Path of the Extra

It took approximately an hour for the camp to be set up outside the boss room.

A campfire was soon roaring, with most of the cadets gathered around it, laughing and enjoying themselves as they roasted snacks.

If someone took a picture, you'd think they were just a group of normal students on a camping trip, not adventurers in a Void Dungeon where danger could strike at any moment.

That's how it looked to Azriel, who observed everything from a distance.

He hadn't moved from his spot.

He just watched.

Tents had been set up nearby, where some cadets were already taking naps, while others sought privacy.

It didn't feel like they were in a place where death lurked around every corner.

Even the instructors, who were supposed to be impartial, were mingling with the cadets, joining in on the lighthearted fun.

Jasmine was sitting around the fire too, alongside Celestina, Lumine, Yelena, and even Vergil, after an awkward 30-minute apology session.

Azriel had forced Vergil to go and make peace with Lumine and Yelena, following Celestina's heartfelt plea.

He basically sold him to Celestina.

Now, the air was filled with laughter and chatter that, under any normal circumstances, would attract a swarm of void creatures.

But none came.

The first floor was completely deserted, and Azriel couldn't figure out why.

He leaned his head against the cold stone wall behind him and sighed.

He had told his sister and Celestina that he would rest and had pretended to head to one of the tents.

Now, he found himself here, away from everyone, quietly overseeing the scene while suppressing his mana to avoid detection.

He was confident none of the cadets would notice, though if Jasmine or the instructors focused on him, they'd surely pick up on his presence.

The truth was, Azriel couldn't bring himself to join them.

To sit by the fire, laugh, and act like nothing was wrong.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd allowed himself to have fun.

Not that he minded watching from afar.

In a way, it was... comforting, seeing them all so carefree, their faces lit up with genuine smiles.

'How long until those smiles are taken away?'

He couldn't help but wonder.

Would it be during the boss fight?

Or maybe something else would come, something worse, that would strip them of this momentary happiness.

They were so oblivious to the dangers of this world, to the darkness creeping around the edges of their reality.

Azriel's expression darkened as his thoughts spiraled into negativity.

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Frustrated, he tilted his head back and knocked it gently against the wall, closing his eyes.

'What am I even doing with my life?'

He was walking a path that seemed endless, with no clear destination.

He made decisions without reason, only guided by the vague desire to change the future from the original plot.

But what came after that?

What did he want?

He still didn't have an answer.

"U-um, e-excuse me…"

Azriel's eyes snapped open at the sound of a timid voice.

In front of him stood a girl in the academy's uniform, her black hair falling softly to her shoulders, her dark eyes wide with nervousness.

She looked like a frightened animal, trembling slightly, as if ready to bolt at any moment.

Azriel blinked, surprised.

He had thought no one had noticed him, but apparently, he was wrong.

"Can I help you, Cadet Kanae?"

The girl's eyes widened in shock.

"E-eh? Y-you know my na— ouch!"

She winced, biting her tongue mid-sentence.

Azriel suppressed a smile, trying not to laugh at her clumsiness.

'What a cute, clumsy girl…'

"It's only natural for me to know the names of my classmates. Cadet Kanae, ranked 101."

Azriel said lightly, watching as tears formed in the corners of her eyes from the pain.

"Ugh... H-how embarrassing..."

Kanae muttered to herself, cheeks flushing as she sat down in front of him, back straight and clearly nervous.

Azriel studied her for a moment, curious as to why she was here.

"So, what can I do for you, Cadet Kanae?" he asked, keeping his tone gentle to prevent her from panicking further.

"A-ah, yes... you see, um, I'm here because... they asked me to..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, trailing off to almost a whisper.

Azriel furrowed his brows.

"They asked you to?"

She nodded, avoiding his gaze.

"… It was a... dare."

"A dare?"

Kanae nodded again, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

"I see," Azriel said, unsure how to respond.

It wasn't exactly a surprise—people were caught up in the carefree atmosphere around the campfire.

It was only natural that they'd make silly choices, especially with dares.

