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 were lost concepts to

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

Restrictions molded society.

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

tried to deny this fact,

outsider, Noah could see patterns in their behavior which

why they're still

an

status-quo

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

was engrained within him; to the point

"I wanted to change."

a moment, there was

voice caused Noah to smile even more. Of course, no

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 how

Less risks, more reward.

problem was

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

a friend before moving here. Before we became friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average in every way, and

shitty or sad—that at least there was

Noah spoke

He was stronger, smarter… better.

"I liked that."

this friend of yours? Why

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

little, and Noah

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

didn't want

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

away from the war as possible. If anyone could afford it, they would instantly

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