Extra's Magic

The Auction concluded soon after my bid and the Tears of Moon was brought to my VIP room.

"Thank you."

Sending the money through my phone, I quickly took the delicate crystal and examined it closely.

The luminescent liquid within sparkled with an ethereal glow, casting mesmerizing shadows on the walls.

'...'

I sent a speck of my Mana into the crystal, and immediately a powerful surge of energy pulsed through my body.

It's real.

A thought passed through my mind and I nodded my head in satisfaction.

Without hesitation, I placed the Tears of Moon into my Spatial Inventory where the item would be safe.

After securing my newly bought item, I was led out of the VIP and left through the back doors.

It'd be dumb to leave the auction house through the front, especially when I bought an item for thousands of arcons.

Of course, nobody saw my face but I would get pursued as one of the possible owners nevertheless.

I didn't want that to happen.

Tap... Tap...

I entered a dark alleyway, instantly blending with the shadows.

For some reason, after receiving the Shadow Mana Art, I felt connected to these silhouettes.

It was as if I'd gotten a glimpse into the mysterious world of shadows, their secrets and powers becoming intertwined with my own.

I felt comfortable when staying in their embrace, finding solace in their darkness.

'Sounds cool...'

Murmuring, I quietly slipped away, navigating through the maze-like streets with ease.

It didn't take long until I reached the main street and blended in with the crowd.

As I moved, my face began to morph and I removed my Darkling Mask, bringing forth my true appearance.

Although I was most likely still surveyed by the Elven Guards due to being a compatible person with Rose, I didn't care whether they caught me or not.

Well, I did, kind of.

Even if they did notice that I was returning to the Academy, they would instantly be on alert, they would be forced to figure out how I'd managed to leave the campus unnoticed.

I could bet that there wouldn't be even the slightest hint of suspicion if I appeared before them as a completely different person.

"Artifacts are powerful..."

Placing the mask in my Spatial Ring, I picked up my pace.

Along the way, I also entered a shopping center and bought a few items that I needed for survival.

Instant noodles.

Yes, I still needed to eat, however, my ability to cook wasn't the best, so I settled for the convenience and affordability of instant noodles.

Peep... Peep...

While waiting in line, I looked around the crowd and noticed a familiar place.

'Kai?'

Looking at the young man with dark bags under his eyes, I frowned.

'What the hell is he doing here?'

My eyes shifted toward his hands and I noticed he held a bag full of items.

It was completely filled to the brim with instant noodles and spicy noodles.

'He's just like me...'

For a moment, my view of Kai shifted.

He might be a half monster half human and had a few screws loose but at least our disability was the same.

We both couldn't cook.

Now that I think about it though, I'm also only half human myself.

Or maybe not, I don't know.

Peep... Peep...

Paying for my products, I soon left the shopping mall and continued on my way back to the Academy.

Tomorrow was supposed to be the first round of the Queen's Tournament qualification.

I'll probably not sleep much tonight, as usual, however, I wanted to at least try to get an extra hour or a few of rest.

"..."

Approaching the massive Academy gates in the distance, I noticed a group of students gathered around, chatting and laughing.

They wore matching uniforms and appeared to be laughing while pointing in the direction of the Academy grounds.

I tried to ignore them, thinking it was just the usual banter between rival schools. But as I passed through the group, I overheard a comment that struck a nerve.

"I guess some people are simply extras. This dude seems like an NPC. Do we need to interact with him?"

An involuntary twitch appeared on my forehead as a vein threatened to pop up. Suppressing my irritation, I let out an eerie smile, feigning indifference to their remarks.

Ignoring their snide comments, I continued walking, but my pride couldn't let it slide. I took a deep breath and turned around, facing the guy who had just mouthed me off. They seemed to be first-year students, just like me.

"Did I hear you right?"

I said, my voice calm but carrying a subtle edge.

"Seems like you've got a lot to say for someone who's probably going to be knocked out in the first round of the Queen's Tournament."

The group fell silent, their expressions shifting from amusement to surprise. The guy who made the remark smirked, clearly underestimating me.

"Oh, look who decided to join the conversation. What's your name, NPC?"

A low chuckle spread through the group. I maintained my composure, the eerie smile still lingering on my face.

"I'm no NPC, and you'll remember my name after I wipe the floor with you in the tournament. How about we settle this now? A duel, right here."

The challenge hung in the air, and the group exchanged glances. The guy who had mocked me hesitated for a moment but then grinned confidently.

"Fine, let's make this interesting. If you win, we'll give you some money. But if you lose, well, try not to cry too much, NPC."

My eyes narrowed, and I nodded.

"Deal."

The crowd started to form a makeshift arena, creating a circle for our impromptu duel.

I didn't consider myself a hotshot or someone with weak nerves but being called an Extra, for some reason, ignited a fire within me.

It was grinding my gears.

As the challenge hung in the air, I could feel the collective gaze of the surrounding students intensify. The guy who had labeled me an NPC confidently pulled out a sleek longsword from his side, a smug smirk etched on his face.

"Well, well, consider yourself lucky. This is my main weapon, and you should be grateful. It's not every day you get to face a swordsman of my caliber."

He boasted, twirling the blade with unnecessary flair.

I sighed, lifting up my fists in a nonchalant manner. I was sure it wouldn't take a sword for me to defeat him. His overconfidence was apparent, and I didn't need to stoop to his level.

The guy's face turned a shade of red, seeing that I hadn't drawn any weapon. With a shout, he lunged forward, his longsword gleaming in the dim light of the makeshift arena. He let his emotions take control, and I couldn't help but shake my head in disappointment.

Narrowly avoiding his longsword that passed over my head, I moved with a fluid grace. His attack was reckless, fueled by arrogance rather than skill. Seizing the opportunity, I delivered a sharp and quick jab to his jaw, a strike precision-engineered to knock him out.

In a matter of seconds, he crumpled to the ground, unconscious. The makeshift crowd surrounding us fell into a stunned silence, their eyes wide and mouths agape. Leaving the group in disbelief, I sighed.

If only the guy could control his emotions, the fight would have lasted a lot longer. It was a pity, really. I didn't even want to take the money. Pride was worth more than a few coins, and I turned away from the defeated swordsman, shaking my head.

"Pick up your trash..."

Entering through the gate, I barked at the crowd, bringing them back to reality.

I didn't bother staying for any chats and simply entered the campus, leaving them to deal with their fallen classmate.

Tap... Tap...

Walking through the Academy, I quickly reached my dorm building, entered my ancient apartment and created a bowl of instant noodles.

"Good..."

Slurping the noodles, a sense of satisfaction filled me.

This was some fine food.

At least that's what I said but I knew the truth.

I was only gaslighting myself.

"I should really learn how to cook edible stuff..."

Muttering under my breath, I finished the noodles and carried the bowl toward the kitchen.

After cleaning up I went toward the bedroom and sat down at my desk.

Taking a deep breath, I took out the Tears of Moon and placed it on the table.

My golden eyes observed its glimmering surface for a moment before I let the Mana surge through my fingertips.

"Aura Blade." 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝘯𝑒𝑡

A golden hue radiated from my fingers and a sleek golden blade appeared in my hand.

It was a dagger made out of pure Mana.

Slash...

With precise movements, I cut the top of the crystal clearly, revealing its intricate patterns and inner depths.

The ethereal liquid that was previously contained within the item was now visible.

"Time to see your past..."

Muttering to myself, I lifted the vial of the Tears of Moon to my lips and drank its contents.