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.

like the ideal of freedom were lost

the whole thing too abstract and a little childish.

Restrictions molded society.

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

tried to

see patterns in their behavior which informed him that

they're

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

status-quo

the true reason Noah chose this path—despite a lot of easier options—was due

point where he could not

"I wanted to change."

there was silence in his

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

cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and always

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

Less risks, more reward.

was

think I hated myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed

Before we became friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic

there was one

was a reason Noah spoke in past

that the guy was secretly a lot better than I realized. He was stronger, smarter… better. He was better than me, than most people around us."

"I liked that."

this friend of yours? Why did you

guy was a monster

chuckled a little, and Noah

know why he was revealing so much about his past

want to

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

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

there was ridiculously high. Many would consider the quality