The Extra is a Genius!? Chapter 624: Noctis Final Reward

The sheer height of the mountain was such that the clouds were found nestled far below.

Noel had meticulously selected this location. It wasn't chosen for its beauty, though it possessed a certain stark, untamed allure, typical of places untouched by human hands. His primary reason was isolation; he deliberately sought a place where no one would ever venture. Not a devout pilgrim, nor a conquering soldier, nor a wealthy family seeking to erect monuments and erase the past. Only the unyielding rock, the biting wind, and a profound silence that spoke not of tranquility, but of immense distance.

A few paces behind him, Noir stood with her arms crossed, her piercing purple eyes fixated on the humble cairn of stones positioned precariously near the cliff's precipice.

"I still don't like him," she stated plainly.

"I know."

"And I never will."

Noel offered no rebuttal. Instead, he knelt before the makeshift grave, his hand gently nudging a loose rock back into place. It was a simple arrangement: a few flat stones stacked with minimal care, devoid of any expert carving or costly ceremonial adornment. It served its sole purpose – to signify that something had been intentionally laid to rest here.

The inscription was his own doing.

"Roberto, the greatest son of a bitch in the universe."

Noel contemplated the words for a brief moment before rising to his feet.

"You're truly burying him," Noir remarked. Her voice carried no hint of tenderness, yet lacked any discernible anger; it was a neutral observation from someone attempting to process a situation she had already deemed objectionable.

"He was my friend," Noel replied simply. "I don't forgive him. But that doesn't change who he was."

Noir remained silent. Nevertheless, she approached and sat beside him as he settled onto the ground near the precipice, his legs dangling over the vast emptiness below. The world unfurled beneath them in profound stillness, a panorama of white and grey stretching into infinity.

Then, Noel lifted a hand.

The wind ceased its movement.

It simply stopped, as if the very air had been commanded to halt and had complied without hesitation. The biting cold persisted, but all motion around them became utterly arrested. Noel's hair ceased its gentle sway. The untamed edges of his clothing lay flat. Even the subtle whisper of the wind against the stone vanished, replaced by a silence so absolute it felt palpable.

Noir slowly surveyed her surroundings, then turned her gaze to him.

"Your magic feels boundless now," she observed. It wasn't a tone of pure awe, but rather the careful consideration of someone acknowledging a significant development.

A faint, weary smile touched Noel's lips. "It has no limits, Noir."

She met his gaze for a sustained moment before looking back out at the motionless world below. A considerable period of quiet passed between them. They sat together at the precipice of the highest point either had ever reached, enveloped in the silence Noel had orchestrated, with three stark words and a handful of stones marking the singular resting place Roberto would ever know.

Eventually, Noel's eyes drifted upward towards the sky.

"Status."

A translucent window materialized before him.

[The reward for the unique quest 'Save the World' is available. Would you like to claim it?]

This was it. The culmination. The ultimate reward linked to the initial mission that had irrevocably pulled him into this convoluted reality. His narrative. His existence within this world. It all began with a digital interface and a single sentence, inexplicably culminating in the demise of six Pillars, the shattering of a cosmic cycle, and a world finally liberated to forge its own destiny.

Noel accepted the reward.

The window shimmered once, then dissolved, and a lightweight object materialized in his hands. It was not a weapon, nor a mystical artifact. No power core, no enchanted ring, nor any outlandish treasure bestowed by celestial beings. It was merely a folded letter.

Noir leaned in slightly. "A letter?"

Noel gazed down at the parchment. Even before unfolding it, a subtle alteration flickered across his expression. He seemed to already grasp its contents, or perhaps his longing for understanding was so profound that his heart anticipated it first. He unfolded it with deliberate slowness, smoothing it against his knee. The mountain remained hushed around them, the wind held captive by his will, the entire world poised in expectant silence without its knowledge.

Then, Noel began to read.

Upon reaching the letter's conclusion, Noel remained motionless for a long while. The paper rested steady in his grasp, but his eyes had welled with tears somewhere between the letter's midpoint and its final lines. Now, he simply focused on the signature, as if rereading it might somehow prolong the echo of the voice.

Noctis was gone. After enduring everything, after years of silent suffering endured behind the machinations of the system, the endless missions, and the subtle manipulations that had guided Noel's destiny from the shadows, his ultimate wish had finally been granted. The cycle was broken. Elarin had ceased to be. The world was finally left to its own devices.

And the final gift Noctis bestowed was not raw power, but his explicit permission.

Noel refolded the letter with even greater care than before and secured it safely. A subtle shift permeated the atmosphere thereafter, a faint sense of finality, like a door that had remained ajar for an extended period finally swinging shut and settling into its frame.

The system had vanished.

Noir observed him silently, not inquiring about the contents of the message initially. After a brief pause, her voice, softer than usual, broke the silence. "Was it from him?"

"Yeah." Noel rose from the cliff's edge, casting a final gaze upon Roberto's humble grave and the vast expanse below. The mountain remained serene for another moment, untouched by the elements or the urgency of time.

