Path of the Extra

“Ah! God damn it! This stupid hair!”

Staring into the mirror, Nathan scowled at the boy staring back—a high schooler with black hair and dark blue eyes, wearing a rumpled uniform and a deeply annoyed expression.

His fingers combed helplessly through his disheveled hair.

“I shouldn’t waste time. Leo’s waiting for me.”

Clicking his tongue in irritation, he stormed out of the bathroom, brows furrowed and face still twisted with annoyance.

It was early morning. Most students hadn’t even arrived yet.

The hallways were silent. His footsteps echoed faintly as he made his way through the corridors and up the stairs.

Finally, he reached the rooftop door—its lock long broken.

Nathan pushed it open.

And froze.

His best friend stood at the edge of the rooftop, leaning a little too close for comfort against the railing, eyes cast down toward the schoolyard below.

Nathan’s heart lurched.

He broke into a quick stride, his voice uncertain as he called out.

“H-Hey, buddy! What are you doing up there? Y-You know we shouldn’t do anything impulsive, right? Let’s, uh… talk this through?”

Midway through his stammering plea, Leo turned around with a puzzled expression, his phone still in hand.

Nathan exhaled sharply.

‘Ah. He wasn’t about to jump.’

“What the hell do you think I’m doing?” Leo scoffed.

“You think I’m some kind of emo kid?”

“Nah… of course not!”

Nathan let out an awkward laugh.

Leo just sneered.

“Your hair still looks like shit.”

“You—!”

Nathan’s face twisted in indignation as Leo smirked at him, clearly amused.

“Ha! Try keeping your hair decent when Coach suddenly decides to change training from after school to before school! That bastard definitely got dumped again—he was working out his heartbreak on us! Especially me!”

Leo rolled his eyes, waving a hand dismissively.

“Yes, yes. Stop complaining, oh mighty ace—the greatest talent our basketball team has seen in a decade. Honestly, Coach was one of the reasons I quit in the first place. Still, it’s kind of satisfying that he’s torturing you now instead of me.”

Nathan huffed.

“Oh, right—says the retired ace, the greatest player the basketball team has seen in a century!”

With a dramatic flair, he spread his arms wide and launched into a theatrical monologue, mocking Leo’s usual aloof demeanor.

“My name is Leo Karumi! I’m a secretly lazy genius who calls himself an ordinary student! They should make a manga about me—’The Lazy Genius Who Pretends to Be Normal But Can Do Anything He Wants (But Won’t, Because He’s Lazy)!’ Oh, and don’t forget! He’s also the only guy in this entire school to get confessed to by one of the Four Flowers!”

Leo’s lips twitched.

“You done, fucker?”

“Bitch.”

“Fuck off.”

Leo flipped him off. Nathan smirked and returned the gesture.

The Four Flowers. A nickname for the four most beautiful girls in the entire school—famous for being untouchable. No confessions accepted. No warm smiles. Perfect at everything, and cold to everyone.

And yet…

‘That bastard somehow got confessed to by one of them. Gah! I’m jealous! Ordinary, my ass!’

Letting out a long sigh, Nathan walked over to Leo’s side and leaned against the railing, resting his face on his arms as he looked down at the courtyard below. Students were slowly beginning to filter into the building.

Leo stood beside him, eyes fixed on his phone, mindlessly scrolling.

Nathan glanced at him. The dark bags under Leo’s eyes hadn’t faded. If anything, they were worse than yesterday. He suppressed another sigh.

‘He didn’t sleep again…’

It would’ve been a lie to say he wasn’t concerned for his best friend—especially after what happened to Leo’s family.

No. Best friend didn’t quite fit. Brother was probably the better word. That’s what it felt like to Nathan. And he was sure Leo felt the same.

They’d known each other since they were in diapers. Grew up together. Laughed, fought, cried, messed up—and kept going. Together.

And truthfully, Nathan admired him. A lot.

Despite the complex, often messy relationship Leo had with his family, he somehow always found a way to make them proud. Until it became too much. Until the weight crushed him.

And on that very same day… his family had to die.

Despite everything, Nathan knew Leo loved them. Deeply. Even if he fought with his parents the day they died.

