How to Live as an Extra (2)
After class ended, I headed to the student cafeteria. It was lunchtime, so students were pouring in endlessly.
"Should I get this?"
"I'll go with this. That stew looks tastier."
"Tch, you don't know the magic combo of spaghetti and bread?!"
The line was massive. Groups of students were already huddled together, agonizing over the menu board with dozens of options. The Artina Academy cafeteria was so high-quality they even hired former imperial chefs. No wonder they couldn't decide easily.
I get it. I nodded. There are times when you want to try everything. Not that it applied to me, of course….
I sat alone by the window. I pulled a bundle of grass wrapped in leaves from my bag—the stuff I'd gathered that morning.
"This is my lunch."
It was meager, but I'd make up for it with meat at dinner. Stuffing down meat every meal would be too heavy anyway. Plus, I didn't have a proper container for it.
As I munched on the grass, I overheard the students whispering.
"Isn't that guy the only F-rank in the magic department?"
"How the hell did he even get in…? The professors said he must have some talent, but that's all shady tricks, right?"
"Exactly. Dumb luck. Pure luck."
In the magic department, I'd positioned myself as the ultimate extra. Even on the way from class to the cafeteria, I was the hot topic among the students. Mana sensitivity F-rank? Perfect conversation fodder. And my backstory? A fallen noble. A third-rate wastrel with F-rank mana sensitivity at that. To other nobles, I was a laughingstock. To commoners, a perfect punching bag for their inferiority complexes.
Whatever. All that mattered was Kyle stuffing his face in peace. Honestly, I wasn't even pissed. I had too much to do today.
Meet Rien, get a jar for jerky, mop, bucket. Pay off the loan, leaving just emergency funds. Then hit the library for Intro to Magic Studies, basic spellbooks, and a decent standard swordsmanship manual…. Ugh, busy day.
No time to worry about what people thought. I was sorting through my mental to-do list.
"Um, hey. Are you Kyle by any chance?"
That's when two guys approached. I glanced over—Sedric and Roden.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Ah…! Cool. Wanna eat together? N-not that I'm forcing you or anything… I-I just thought it'd be nice to, y'know, be friends."
Sedric hung his head sheepishly. No bad vibes. In the original story, he wasn't the type anyway—he was more the one getting bullied.
Still, be friends? As I stared at Sedric, Roden plopped down in the seat next to me and burst out laughing.
"No need to stress! Truth is, we found out two days ago that the magic department's dead last is you. We're 348th and 349th, so we were curious what someone ranked lower than us would be like. That's how we ended up here."
"R-Roden! That's so rude!"
"And today we realized—you set the record with mana sensitivity F! Us losers gotta stick together, right? So we came to make friends."
"K-Kyle, don't think I feel that way at all, okay? He's just spouting nonsense on his own!"
Together, they were straight out of a sitcom. The perfect E and I combo. In the original, these two were 349th and 350th, scraping into Artina Academy. I'd grabbed all the attention by taking dead last, apparently. They were always kind to fellow bottom-dwellers. And they were good guys anyway—supporting characters. Sedric awakens as a swordsman later, and Roden masters mid-tier earth magic.
No harm in hanging with them…? I was already playing the extra role. These two were extras in the original, so they might even help.
"So, what do you say to our offer? In?"
"R-Roden, stop—"
"Sure, why not."
"Wh-what, for real?"
"I was actually short on friends anyway. Works for me."
"Sweet! Looking forward to it!"
Roden grinned and set his tray down. Sedric sat too, after a hesitant glance. Not facing each other, but side by side by the window. Classic extra formation. Original duo extras? Now a trio.
I ate my grass while chatting with them.
"Heard about this? Catholic Hall can be used for sparring too. There's duels on the academy schedule—think we'll have to fight…?"
"If we fight, we just win 'em all!"
"Ugh, you make it sound so easy. What about you, Kyle?"
"Hmm, guess I'll prepare as best I can. For the duels."
"I see…."
Sedric, you've got a talent for tossing out plot hooks. I killed time with useless chit-chat and responses. Five minutes later, I'd finished my salad—er, grass. Sedric and Roden were done too, and we all stood up.
"Whoa, it's the top student!"
"Seeing Siel in person—lucky…."
