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.

your secret is safe with him?"Esme probed even

him. What

but the smile on her

he chose to ignore

he'll spill my secret. Besides, I could

bet, right?" It felt

so, he ignored the subtexts that existed underneath

coming clean to the rest of my

to do

don't want them—no, her—to

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

He appeared tired.

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

"You mean 'your' power."

Rey sighed in exasperation, to which Esme

I don't want to limit my strength on the front lines where actual lives are at

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

"C-come on!"

You look cute when you

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

shrugged. "So

Rey said. She clearly

the friend he was talking about, that was you, right?" As usual, Esme changed the topic to something more

at conversing, but he

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

"…"

allowing Rey to soak in the quietness around him. It

I wanted to tell him that I was Rey, his friend from back

"So why didn't you?"

in his ears, Rey parted his lips and let words accompany the cool mist that

He looks like he's growing nicely, and this new life suits him. I think… if I showed up like

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

remained still, Rey looking at the blank sky while

there in silence for an unknown period of

But, someone finally spoke.