And knowing Leo… knowing how he always kept his feelings buried… Nathan couldn’t help but worry even more. Leo had never liked talking about his family—not back then, and definitely not now.

Noticing Nathan’s gaze, Leo tilted his head slightly and looked over.

“Something the matter?”

Nathan shook his head.

“Nah. Just curious what you’re doing.”

Leo looked down at his phone, then turned the screen toward him.

“Just reading a novel.”

“Ah. Right.”

That tracked. Ever since the funeral, Leo had been throwing himself into fiction—almost obsessively. If it helped him cope, Nathan wasn’t going to question it.

“By the way,” Nathan asked, “you free after school?”

Leo shook his head.

“Nah. Got work. But old man Phil said I can clock out early today, so we can hang out tonight.”

“Sweet! Let’s make it a sleepover.”

Leo shot him a disapproving look.

“Your excitement creeps me the fuck out. Besides, your mom gave us an earful last time because you didn’t tell her.”

“Hehe, don’t worry. I’ll let her know this time! Unless…” Nathan leaned in with a grin.

“You’re planning to invite a girlfriend over, huh? Hmmm? Maybe one of the Four Flowers? Hmmmm?”

Leo narrowed his eyes.

“Shut up. I’m not inviting a girlfriend over—nor do I want one. Stop reading so many fucking romance mangas. You can’t even tell the difference between fiction and reality anymore. It’s actually concerning now.”

Nathan clicked his tongue.

“Oh look at me, I’m so cool and emotionally detached. I don’t care about romance. I’m so mysterious and deep. Seriously, dude. You’re such a bore sometimes!”

“Jump.”

“Yeah, yeah. Love you too, buddy.”

Leo looked at him.

Nathan looked right back.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…No homo… right?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Oh, don’t tell me you disapprove! These are progressive times, my friend. Don’t be rude like that!”

“I wasn’t! You’re the problem! Just you!”

Nathan suddenly grinned wide, something twisted creeping onto his face. Leo instinctively took a step back as Nathan let out a low, unsettling laugh.

“Motherfu—”

“No homo.”

“…Again. Jump.”

“…”

“…”

“Pfft!”

“Khh!”

The two looked at each other—and burst out laughing.

Wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, Nathan leaned back against the railing, arms hanging loose as he gazed down at the courtyard again. The sun was higher now, casting long shadows across the school grounds.

Leo shifted to the side, returning his attention to his phone.

“Oh right,” Nathan suddenly exclaimed, “I’m almost halfway through my book. I can lend it to you, if you’re interested.”

Leo glanced at him, confused for a moment—then realization dawned.

“Oh, you mean that dark fantasy one? Yeah, no thanks. I’ve heard it’s already depressing right from the start—death, despair, all that tragic crap.”

“Oh, come on! Just give it a chance, trust me. Path of Heroes gets so much better the deeper you go. I’m seriously addicted right now.”

Leo gave him a skeptical look.

Nathan, in turn, looked at him with those sparkling, expectant eyes—the kind that said everything without a word.

Read it! Read it! Read it!

“…I don’t know. But fine. When I finish this novel and feel like it, I’ll give it a try.”

Nathan lit up instantly.

“Yes! That’s it! Trust me, man—you won’t regret it. I can’t wait for you to reach the part where Lumine, the protagonist, does this absolutely craz—”

“Oi! Don’t start spoiling it now, asshole! You want me to read it or not?”

“Ah—yeah, my bad, my bad.”

Leo clicked his tongue and sighed, then muttered while still scrolling,

“The name was Path of Heroes, right?”

Nathan nodded, noticing Leo typing.

“Yeah. Full title’s Path of Heroes: Battle Against the End. Seriously, it’s an underrated gem.”

“Mmm.”

Leo hummed distractedly, searching the name. But slowly, his expression shifted. Confused. Then slightly disturbed.

“That’s weird…”

“What is it?”

Nathan leaned over, peering at the screen as Leo turned it toward him.

“There’s no book that matches the title you told me. I can’t find it anywhere.”

Nathan blinked.

“Huh. You’re right… That’s strange. Well, I didn’t order it online or anything. A friend gave it to me.”

Leo raised an eyebrow.

“A friend? Someone besides me?”

Nathan’s expression twisted in offense.

