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 concepts

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

Restrictions molded society.

City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient

as they tried to deny this fact, it

their behavior which informed him that

they're still

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

The status-quo would

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

to the point where

"I wanted to change."

a moment, there was silence in

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

weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people

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 with

hated myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed through the still

friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he was

sad—that at least there was one guy

reason Noah spoke in

that the guy was secretly a lot better than I realized. He was stronger, smarter… better. He was better

"I liked that."

of

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

chuckled a little, and Noah

didn't know why he was revealing so much about his past to such

didn't want

things are a lot safer there than

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

living there was ridiculously high. Many would consider the quality