An Extra’s POV

"For the longest time since I came to this world, I've always known what I wanted."

Rey and Esme sat on chairs as they remained in Alicia's room. The former was staring at the girl's sleeping body, while the latter only looked at him in silence.

"I initially wanted to gain the recognition of my classmates. But, after seeing their reactions toward me, I decided to grow stronger than all of them without showing my strength."

Slowly, his motivations and goals had changed over time. However, through them all, he still had some measure of clarity.

His goals were always achievable; with a clear path he had to tread.

To get strong, all he had to do was kill Monsters in the Dungeon. Stopping the Criminal Empire just meant taking out everyone on the board.

Even helping his classmates out, or conquering the Grand Calamity Class Dungeon had clear objectives and methods to achieve them.

"But… right now, I have no idea what to do."

He was the savior of humanity, so he had to help them defeat the Dragons. He also had to protect everyone close to him in the process.

Then, there was Alicia.

He had to figure out a way to cure her, but he didn't even know where to start.

"I… have these goals and ambitions, but how do I achieve them? I've messed up so many times already. I no longer have any confidence in my plans, and even if i did… what exactly am I supposed to do about all of this?"

Rey knew he sounded pathetic, but these were words he couldn't utter in front of anyone else.

He felt stuck somehow.

"I'm supposed to be the strong and smart one—the one who has come up with so many plans and led so many people…"

As Ralyks, he was revered as such.

And now, the same was expected of him. But Rey was nothing like that.

He was just, in principle, a 16 year old boy who was blessed with enough power and information to act accordingly.

But, when faced with a situation where both his power and information failed him—like in the case of Alicia's curse—he had to cave in.

"What should I do?" Rey whispered, turning his eyes to Esme.

It was clear he was lost at the moment. All the ideas he had either couldn't be trusted, or wouldn't work regardless.

he needed now was

But—

"I… I don't know…"

for such an answer from someone equally powerless and

him the answer he

Emil?" Rey muttered, already desperate for an answer—any answer—that

However…

have no

Symbiote was unable

she fell silent and let Rey

of the room remained like this for a while as Rey closed his eyes

opened his eyes,

"What about you, Ater?"

~VWUSH~

himself before Rey, bowing his head slightly as he appeared from

do?" The boy

on Ater's face as he raised his head, stood upright, placed a

go to the land

heard this, something

Ater's confident smile showering

I find

friend. Resources for your business. Allies for humanity. And

expression on Rey's face instantly vanished as he hardened his eyes and

"Elaborate."

problems. The Elves revere them as the mouthpiece

"R-really…?"

answers that we seek. And since the Elves revere them, bringing them to your side means that humanity will be able to count on the Elves as allies. Finally, the land of the Elves is rich in the kind of materials that the Reaper Group desperately needs."

you ought to be at

heard this, his eyes

Ater was right!

you find all of this out just recently? Is that

only

during the investigative task that

sooner?" Rey felt himself get agitated, but lost all

Rey couldn't help but feel that way

knew, why wait

were cut short due to the incident at the Capital, when you nearly lost your life. I ceased my investigation efforts and returned to

protecting the Capital and