An Extra’s POV

"Ahh, that…"

Noah's face fell a little, and something akin to a sad smile added to his clouded countenance.

His tale wasn't particularly a sad story. Many Adventurers in the City had more tragic experiences to share.

However, for Noah, a sixteen-year-old teenager who had been living a pretty mundane life on Earth until three months ago, his story was just as heavy.

"I think… I realized that I had no other choice but to become strong." His smile broadened as he uttered those words.

Many would agree with him, but most were probably going to miss the point. No one could really understand the depths from which he uttered those words.

People desired to get stronger for various reasons.

Some wanted wealth.

'I already have more than enough money to retire to some countryside and live the rest of my life without worrying about sustenance.'

Some craved power.

'I have enough strength to be in the one percent of humans in this world.'

Some lusted after influence.

'I find attention annoying, and most of the time… I like being left alone.'

Women.

'I don't think most of them are anything special.'

Thrill.

'Nothing about fighting Monsters thrills me. It's a dangerous job.'

Noah didn't qualify for most of the reasons why most people desired to be Adventurers. He wasn't like the average Adventurers, and he didn't relate to most of the things they valued.

freedom

abstract and a little

Restrictions molded society.

well within the City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient regulations, was because there were

tried to deny this fact, it

see patterns in their behavior which informed him that

why they're

population of this city grew to an absurd

The status-quo would

this path—despite a lot of easier options—was due to a much more primal

point where he could not escape or

"I wanted to change."

was

course, no one would get it

be a very weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and always looked for ways to benefit without

the latter part of his statement. He didn't think he needed to, considering

Less risks, more reward.

problem was with

I hated myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed

moving here. Before we became friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average

at least there was one guy who was worse

a reason Noah

realize that the guy was secretly a lot better than I realized. He was stronger, smarter… better. He was better than

"I liked that."

to this friend of yours? Why did you part

chair that he sat on. "I wanted to run away. That guy was a monster

a little, and Noah did

was revealing so much about his past to such a stranger, but somehow…

didn't want

left the Capital and initially wanted to travel South, since things are a lot safer

wanted to be as far away from the war as

living there was ridiculously high. Many would consider the quality of life incredibly