The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69 : A cringy realization

After making that grand speech to Henry—promises about justice, resilience, standing tall despite adversity—Alex felt like he'd just acted out the final scene of some B-grade hero flick.

He stared straight ahead as they walked, trying to maintain his dignity, but internally?

Cringe.

A full-blown secondhand embarrassment directed at himself.

'What the hell was that performance?' he thought, mentally smashing his head against a brick wall. 'You're still standing, aren't you? That means you haven't given up.' He groaned inside.

'Seriously, Alex? You sounded like a righteous dad from a bedtime moral story. All that was missing was dramatic background music and a slow zoom-in on my face.'

He glanced sideways at Henry, who was still wide-eyed and clearly moved by the speech.

'Great,' Alex thought. 'At least the audience of one appreciated it. Thank god no one else heard me or I'd have to dig a hole and jump into it headfirst. Maybe seal it shut while I'm at it.'

Trying to recover his mental balance, he exhaled and decided to shift gears.

"So," Alex began, his voice more casual now, "what's Lorenzo's deal anyway?"

Henry blinked, clearly still in awe. "What do you mean?"

"I mean—" Alex gestured vaguely, "—the way he acts. That arrogant noble crap. Is he always like that, or is he just particularly interested in making your life hell?"

Henry hesitated for a moment before responding, "He's always like that. He thinks being a noble gives him the right to act like a king. He targets people he thinks won't fight back. And since I'm... well, not exactly ranked high or particularly intimidating…"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "So, you're saying he's just a rich coward who picks on people weaker than him."

Henry gave a sheepish nod.

"Good," Alex muttered.

"Good?" Henry asked, confused.

"Yeah," Alex replied with a sly smile. "Makes it easier to kick him off his high horse."

On alex mind was another thought took place.

'Then why the hell is he messing with me? I'm not an easy target, that's for sure—with people like Alden and Ethan being my friends. Or… is someone else controlling him?'

Before Henry could reply, Alex clapped his hands once and said, "Alright. We're done here. Let's head back. Ava's probably worried about you."

The two of them began walking back toward the table, passing by students who mostly ignored them—though a few did throw curious glances. Alex ignored them. He was too busy replaying his own cringeworthy monologue in his head like a cursed memory.

'Ugh. I'm never giving life advice again unless it comes with a bottle of wine and a mysterious backstory.'

Trying to distract himself, he glanced at Henry. "So… how do you know Ava?"

Henry blinked and looked away, his hands fidgeting nervously. "We were… childhood friends. She and her family lived in my hometown. But her father got transferred to the capital for work, so she moved away."

Alex nodded thoughtfully. "Let me guess—you met her again when you came to take the entrance exam?"

Henry nodded frantically, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. Even though we were in different cities, she always kept in touch. Every holiday, every festival—even if it was just short messages, she never forgot."

His voice softened slightly. "And then during the entrance exam, I was shocked when we were grouped together. She hadn't changed at all."

Alex tilted his head, curious. "Just the two of you in the group?"

Henry shook his head. "No, there were two others—a boy and a girl. They were strong too. We had a pretty solid team dynamic."

"Hmm." Alex rubbed his chin. "So, four-man team, and you guys fought together through the entrance exam?"

Henry smiled proudly. "Yeah. We stuck together, covered for each other. Everyone gave their all. We worked like a real squad—and we made it. We all passed."

There was a quiet moment before Alex glanced at Henry sideways and asked, "Alright then—what's your rank?"

Henry's proud smile twitched. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uhm… 1889."

Alex stopped walking for a beat, blinked, and then let out a short laugh. "Well, that explains why you're getting bullied."

Henry's face twisted in mild betrayal. "Hey, that's harsh!"

Alex grinned. "Not untrue, though."

Henry grumbled something under his breath.

Alex patted him on the back. "Hey, at least you didn't die during the exam. And you're still in Zenith. That's a win."

Henry sighed. "I guess…"

After a few steps, Alex asked, "So, tell me something important—how strong is Ava, really?"

Henry paused, then looked Alex dead in the eyes. "A lot stronger than you think."

Alex raised a brow, intrigued.

Henry continued, "Don't let her quiet personality or shy demeanor fool you. She's an excellent mage."

Alex blinked. '...You make her sound like she has a second personality.'𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Henry looked away again and mumbled, "...I'm not saying she does, but... you wouldn't be the first one to say that."

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