An Extra’s POV

Back then, Noah had three choices.

Stay and hide.

Run and escape.

Charge and fight.

His instinct had been to hide, and his next thought was to run as fast as he could—as far away as he could.

But… he wasn't listening.

'I-if I can win. Then… I can try, right?'

His entire being despised violence. He wasn't very strong too, and his Skills were mostly useful for evasion and defense.

Yet… why did he want to fight?

'Ahh…' He realized it at that moment. '… Is this your doing, Rey?'

Noah realized how dissatisfied he felt—with himself, and with the scene playing out in front of him.

He had felt this way throughout his journey away from the Capital.

Despite that gnawing feeling, he constantly told himself that he made the right choice leaving his only friend behind so he could run away from responsibility.

However, when he stood there, hidden from everything in the world, Noah was finally able to confront himself.

'I don't like this… this version of me.'

The time he had the most fun, and felt most fulfilled, was when he was pretending to be some kind of powerful subordinate of Ralyks.

He liked the way people looked at him. Their respect, admiration, their fear… it made him feel warm inside.

It wasn't even like he sought their validation.

He wanted his own.

Noah shrugged smiled, narrating the experience as if it was no

the first Monster and gave his all into generating the perfect

used all the Skills in his arsenal to fight, and he pushed

"Faster."

He hastened his movements.

"Stronger."

strengthened his muscles and increased his

"Smarter."

up with perfect

"Better!"

the process—over and over again—until he ended

become a little like the man I pretended to be." Noah laughed as

realized my original perception of them was a little too generous. If I could defeat Monsters that Adventurers couldn't, then it was possible

and after the joint testimony of the people he saved, there was no need for

an Adventurer,

joined one of the most influential

one, Noah changed. He found himself trying out new things, exploring everything he previously

in hopes that one day… I will

errand boy

that part." Noah laughed out loud once he heard that comparison. Jet's words weren't wrong, but they didn't properly embody what he

better human being. Someone stronger, smarter, better than

wanted to be like his

for the long story,

*********

'The hell…?'

much Noah had matured as a person. 'So his change was a lot more

a way, he felt a

Noah and his personal growth, he couldn't help but feel challenged in a sense. Perhaps he didn't want to get left behind, or he felt like he

it himself, but he

is pretty normal.

no one wished for their

nature, and Rey was the embodiment of

able to change. That was a pretty inspiring

something about his tone