"She's gorgeous. Bet she'd freeze you solid if you talked to her…."
The cafeteria buzzed. I wondered what was up—then Siel Dunhart walked in. She scanned the room for a long moment at the entrance.
What's she doing…? I narrowed my eyes, then looked away. No time for that. Mountains of tasks ahead.
"Let's clear our trays."
I stood. Plan was to split after that.
"……?"
But then our eyes met. Siel closed the distance without hesitation. No doubt about it—she was heading straight for me.
No, could be someone else. Back away slowly….
I shook my head and retreated step by step. But the gap didn't widen. I hit the wall, and…
"You…."
Face-to-face with Siel. Awkward position, though. Her hand was planted on the wall, blocking my escape. Total wall-slam event.
"Wh-what's top rank doing with that guy…!?"
"What's going on…?!"
"Siel with him?"
All eyes turned our way. Prime gossip age. Rumors would spread like wildfire. Bad for my low-profile graduation plan. Total aggro magnet.
Still salvageable.
"Hey, think you mistook me for someone…."
Prove no connection. Simple. But she shut it down.
"I have business with you. Come."
Her calm, restrained voice echoed through the cafeteria. Situation made it explosive. The whole place held its breath. Sedric and Roden next to me looked betrayed.
Aah….
My turbulent extra life. There went the premise, shattering to pieces.
Staying in the cafeteria would spawn rumors out of thin air, so I followed her out. Siel led me to a training room.
Why there? She's a diligent poison-apple type. Spent every day training, per her backstory. Probably felt like home—family retainers watched her at the estate.
"Come in."
The room was off from the cafeteria—clean and comfy. She'd reserved it; her gear was all there. Maybe came looking mid-training.
I stepped over the threshold cautiously. Click. She shut the door, confirmed we were alone, and cut straight to it.
"You. Did you see someone that day?"
That day. Only one day I'd faced her alone: Artina Academy entrance exam. Right after downing the mid-tier beast, we met.
But see someone?
"Who?"
"Master… Never mind, you wouldn't know. Have you seen the person?"
I asked, and Siel faltered—rare for her—before repeating.
Sudden interrogation. Took a sec to parse, but her slip gave context.
Figured it out.
The Master she mentioned, that day's events, the person she sought. She was hunting the one who felled the mid-tier beast. And mistaking them for a Master. One of the world's seven elites. She knew their power, but pegging me for that…?
I recalled Act 1, Scene 1. The pillar of light piercing the distant southern Masa skies. Yeah, anyone would think Master-level. Who'd believe it was a sniper bullet?
And yesterday too, maybe….
That wasn't all. Yesterday, I one-shot the copy demon, Frak. From her view: twice she'd seen overwhelming power, saving her ass. Cute misunderstanding.
But assuming it was definitely a Master? Her family's obsession. Dunharts birthed one centuries ago, then declined. That's why she staked her life on it. Father, late mother, elders—all pinned hopes on her. Crushing pressure. She had to be perfect.
Seeing Master power? She'd chase it.
"Answer. Have you seen them?"
Siel pressed.
"Uh, well…."
I organized my response. Denying it here would fuel suspicion—make me seem like I knew the Master. But admitting truth? Plan to coast quietly goes poof. Help protagonists with bare minimum, dump the grind on them—that's my MO.
Telling her it's not a Master? She'd doubt—saw it herself. Might feel hollow. That beast-slaying might? First time for her. Blind faith in Master.
But if I say no Master…?
There's always someone better. Gap hits harder. Might kill her drive. White lies help sometimes.
"Kinda think I saw someone."
"Describe their appearance."
Her eyes flashed—subtle, kinda cute. I brazened on.
"Wore a pitch-black robe, couldn't see the face. Only caught layered magic circles on their back. No clue what they meant."
"M-more. Tell me more."
"That's it, really. Just remember one thing they said when you were fighting. Good ears, y'know."
"Wh-what did they say?"
Siel was laser-focused. Mysterious Master leaving her a message? Thrilling.
I deepened my voice, imagining.
"'Not bad.'"
"……."
"That's all."
Siel stood frozen, shocked. Poked her arm, her cheek—no reaction. I slipped out quietly. Or not so quietly—opened the door wide, still nothing.
Whatever. With that, I headed off to finish my tasks.