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

he found the whole thing too abstract and a little childish. In any pragmatic

Restrictions molded society.

the City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient regulations,

they tried to deny this fact, it was

an outsider, Noah could see patterns in their behavior which

they're still

an

status-quo

this path—despite a lot of easier options—was due to a much more primal

point where he could not escape

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was silence

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

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

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

Less risks, more reward.

problem was

I hated myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed

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

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

a reason Noah

was stronger, smarter… better. He was better than me, than most people around us."

"I liked that."

this friend of yours? Why did

"I wanted to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong, and I knew

little, and Noah

about his past to

want

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

from the war

of living there was ridiculously high. Many would consider the