The Extra Who Shouldn’t Exist

In the most famous and reknowned academy in the world, known as Zenith Academy, inside the luxurious student council office—which was supposed to be a place of order, elegance, and discipline.

Instead, it looked like a battlefield.

On the polished oak table, a boy was sprawled flat, gasping for breath, while a white-haired girl pressed down on him like a merciless executioner, her fingers locked tight around his throat.

Her sapphire-green eyes gleamed with annoyance, her grip tightening as the boy tapped furiously at her wrist.

"What the hell are you doing, you crazy woman—" Alex rasped, his voice broken by choking gasps.

Alicia leaned closer, her hair brushing against his cheek, her tone icy.

"Can't you see? I'm trying to choke the life out of you. Once you're dead, I'll cut open your brain to see what's going on inside it.

Six months, it's been six months—and not a single reply to my calls."

A shudder shot through Alex's body. His lips parted, coughing between his words.

'She's insane! She's really going to kill me!'

Trying to save his life, he did the only thing he could think of—put the blame on others.

"It… it was Alyssa! She kept training me like a maniac. Bathroom breaks, training, clearing rifts, training again—it was endless!"

Alicia narrowed her eyes, skeptical.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, that is so," Alex wheezed, then forced a grin. "So, how was that excuse? Good, right?"

A vein popped on Alicia's forehead. She tightened her grip again, ready to squeeze the last breath out of him.

"Wai—wait! If you kill me, I'll never be able to give you this!" Alex croaked, his face turning red.

Alicia blinked.

"Give me what?"

With a trembling hand, Alex pulled out a small box from his pocket and held it up.

The velvet-black box gleamed under the chandelier's light, its golden latch glinting.

Alicia's grip loosened instantly, her eyes snapping to the box. She snatched it from him and slid off the table, glaring at him.

"What's this supposed to be?"

Alex rolled off the table, coughing violently as he dragged in a lungful of oxygen.

His breathing ragged, he rasped out,

"Why don't you open it and find out?"

Alicia scoffed.

"You really are the most shallow, self-centered person I've ever met. Do you think a gift will make up for ignoring me for half a year?"

Still, her hands trembled slightly as she flipped the box open.

Her eyes widened. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

Inside the velvet-lined box sat a silver ring forged from a radiant, moonlike metal. The band shimmered with subtle runic etchings that pulsed faintly with mana. At its center, a prism-like gem refracted light into dazzling colors.

It wasn't just beautiful—it was priceless.

The ring was made of Erythium, the rarest metal in the world, valued in the hundreds of billions at auctions. Forged with nullification runes, it was capable of nullifying two devastating spell attacks of any rank.

Only one ring of this kind had ever been crafted, and it had vanished from the auction scene after rumors spread that its buyer hid it away.

Alicia's voice trembled.

"Wh… where did you get this?"

Alex grinned despite his bruised neck.

"Let's just say the owner owed me a favor. I helped his business out of a little… problem.

So I asked very, very nicely, and he was more than happy to give it to me—he was even in tears of joy."

Alicia narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"You blackmailed him, didn't you?"

Alex immediately yelled, holding his chest dramatically.

"Preposterous! What kind of person do you think I am?"

"A scamming bastard," Alicia replied flatly.

Alex's mouth twitched.

"Have you ever seen me blackmail someone? I am an honorable, respected citizen of this empire. Stop slandering me with false allegations!"

Another vein popped on Alicia's forehead. She raised her fist.

"Say that again, and I might bury you alive."

Alex clicked his tongue.

"Tch. Even after I bring you this gift…"

Alicia's cheeks flushed pink despite her scolding tone. She extended her left hand toward him, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

"Come here. Put it on me."

Alex smirked.

"Come on, you're not a child. Put it on yourself."

In one fluid motion, Alicia unsheathed her sword, the blade humming dangerously by his neck.

Alex froze, then laughed nervously.

"Of course, I'll help you. How could I refuse a request from a lady as beautiful as you?"

Alicia's blush deepened, and she smacked the back of his head.

"Don't try to flatter me. I'm still mad at you."

Rubbing his head, Alex took the ring from the box and gently slid it onto Alicia's left hand.

Alicia's lips curved into a faint smile. In a low murmur, she whispered,

"At least… that's a start."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Did you say something?"

Alicia quickly pulled her hand back, her expression neutral.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with."

But she couldn't hide the way her eyes gleamed at the ring, nor the grin tugging at her lips.

Alex chuckled at the sight.

'Good thing I took Alyssa's advice and gave her this.'

After a quiet moment, Alex leaned back in his chair.

