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

but the smile

noticed that, but he

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

didn't you just do it back then? It would have been the safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving at something, but Rey wasn't in the mood for

subtexts that existed underneath

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

that have to do with this

because I don't want them—no, her—to

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

He appeared tired.

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

"You mean 'your' power."

mean…" Rey sighed in exasperation, to which

be better for everyone if I just told them the truth. I don't want to limit my strength on

nodding and smiling at him, so he quickly added something else.

"C-come on!"

when you pout like that." Rey

about you since I DON'T EVEN KNOW what you look

Rey shrugged. "So there's no need to say

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

was you, right?" As usual, Esme changed the topic to something more comfortable

how she was so skilled at conversing, but he

high into the starless

"…"

allowing Rey to soak in the quietness around him. It allowed him to think really

really wanted to tell him, you know? I wanted to tell him that I was Rey, his friend from back

"So why didn't you?"

answer danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips and let words accompany the cool

new life suits him. I think… if I showed up like this—out of

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

remained still, Rey looking at the blank

for

But, someone finally spoke.