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 probed

him. What do you

he talks too much." Her response was blunt, but the smile on

that, but he chose

don't think he'll spill my secret. Besides, I could always compel him

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

the subtexts that

clean to the rest

to do with this

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

dim glow did a poor job at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby

He appeared tired.

I've had enough of the secrets. It's also going to get problematic explaining why Ralyks won't

"You mean 'your' power."

know what I mean…" Rey sighed in exasperation, to which

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

and smiling at him, so he quickly added something

"C-come on!"

cute when you pout like that."

can't say the same about you since I

Rey shrugged. "So there's no need

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

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

conversing, but he liked that

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

"…"

the quietness around him. It allowed him

wanted to tell him that I was Rey, his

"So why didn't you?"

her soft, barely audible answer danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips and let words accompany the cool mist that

He looked happy. 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 ruin

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

of them remained still, Rey looking at the blank

silence for an unknown period of

But, someone finally spoke.