"I heard your time at the academy is almost over. You're about to graduate, right?"

Alicia kept admiring the ring, replying softly,

"Yeah. This is my last semester. Soon, there'll be an election to choose the next student council president."

Alex tilted his head.

"Who's the most likely candidate?"

"My cousin," Alicia answered, her tone dropping slightly. "Lucas—the second prince. He's already secured the support of all the third-years. He controls all of the second-years, and even many of the first-years are leaning toward him."

"Hmm." Alex tapped his chin. "What about Charlotte? Any chance she'll win?"

Alicia's expression turned grim.

"Next to none. After… that incident, she refuses to accept anyone's help. She's trying to do everything on her own.

Even when Ethan offered his hand, she turned him away outright."

Alex leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly.

'Did that girl also lose her brain after that incident?'

---

Alex leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers drumming against the armrest while his gaze lingered on Alicia.

'The situation is more grim than the game events… back then Ethan was her main supporter. Without him, she's practically walking into a storm,' he thought, eyes narrowing.

Alicia noticed the shift in his expression.

"Why are you so interested in that?"

Alex smirked faintly, waving it off.

"Nothing. Just making conversation."

He leaned forward, voice calm yet probing.

"Then who would you support?"

Alicia's expression hardened with discipline.

"I'm not allowed to support anyone. I promised my uncle that this matter would be settled between those two themselves."

Alex gave a small nod at that, though his mind raced with possibilities.

But Alicia quickly changed the topic. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe, her lips curling into a sly smirk.

"Enough about that. You've gotten stronger, haven't you? Mr… what was it again?" She pretended to think before her voice sharpened in mock playfulness. "Ah right—Conqueror of the Unknown… Devil of the Nightfall."

Alex's cheeks flushed instantly, his composure cracking.

"Don't say those cringe nicknames."

Alicia laughed, the sound rich and teasing.

"They suit you perfectly, Mr. Lucifer Morningstar."

His face twitched at the title, ready to retort, but before he could, her aura flared like a wildfire. The air grew heavy, tingling with her power.

"So, what do you say? Wanna try your luck against me?"

Alex's smirk returned, his own aura answering hers with equal pressure.

"Confident, aren't we?"

Just as the tension thickened, his EtherPad buzzed in his pocket. Both auras faded slightly as Alex glanced down, annoyance flashing across his features.

"Tch… what does slave no. 2 want right now? Did he mess something up?"

He answered the call lazily.

"This better be important."

As Jaime's frantic report filled his ear, Alex's grin widened until it stretched unnaturally across his face. His violet eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Finally… found him."

Alicia blinked, confused by the sudden shift.

"Found who?"

Alex stood up swiftly, tucking the device away.

"Sorry, very urgent work came up. I have to leave."

Alicia's aura flickered with irritation.

"Come on, just a little bit more—"

He leaned close, his breath brushing her ear, voice low and smooth.

"Next time… I'll invite you to my home."

Her cheeks flared crimson as her imagination betrayed her with wild thoughts.

That split second was all Alex needed—he darted to the door, flung it open, and waved casually.

"Goodbye."

"Wait—!" Alicia called after him, but the door had already slammed shut.

Her fists clenched, teeth grinding in frustration. She exhaled a sharp breath, forcing herself to calm down, then finally let out a long sigh. A small smile crept onto her lips despite herself.

"It's not over…" she murmured, her eyes still fixed on the door he had vanished through.

---

Meanwhile, Alex walked briskly toward the academy's warp gate. His thoughts were sharp, calculated, the grin never leaving his face.

The corridors were quiet at this hour, his footsteps echoing against the polished floor.

But then, suddenly—everything stopped.

The air froze. The sound of his own steps cut short mid-stride as his body froze, unable to move an inch.

Even the faint hum of the warp gate ahead was silenced. It was as though the world itself had been locked in place.

Alex's body went rigid, every instinct screaming at him. His gaze sharpened, scanning the frozen hall.

'This feeling… it's her.'

And then it came. A voice, silky and commanding, slipped into the silence.

"Long time no see, Alex… or should I call you Lucifer Morningstar now?"

------

A/N:

So how was the chapter? Tell me in the comments!

Thanks for the golden tickets:

@anime_boy, @Alooli, @Argos_Von_Kaiser,

@Vandana_Singh_2995,

@Ninja_King_2311, @LaggingPenguin,

@hunter_jkf, @BluuuuTea, @OfcSoccer4,

@Treyton_Johnson, @Achillios, @Bjarne_H,

@Konica, @EventfullMars,

I really appreciate the support, guys. 😊