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.

of freedom

the sentiment, he found the whole thing too abstract and a little

Restrictions molded society.

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

as they tried to deny this fact,

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

they're

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

The status-quo

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

to the point where he

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was

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

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

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

Less risks, more reward.

was with

think I hated myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed through the

I used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic

there was

was a reason Noah spoke in past

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

"I liked that."

happened to this friend of

on. "I wanted to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong, and I knew he would drag me

chuckled a little, and Noah did the

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

didn't want

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

as far away from the war as possible. If anyone could afford it,

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