The Nameless Extra: I Proofread This World

[Natalia’s POV]

Sector J5....

Standing atop the massive corpse of a Wretched-Rank, the woman with the dark-blue ponytail glanced down at the notification displayed on her bracelet.

”Ruvian Castelor, huh?”

The name had barely left her lips when she leaped high into the air before landing lightly beside the creature’s enormous jaw.

A moment later, one of her teammates approached from behind.

”Looks like you’re fine. I was worried for nothing.”

He let out a relieved sigh.

Natalia casually spun her pair of white-and-black daggers around her fingers before storing them inside her dimensional storage.

”Honestly, I should’ve been the one worrying about you guys.”

She jerked a thumb toward the enormous carcass behind her.

”After all, another Wretched-Rank Voidspawn showed up while we were dealing with this one. But it seemed like the four of you can handle a Wretched-Rank now. Impressive.”

The man gave a helpless smile.

Because of that unexpected interference, they had no choice but to split into two groups and engage both Wretched-Rank Voidspawns at the same time.

Natalia remained behind to face this one alone, while the other four joined forces against the second, hoping to finish their battle before she needed any assistance.

Fortunately, it seemed neither side had required the other’s help.

Both battles had ended in victory.

”Anyway, why are you the only one here? Where are the rest of them?” Natalia asked, crossing her arms.

”Ah, the other two are treating that idiot’s injuries.” He rubbed the back of his neck before glancing over his shoulder.

”That Wretched-Rank Voidspawn nearly ripped his forearm apart. The wound was deep enough that the bone was almost exposed, so they’re stopping the bleeding before giving him a healing potion. Thankfully, the bracelet’s emergency enchantment never activated. For a moment there, I honestly thought he was going to get eliminated.”

Natalia let out a quiet sigh before walking toward the rest of her teammates.

”Seriously? Again?” she muttered, sighing. ”Why does he keep fighting like there’s no tomorrow?”

”I couldn’t tell you either.”

The man gave a helpless shrug.

”But I’ll give him credit. For a Class E scholar, he’s not that bad. And honestly... far stronger than he has any right to be.”

”I guess,” Natalia replied.

Without another word, she continued walking across the battered land. It didn’t take long before the rest of her squad came into view.

Two of her teammates were crouched beside the massive corpse of the Wretched-Rank Voidspawn, carefully carving through its remains in search of a Voidshard.

A short distance away, another young man sat quietly atop a weathered stone boulder, seemingly paying little attention to the others.

His gaze remained fixed on the red notification hovering above his bracelet.

Fresh bandages were tightly wrapped around both of his forearms, faint traces of blood already seeping through the white cloth. Resting beside him was a long spear planted firmly into the ground.

His long auburn hair was tied neatly into a ponytail that fell down his back.

”Hey, Griffer!”

Hearing his name, the young man slowly lifted his head toward the voice from atop the small hill.

His sharp golden eyes met Natalia’s. They burned with the fierce gaze of someone who looked ready to square up for another fight.

Natalia stepped forward before casually sliding down the slope of the small hill. The man from earlier followed after her, landing at the bottom with a small thud.

She kept walking until she stopped a few steps away from Griffer.

”So... that cafeteria troublemaker scholar on the notification,” she nodded toward his bracelet. ”He’s the guy you’ve been talking about these past few days, right? Your friend?”

Griffer slowly rose to his feet, pulling his spear free from the ground.

”He’s not my friend.”

Natalia blinked.

”What? Then what is he?”

She frowned in confusion.

”Haven’t you been talking about him almost every day?”

Griffer frowned.

”When did I talk about him everyday?”

Natalia stared at him dumbfounded.

”Sure. Whatever.”

”I mean, yeah. I’m close with him. But not as a friend.”

Griffer rested the spear across his shoulder.

”But more like I see him as my rival.”

Natalia quietly studied him for a moment before letting out an amused hum.

”...Okay, tough boy.”

She folded her arms.

”Anyway, tell me more about him.”

Griffer frowned.

”Why?”

A faint smile spread across Natalia’s lips.

”Why else?”

She tapped the notification on her bracelet.

