An Extra’s POV

"Shouldn't you be in a hurry? You have to pick up some people, right?"

Esme's voice echoed in Rey's ears as they neared their Inn. Despite hearing it, Rey hardly reacted or changed the steady pace at which he walked.

"It's fine." He simply responded. "I sent a Duplicate a while back."

"R-really? I didn't notice!" Esme expressed surprise, to which Rey chuckled and shrugged.

"Yeah. I did it pretty quickly. Hid it well too."

With his wide array of Skills, it wasn't a difficult thing to do. In any case, the only reason he was able to talk to Noah for so long despite his busy schedule was due to that arrangement.

"I wanted to pick them up myself, but I guess plans change." He smiled softly, shrugging again.

Something about the atmosphere felt moody for some reason. Rey didn't even know why, but he suddenly felt a lull within him.

Perhaps a moment of silence was what he needed.

"Friend of yours?" Unfortunately, Esme wouldn't let him have that.

"Yeah. You could say that."

Rey didn't think he treated Noah as well as he should have treated a friend, but he genuinely considered him one.

After all, he was the first and only person who he revealed his secret to.

"Has he seen your face behind the mask?" Esme's question made Rey laugh a little.

He replied still.

"For him, and the people we had in common, the mask was my secret."

It was pretty ironic how the opposite was true for Esme. Regardless, he could say that Noah was the only one who knew both sides pretty well.

'Back then, I didn't think Ralyks would up playing such a big role. If I had known that, would I still have exposed my identity to him?'

Rey wasn't sure. All he knew was that Noah was incredibly useful at the time, and it would have been difficult to achieve the things he was able to without his help.

Difficult, not impossible.

is safe with him?"Esme probed even

him. What do you

talks too much." Her response was blunt, but the smile on her face showed fondness towards that kind

he chose to ignore

think he'll spill my secret. Besides, I could always

safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving at something, but Rey wasn't in the mood

he ignored the subtexts that

need to go that far. I plan on coming clean to the rest

to

only reason I care about my identity being exposed is because I don't want them—no, her—to think negatively of me." Rey sighed, finally stopping in

his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that decorated the city were able

He appeared tired.

enough of the secrets. It's also going to get problematic

"You mean 'your' power."

Rey sighed in

for everyone if I just told them the truth. I don't want to limit my strength on the front lines where actual lives

at him, so he quickly added something else. "That doesn't mean I'll

"C-come on!"

when you pout like that." Rey

same about you since I DON'T

Rey shrugged. "So there's

clearly didn't want to push too much, and Rey really

about, that was you, right?" As usual, Esme changed

conversing, but he

laughed slightly, staring high into the starless sky. "I didn't think I made such a

"…"

to remain silent, allowing Rey to soak in the quietness around him. It allowed him

wanted to tell him that I was Rey, his friend from

"So why didn't you?"

barely audible answer danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips and let words

happy. He looks like he's growing nicely, and this new life suits him. I think…

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

both of them remained still, Rey looking at the blank sky while Esme stared at him

for an unknown period of

But, someone finally spoke.