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

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

Restrictions molded society.

the Adventurers were still coexisting pretty well within the City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient regulations, was because there were

much as they tried to deny

their behavior which informed him that

they're

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

status-quo would

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

him; to the point

"I wanted to change."

a moment, there was silence

more. Of course, no one would get

cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and always looked for ways to benefit without taking

part of his statement. He didn't

Less risks, more reward.

was with the

solemn tone oozed

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

least there was one guy who was

Noah

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

"I liked that."

of yours? Why did

wanted to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong, and I knew he would drag me with him. I

chuckled a little, and Noah did the

much about his past

didn't want to

left the Capital and initially wanted to travel South, since things are a lot safer there than in the North.

to be as far away from the war as possible. If

Many would consider the quality of life incredibly low for the amount