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 were lost

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

Restrictions molded society.

only reason why the Adventurers were still coexisting pretty well within the City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient

much as they tried to deny this fact, it

behavior which informed

they're still

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

status-quo would

of easier options—was due to

to the point where he

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was silence in his

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

to be a very weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and

part of his statement. He

Less risks, more reward.

problem was with the

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

became friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average

at least there was one guy who was worse

Noah spoke in past

a lot better than I realized. He was stronger, smarter… better. He was better than me, than most people around us." A little smirk

"I liked that."

to this friend of yours? Why did

sat on. "I wanted to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to

a little, and

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

want to

to travel South, since things are a lot safer there than in the North. But apparently, all the land there has been

considering how most people wanted to be as far away from the war as possible. If anyone could afford it,

the cost of living there was ridiculously high. Many would consider the quality of life incredibly low