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

whole thing too abstract and a little childish. In any pragmatic setting, there had to

Restrictions molded society.

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

tried to deny this fact, it was

which informed him that there

why they're

or maybe the population of this city grew to an absurd degree—to the

status-quo

the true reason Noah chose this path—despite a lot of easier options—was due to a much more primal and selfish

him; to the point where

"I wanted to change."

a moment, there was

Jet's inquisitive voice caused Noah to smile even more. Of course,

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

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

Less risks, more reward.

problem was with

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

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

shitty or sad—that at least there was one guy who was worse than

was a reason Noah spoke in

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

"I liked that."

friend of yours? Why did you part

shrugged as he rested his back on the chair that he sat on. "I wanted to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong, and I knew he would drag me with

a little, and Noah did

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

want

since things are a lot safer there than

was no surprise, considering how most people wanted to be as far away from the war as possible. If anyone

would consider the quality of life incredibly