The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

Raye let Joseph go as soon as they arrived in the City of Dravenhold.

But before parting ways, he tossed him a few tens of gold coins—

It was actually way too little for two weeks of work.

But Joseph?

He didn't care about it.

He didn't even try or think about complaining...

"Good bye, I promise I'll be good from now on!"

He said with a big smile on his face before leaving.

And the moment Raye gave the word—

BAM!

FWOOSH—

Joseph bolted out of his sight.

And so, just like that—

"..."

-...

-...

Raye, Pyro, and Zephyrus were now all left alone in this massive city.

-This is a lively place...

Zephyrus muttered as he hovered beside Raye, taking in the sights around.

It was packed with people and it was noisy.

-Meep...

Pyro agreed to Zephyrus. He's currently perched comfortably on top of Raye's head.

-Wouldn't we get lost here?

Zephyrus then asked next, glancing at Raye.

-Meep...?

Even Pyro looked a little concerned about that.

But Raye—

With a shrug—

"Nah, don't worry about it."

He just said that.

Raye was this confident, after all—

'I have this entire city memorized.'

He declared in his head.

After all those hours he spent in the game, running around in this one stage...

There was just no way that Raye would get lost.

And so, without wasting any more time—

"Let's go."

Raye muttered that.

TAP—

And then he calmly took a step forward, without a hint of hesitation.

And seeing him go—

-Meh, whatever...

-Meep!

FWOOSH—

Zephyrus and Pyro followed after him, trusting in his confidence.

...

...

*****

Meanwhile—

As Raye made his way toward a local inn to rest and gather important supplies...

Somewhere within a grand estate, inside a lavish office adorned with priceless decor—

"Hmmm..."

A man sat behind a massive, elegant wooden desk.

It was Lucian.

(Raye's biological father.)

Fwip-

And in his hand was letter...

"..."

His piercing blue eyes scanned through the letter's contents.

Then, after finishing the last line—

"Heh..."

A weak chuckle escaped Lucian's lips as a subtle smile formed on his face!

Then, after setting the paper down his table—

"Huuuu..."

He took a deep breath before speaking.

"So he's finally here, huh."

Lucian murmured, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

He had been informed the moment Raye set foot inside Dravenhold!

And even now—

His spies were watching him!

Lucian was already aware that Raye, his disowned son, was here in the Dravenhold City!

And that he broke the rule of not setting foot in this land again!

"I should probably meet and have a talk with him later."

Lucian whispered to himself, reading through the papers about Raye again for the second time—then slightly smiling afterward.

*****

After securing a room at the local inn—

-Ugh, finally, a comfortable bed after days of sleeping in the carriage...

-Meep!

Raye, Zephyrus, and Pyro finally had a place to rest for the day.

Thanks to Raye's sharp memory, they didn't get lost even once, effortlessly navigating the bustling streets of Dravenhold.

Zephyrus and Pyro, amazed by this, couldn't help but express their awe—

-How do you know this city's layout, have you been here before?

Zephyrus asked as he perched on Raye's right shoulder.

-Meep…!

Pyro chirped, perching on top of Raye's head again.

"Meh..."

Raye just shrugged casually.

"I played around this city too much before. It's basically burned into my head."

He said.

And at his words—

-Hnmm... So you've been here before when you were a child, huh.

-Meep...

Zephyrus and Pyro muttered that.

"Yeah, something like that."

Raye just responded with that, not wanting to explain any further.

Then after settling into the inn—

"Anyway, let's go."

-Oh, okay.

-Meeeep!

Raye wasted no time and immediately headed out again.

...

-----

...

Getting out to the City if Dravenhold—

Raye, Zephyrus, and Pyro did some exploring, buying supplies, then preparing.

Because this time—

Raye's next move wasn't going to be easy.

So for the next few hours, he carefully stocked up on everything he needed.

And his total spending?

More than a hundred gold coins!

He bought some expensive herbs, high quality potions, and materials that he could use in magic engineering.

And by the time the three returned to the inn—

Swooosh~

The sun had already begun to set.

...

Creack—

Thud-

"Hmm, finally home."

The three entered their room.

And as soon as they got there—

-Let's start, Pyro.

-Meeeep!!

Zephyrus and Pyro resumed their training.

Their training for today focuses on meditating and refining their mana.

And so, just like that—

WHOOOSH~

The two of them sat on the wooden floor and started circulating mana in their small bodies.

Raye on the on the other, was going through the items that they bought.

Then—

As the atmosphere grew calm and silent...

BOOM!!!

A sudden explosion erupted beside Zephyrus and Pyro!

-?!?!

The two immediately opened their eyes, they widened in shock!

Fwish—

They immediately turned toward the source of the explosion—

And there—

SWOOOOOSH~!!!

Standing amidst a dense storm of swirling mana—

Was Raye.

His expression was stoic, eyes closed.

But his entire body was trembling, his veins glowing with power—with mana.

And as Zephyrus and Pyro felt the sheer density of mana building around him…

They realized it instantly.

He took enhancement pills again!

They're right about this.

And Raye, he did not just take one or two.

Those are for weaklings, for newbies.

No—

He took five pills at once!

-Ugh... He's getting reckless with this after finding out his hidden talent.

Zephyrus grumbled, looking at Raye with a slight frown on his face.

-Meeep...

Pyro chirped, he was worried about Raye.

Then, without needing to exchange words—

Fwoosh—

Zephyrus and Pyro moved.

They know what they need to do at the moment.

Protect Raye. Guard him. Make sure he succeeds in absorbing the essence of the pills.

Because this wasn't just hardcore training anymore—

This was Raye's battle against his own limits.

"URGH...!!!"

Raye groaned in pain, blood dripped down from his nose and mouth.

But knowing that he was getting stronger from this—

WHOOOSH—!!!

Raye just bit his lips and endured everything.