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.

you're sure your secret is safe with him?"Esme probed even

met him. What do

blunt, but the smile on her face showed fondness

he chose to ignore it

secret. Besides, I could always

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

he ignored the subtexts that existed underneath her

clean to

have to

only reason I care about my identity being exposed is because I don't want them—no, her—to think negatively

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

He appeared tired.

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

"You mean 'your' power."

sighed in exasperation, to which

just told them the truth. I don't want to limit my strength on

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

"C-come on!"

look cute when you pout like

since I DON'T EVEN KNOW what you look

shrugged. "So there's no need

hearing what Rey said. She clearly didn't want to push too much,

right?" As usual, Esme changed the

was so skilled at conversing, but he liked that aspect

into the starless sky. "I didn't think I made such a strong impression

"…"

allowing Rey to soak in the

know? I wanted to tell him that I was Rey, his

"So why didn't you?"

Rey parted his lips and let words accompany the cool mist

happy. He looks like he's growing nicely, and this new life suits him. I think… if I showed up like this—out of

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

looking at the blank sky while Esme stared at him with

in silence for an unknown period

But, someone finally spoke.