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.

the ideal of freedom were lost

abstract and a little

Restrictions molded society.

the City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient regulations, was because there were already unspoken rules that existed within

as they tried to deny this

their behavior which informed him that there were

why they're

or maybe the population of this city grew to an absurd degree—to the point where control became difficult—then the cracks would

The status-quo would

path—despite a lot of easier options—was due to

within him; to the point where he could not

"I wanted to change."

was

caused Noah to smile even more. Of course, no one would get it if he just said

a very weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and always looked for ways to benefit

the most part, he hadn't gotten rid of the latter part of his statement. He didn't think he

Less risks, more reward.

problem was with

myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed through

used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average in every way, and I

I felt shitty or sad—that at least there was one

was a reason Noah

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

"I liked that."

what happened to this friend of yours? Why did you

That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong,

chuckled a little, and

about his past to such a stranger, but

want

left the Capital and initially wanted to travel South, since things are a lot safer there than in the North. But apparently, all the land there

away from the war as possible. If anyone could afford it, they would instantly

was ridiculously high. Many would consider the quality of life incredibly low for the