“Hey! I do have friends besides you!”

Leo chuckled.

“Oh yeah? Then go on—tell me the name of this mysterious friend who gave you the book.”

Nathan smirked confidently.

“Easy. His name is… uh… his name…”

He paused. His face stiffened slightly.

“That’s… weird.”

Leo broke into laughter.

“When you remember your imaginary friend’s name, let me know. I’d love to meet him.”

At that moment, the bell rang.

“Dammit,” Leo muttered.

“Let’s go before a teacher catches us up here.”

Rooftop access was, after all, strictly off-limits to students.

As Leo turned and started walking, Nathan stayed still for a moment, watching his back with a complicated expression.

He whispered, confused—almost to himself.

“B-but… I was sure a friend gave it to me…”

And yet—

“…Why can’t I remember his name. Or his face.”

*****

It felt like he was floating.

A cool, damp sensation clung to his back.

Then—Azriel’s eyes slowly fluttered open.

Above him stretched a pitch-black sky, speckled with countless stars, their light serene and distant.

Beautiful.

And strangely familiar.

Almost too similar to the last thing he remembered seeing—before waking up in this world.

“Why did I just remember that…?”

He had been dreaming.

Of the past.

“…Nathan…”

A name. A memory.

A fragment of something long gone.

A past that could only ever remain the past.

A flicker of melancholy passed through Azriel’s eyes.

He let out a slow, weary breath and pushed himself upright, rising back to his feet.

He was still wearing the same clothes from the auction. But then—

A beam of soft white light spilled across him.

His vision adjusted.

Azriel’s eyes widened ever so slightly as he took in the surroundings.

All around him stretched an endless ocean—silent, still, infinite.

No horizon. No land.

Just water reflecting the starry sky above.

And in the sky—

One radiant, white sphere, like a moon.

His gaze locked on it.

“…Is this… my soul?” he whispered.

“…Why is it so… beautiful?”

Why wasn’t it broken?

Why wasn’t it scarred, twisted, or grotesque?

Why was it so breathtaking?

Azriel walked slowly, aimlessly, the water beneath him rippling faintly with each step.

Then he looked back up at the white sphere.

“Is that… my mana core?”

It was white—pure and luminous. And yet, not blinding.

Soothing. Almost gentle on the eyes.

Then he looked down.

His breath caught.

“What…”

His throat dried as his lips parted, trembling.

“Why…”

In the mirror-like water, he saw his reflection.

Or rather—what should have been his reflection.

But all Azriel could see was a hazy silhouette.

Faceless. Undefined.

“…Is that me?”

It made no sense.

And yet, the figure moved with him—perfectly in sync.

Why?

Why couldn’t he see himself?

Then, without warning, a panel—black and white—flashed before his vision.

[Recognition Confirmed.]

“…Ah.”

A soft sound escaped his lips.

It had begun.

A tragedy.

Another one—like the void dungeon incident that could have become a catastrophe.

One of Earth’s three great mysteries.

The third one.

The crack in the sky.

Now… replaced by this.

[You are marked among the exceptional.]

[Blessed, cursed prodigies, and those who defy or obey fate—]

[The Scenario acknowledges your presence.]

[Parameters will adjust accordingly.]

[You have been chosen.]

[Scenario: Royal Revolution]

[Participants: 143]

[Origin: Year ??? – Kingdom of Ismyr]

[Objective:]

[Survive the revolution.]

[Assume a role. Influence the outcome.]

[Conditions for Victory:]

– Remain alive until the final night

– Prevent or ensure the fall of the royal family

– Optional: Eliminate key revolutionaries or nobles

[Scenario Duration: Undefined]

[Consequences:]

– Death in the Scenario = True Death

– Failure to act = Erasure from the Record

[The kingdom burns. Will you defend the throne or become the fire?]

“…!”

“This…!”

“This is not the same scenario from the book!”

Azriel’s face paled.

“Royal Revolution…”

He swallowed hard. His throat felt even drier.

And then—he blinked.

The stars were gone.

[The strings of fate tighten.]

[All roles have been assigned.]

[The curtain rises once again.]

[Good luck, Son of Death.]

[Scenario begins now.]

[End of Part One: Applause for the Damned]