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

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 regulations, was because there were already unspoken rules

much as they tried to deny this

patterns in their behavior which informed him that there were unwritten regulations that

they're

this city grew to an

The status-quo

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

point where he could

"I wanted to change."

moment, there was

course, no one

stronger people and always looked for ways to benefit without taking the

of the latter part of his statement. He didn't think

Less risks, more reward.

was

Noah's solemn tone oozed through the

friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average in every way, and I always

least there was one guy who was worse than

reason Noah spoke in

came to realize that the 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 little smirk

"I liked that."

of yours? Why did

That guy was a monster who wanted to keep getting strong, and I knew he would drag me

and Noah did the

past to such a stranger, but somehow… he

want to

are a lot safer there

to be as far away from the war as possible. If anyone could afford it, they would instantly leave

Many would consider the