The Extra Who Shouldn’t Exist

Ava stood firmly in front of Alex, her brown eyes locked onto the cold, skeletal mask hiding his face.

"Take off your mask."

For a split second, Alex froze.

'Did she… notice something?'

But before he could move, the brown-haired girl suddenly bent forward, bowing deeply.

"Please! I'm a big fan. You're Lucifer Morning-star, right?"

Alex blinked under the mask, taken aback by the abruptness. Then slowly, a smirk curled on his lips, though it remained hidden.

Activating the mask's voice modulation, his voice changing.

"And why do you think it's me?"

Ava straightened up, determination written all over her face.

"I've seen all your live streams of clearing dungeon-rifts," she said. Her tone softened, almost wistful.

"Every single one of them. I want to be strong like you. Stronger than ever."

Her fists clenched as shadows of painful memories flickered in her eyes.

"There was a time when something unspeakable happened. I didn't want to meet anyone. Didn't want to talk to anyone. Because…"

She bit her lip before continuing, her voice trembling but steady.

"Because I felt guilty of a crime I could never forgive myself for—not as long as I live."

Alex tilted his head slightly, the mask's hollow grin staring back at her in silence.

Ava took a deep breath, her gaze hardening.

"At that time, for weeks, I didn't even attend my classes as nightmares kept coming every time I tried to sleep.

Then one day… I think it was your first dungeon clear that I saw. You cleared a dungeon that was about to break—I was really impressed.

From that day on, the only thing that kept me sane were your live feeds.

You walked into dungeons that were on the verge of breaking, places others refused to touch.

And you stopped them from unleashing monsters onto innocents. You did it because you could. Because you not only had strength—but courage, too."

Inside Alex's head, the system's voice broke the moment with a deadpan tone.

[Host, not to ruin the mood, but didn't you only save those people because you wanted fame—and because Alyssa said if you didn't clear that assignment, she'd seize all your money and throw you into the largest unknown-rank dungeon still uncleared?]

Alex's lips twitched beneath the mask.

'You're jealous, aren't you, you bastard? You just don't want to admit I'm the greatest hunter to ever exist. A savior too… although, coincidentally.'

[Yeah, a savior who was forced to save people coincidentally at that.]

A vein pulsed on Alex's temple.

'Shut the hell up.'

But Ava didn't notice the internal argument. She pressed on, her voice breaking slightly.

"If I had that same courage and strength back then… a very dear friend of mine—someone like a brother to me—would still be alive."

Her shoulders trembled, but she straightened again, fire burning in her eyes.

"Watching you step up when no one else would compelled me to train harder than ever. And now… I've finally made it into the top ten of our year."

She bowed deeply once more.

"I know it won't mean much to you, but… you gave me the motivation to stand again. So, thank you—truly."

For a moment, Alex just looked at her. Really looked. Then, against all odds, he reached out and gently patted her head.

"You've gotten stronger. Looks like you've broken through to the Expert rank."

Ava's eyes widened at the gesture. For a heartbeat, her world stopped. Then she blinked rapidly and asked, stunned,

"Do… you know me?"

Alex's tone shifted instantly, growing stern and detached.

"Believe it or not, I'm also a student of this academy. Due to special circumstances, I'm only allowed to appear for tests. I've observed every top cadet up until now."

He let a pause linger before adding dramatically,

"There was this one guy, Alex Dragonheart. Incredibly handsome. His looks were almost divine, his talent unmat—"

The system's voice roared in his head.

[You narcissistic bastard! You're going to blow our cover!]

Alex coughed loudly, cutting himself short.

"Ahem—what I mean is, he was quite talented."

Ava's lips curled into a faint, bittersweet smile.

"Yeah… he was." Her voice dipped, sadness weighing her words.

Alex watched her silently. Deep down, a bitterness stirred at the memory of being left alone.

But he knew Ava was different. She had suffered in her own way—almost raped, left half-dead during that nightmarish incident.

She had been the weakest, the most broken. And yet she survived.

He couldn't bring himself to hate her.

'She isn't defending herself. She wasn't trying to shield anyone. Every word she's said… it was from the heart.'

His voice softened under the mask.

"You're a good-hearted person, Ava. Believe it or not, I'm not as kind or generous as you think I am. The world needs more people like you, not like me."

He straightened and pulled out a sleek black card.

"The first years will be going into guild training soon, once we're scouted. Since I'm already part of a guild, I have the authority to recruit people who I deem worthy."

He signed the card with a glowing signature and handed it to her.

"If you want, you can come to my guild anytime. But…" his lips quirked under the mask.

"…you should know—it's not that high-ranked a guild. Not yet."

Ava looked at the card in her hands, her eyes widening, her lips parting in disbelief.

Ava's eyes practically sparkled the moment she heard him. She snatched the card from Alex's hand with a wide grin.

"Are you kidding me?! The guild everyone ignored—unknown to most—shot up into the top ten in just a few months. That's insane!"

