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.

ideal of freedom were lost

sentiment, he found the whole thing too abstract and a little childish. In any pragmatic setting, there had to be

Restrictions molded society.

within the City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient

much as they tried to deny

patterns in their behavior which

they're still

grew to an absurd degree—to the point where control became difficult—then the cracks

status-quo

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

to the point where

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was

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

used to be a very weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people and always looked for

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

Less risks, more reward.

was with

solemn tone oozed through the

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

least there was one

was a reason Noah spoke in past

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

"I liked that."

to this friend of

"I 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 wasn't ready

little, and

didn't know why he was revealing so much about his past to such a stranger, but somehow… he

didn't want to

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

considering how most people wanted to be as far away from the war as possible. If anyone could afford

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