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 were lost concepts

abstract and a little childish. In any pragmatic setting, there had to be

Restrictions molded society.

the Adventurers were still coexisting pretty well within the City, despite the lack of

tried to deny this fact, it was

their behavior which informed him that there were unwritten

why they're

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

status-quo

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

was engrained within him; to the point where he could not escape or

"I wanted to change."

a moment, there was silence

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

hid behind stronger people and always looked for ways

latter part of his statement. He didn't think he needed

Less risks, more reward.

problem was with

Noah's solemn

myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average in every way, and I always told

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

was a reason Noah

I realized. He was stronger, smarter… better. He was better than me, than most people around

"I liked that."

this friend of yours? Why did you

on. "I wanted to run away. That guy was

chuckled a little, and

about his past to such

didn't want

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

most people wanted to be as far away from the war as possible.

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