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.

smiled, narrating the experience as if

gave his all into generating the perfect surprise

all the Skills in his arsenal to fight, and he pushed himself a lot more than

"Faster."

He hastened his movements.

"Stronger."

his muscles and

"Smarter."

read the Monsters and came up with perfect

"Better!"

process—over and over again—until he ended up

was able to become a little like the man I pretended to

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

joint testimony of the people he saved,

become an

history. I joined one of the most influential Parties, managed to defeat the leader, and

himself trying out new things, exploring everything he previously ran away

in hopes that one day…

errand boy

comparison. Jet's words weren't wrong, but they didn't properly

to be a better human being. Someone stronger, smarter,

be like

the long story, but that's pretty much

*********

'The hell…?'

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

way, he felt a bit

for 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 wasn't

didn't understand it himself, but he felt a tinge of

guess this is pretty normal.

friends to do well. However, no one wished for their friends to do better than

was human nature, and Rey was the embodiment of that

were able to change. That was a pretty inspiring story." He said, meaning every

his tone