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

he admired the sentiment, he found the whole thing too abstract and a little childish. In any pragmatic setting,

Restrictions molded society.

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

much as they tried to

could see patterns in their behavior which informed him that there were unwritten regulations

they're still

of this city grew to an absurd degree—to the point where control became difficult—then the

status-quo would

the true reason Noah chose this path—despite a lot of easier options—was

engrained within him; to the point

"I wanted to change."

a moment, there was silence in his

Of course, no one would

a very weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and

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

Less risks, more reward.

was with the

think I hated myself." Noah's solemn

comfort myself by thinking he was

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

Noah spoke in

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

"I liked that."

friend of yours? Why did you part

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

chuckled a little, and

his past to such a stranger, but somehow… he

want to

are a lot safer there than in the North. But apparently, all

surprise, considering how most people wanted to be as far away from the war as possible. If anyone could

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