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.

secret is safe with

met him. What do

but the smile on her face showed fondness towards

he

my secret. Besides, I could always compel him to forget

would have been the safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving at

so, he ignored the subtexts that existed underneath her

on coming clean to the rest of my friends once this entire Dungeon

does that have to do with this

exposed is because I don't want them—no,

a poor job at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that decorated the

He appeared tired.

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

"You mean 'your' power."

mean…" Rey sighed in

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

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

"C-come on!"

look cute when you pout

can't say the same about you since I DON'T EVEN KNOW what you look

shrugged. "So there's no

clearly didn't want

As usual, Esme

how she was so skilled at conversing, but he liked that aspect of her

really surprised, to be honest." He laughed slightly, staring high into the starless sky. "I didn't think I

"…"

allowing Rey to soak in the quietness

I wanted to tell him that I was Rey, his

"So why didn't you?"

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

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

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

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

in silence for

But, someone finally spoke.