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.

like the ideal of freedom were lost concepts

whole thing too abstract and a little childish. In any pragmatic setting, there

Restrictions molded society.

only reason why the Adventurers were still coexisting pretty well within the City, despite the lack of solid rules and sufficient regulations, was because there were already unspoken rules that existed

much as they tried to deny this fact,

Noah could see patterns in their behavior which informed

they're still

exist, or maybe the population of this city grew to an absurd degree—to the point where control became difficult—then

status-quo would

of easier options—was due to a

engrained within him; to the point where

"I wanted to change."

was

inquisitive voice caused Noah to smile even more. Of course, no one would

I hid behind stronger

his statement. He didn't think he needed to, considering how that was

Less risks, more reward.

was

solemn tone oozed through

became friends, I used to comfort myself by thinking he was more pathetic than I was. He was average

shitty or sad—that at least there was one guy

reason Noah spoke

better than I realized. He was stronger, smarter…

"I liked that."

happened to this friend of yours? Why did you part

sat on. "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

little, and Noah did

so much about his past to such a stranger, but somehow… he felt like going

want to

lot safer there than in

how most people wanted to be as far away from the war as possible. If anyone could afford it, they would instantly

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