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

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

Restrictions molded society.

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

to

their behavior which informed

why they're still

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

status-quo would

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

him; to the point where he could not escape or

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was

Jet's inquisitive voice caused Noah to smile even more. Of course, no one would get it if he just said

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

hadn't gotten rid of the latter part of his statement.

Less risks, more reward.

was

I hated myself." Noah's solemn

myself by thinking he was more pathetic

at least there was one

a reason Noah spoke in

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

"I liked that."

to this friend of yours? Why did

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

a little, and

why he was revealing so much about his past to such

didn't want

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

surprise, considering how most people wanted to be as far away from the war as possible.

high. Many would consider the quality of