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 concepts

and a little childish. In any pragmatic setting,

Restrictions molded society.

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

they tried to deny this fact, it was

could see patterns in their behavior which informed him that there

why they're

to an

status-quo would

a lot of easier options—was due to a much more

was engrained within him; to the point where he could not

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was

course, no one would

a very weak and cowardly person. I hid behind stronger people

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

Less risks, more reward.

was

hated myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed

a friend before moving here. Before we became friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking

least there was one guy

Noah

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

"I liked that."

of yours? Why did you

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

a little, and Noah did

was revealing so much about his past to such a stranger, but somehow… he felt

didn't want to

left the Capital and initially wanted to travel South, since things are a lot safer

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

consider the quality of life incredibly low for the amount they were