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

But—

"I… I don't know…"

from someone equally

could not give him

desperate for an answer—any answer—that

However…

Master. I have no idea

Even the Symbiote was

the first time ever, she fell silent and let Rey brood

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

he opened his eyes,

"What about you, Ater?"

~VWUSH~

Rey, bowing his head

I do?" The boy murmured, still on

formed on Ater's face as he raised his head, stood upright, placed a hand in his pocket, and responded

this place and go to

Rey heard this, something

Ater's confident smile showering him with nothing short of

I

business. Allies for humanity. And some answers to

Rey's face instantly vanished

"Elaborate."

solve your problems. The Elves revere them as the mouthpiece of nature, and I suspect

"R-really…?"

side means that humanity will be able to count on the Elves as allies. Finally, the

be at the moment more

Rey heard this, his eyes

Ater was right!

out just recently? Is that why you've been

smile of the Familiar only broadened as he

considerable deal during the investigative task that you entrusted me with all those

sooner?" Rey felt himself get agitated, but lost all the pent-up emotions

at the moment, Rey couldn't help but feel that way once he heard what he was

you knew, why

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

period, he was busy protecting the Capital