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

him. What

the smile on her face showed fondness towards that kind

that, but he chose

think he'll spill my secret. Besides, I could always compel him

been the safest bet, right?"

so, he ignored the subtexts that

to the rest of my friends once this entire

What does that have to

is because I don't want them—no, her—to think negatively of me." Rey sighed, finally stopping in

thankfully the nearby lights that decorated the city were able

He appeared tired.

to get problematic explaining why Ralyks won't participate in

"You mean 'your' power."

sighed in exasperation,

case, it'll be better for everyone if I just told them the truth. I don't

and smiling at him, so he quickly added something

"C-come on!"

You look cute when you pout like

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

be cute." Rey shrugged. "So

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

talking about, that was you, right?" As usual, Esme changed the topic

skilled at conversing, but he liked that aspect of

surprised, to be honest." He laughed slightly, staring high into the starless sky. "I didn't think I made such a strong impression on

"…"

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

wanted to tell him that

"So why didn't you?"

danced in his ears, Rey parted

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

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

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

there in silence for an unknown period of

But, someone finally spoke.