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

the sentiment, he found the whole thing too abstract and a little childish.

Restrictions molded society.

despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient regulations, was because there were already unspoken

as they tried to deny this fact, it

could see patterns in their behavior which informed him that there were unwritten regulations that bound everyone

why they're still

city grew to an absurd degree—to the point where control became

The status-quo

of easier options—was due to a much more primal and selfish

him; to the point where he could not

"I wanted to change."

a moment, there was silence in his

Of course, no one would get it

used to be a very weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and always looked for ways to benefit without taking

the latter part of his statement. He didn't think he needed to, considering how that was

Less risks, more reward.

problem was with the

myself." Noah's solemn

had a friend before moving here. Before we became friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he

least there was one guy who

a reason Noah

than I realized. He was stronger, smarter… better. He was

"I liked that."

this friend of yours? Why did you part

back on the chair that he sat on. "I wanted to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to

a little, and Noah did the

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

didn't want

are a lot safer there

be as far away from the war

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