The Extra's Supremacy-Chapter 33: Lovely Changes [2]

"Is something wrong?" Bob asked.

Alvin shook his head. "No, it’s nothing."

Bob glanced ahead, watching five people carry the other five whose conditions had only worsened.

"I’ll ask someone to give you a sword," he said. "Since you’re a Mid-Stage Expert like me."

He gave Alvin a nod. "Taking down a Tier 3 monster on your own is no joke. You’ll be a big help."

Alvin nodded silently, but his thoughts were far from the conversation.

’Rhizome just told me words I’ve never even heard before. So frustrating...’

He looked up at the sky—twilight, still frozen in place.

’What am I even doing right now?’

’This is one of the most dangerous ruins ever recorded... but it’s different now. It doesn’t feel the same.’

’I haven’t seen a monster above Tier 4, but something clearly shifted two days ago. If the outside world noticed this sudden change...’

’Why hasn’t anyone come for us?’

’Possibility one: after the change, no one can enter the ruin anymore. Possibility two: the entrance itself is gone.’

’If that’s true... I need to find a way back home on my own.’

He sighed, resting his chin on his hand.

’Speaking of home... I kinda miss that idiotic teacher of mine.’

"Let’s rest here for tonight," the Guide said, halting the group.

They had reached the outskirts of what used to be a city—now reduced to shattered buildings and decayed stone.

The group began spreading out, each faction picking a ruin to stay in.

"Be careful," the Guide added. "Too many people in one house might cause it to collapse."

They broke into three smaller groups, each entering a different structure.

Bob took the lead in handing out food and water.

Alvin stood off to the side, scanning the shadows and fallen buildings.

"Here," Bob said, handing him a ration pack.

Alvin nodded in thanks and dropped onto the edge of a stone wall, leaning back.

Bob plopped down beside him. "Alright, spill it. You’ve looked like a zombie the whole way here."

Alvin turned to him, slightly surprised. ’He noticed?’

Bob gave a small shrug. "It’s my Sigil Gift—Four Leaf Clover. I can sense people’s emotions."

"Right now? You’re confused. Or... maybe doubting yourself."

Alvin’s eyes widened. ’Th-this guy is dangerous.’

Bob didn’t seem to notice. He started eating, then choked on his water mid-sip and spilled some on himself.

Alvin laughed quietly, shaking his head.

Then he asked, "If your father gave you a mission... one so dangerous you’d almost certainly die... but if you succeeded, you’d earn the freedom you’ve always wanted—"

He paused.

"Or... you could choose ten years of brutal training. Isolated. No fun. No distractions. Just ten years of your life, gone."

"What would you pick?"

Bob kept chewing as he replied, "That’s not even hard."

"I’d take the ten years. Yeah, I’d miss my twenties. But if the result is strength and freedom? Worth it."

He shrugged. "Maybe Lily ends up married by then. Or maybe she’s still single—who knows?"

"Even if she’s taken, ten years alone might fix this crush of mine anyway."

Then he stood up dramatically and spread his arms wide.

"And besides—there are plenty of bitches in the sea!"

He laughed, loud and confident.

Alvin pointed behind him.

Bob turned slowly.

Lily was standing there, arms crossed, staring at him like he was a pile of rotting meat.

Then she spun around and walked away.

Bob slowly sank to his knees. "What... what did I just say?"

Alvin’s lips curled into a small, genuine smile.

Bob stood back up, brushing off his pants, then turned to Alvin.

"What I was trying to say is... it’s really not a hard question," he said, more serious this time.

"Losing ten years of your life or throwing it away completely? I’d pick the training every time."

He looked off toward the ruins, voice softer now.

"I’m okay giving up a decade... if it means I get to live long enough to see all the wonders this world still has to offer. That kind of sacrifice? It’s worth it."

He turned his back on Alvin and began walking away.

But even as he left, he kept speaking.

"Life is unpredictable. We never know what’s going to happen in the next second."

"That’s why we adapt to those lovely changes, even the craziest ones."

His voice faded into the distance.

Alvin watched him go, then murmured to himself, "Adapt to those lovely changes..."

A small nod to himself.

’You’re right about that.’

Ever since the ruin changed two days ago, night had stopped existing within its borders. The sky remained trapped in a constant state of twilight.

Because of that, three members always stayed on guard while the rest tried to rest.

In one of the houses, where the five wounded were recovering, Alvin quietly stepped inside.

He walked over to one of them—a young man with a vicious bite mark on his leg.

The moment Alvin saw it, he understood.

’Ghouls...’

He checked the others.

One by one, he examined the wounds.

Every single one of them had been bitten.

’So that’s why they’ve been in so much pain...’

As he leaned closer, Alvin noticed something strange—a faint black wisp hovering just above one of the wounds.

’What’s this?’

It took only a moment for realization to strike.

’Curse energy... That’s what’s stopping the healing potions from working.’

His eyes narrowed.

’Now that I’ve gained cursed veins, I can actually see it... but why?’

Then another thought occurred.

’Wait... Could it be?’

Alvin focused, narrowing his gaze on the dark energy. He reached out and placed his hand above the wound.

Slowly, the cursed energy began to lift—drawn toward his palm like a moth to flame.

Once he had extracted it fully, he dispersed the wisp into the air, watching it dissolve like smoke.

He looked back down—and saw the bite wound beginning to close, ever so slowly.

Alvin’s eyes widened.

’It worked.’

A rare light filled his expression.

He immediately moved to the others, repeating the process—drawing out the lingering curse energy from each wound.

It wasn’t out of pity. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

He was just... curious.

Curious about his newfound ability. Curious about what else he could do now.

Once he’d finished, he quietly stepped out of the room.

The Old Guide was waiting.

"What were you doing in there?" he asked, watching Alvin carefully.

Alvin gave a nonchalant shrug. "Nothing."

The Guide peeked inside, then looked back at him.

"Get some rest. I’ll stay with them. No need to feel sorry."

Alvin nodded and turned to leave—but the Guide’s voice stopped him.

"Tomorrow," he said, "we’re heading north. Toward the lone mountain."

"I have a hunch... we might find the doorway out there."

His voice grew heavier.

"We don’t know what horrors we’ll encounter on the way."

"So, rest up. And be ready."