The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

(Raye's POV)

I just told the prince that I don't remember a lot of things because of my amnesia, that I lost most of my memories.

But then, after hearing my words— The second prince, Aurelian Rakon— frowned!

He raised a brow, then opening his mouth—

"You know I have a special skill that lets me see through lies and truth... I know you're just spewing bullshit, you bastard."

He declared that, looking at me suspiciously!

"..."

I didn't say anything after hearing his words. I just stared at him.

Expressionless. Calm. I didn't even a twitch.

Though—

'HE FUCKING HAVE A SKILL LIKE THAT?!!'

My head is currently in a mess with the information I just learned about the second prince.

"Hmm~"

He hummed, squinting his golden eyes.

"Though, the part that you said you forgot a lot of things isn't exactly a lie, apparently... I just don't know how."

"Well, I'm wondering why you lied about the reason though too... You don't have amnesia, don't you? Something else happened."

Then, he stated that!

'Ugh...!'

Looks like he really does have a skill like he said, and it's good as fuck!

Anyway, looks like I can't really lie in front of him like I usually do to people... But it's not like I can't say anything too, he might misunderstood me as an enemy or something.

So opening my mouth—

"Well, you're right... I'm not lying about the part that I forgot about most of the things in the past. I also lied about having amnesia."

I calmly stated that.

"..."

Aurelian just stared at me, curiosity obvious in his eyes.

"I just have reasons, and I can't tell you them... Just remember this— I'm basically a different person now than the Raye that you know back then."

And then, I declared that!

"..."

Aurelian suddenly frowned after hearing my words. At the last part of what I just said, I noticed his eyes widening.

And it seemed like his skill told him that I am indeed telling the truth about that part!

So to top it off—

"I'm several times, or even miles away much better than the past Raye."

I confidently said that!

"..."

The second prince froze at my words, he looked surprised. He didn't say or do anything for a few seconds.

He just... Looked at me.

But then, after a while—

"Tch."

He clicked his tongue.

"You really are a pain in the ass. Why can't you be just normal?"

Then he asked me that, a frown rested on his face.

"I'm pretty normal, to be honest."

I just shrugged my shoulders and casually replied to him.

"It's worrying that my skill told me you're telling the truth, because that means you actually believe that."

He rebutted.

"Well, obviously I'll believe that. I'm really normal."

Then I quickly answered.

"..."

Silence followed that. The second prince just frowning at me.

Swoosh~

The wind brushed against the window behind him, faint but audible in the quiet hallway where we are.

"Haaaaa..."

Aurelian just let out a defeated sigh.

His gaze didn't leave me for even a second.

"You know..."

His voice dropped lower.

"Whatever... I don't even know what to think of you now if you're not the Raye that I know."

Then he said that.

And not stopping there—

"When I heard the stories of your achievements. I thought you were doing some shady things again... I actually thought of having you assassinated after seeing what kind of idiocy you're doing this time."

He casually added!

My brows twitched at his words.

"Though, after seeing you today kill a noble demon easily... The assassins I brought probably wouldn't be able to do anything to you."

"Oh, yeah, I can feel them watching the auditorium from the outside... I thought they were professors or staff."

I responded.

The moment those words left my mouth, Aurelian's brows furrowed even more.

"...You can sense them?"

He sounded skeptical at first, but there was also this faint hint of intrigue in his tone.

"Well, duh. They were pretty good at hiding, but compared to the things I've been through... their presence sticks out like sore thumbs."

I answered casually, like we were talking about the weather.

(Raye's senses heightened a lot after spending a lot of time in the rift dungeon before. He always has to be alert because he's in a forest and enemies are literally everywhere.)

Aurelian's lips twitched.

"You arrogant bastard."

He mumbled.

"Just stating facts."

"...Ugh."

He crossed his arms, his golden eyes narrowing on me again.

"So, what— you're telling me even if I gave the order right now, they wouldn't be able to kill you?"

I tilted my head slightly, as if thinking about it.

"Kill me? No."

I smirked faintly.

"Annoy me? Maybe."

I might be being a little arrogant, but I'm just that confident in my skills and strength.

Anyway—

"Hah...!"

My words got a short exhale out of Aurelian, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff.

"You're still insane, I see."

He said.

The tension between us stayed, but it wasn't the kind that made you want to back away. It was more like a quiet, dangerous curiosity— the kind where neither side wanted to look away first.

Moving on—

Tap-

Aurelian stepped a bit closer, his boots making that crisp sound against the polished floor.

"Alright then, different person or not... I still want to know something."

"...What?"

"If you really aren't the same Raye I knew back then... what the hell happened to you?"

His tone wasn't mocking this time. It wasn't even commanding. Just... really curious.

I looked at him for a while without answering, my gaze steady.

"That's not something I can tell you."

"Tch. Of course you'd say that."

He clicked his tongue again, but his voice had less hostility this time.

"You'd probably call me crazy if I did tell you anyway."

"Probably."

He admitted without hesitation.

"..."

"..."

For a few seconds, silence again.

Somewhere in the distance, I could still hear muffled voices— professors, maybe some of the students being lead away after the mess earlier.

"...You know."

Aurelian spoke again.

"Back then, when we were kids... you were loud, obnoxious, and way too full of yourself. But you were also— "

He stopped.

"Also what?"

I asked.

"A fucking bitch that always test my patience to the limit."

Then Aurelian quickly followed that.

"You thought I was about to say something good about you? Dream on, you were that trash of a human in the past."

He said.

"..."

I was speechless.

'This fucker can be pretty annoying... I didn't know this was his real personality.'

I thought to myself, looking at Aurelian.