The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

Entering the orphanage...

’Uwahhh...’

Raye was further impressed as he saw the interior.

’It’s like a small noble lord lives here.’

He thought.

Anyway, moving on...

"There."

Thud—

Raye found a table and placed all the paper bags he was carrying on top of it.

"Oh."

He then noticed Jerusha entering with the three kids.

’Looks like she’s telling them to keep quiet.’

Raye concluded in his head, seeing her shushing at them.

"Jerusha, here."

He called out to her.

"Ah, yes!"

Jerusha flinched at his call...

"..."

But Raye paid no attention to it.

*****

Inside the orphanage...

There were roughly twenty more kids.

And along with Sister Irish, there were four adults taking care of them.

Three nuns and a retired teacher!

Jerusha introduced Raye to them, and he greeted them in return.

Then after that...

"Hmm, this is comfy"

Jerusha and Raye sat on a couch.

"I’ll cook you guys something, just wait here, okay?"

Sister Irish said.

"Okay!"

And Jerusha replied cheerfully.

Tap- tap- tap—

Sister Irish headed to the kitchen.

Then, looking at Raye...

"I’m sorry you were forced to stay."

Jerusha apologized.

"Meh."

Raye shrugged.

"Why are you apologizing? I’m staying because Sister said she’ll cook for us. It’d be rude to decline."

He said casually.

"..."

Jerusha smiled, hearing his words. She knew Raye was just being kind to her.

But then, as she was smiling...

"Yieee..."

She heard a weak voice behind Raye!

Jerusha turned to look.

"?!"

And it was the two boys and the girl from before!

"Huh? What do you guys want?"

Raye asked, noticing them too.

But immediately...

"Hey, you three! Don’t disturb him!"

Jerusha exclaimed, shooing the kids away!

"He he he he!"

The kids then ran off, laughing mischievously.

And looking after them...

"Ugh, those three..."

Jerusha slightly frowned.

"..."

Raye had no idea what was going on, so he just remained silent.

’Is every kid here weird?’

Raye thought to himself.

*****

A few minutes later...

"Wow, your sword is cool!"

"Is that real?"

"Can you cut my book with it so I wouldn’t have to read it?"

The kids started gathering around Raye, curious about the new face.

The boys were all about Raye’s sword...

"He’s handsome, huh."

"He must be a prince!"

"Big sister’s prince!"

While the girls were focused on Raye’s face.

Amid the attention from the kids...

"..."

Raye had no idea how to react, so he’s just there... All quiet.

"Are they bothering you?"

Jerusha asked him.

"No, I just don’t know how to react to them."

And Raye honestly replied.

"I don’t mind them though."

He added.

"You sure?"

Jerusha followed.

"Yup."

Raye simply answered.

"..."

Jerusha was still a little worried that Raye might be feeling uncomfortable.

But just then...

"Jerusha?"

Sister Irish came out of the kitchen and called for her.

"Hm, what is it?"

Jerusha asked.

Then, apologetically...

"Can you buy something from the town real quick? We’re out of spices."

Sister Irish mumbled that.

"Oh, umm..."

Jerusha awkwardly glanced at Raye.

Thinking that it’ll be rude to leave him alone here.

But then, with a smile...

"I’ll wait for you here."

Raye just casually said that!

And hearing his words...

"..."

Jerusha smiled once again.

"Okay! What do I need to buy?"

Then she turned to Sister Irish and responded.

"Great! So buy one of these and this too..."

***

Outside the orphanage...

"I’m going now."

Jerusha said that.

Raye and the kids are seeing her off.

"Want to bring my sword for safety?"

Raye asked her, pertaining to his [Nyx].

But with a laugh...

"No, silly. I’ll be fine without a sword."

Jerusha replied innocently.

"Fair enough."

Raye muttered.

And with that...

"I’ll be right back!"

SWOOSH—

Jerusha flew up in the air, headed toward the town.

"Bye, Sister Jerusha!"

"Come back quickly!"

"Buy me a gift on your way back!"

The kids waved her goodbye.

And once she was out of sight...

"Let’s go play!"

"Okay!"

"Let me join!"

"YAY!"

The kids started playing in front of the orphanage.

"Hmm..."

Raye observed them running around like idiots.

Then...

’I could look after them for a while.’

Raye thought to himself as he sat on a large rock nearby.

"..."

He was like a parent watching his kids play in the park.

Though, as he was doing that...

"Hello!"

"Hm?"

Three of the kids approached him.

They were the same three from earlier, the two boys and the girl!

"Yes, what is it?"

Raye asked, looking at them.

Then the girl spoke first...

"Do you like Sister Jerusha?"

She asked.

"Huh?"

Raye was taken aback by the sudden question.

But after a moment... 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Yeah, I like her."

He casually said that!

’I thought we wouldn’t get along at first, but Jerusha is a nice friend.’

Raye thought.

"Ohh, what do you like about her?!"

One of the boys asked eagerly.

"She’s kind."

And Raye immediately answered!

"She helped me a lot too, I’m indebted to her."

He added with a small smile.

"Ehh, do you think she’s beautiful then?"

The other boy asked.

Raye looked at him...

"Of course."

Then he responded nonchalantly!

’Even when I was just playing the game, I thought Jerusha’s character design was beautiful.’

Raye thought to himself.

And after that...

"Well, do you...?!"

The three kids continued asking him questions.

Raye just answered them all casually, not thinking much about their curiosity.

However...

As their question and answer session went on...

"KYAAAA!!!"

Raye heard a child scream!

"AHHHHH!!!"

Then the others joined in!

"...!"

Raye immediately looked at the first source of the scream.

And there...

"?!"

He saw a little girl on the ground, crying!

And in front of her...

-GRAAAAHHHH!!!

There was something humanoid!

It was unmistakably not human—red skin, horns, claws, and a tail!

And Raye immediately recognized what it was...

’A low-rank demon!’

Raye thought, alarmed.

-SHUT UP, TINY HUMAN!!!

The demon roared.

SWOOSH—

And it swung its claws toward the girl!

But before its attack could land...

"[Flash]"

Fwish—

Raye appeared between the demon and the girl!

CLANG—

-Urgh...?!

And he parried the demon’s hand with his sword!

Fwip—

"Huh?"

Raye grabbed the neckline of the little girl’s dress.

Bam—

"Kyaaa!!"

And then he leaped backward, carrying her out of danger!

Tap—

Raye landed softly on the ground...

"Everyone, get inside!"

And then he shouted that!

"AAHHHHH!!!"

"KYAAAA!!!"

The kids screamed in fear and rushed inside the orphanage, including the girl he’d just saved.

And with that...

"..."

Fwish

Raye turned to face the demon who’s a few meters away from him.

And looking back at him...

-Hmm, interesting.

The demon mumbled that and smirked!