The Extra's Supremacy-Chapter 32: Lovely Changes

Bob gave a nod and smiled. "Welcome to the party, Henry. So... where’s your team?"

Alvin froze.

His eyes drifted back toward the collapsed castle.

’Lesley...’

His stomach sank.

There’s no way she survived that. I saw her get stabbed through the neck.

’Too bad. I actually liked her company... her stubborn ethics...’

His thoughts flickered to his first meeting, the moment he cut off her head in an illusion. A bitter taste filled his mouth.

’I should’ve apologized before.’

Bob was still looking at him, waiting for a reply.

Alvin exhaled softly and said, "We got separated after entering the ruin."

Lily nodded. "If it weren’t for Bob’s father making us wear these presence masking and tracking rings, we’d probably be in the same situation."

Alvin raised an eyebrow. "Bob’s father?"

Bob scratched the back of his neck and sighed. "Yeah. He’s the son of one of the Council’s founders. He tends to overprepare for everything."

He quickly waved the attention off. "Anyway—that’s enough about me. Let’s find a place to rest before something finds us first."

Everyone murmured in agreement.

The Old Guide, being the most experienced among them, took the lead without a word. Alvin didn’t object.

As they started moving, he quietly checked his own condition.

’Mid-Stage Expert... Nice.’

’Why do I feel... different?’

Alvin furrowed his brow as he walked, his senses sharper than before.

’It’s not just the breakthrough to Mid-Stage Expert... something else changed.’

’I feel like I could take on a Tier 4 monster head-on. Easily.’

’Strange.’

A few steps later, Bob awkwardly matched his pace.

"L-let’s talk," he said, voice cracking just a little.

Alvin gave him a sidelong glance. "Hmm? You need something?"

Bob stammered, "No! Why would I—" He stopped mid-sentence, face turning a little pale. "Actually... yeah. I do need something."

Alvin raised an eyebrow.

Bob pointed discreetly toward the girl walking ahead of them.

"You see her? That’s Lily."

Alvin’s gaze flicked toward her. Then back to Bob. "Okay?"

Bob clenched his fists, his ears going red. "I... I like her, alright? S-so I’m asking you to stay away from her."

Alvin blinked.

"She’s been eyeing you ever since you showed up," Bob continued, grumbling under his breath.

"I hate guys like you. Tall, stupidly good-looking..."

He turned sharply to Alvin. "And wipe that smug grin off your face—I’m being serious here."

Alvin smothered a laugh, biting the inside of his cheek.

"You’re something else, Bob. But don’t worry—I’m not here to mess with your love life. I’ve got bigger problems to deal with."

Bob let out a long breath. "Thank goodness..."

Alvin glanced over at him, curious. "So, what happened? Did you piss her off or something?"

Bob nodded solemnly, lowering his voice as he explained.

"It was two days ago. We’d just entered the ruin. Everything was normal until... it wasn’t."

"That night, the sky cracked open. Silver clouds started swirling. Sun, moon—gone. Since then, it’s been stuck in this creepy twilight."

Alvin’s expression hardened slightly.

’So, it changed two days ago.’

Bob continued, "Then out of nowhere, we got ambushed. Three Tier 2 monsters, and one Tier 4. They came in waves."

"We managed to kill them, but five of us were badly hurt. That wasn’t the worst part—our healing potions didn’t work. Not even a little."

Alvin’s eyes narrowed.

"At first, we thought they’d recover naturally, but yesterday... it got worse. They started... rotting. Like something’s eating them from the inside."

His voice dropped to a whisper.

"So, I suggested we leave them behind. That... didn’t go over well."

"Lily hasn’t spoken to me since."

Alvin glanced over at her again.

Bob’s face crumpled into a pitiful look—part regret, part guilt, part helpless puppy.

Alvin exhaled and placed a hand on Bob’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, man. Things always work out. One way or another."

Bob nodded, hopeful. "I hope so too."

Then Bob asked, "So what’s your story, Henry? How’d you end up butt-naked in the middle of a ruin?"

Alvin sighed, already preparing a half-baked excuse.

"I came here three days ago. Ran into a Tier 3 monster. We fought, and during the fight, my storage bracelet got damaged."

"I got injured, but I managed to kill it. After that, I used some healing potions... and the bracelet kind of... exploded."

"My clothes caught fire. I survived, but yeah... ended up naked."

He shrugged. "That’s the story."

Bob stared at him for a beat—then burst out laughing.

"Haha—hah! You’re one unlucky guy, Henry! Your storage broke, your clothes caught fire—what’s next, the sky falls on your head?"

Alvin gave him a flat look, then glanced over at Lily and called out, "Hey, Lily!"

Bob’s laughter died in his throat.

Lily turned back. "Yeah? What’s up?"

Alvin smiled casually. "Bob told me about yesterday. You did the right thing—you didn’t abandon your team. That takes courage."

Lily’s cheeks turned pink. She looked away quickly. "I... it was just the right thing to do."

Bob yanked Alvin back by the arm, hissing under his breath, "Dude! Didn’t you just say you’d stay away from her?"

Alvin grinned. "I am staying away. I’m not touching her. Just talking."

Bob looked betrayed. "No talking either!"

Alvin smirked. "That depends."

Bob’s eyes twitched. "Do you even know who I am?"

"A council founder’s grandson," Alvin finished for him. His grin widened. "What if I tell Lily you’re threatening me?"

Bob froze. "You... You’re a devil. No—you’re the incarnation of evil."

Alvin chuckled. "So, what’s the plan then?"

Bob clenched his fists, then slumped in defeat. "Fine... you demon."

"Li—" Alvin opened his mouth to call her again.

Bob instantly slapped a hand over it. "Alright! Alright! Sir Henry, I surrender!"

"I’ll do whatever you say. Just... please... don’t talk to her unless she asks you something first."

Alvin burst out laughing. "Relax, little Bob. I’m just messing with you."

He gave him a friendly pat on the back. "Like I said before—I’ve got bigger things to worry about."

Bob nodded, then asked, "What’s your weapon type?"

Alvin answered casually, "Sword..."

Then, something clicked in his mind.

’Rhizome.’

The moment he thought her name, a wave of her words surged back into his consciousness.

Fragments of her voice echoed through his thoughts, not as memories—but as floating whisper.

Alvin blinked, gripping his head as the rush of information settled.

’My existence itself is wrong?’

’My mana veins turned into cursed veins. Now, I can use both mana and curse energy?’

’Cursed veins? Half-Step? First Primordial Step?’

He stared blankly ahead, confused and slightly overwhelmed.

’What is she talking about?’