Reborn as an Extra Chapter 751: A Future Without You... Part-3.

~4 minute read · 939 words
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Lia, Link, and Riya investigated a mysterious altar and five statues, discovering the altar was draining the planet's luck. The half-orcs turned into puppets, launching a mental attack that Lia blocked. A portal then appeared, inviting them into the enemy's realm to uncover the truth.
Upon traversing the portal, Lia experienced a sensation akin to an immense journey through space and time, a profound weightlessness unsettling her senses. However, her exceptional ability to perceive her surroundings and her masterful control over the threads of fate allowed her to maintain equilibrium. As the disorienting shifts in space-time and reality finally ceased, Lia found herself standing within the familiar training grounds of the silver mansion, a place she had once frequented. Scanning her surroundings, she observed the absence of Link and Riya; the forces of space and time had likely separated them. 'This has become so routine, I'm hardly surprised anymore...' Being isolated in perilous locations was a common occurrence for their group, and Lia had grown so accustomed to it that the sudden disappearance of her companions didn't even cause a ripple. While Link and Riya being separated was not unexpected, Lia was taken aback to find that even Kai, who had been lazily resting on her shoulder, was now gone. "To be able to affect an SS-rank divine spirit... this peculiar realm is more formidable than I anticipated..." Just as Lia was contemplating the situation, the sound of sobbing reached her ears, drawing her attention to a young, golden-haired girl sitting on the ground, weeping while clutching a small dagger. "Huh... is that supposed to be me? Is this place employing illusion magic to dredge up my sorrowful past and inflict psychological damage?" "Unfortunately for you, I've long since moved past that bleak history and found someone who cherishes me... This won't break me now..." A shake of Lia's head accompanied her approach towards the crying girl in the training ground's center. "Hey! You foolish golden-haired girl! Stop that crying! Tears won't solve anything. Heed my counsel: journey to 'MistVilla Orphanage,' situated in Ramona City, near the capital..." "A boy named Rio resides there; go, secure him before someone else does, and make him yours!" Lia had previously conducted a thorough background investigation on Rio, consequently, she was well aware of his origins and the orphanage he had resided in post the Drift City incident. She had always regretted not meeting Rio at an earlier juncture. Therefore, her counsel to this younger version of Lia was undeniably influenced by her personal sentiments and desires, yet she remained confident that this path would prove superior for the young Lia than succumbing to solitary sorrow in a desolate training room. As if her words went unheard, the younger Lia continued her weeping, murmuring in a frail voice. "Mother despises me... Father despises me... I am utterly worthless... I can't even grasp a simple sword technique... I'm useless... so useless..." "I can't... I can't... I can't..." Witnessing this younger iteration of herself succumb to despair, Lia felt a distinct unease, pondering internally. 'Hmm... I recall being quite the crybaby and a rather obstinate fool, but... did I ever engage in such self-loathing?' 'Could this be a consequence of the illusion magic distorting memories to amplify the pathos?' Just as Lia pondered the peculiarity of the circumstances and considered her next move, the young Lia abruptly tightened her grip on the small dagger and plunged it into her own heart! "I'm sorry, Mom, Dad... I'm a failure... I apologize..." Lia's eyes widened in sheer astonishment as she observed the younger version of herself commit suicide. The diminutive Lia collapsed, her life force gradually ebbing away into nothingness amidst a crimson pool. Before Lia could process the unfolding events, the training room door creaked open, admitting an entrant. "Hoh? The waste has finally done something remotely useful... Hey! Maid! Dispose of this refuse! And ensure the floor is thoroughly cleaned! I will not have vermin like her sullying our home!" The voice was recognizable, yet the words and the frigid tone were utterly alien. Lia's body tensed as she recognized the arrogant, disgusted expression on her mother's face, an expression she found profoundly unfamiliar. According to Lia's recollections, her mother had always been a tender and benevolent woman who cherished her until her final moments. Lia had never witnessed such a look upon her mother's visage. She was unacquainted with that condescending inflection. Before Lia could regain her composure, her personal maid, Mel, entered the room, grasped the deceased young Lia by her hair, and dragged her out like discarded refuse, a disturbing smile gracing her face! 'This is utterly outrageous! Why would Mel derive pleasure from such an act against me?!' Lia consciously suppressed her rising anger, her senses returning as she recognized this as an illusion, likely designed to provoke intense fury within her.'Tch, this illusion magic is more insidious than I initially realized... I nearly succumbed to my rage...' Lia bolstered her mental defenses, erecting additional barriers as a precaution against the illusion's potent influence. She followed Mel discreetly and confirmed that Mel had indeed discarded her lifeless body into a refuse bin. Shortly thereafter, sanitation workers removed the bin, transporting her corpse to a waste recycling center situated far beyond the capital's borders. Her remains were reduced to fragments, processed alongside other refuse, and utterly obliterated by the facility's machinery. Her existence had been utterly disregarded; no one gave her a second glance. Even in death, she was denied a proper burial. Her life held no more significance than her demise. As if to further unsettle Lia's already turbulent emotions, a fractured thread of fate materialized before her eyes, imprinting a chilling message within her consciousness.