Alex smirked beneath the mask, his violet eyes gleaming faintly through the gaps.

"Oh, you know your stuff. But as I said, it's not yet at the position I want it to be."

His voice dipped into a challenge. "So… what do you say? Wanna join?"

Without hesitation, Ava bowed again and again.

"I'll be honored! Thank you so much!"

Alex waved it off, his tone calm.

"I'll be waiting. But I'm sorry—I can't show you my face. My guild has strict restrictions on revealing my identity. So for now, I'll have to decline."

Ava straightened, smiling softly.

"Oh, I understand. Really, I do." She lifted the card up, studying it carefully.

"But… Mr. Lucifer, will this card really work? It just has your signature and your name on it. Not to be rude, but… will they really let me join?"

At that, Alex burst into loud laughter, startling her.

"Hahaha! Oh, trust me, it'll work. That isn't just my signature. It's a royal decree within the guild."

His voice darkened, carrying a sharp edge.

"Show it to them, and they'll treat you like a princess. Because if they don't…"

He paused deliberately, his mask tilting as if smiling.

"Let's just say the members know exactly what happens when they disobey their tyrant ruler."

Ava blinked, a little confused but still nodding earnestly.

"Tyrant? Well… either way, thank you."

Alex stepped back, adjusting his mask.

"I have somewhere to be, so I'll take my leave now. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Mr. Lucifer!" Ava bowed deeply once more.

But just as Alex turned, taking a few steps down the corridor, a voice cut through the air.

"Wait!"

Alex's blood boiled the instant he recognized it. 'That voice…' His fists clenched under his sleeves, but he didn't stop. His stride remained steady.

Soon enough, a figure came running ahead of him, blocking his path. Lilia.

She planted herself in front of him, panting slightly, but with that same smug smile plastered across her face.

"Stop. If you won't, then fine—I'll just talk while walking beside you." She tossed her hair back, her eyes glinting. "Give me one of those cards too. I want to join your guild."

Alex came to a slow halt, his mask facing her silently.

Lilia smirked, taking his silence as interest.

"You should know, I'm not just any mage. I'm a talented one.

And I also know rune-crafting. That should be enough to qualify, don't you think?"

Alex tilted his head, his voice eerily calm.

"You know rune-crafting, huh?"

"Of course I do," Lilia said proudly.

Alex pulled out a folded slip of paper from his coat. A rune circle, half-drawn, glowed faintly upon it. He handed it to her.

"This is incomplete. Finish it. Do that, and you're in."

Her eyes lit up as she took it. "Easy." She sat on the spot, analyzing the intricate strokes.

"This is child's play."

She drew the final lines with absolute confidence—

BOOM!

A violent explosion erupted, throwing her backwards like a ragdoll. She slammed against the ground nearly fifty meters away, smoke curling from her clothes.

Ava screamed.

"Lilia!" She sprinted over, panic flooding her face. "Lilia, are you okay?!"

Lilia's consciousness was already fading. She twitched, blood trickling down her lip, her body trembling from the shock.

Alex strolled closer, unhurried, the mask hiding his sinister smirk.

Ava frantically uncorked a potion and tried to make Lilia drink it, but Alex slipped a small red vial into her hand.

"Give her this," he said smoothly.

Ava, too desperate to think twice, nodded and made Lilia swallow it.

Within moments, her breathing steadied, and some of her burns began to heal.

Alex crouched slightly, his masked face tilting toward Lilia. His tone was cold, mocking.

"Sorry, but I don't want people who think they're talented but are just mediocre. You couldn't even complete a single rune symbol.

Better luck next time—but don't try it with me again. I don't want useless people surrounding me."

He rose, turned, and walked away, his black coat fluttering behind him.

"Goodbye."

Ava held Lilia protectively as the girl gritted her teeth, glaring at the floor.

'Damn him. Who the hell does he think he is, calling me mediocre, useless? Just you wait.

I'll make you pay for this humiliation. Just like I made that silver-haired bastard pay.'

Meanwhile, Alex's steps echoed down the corridor. Inside his mind, the system's voice rang out, amused.

[Host, out of all your evil schemes, I approve of that one the most.]

Alex smirked beneath the mask.

'Of course you do. I'm a genius, after all. That bitch will never sleep peacefully for a long time. If she wasn't still useful to me, I'd have gotten rid of her already.'

[Truly diabolical. I like it.]

'Good,' Alex thought darkly. 'I hope she enjoys the nightmares I gave her.'

He chuckled low at first, then broke into a quiet, manic laugh that spilled into the corridor.

Students passing by froze, then hurriedly moved out of his way, shivers crawling down their spines.

Finally, Alex reached the student council office. He raised his hand and knocked twice.

The door opened immediately. A hand shot out, gripping his collar with surprising force, and yanked him inside.

The door slammed shut behind them.

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A/N:

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