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.

of freedom were lost concepts to

whole thing too abstract and a little

Restrictions molded society.

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

as they tried to deny this fact,

their behavior which informed him that there were

why they're still

city grew to an

The status-quo

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

within him; to the point where he could not escape or deny

"I wanted to change."

there was

smile even more. Of course, no one

stronger people and always

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

Less risks, more reward.

problem was

myself." Noah's solemn tone oozed through the still

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

I felt shitty or sad—that at least there was one

reason Noah

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 formed on the

"I liked that."

friend of yours? Why did

as he rested his back on the chair that he 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.

and

about his past to such a stranger, but somehow…

didn't want

are a lot

most people wanted to be as far away from the

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