7 - Caught in a Trap

As soon as I stepped out of the library...

"Haaa..."

I let out a sigh. I'm still pretty exhausted.

Then I looked around...

Some students are still looking at me.

And, of course, just like everyone else, they're not looking at me positively.

'Not gonna lie, I'm starting to get used to this.'

I thought.

It's only my second day in this world, and I'm already tired of them.

And that led me to ask myself...

'Why am I avoiding them?'

Because of Raye's past actions?

I didn't do any of those.

There's no reason for me to shy away and be guilty.

The one they hate is Raye, not me.

Though, unfortunately, I'm in possession of his body.

And from their perspective... I'm the bad guy.

But I completely understand them, I really do.

And even if it's unfair for me, there's nothing I can actually do about it.

It's not like I can just explain to everyone that I'm not the person they think I am.

They'd think I'm crazy.

So instead, I've decided...

'I'll just accept it.'

And I'll ignore them all.

In the first place, I'm the adult here, they're just teenagers.

I'll be the bigger person and understand their side.

So think of me as Raye all you want...

'I'll just focus on surviving from now on.'

That's right, I don't need anyone's approval to survive in this damn world.

So with all of that, I steeled myself...

"..."

I looked around at everyone staring at me.

I didn't back down from their gazes...

'If you've got something to say, say it to my face.'

I thought.

And after a few seconds... They started avoiding eye contact.

They also stopped gossiping.

It became quiet.

And peace, finally came...

"..."

'This is so liberating.'

I thought.

I should've done this from the start...

I was too overwhelmed by everything yesterday.

But after letting out my frustrations last night, I was finally able to think properly.

And so, my goal became clearer...

"Got anything to say?"

I asked, scanning through the crowd.

"..."

But no one responded.

"Hmm..."

I quickly looked at all of them one more time...

Then I nodded my head casually.

And after that...

"Excuse me, then."

Tap- tap- tap...

I quietly walked away, not sparing them another glance.

I'm on my way to do my thing now.

-----

After Raye disappeared from the entrance of the library...

"His eyes were scary!"

Students began whispering about him again.

But this time...

"I heard he was a spoiled brat, but he doesn't look like one at all..."

"Yeah, and they also said he's a weak idiot who only passed by cheating and sabotaging others, but he doesn't seem stupid or powerless at all!"

They talked about how different Raye seemed from the rumors.

Everyone expected him to throw a tantrum after being kicked out of his family. Exactly what the original Raye would have done.

But instead...

The Raye they saw exuded a mature aura.

His eyes were confident and resolute, completely unfazed by their judgmental looks.

And though intimidating, he didn't come across as arrogant.

"Maybe the rumors were just exaggerated...?"

"Man, I don't know..."

This confused the students who only knew Raye from rumors...

'That doesn't feel like him at all!'

'That's Raye? What the hell?'

But those who had witnessed the original Raye's behavior were even more bewildered.

And one of those people...

'What is he playing at?'

Was Leon Lightbringer—the protagonist of Brave Hearts!

"Does he have no energy because of what happened to him yesterday?"

Leon asked himself...

He was just passing by when he saw Raye leaving the library from afar.

Leon had already heard the news that Raye had been kicked out of his family.

So just like the others, he was expecting him to lose it and get into a fight.

In fact, he was ready to beat Raye down if that ever happened to break off the fight!

But Raye simply walked away, and he looked completely unbothered as well...

Leon sensed something was different about Raye, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

So, in the end...

"Whatever."

He just let it go and was just glad that nothing bad happened.

And then, he continued with his day...

...

*****

(Raye's POV)

"Ugh... fuck... my legs hurt."

I grumbled.

Right now, I'm on the far north-west side of the academy...

In the middle of a dense forest!

Why am I here?

Obviously, for a sub quest!

"Haaa..."

Anyway...

It's been an hour or so since I left the library, and I've been walking the whole time.

My arms are sore from carrying my bags, and I'm starving since I haven't eaten lunch yet.

It's about 1 PM now...

I'm hungry and tired.

I feel like passing out again...

"Fuck..."

I've actually been at my destination for a while now.

But I'm still waiting for something to happen.

That's why I've been circling this forest for the past few minutes...

But there's still no sign of it.

"Am I that unlucky?"

I mumbled.

And as soon as I did...

Thomp—

"Huh?"

I stepped on something.

Fwoop—

"WhaaaaaaAAAAaaaa!"

And the next thing I knew, I was hanging upside down from a tree, with a rope around my right leg!

I had been caught in a trap meant for animals!

And it just didn't end on that!

With the violent swinging of the rope...

BAM!

"Ugh!"

I hit my head hard on the tree trunk!

My vision blurred.

I got dizzy...

And soon, I started losing consciousness.

'Really? I'm passing out again?'

I thought.

I tried holding on for as long as I could...

But hanging upside down...

I only managed a few seconds before my vision started fading.

But just before I blacked out...

Rustle- rustle...

I heard something approaching.

"... ugh..."

I let out a weak groan to alert them that there's a human here.

And upon hearing me, they rushed in my direction and showed themselves...

"Huh...?"

It was an old man with a bow and arrow. He looked surprised to see me in such condition.

But I was so glad to see him...

So glad that a weak smile spread across my face.

"My... quest... giver..."

I muttered weakly.

"What are you talking about?"

The old man asked, stepping closer.

But I had no strength left to answer. So I just closed my eyes.

"Wha—! Hey! Don't die on me!"

The old man exclaimed, rushing over.

With him here, I can now pass out in peace.

That's right, the condition to trigger this sub quest I had in mind...

Was to get caught in this old man's trap while weakened.

Anyway...

I passed out. Again.