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

met him. What do

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

noticed that, but he chose to

my secret. Besides, I could always compel him

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

he ignored the subtexts that existed underneath

plan on coming clean to the rest of

What does that have to

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

the nearby lights that

He appeared tired.

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

"You mean 'your' power."

Rey sighed in exasperation, to which Esme just

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

quickly added something else. "That doesn't

"C-come on!"

when you pout like that." Rey

I can't say the same about you since I

Rey shrugged.

She clearly didn't want to push too much, and Rey

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

was so skilled at conversing, but he liked that aspect of

into the starless sky.

"…"

remain silent, allowing Rey to soak in the quietness around him. It

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

"So why didn't you?"

audible answer danced in his ears, Rey parted

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

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

both of them remained still, Rey looking at the blank sky

stood there in silence for an unknown period of

But, someone finally spoke.