He then gently placed a hand on Noir's head. "Let's head home."

Darkness enveloped them as he whispered, "Spatial Shift."

Years elapsed.

Not in a frantic rush, nor in the chaotic blur that had previously defined Noel's existence. Time flowed through seasons, classes, shared meals at home, and the gradual growth of children until their laughter and footsteps became an integral part of daily life. Time ceased to feel like a predator; instead, it became a space he was permitted to inhabit.

The Imperial Academy of Valor evolved alongside him. Noel eventually became an instructor, though his theoretical lectures were understandably avoided. He specialized in practical spell combat, and his class quickly became the most sought-after within the academy. This popularity stemmed partly from his renown: the individual who vanquished the Circle, the world's sole Manacode, a peerless warrior. However, another factor was more straightforward: Noel's teaching method was unforgettable, characterized by its rigor and directness.

Marcus frequently declared he would catch up one day, a sentiment he maintained even as the years rendered the idea of surpassing Noel more of a recurring tradition than a genuine pursuit. He and Clara established their family and assumed control of the Nivaria Estate, with Clara presiding at its helm, as was her rightful place. Marcus still engaged Noel in duels periodically, drawing substantial crowds that transformed their encounters into festive events. Students, nobles, and travelling mages alike congregated to witness Marcus being overpowered in the arena, only to rise again, vowing that the next confrontation would be different.

Garron established a restaurant in Valor. Noel initially found the news amusing, but his laughter intensified upon learning the establishment was genuinely successful, even annoyingly so. The eatery gained fame for its generous portions, lively ambiance, and Garron's personal intervention to confront anyone who dared to disparage the cuisine.

Laziel, bafflingly, ended up with Anastasia from Luceria Grand Academy, a development Noel found exceptionally peculiar. The news circulated within their circle so rapidly that it evolved into a celebration before the couple could even offer an explanation of their union. Noel never let Laziel forget it.

Seraphina was ultimately crowned empress, and her ascension was undeniable, as if she had been destined for the role. Balthor married and fathered his own son. Daemar retained his position as headmaster, as if the academy itself refused to be led by anyone else. House Thorne continued its existence on the periphery of the world, but Noel never felt compelled to return, seeing no reason to do so.

Charlotte relinquished her position as Saint after Orthran's peaceful passing from old age, eventually assuming his role. Elena cultivated a more tranquil existence, surrounded by her children, the quiet rhythm of mornings, the serenity of gardens, and a peace she had indisputably earned. Elyra inherited the full scope of her family's commercial empire, subsequently expanding it until a significant portion of global commerce seemed to flow through her enterprises. Selene never fully reconciled with her mother, yet she went on to have a daughter who was recognized as a prodigy almost from birth. A child born to Noel and Selene was invariably destined for an extraordinary life.

All four of them remained by his side. That had never been in doubt.

And through all these unfolding events, Noel continued to live. That was the essence of it all. His home remained vibrant enough to feel warm, and as the years progressed, it only grew more lively. Nicolas, Elyria, and Cloe had long since become the eldest among a growing brood of younger siblings, each arriving with their distinct personality and unique knack for transforming ordinary mornings into orchestrated pandemonium. The mansion, once vast, transformed into something else entirely – lived-in, full, unmistakably Noel's.

Noir stayed close, as she always had, rarely abandoning her habit of following him around even after becoming more than capable of intimidating half the world on her own. Some days were demanding, others tranquil, and some utterly exhausting. Yet, they were his days, and their mere existence made them precious.

On one tranquil afternoon, after concluding another class at the academy and observing his students depart, a mixture of awe and apprehension evident in their expressions, Noel stood alone for a moment, the fading sounds of campus life echoing around him. The sky above Valor was already beginning its descent into evening.

"Spatial Shift."

The world warped and reformed, and upon its settling, he found himself standing within a cemetery.

Erick’s resting place remained, just as it always had been, meticulously maintained and reverently remembered. Adjacent to it stood another, less ornate than many surrounding it but equally cherished. Noel had crafted this one himself. The stone was polished smooth, the inscription sharp and legible.

Noel stood before it quietly, one hand tucked into his pocket. He visited frequently, not from sorrow or remorse, but because recollections held significance. Because thankfulness carried weight. Because certain vows weren't meant to be honored just once and then forgotten.

Roberto had urged him to lead a fulfilling life. Noctis had shared the same sentiment. And Noel had indeed done precisely that. He had imparted knowledge, experienced love, nurtured his offspring, and shared laughter with companions who were fortunate enough to age alongside him. He had grieved for those lost without allowing their absence to devastate his entire existence. He had persevered, but this time, he was moving towards solace, towards tranquil days, towards the sort of future that individuals like Roberto and Noctis had desired for him, even when they themselves couldn't attain it.

A gentle evening breeze wafted through the burial ground. Noel remained until twilight deepened, gazing upon both markers – the older one and the more recent one, each linked to a distinct form of bereavement and a unique obligation.

With a slow exhale, he turned to depart.

He was no longer contending with destiny; he was simply embracing life.