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

met him. What

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

noticed that, but he chose to ignore

secret. Besides, I could always compel him

safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme

ignored the subtexts that existed

need to go that far. I plan on coming clean to the rest of my friends once this entire Dungeon

to do

identity being exposed is because I don't want them—no, her—to think negatively of me." Rey sighed,

dim glow did a poor job at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that decorated the city were able to

He appeared tired.

to get problematic explaining why Ralyks won't

"You mean 'your' power."

know what I mean…" Rey sighed in exasperation,

I just told them the truth. I don't want to

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

"C-come on!"

You look cute when you pout like

say the same about you since I DON'T EVEN

shrugged. "So there's no need to say

obviously very deflated after hearing what Rey said. She clearly didn't want to push

he was talking about, that was you, right?" As usual,

conversing, but he liked that aspect of

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

"…"

remain silent, allowing Rey to soak in the

him, you know? I wanted to tell him that

"So why didn't you?"

danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips

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

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

remained still, Rey looking at the

for

But, someone finally spoke.