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.

sure your secret is safe with him?"Esme

What do you

was blunt, but the smile on her face showed

that, but he chose to ignore it

spill my secret. Besides, I could always compel

didn't you just do it back then? It would have been the safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving

so, he ignored the subtexts

go that far. I plan on coming clean to the rest of my friends

does that have to do with this

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

poor job at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that decorated the city were able to shine their light

He appeared tired.

the secrets. It's also going to get problematic explaining why Ralyks won't participate in

"You mean 'your' power."

know what I mean…" Rey sighed in exasperation,

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

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

"C-come on!"

cute when you pout like that."

say the same about you since I DON'T EVEN KNOW

Rey shrugged. "So

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

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

at conversing, but he liked that aspect of her

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

"…"

chose to remain silent, allowing Rey to soak in the

wanted to tell him, you know? I wanted to tell him that I was

"So why didn't you?"

his ears, Rey parted his

new life suits him. I think… if I showed

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

at the blank sky

there in silence for an unknown period of

But, someone finally spoke.