The Survival of the Third-rate Villain - Chapter 261

Chapter 261: 261 – A Sudden Encounter [1]

After inviting Devin and Lycus, Raye left the two to continue their training… And after that— he started walking toward the library.

“…”

Tap- Tap- Tap-

He just looked forward as he walked, not saying anything. Raye was still thinking about Devin’s answer.

He was glad that Lycus would be joining him, but that was cancelled out upon Devin’s rejection.

‘I really do understand his choice… There’s no need for me to force him, that wouldn’t do anything.’

Raye thought to himself.

But deep inside, he wants to go back and ask Devin again.

And Devin, the kind of guy he is, he’ll probably change his mind because of that.

Raye knows that.

‘That’s why I won’t do it.’

He declared to himself. He respects Devin’s decision.

So brushing off such useless thoughts in his head, Raye just continued on his way to the library.

*****

After walking for some time, Raye arrived in front of the library.

A lot of students were around, and naturally, because of that— he felt a lot of eyes on him.

“…”

But Raye paid no attention to them, he understands that this will be the case for a while because of the declaration of the [Heroes Party] yesterday during the ceremony.

Leon and the other representatives are probably experiencing the same as him.

Anyway, with that entering his mind, a small laugh escaped Raye’s lips unconsciously.

“Haha…”

‘I can’t believe it, I’m the leader of one of the four [Heroes Party].’

He thought to himself.

‘A couple of years back, I would be just reading in this library and avoiding the main characters, just trying to survive… A lot has really changed since then, huh.’

Raye smiled as he remembered some of the memories in the past, the good ones of course. He realized he’s already far off in the story. As a matter of fact—

‘It’s nearing the end…’

A few more arcs remain.

The question is… After that…

“What will happen to me…”

Raye muttered, asking to the air.

Before, he didn’t really care about that. He even preferred it if he got back to his original world.

But now—

He built relationships throughout the time that he was here.

He met the Old Man, he became friends with the main characters, he binded and bonded with Zephyrus and Pyro.

Then… He fell in love with Jerusha…

This world… Raye doesn’t want to leave it anymore.

But what if… What if after the Demon King gets defeated by Leon and the others…

‘I just woke up back to my original world like this was all a really long dream.’

Raye thought to himself, looking down on the ground as he walked.

‘That’s a possibility… I read a lot of novels and manwhas, and sometimes, it ends with that.’

Raye’s face became blank as he muttered that in his head.

He doesn’t know what he’ll do if that really happens. Just thinking about it makes his heart aches, his head hurts in confusion.

His eyes stung as sadness washed all over his body after realizing that. He tried to fight it, but nothing came out of it.

His heart just started beating even faster and louder.

Just thinking that everything can disappear just like that…

Tap-

His feet slowed down. Each step felt heavier, as though he was walking through mud. The noise of the students around him became distant, almost drowned out by the suffocating silence in his head.

‘Would I really just vanish from here? Can all of this— everything I’ve done, everything I’ve built… turn into nothing but a passing dream?’

The idea stabbed at his chest. Raye clenched his fists, trying to keep his composure as he breathed slowly.

‘…’

But no matter how much he tried to resist the thought, it still lingered. It still haunted him. The uncertainty of his fate, the unknown end of his story— it gnawed at his heart.

His lips quivered for a moment as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Then, at that moment—

“Raye.”

Someone suddenly called out his name.

“Huh?”

Raye looked up unconsciously to the direction where he heard it.

And there…

“Elias…?”

He saw his brother, Elias Alvah.

“…”

Raye froze. For a second, he doesn’t know what to say.

He blinked once, then he regained his usual composure.

There, not far after entering the entrance of the library, stood Elias. His posture was calm, steady, the kind of presence that naturally drew attention without effort.

Several students passing by turned their heads, whispering to each other at the sight.

But Raye didn’t care about them.

His focus was entirely on that familiar figure.

‘…What does he want?’

Raye asked himself, trying not to frown.

“It’s been a while.”

The word slipped past Raye’s lips, acting natural.

Elias’ eyes squinted, just a little, when their gazes locked.

“Yeah, it’s been a while, Raye.”

The sound of his voice brought an overwhelming tension between them.

Raye just stood still, waiting for Elias to say something else.

Students around them grew more curious, murmuring in hushed tones spreading through the crowd like a small ripple.

But Raye and Elias ignored everyone.

Raye doesn’t particularly feel anything toward Elias. He’s not the real Raye after all, and he just thinks of him as a stranger.

But he wondered, what does Elias feel about Raye?

‘Does he hate me like everyone else, or is he just acting like a jerk since last year because that’s what the elder in the family told him after I got disowned?’

Raye questioned.

A silence stretched between them. Not uncomfortable, but not welcoming too.

Then finally, getting bored—

Tap-

Raye took one step forward. Then another.

Tap-

“If you have nothing to say, then I’ll be going.”

Raye said as he got near Elias.

‘I don’t have time for this.’

He thought.

Fortunately though, because of all of this— his unease about the future calmed down a bit.

So he’s actually a bit thankful to Elias.

Tap—

But as Raye just got past him…

Fwip-

Elias suddenly grabbed his shoulders!

It’s not forceful, just enough to stop Raye from walking.

“…?”

Raye turned to him, frowning a bit.

He saw Elias looking back at him, a serious look in his face.

Then, in a low voice—

“Who really are you?”

Elias asked that to Raye!

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