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.

to fight." Noah shrugged smiled, narrating the experience as if it was no big

gave his all

his arsenal to fight, and he pushed

"Faster."

He hastened his movements.

"Stronger."

strengthened his muscles and increased his

"Smarter."

up

"Better!"

repeated the process—over and over again—until he ended up killing all

of myself that day. I was able to become a little like the man I pretended to be." Noah laughed as he began to

a little too generous. If I

followed the Adventurers back, and after the joint testimony of the people he saved, there was no need for him to even take a

an Adventurer,

one of the most influential Parties, managed to defeat the leader, and became the leader

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

day… I will become like that

boy of your

heard that comparison. Jet's words weren't wrong, but they didn't properly embody what

be a better human being. Someone

to be like

story, but that's pretty

*********

'The hell…?'

how much Noah had matured as a person. 'So his change

he felt a

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 as mature as his

but

is pretty normal.

However, no one wished for their friends to

Rey was the embodiment of

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

his tone