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.

of freedom were lost

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

Restrictions molded society.

despite the lack of solid rules and

much as they tried to deny this fact,

behavior which informed

they're

those rules didn't exist, or maybe the population of this city grew to an absurd degree—to the point where control became difficult—then the cracks

The status-quo

chose this path—despite a lot of easier

within him; to the point where

"I wanted to change."

there was silence

caused Noah to smile even more. Of course, no one would

cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people

his statement. He didn't think he needed

Less risks, more reward.

was with

myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed through the

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

felt shitty or sad—that at least there was one

a reason Noah

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

"I liked that."

what happened to this friend of yours?

chair that he sat on. "I wanted to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong,

and Noah did the

his past to such a

want

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

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

living there was ridiculously high. Many would consider the quality