Still, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Kanae, who seemed mortified by the whole situation.

"I'm sorry if I was rude or interrupted you..."

Kanae said softly, her voice laced with regret.

Azriel offered her a reassuring smile.

"It's fine. You didn't interrupt me at all. Actually, I'm surprised you took the dare."

Kanae bit her lip, fidgeting.

"… I was also a little... curious about you."

Azriel raised his eyebrows in surprise.

'Curious, huh?'

He hadn't expected that.

Most cadets either avoided him or kept their distance, intimidated by his reputation.

'How bold of her...'

"What are you curious about?" he asked, smiling gently.

It was rare for one of his classmates to approach him like this.

He didn't actively avoid people, but he wasn't exactly inviting either.

Seeing that Kanae was struggling to find the right words, Azriel decided to make things easier for her.

"How about we play a game of truth or dare?"

Kanae blinked, surprised by his proposal, but after a few moments of hesitation, she nodded.

Azriel chuckled softly.

He had nothing better to do anyway, so why not pass the time with this little game?

"Then I'll start."

Azriel said, straightening his back against the wall and meeting Kanae's gaze.

This time, she didn't look away, trying her best to hold his eyes.

"Truth or dare?"

"...Truth, please," Kanae answered, her tone as polite as possible.

Azriel nodded, pausing for a few moments, his piercing gaze locked on hers.

The silence stretched just long enough to make her fidget, before he finally spoke.

"Tell me, what do you and the others think of me?"

"Eh?"

Kanae blinked, caught off guard by the question.

She had expected something more... risky.

But this?

This was different.

Azriel already had a vague idea of how people saw him, but he was still curious. How exactly did his peers perceive him?

He decided to use this moment to find out.

Kanae seemed lost in thought, her eyes darting nervously as she struggled to meet his gaze.

Sensing her discomfort, Azriel offered her a reassuring smile.

"All I ask is for the truth. I won't get mad, no matter what you say."

Kanae took a deep breath and nodded.

"If I'm honest... everyone at first thought of you as someone mysterious, boring, and... like the least liked child of the great clans. There were rumors that you were a delinquent—someone who slept with women and paid them for it, or that you abused your power to get whatever you wanted. But those were just rumors since you were almost never seen in public.

Then, out of nowhere, people started saying you either died, went missing, or were exiled. For the last two years, that's what everyone believed... until you came back."

She spoke quickly, as though trying to get everything out before her courage faded, and Azriel had to focus to keep up.

"And when you returned, the rumor about you being a delinquent became even stronger, especially after what happened on the first day. People started saying you're as strong as Prince Caleus and that you've defeated titans in the Void Realm. There are so many rumors about you that I can't even remember them all. Some say you're in a relationship with the Headmistress... or even Instructor Solomon!

Oh, and there's one where you're supposedly plotting a coup to take the throne from your father."

Kanae finally stopped, gasping for breath after her rapid-fire explanation.

"Basically, everyone thinks you're this... otherworldly, mysterious, incredibly strong person that no one can reach, and that you'd crush anyone who stands in your way."

She leaned back, clearly exhausted from talking so fast, while Azriel stared at her, completely bewildered.

"I-I see...?"

He wasn't sure how to respond to that.

'Wait, hold on... me and Freya? Hell no! What kind of absurd rumor is that? And definitely not Solomon... I'd rather bite my tongue.'

Azriel visibly cringed at the thought of being paired with either of those two psychopaths.

'And I'm certainly not interested in taking the throne from Father either. Jasmine can have that, and then complain later about how much effort it is.'

He was more than relieved not to be the heir.

Azriel sighed as he processed everything Kanae had just told him.

'...Unfortunately, except for the "otherworldly" part, the rest is pure nonsense.'

Not that he could explain that to her.

"And what about you, Cadet Kanae?"

Azriel asked after a moment.

"E-Eh? W-What about me?" she stammered, clearly flustered.

Azriel's eyes gleamed with amusement as he leaned forward slightly.

"You told me how the others think of me... but what do you think?"