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

him. What

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

noticed that, but he

spill my secret. Besides,

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

ignored the subtexts that existed

clean to the rest of my

to do with

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

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

He appeared tired.

secrets. It's also going to get

"You mean 'your' power."

Rey sighed in exasperation, to which Esme just

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

quickly

"C-come on!"

when you

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

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

hearing what Rey said. She clearly didn't want

was you, right?" As usual, Esme

conversing, but

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

"…"

soak in the quietness around

tell him, you know? I wanted to

"So why didn't you?"

soft, barely audible answer danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips and

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

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

the blank

there in silence for an unknown period of

But, someone finally spoke.