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.

freedom were lost concepts

the whole thing too abstract and a little

Restrictions molded society.

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

they tried to deny this

an outsider, Noah could see patterns in their behavior which informed him that

they're still

of this city grew to an absurd degree—to the point where

status-quo

chose this path—despite a lot of easier options—was due to a much

within him; to the point where he could not escape

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was silence in

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

I hid behind stronger people and always looked for ways

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

Less risks, more reward.

was

solemn

comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average in every

at least there was one guy who was

Noah spoke

a lot better than I realized. He was stronger, smarter… better. He

"I liked that."

to this friend of

to run away. That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong, and

little, and Noah did the

past

didn't want

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

the war as

there was ridiculously high. Many would consider the quality of life incredibly low