Path of the Extra

[QUEST TYPE] → Main Objective

▸ Title: Becoming a Main Character [1]

▸ Description: It is time for your name to carry weight among royals and nobles. Leave your mark, Apostle of Life.

▸ Objective(s):

– Create an ally—or become genuine friends—with one or more royals of the Great Clans.

– Create an ally—or become genuine friends—with one or more nobles of the Lesser Clans.

– Become friends with Princess Jasmine Crimson, or grow as close to her as possible.

– Become influential enough that nobles and royals take you seriously and show you respect.

– Have either Master Ranni or Master Margaret view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have Princess Jasmine Crimson view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have Princess Celestina Frost view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have Prince Caleus Nebula view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have Prince Lioren Dusk view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have Princess Veronica Nebula view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have Prince Vioren Dusk view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have Prince Hioren Dusk view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have members of the Ten Heavenly Churches view you favorably, or respect you.

– Have the Saintess Liliane of the Ten Heavenly Churches view you favorably, or respect you.

– Under no circumstances allow the Heavenly Knight Jegudiel to see you as an enemy.

– Under no circumstances have Prince Caleus Nebula see you as an enemy.

– Under no circumstances have Princess Celestina Frost see you as an enemy.

▸ Time limit: 17 hours left

▸ Reward(s):

– +2 working Health Potions

– +2 working Mana Potions

– Voucher for Level 2 Skills

– Voucher for Level 2 Combat Arts

– Voucher for Level 2 Soul Armors

– Voucher for a Greater Affinity

▸ Voucher Note: Vouchers can be exchanged in the System Shop for items free of charge. The number of items you can claim depends on how many vouchers the item requires.

– +100,000 SP

– Bigger Storage Ring

– The cost of upgrading the System Shop will decrease by 100% permanently.

▸ Penalty for Failure:

– Temporary System shutdown.

▸ Time limit: 2 weeks

– The cost of upgrading the System Shop will increase by 100% permanently.

– -100,000 SP

[QUEST TYPE] → Main Objective

▸ Title: Ruthless Royals

▸ Description: In a foreign world filled with countless opportunities, even the greats won’t hesitate to seize what they can. What are Prince Lioren Dusk and Prince Caleus Nebula truly planning?

▸ Objective(s):

– Confront Prince Lioren Dusk and stop his plan.

– Prevent Prince Caleus Nebula from killing any more innocents.

▸ Time limit:

17 hours left

▸ Reward(s):

– +2 working Health Potions

– +2 working Mana Potions

– Voucher for Level 1 Skills

– Voucher for Level 1 Soul Weapons

▸ Voucher Note: Vouchers can be exchanged in the System Shop for items free of charge. The number of items you can claim depends on how many vouchers the item requires.

– +50,000 SP

▸ Penalty for Failure:

– Temporary lock on the use of your skills.

▸ Time limit: 1 week

– Temporary lock on the use of your Storage Ring.

▸ Time limit: 1 week

– Temporary lock on Achievement rewards.

▸ Time limit: 1 week

– -50,000 SP

“Look, Lumine—they’re starting another round of fireworks!” Yelena pointed excitedly as they watched from a window, still inside the count’s estate.

“Yeah,” Lumine acknowledged, offering a small smile—one he couldn’t keep up for long.

They were both dressed in the traditional robes everyone wore tonight. Lumine’s was gold, while Yelena’s was green.

She looked incredibly cute—yet still gorgeous—in it, Lumine thought.

He would have complimented her, if it wasn’t so damn embarrassing. Ever since acknowledging his feelings, it had become harder to maintain eye contact with her without getting flustered over the smallest things.

Luckily, she seemed unaware of his struggle.

But why were they dressed, yet still inside the estate?

Because neither of them was really in the mood to go out. So they stayed in Yelena’s room instead—it was quieter, more comfortable.

It sucked, but they couldn’t help it.

What happened during that dinner…

Lumine—and even Yelena—could not stop replaying the gruesome scene of that man’s head exploding under Caleus’s hand, over and over again. Their energy to enjoy the festival had drained away completely.

At least the fireworks helped them regain some of it.

Yelena more than Lumine.

In Lumine’s life, there had only been one time someone had died right in front of him before the dinner—before Caleus murdered that man.

…But never had the first death he witnessed been so cruel. So violent. So unnecessary.

Just remembering the splatter—the matter of brains—nearly made him gag again, but he kept his expression steady. He kept his body still. Yelena was finally finding a little joy again, and he didn’t want to ruin it—especially after everything that had happened to her because of him.

Lumine wished he could enjoy the fireworks as much as she did.

But he hadn’t told her about the main quests that had appeared in his vision seven hours ago—quests he couldn’t decline.

His mind was filled with them.

It was a lot.

As if the horror of seeing how ruthlessly Caleus had killed someone just to make an example wasn’t enough, now the system was demanding that Lumine become someone the Great Clans would take seriously—someone they would respect.

…He didn’t know if he was ready for that kind of weight.

But what choice did he have?

The system wasn’t giving him one.

And from the way it was escalating, it only seemed like it was going to get worse. If Lumine failed these quests, he was as good as dead with the handicaps that would follow.

…Yes. All he had to do was earn the respect of the most important people in the entire world—people who either already ruled it, or soon would—while also making sure he didn’t create enemies.

Especially not with one of the two heirs he would have to stand against.

Some of the objectives were strange, though.

It was apparently fine for Lioren to become his enemy, but not Caleus?

To Lumine, Caleus was the most insane of them all—the most sickening, after what he had done. And yet Lioren somehow felt scarier. Lumine couldn’t put it into words, but that prince…

It was like looking at something that wasn’t human.

Like an alien wrapped in human skin—something that made his instincts recoil.

And then there was the part about Celestina.

Why did the system emphasize never making an enemy of her?

Not that Lumine would. If anything, he already thought he was in her good graces. But why Celestina specifically? With Caleus, Lumine could understand the danger—he might kill him outright. Celestina didn’t seem like the type.

And in terms of strength, instability, and sheer madness… fortunately for Lumine, she didn’t rank at the top in any of those categories.

It was strange.

The same went for the Heavenly Knight Jegudiel. Lumine didn’t know anything about him—only that he was said to be the Saintess’s loyal knight.

All of it was dangerous.

But for some reason, the objective that felt most dangerous to Lumine was the one involving Jasmine—becoming friends with her, or at least getting closer to her.

He couldn’t explain it, but just the thought made his body shiver.

’Did the room grow colder?’

The window was open. Fireworks continued to erupt outside—loud booms, bright colors flooding the sky.

Yes. It was both strange and dangerous.

And thinking of Jasmine naturally made Lumine think of Azriel.

Strangely, all the royals were mentioned—yet Azriel wasn’t.

Why would the system tell him to gain the respect of royals like Vioren, Hioren, and Veronica, but not Azriel? If there was anyone—aside from the heirs—he absolutely should have as an ally, a friend, someone whose respect mattered…

It was Azriel.

…Lumine was already annoyed that he hadn’t gotten a chance at dinner to even speak to him, let alone confront him about certain things.

And now this only fed his paranoia.

Why?

Did the system not recognize Azriel…?

Why was it ignoring him like he didn’t exist?

An unsettling feeling tightened in Lumine’s chest.

’Ah. There’s no point overthinking Azriel.’

He would have the opportunity soon enough.

But he only had seventeen hours to pull off a list of impossible tasks.

’I better not procrastinate.’

And as if on cue, the fireworks finally began to fade.

The show came to an end. And a new one would begin now.