”We’re hunting him down for points. By now, everyone’s probably heading his way already — to scout his squad. So we should too. It’d be a waste to miss an event like this, wouldn’t it?”

The moment those words left her mouth, Griffer’s eyes lit up.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

”Ha! If we’re hunting him...”

He rested the butt of his spear against the ground.

”...Then I have one request.”

Natalia raised an eyebrow.

”What is it?”

Griffer’s smile only grew wider.

”When we find him — don’t interfere.”

He pointed his spear toward her.

”Leave him to me. I want to fight him one-on-one.”

*****

[Ruvian’s POV]

[You have received +10,000 Plot Points!]

[Your relevance to the story has shifted!]

[The Editorial System has updated your Narrative Thread!]

[You have stepped beyond the margins of obscurity!]

Hearing that familiar voice echoing within his soul, Ruvian couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face.

[Child... why do you wear such a smile? I don’t understand. Does this bounty not mean that every scholar upon this island now seeks your downfall? Yet you greet it with joy? Have you truly come to delight in courting death?]

”Ah, sorry. I wasn’t smiling because of that. It was for... another reason.”

He answered casually before shifting his gaze toward the latest notification displayed by the [Editorial System].

==========

I. Footnote of Fate

II. Wandering Extra

III. Pivotal Extra

IV. Pivotal Canon ← You Are Here

V. Core Canon

==========

Honestly, ever since forging a pact with Morvayne, the Great Spirit of Dark Mana, this outcome had long since become a foregone conclusion in his mind.

Whether Julian announced the bounty on the sixth day, the seventh day, or any other time afterward made little difference. In his eyes, this was merely another piece moving into the exact position it was always meant to be.

Needless to say...

He couldn’t have been more satisfied.

”Everything I needed... I’ve already obtained them.”

His Spellcore had finally advanced to Tier 3.

His body had stepped into the realm of a Second-Class Magus.

He had successfully formed a contract with Morvayne, the Great Spirit of Dark Mana.

Along the way, he had also amassed an enormous amount of Plot Points.

As for the final piece...

It was nothing more than an unexpected bonus from reaching a new Relevancy Stage.

A wild card he had never included in his original plans simply because he had no idea how valuable it would truly be.

His newly acquired Editorial Skill.

Without another word, Ruvian shifted his gaze toward the notification and inspected the ability.

The sapphire grimoire hums softly as the pages turn on their own.

[Congratulations, your deepening relevance has granted you access to one of these hidden editorial privileges!]

New Skill Unlocked:

✦ [Assimilation]

’Assimilation, huh? I wonder what that means?’

Without wasting another second, he began inspecting his sixth skill carefully.

{Editorial Skills}

[Slot 1]: Foreshadowing

[Slot 2]: Character Sheets

[Slot 3]: Omniscient Review

[Slot 4]: Power Scaling

[Slot 5]: Bookmarks

[Slot 6]: Assimilation

[Slot 7]: ???

===============

Skill 6: [Assimilation]

Description:

◇ This skill allows the user to temporarily assimilate with any character stored within the [Bookmarks]. During the assimilation period, the user will synchronize with the bookmarked character’s abilities, gaining access to their Stats, Affinity Mastery, Skills, combat techniques, accumulated experience, and overall understanding as though they were the character themselves.

◇ If the user’s own Stats, Affinity Mastery, or Skills already surpass those of the bookmarked character, the Editorial System will automatically retain the superior version instead of replacing it. Any abilities or knowledge the user does not possess will be temporarily supplemented by the bookmarked character instead.

◇ The synchronization lasts for 5 minutes. Once the duration expires, all assimilated abilities and knowledge will immediately disappear, leaving only the user’s original capabilities. There are also some repercussions: mental & physical exhaustion, depending on user tolerance.

Requirements:

◇ The target character must already be registered within the [Bookmarks].

◇ Activating [Assimilation] consumes 10,000 Plot Points per use.

===============

After reading everything, Ruvian’s eyes slowly widened.

If he truly possessed this skill... coupled with everything he had painstakingly worked until now...

Then, without a doubt, it was not an exaggeration to say that Ruvian Castelor...

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 291: Was No Longer a Nameless Extra]