’s that smell?

Pyro and Zephyrus woke up not long after, they were smelling something delicious, after all.

And after seeing Raye with a lot of food...

-Meep!

-Let me have some too!

They joined him on the table.

*****

Burp—

"Haaaa..."

Raye was satisfied, his stomach was full as hell.

-Meeep...

-That’s good.

Pyro and Zephyrus felt the same.

They ate like savages.

After all, it had been a long time since they ate something other than monster meat!

That’s why Raye and the others didn’t care how they looked. They just stuffed food continuously into their mouths until they felt their bellies popping!

Anyway, as they were sitting, stuffed...

-How’s your left arm?

Zephyrus asked Raye.

And looking at him...

"Shit."

Raye replied.

-Meep...

Pyro was sleeping again, rolling on top of the table. He looks cute.

And that’s when...

-Why not use another enhancement pill?

Zephyrus suggested that to Raye.

-It won’t increase your strength that much this time, but it’ll make your condition better.

He added, explaining.

And hearing his words...

"Really?"

Raye asked.

-Yep.

Zephyrus nodded.

And because he was annoyed at the aching he felt...

"Okay, I’ll consume another pill."

Raye immediately decided to take Zephyrus’ suggestion.

And not wasting any second...

He sat in lotus position on the floor and took out an enhancement pill from his spatial bag.

And without further ado...

Gulp-

Raye swallowed it.

...

...

After a few hours...

"Huff... haaa... haaaa..."

Raye successfully consumed an enhancement pill.

His body was hot, and he was sweating a lot.

-Wow, the effects of the enhancement pill on you was better this time than the last time...

Zephyrus said, looking at him, surprised.

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But ignoring him...

Raye looked at his left arm.

And after opening and closing his left hand a few times...

"Haha."

He laughed.

The pain was gone!

And his left arm looked good as new!

And as he was celebrating that fact...

"Hello, sir?"

The innkeeper called again from outside the room!

Hearing his voice...

"Good timing. I was hungry after absorbing the enhancement pill’s energy."

Raye immediately stood up to open the door for him.

-Food again!

-Meep!

Zephyrus and Pyro followed after him.

******

After eating the second batch of his orders...

Raye, Pyro, and Zephyrus spent the rest of the day resting.

They were just lying around, sleeping, and doing whatever they want.

Pyro and Zephyrus played with each other...

On the other hand, Raye meditated while lying down on the soft bed.

Though, he got too comfortable and fell asleep while doing so...

Then, after waking up, he took out some of the books he got from the mansion.

’I need to study, I don’t want to be left behind in academics.’

And with that in mind...

"..."

Raye started reading.

And just like that...

The next day arrived.

...

...

"Have a safe trip, sir!"

The innkeeper exclaimed happily as Raye exited the inn.

Hearing him...

"Thanks, it was a nice stay."

Raye responded.

-Their food is nice.

Zephyrus commented.

-Meep!

And Pyro agreed with him.

Though, the three of them enjoyed the comfortable bed the most, seeing how refreshed they are from sleeping a lot.

Anyway...

Tap- tap- tap—

Raye left the facility.

And as soon as he did...

"Oh, you were one of them."

Raye saw the crazy looking old man who had warned him and the others before they entered the Misty Forest!

"..."

Raye’s eyes widened in surprise. He was speechless.

"Where are the others?"

The old man asked him.

And hearing the question...

Raye frowned.

"..."

He silently shook his head in response.

Seeing that...

"I’m sorry for your loss."

The old man said to Raye.

"They would still be here if we had listened to your warnings."

Raye said, his voice was full of regret.

And just then...

Pat- pat—

The old man approached and patted Raye’s shoulders to console him.

"Don’t worry. I understand why no one listens to me. I look like a crazed old man, after all."

The old man stated.

And following that...

"I’m glad you survived."

The old man added.

His words felt magical. Hearing them...

"Thanks."

Raye felt his body lighten, as though a huge burden had been removed from his shoulders.

He felt warmth in his heart.

And though slightly, Raye let out a genuine smile.

...

Raye and the old man talked for a bit.

And after that...

"I’ll be off now."

Raye said his goodbye.

"Stay safe."

The old man said.

"You too."

And Raye replied.

Thump—

Raye handed the old man a cloth bag.

"Hm?"

The old man was confused, but Raye just smiled at him.

"I’ve taken care of the monster in the forest."

Raye said.

And after that...

Bam—

He kicked off the ground and left the village!

The bag had tens of gold coins in it, by the way.

Raye gave it to the old man in hope it helps him live more comfortably.

...

*****

After a couple of days...

Back at the academy, in Old Man Rey’s cabin...

Old Man Rey, Jerusha, Lena, Devin, Kyle, and Lycus were all together.

Today was the day...

The day they would venture out of the academy to find Raye!

"Here, this is a communication device."

Lena said, handing a pearl-looking artifact to Jerusha.

"In case you miss him and he comes back, we’ll let you know immediately."

She added.

Taking the artifact...

"Thanks."

Jerusha replied with a smile.

"We’ll be off now."

She said.

"..."

Lena nodded in response.

"Take care."

Kyle said.

"Be careful out there."

Then Old Man Rey followed.

"We’ll surely bring him back!"

Devin exclaimed with a smile.

"I’ll try my best to find him."

Lycus then declared.

They all exchanged words of goodluck and goodbyes.

And after that...

Jerusha, Devin, and Lycus were set to leave!

They have this determined look in their eyes.

Though, before they could even turn their backs...

"Oh, everyone’s here."

They heard a voice behind them.

It was new yet familiar.

They knew the voice so well!

And when everyone turned toward it...

"What’s the occasion?"

They saw Raye, casually standing a few meters away from them!

*****

"..."

Old Man Rey, Jerusha, Kyle, Lena, Devin, and Lycus just stared at Raye.

They were silent, their eyes wide.

They clearly weren’t expecting Raye to just suddenly appear in front of them!

Especially after preparing so hard to search for him!

They’re not even sure if they were really seeing things right!

Just then...

"What?"

Raye asked, seeing them just staring.

It was getting awkward.

But after a few seconds...

"You brat! Where have you been?!"

Old Man Rey exclaimed, smiling as he approached Raye.

And seeing him do that...

"Haha, it’s a long story."

Raye replied with a laugh.

After reaching him...

"I’m glad to see you’re safe."

The Old Man said that to Raye.

"..."

Raye smiled, hearing his words.

And with a slight nod...

"I’m glad to see you doing fine too."

Raye responded.

And after that...

"Brother Raye!"

Kyle exclaimed, rushing to hug Raye.

"Oof."

Raye received Kyle with open arms.

And tapping his back...

"How’s your business?"

Raye asked.

"Never been better!"

Kyle answered, pulling away from the hug.

Meanwhile, while Raye happily reunited with Old Man Rey and Kyle...

"..."

The others were still staring at him, wide-eyed.

Because...

’The atmosphere around Raye has changed!’

They thought.

And they’re not just talking about a small change, it’s similar to when Raye’s personality just changed one day!

Also, just by seeing his confident stance and feeling the calm aura around him...

Jerusha, Lena, Devin, and Lycus instinctively knew Raye had gotten ridiculously strong!

’What happened to him?’

They all wondered in unison.

But then...

"!"

Raye looked in their direction.

And with a calm smile...

"I’m happy to see you guys here."

He said.

And hearing his words...

"..."

’Ugh, fuck it.’

They stopped thinking and approached Raye.

They have a lot of questions they want to ask him, but that’s for later.

For now, they decided to be happy for his return.