The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

Chapter 174 - 174: 174 - After The Invasion [2]—Old Man Rey

"Raye... you were out for over a month."

Jerusha's voice was calm, but the weight of her words was anything but that.

And hearing her—

"..."

Raye froze.

For a moment, his brain refused to process it.

"Huh...?"

The word slipped from his lips before he even realized it. A quiet, confused sound—like his mind was struggling to catch up.

'Over a month?'

'That couldn't be right.'

He thought in his head, in denial.

Raye's brows furrowed as his thoughts raced.

"Wait… what?"

He looked at Jerusha,

"..... "

He didn't look like the Old Man Rey that Raye knew.

The Old Man who had always seemed so old, yet invincible—

The Old Man who had trained him, scolded him, and pushed him past his limits—

The Old Man that always acted rude, but deep inside, actually cares a lot—

Now...

He looked so... fragile.

It looks like he was withering!

His body had shrunk, his skin now clinging to his bones!

And his face—

It was pale. Hollow. Lined with exhaustion.

"ha..a...aa...a...aa.."

His breathing was shallow. Barely noticeable.

There were dark circles under Old Man Rey's closed eyes, like he hadn't rested properly in years.

His arms lay limp at his sides, unmoving.

The blankets covered most of him, but even then, it was obvious—

His body was skin and bones.

Weakened.

Almost lifeless.

And seeing him like that—

"...!"

Raye felt like something had grabbed his heart and squeezed it.

It was the first time he had ever seen Old Man Rey look so... Weak.

Fwoosh~

The silence in the room was suffocating.

"hu...u..uuu..."

The only sound was the faint, breathing of Old Man Rey.

Proof that he was still alive.

Proof that his heart was still beating.

But—

It was so weak.

"...Ah..."

Raye's lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

And then, finally, after calming down for a bit—

"I'm sorry..."

Raye mumbled that.

"I'm sorry..."

Again.

"I'm sorry....."

And again.

His voice was getting weaker.

Then, slightly bowing his head with a frustrated frown—

"If only I arrived earlier that day....."

Raye mumbled that to himself.