The Extra Who Inherited Ragnarok

Noah didn’t return to the academy immediately.

He stood alone beneath one of Hildgard’s streetlamps, staring at the empty system window that had disappeared moments ago.

Alcris.

The name continued repeating inside his mind.

"So he has something connected to Ragnarok."

Dead Zone remained silent.

Noah’s expression hardened.

"You told me he has one."

I said he has one of the pieces.

"Pieces of what?"

The silence that followed irritated him more than usual.

Noah exhaled slowly.

"You’re impossible."

And yet you’re still alive because of me.

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

"Don’t get ahead of yourself."

A faint laugh echoed through his consciousness.

Noah started walking.

By the time he returned, the academy grounds had become unusually busy.

Students from several academies had gathered near the main courtyard.

Sophia spotted him first.

"There you are."

Noah slowed.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because you keep disappearing."

"I went for a walk."

"For hours."

Noah glanced at the sky.

"...Fair."

Luna approached him.

"We were starting to get worried."

"I’m fine."

Sophia immediately raised a finger.

"Fine."

Noah looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Laura appeared behind them.

She didn’t say anything at first.

Her eyes moved across Noah’s face, as though checking whether he was injured.

Noah noticed.

"I’m really okay."

Laura’s expression softened.

"Good."

For a brief moment, neither said anything.

Eric ruined it.

"Can everyone stop staring at Noah? It’s getting weird."

Sophia turned.

"No one asked you."

"I know, but I contribute."

"You contribute noise."

Damien sat nearby, watching them quietly.

Noah looked toward him.

Damien’s eyes met his.

Something was off.

Noah could tell Damien had noticed something.

But before either could speak, a loud announcement echoed across the academy district.

"Attention to all participating academies."

Everyone looked upward.

A magical communication device floated above the courtyard.

"Due to continued mechanical issues with the inter-academy transport network, all departures have been postponed for an additional two days."

Groans immediately erupted around the courtyard.

Eric dropped his shoulders.

"Two more days?"

Sophia looked toward him.

"You were enjoying Hildgard yesterday."

"I was enjoying the food."

Luna laughed.

Laura glanced toward Noah.

Noah remained quiet.

Two more days.

For some reason, that didn’t sound like an inconvenience anymore.

It sounded dangerous.

That night, Damien found Noah standing alone outside the academy residence.

"You should sleep."

Noah looked over.

"I could say the same."

Damien approached.

For a while, they stood side by side.

The three moons illuminated the city.

Damien spoke first.

"Something is happening to you."

Noah didn’t answer.

Damien continued.

"Your presence changes."

Noah looked at him.

"You can sense that?"

"Sometimes."

"Since when?"

"The tournament."

Noah’s face became serious.

Damien looked toward the city.

"I don’t know what power you’re carrying, Noah."

Noah’s fingers tightened.

"But whatever it is, you’re struggling against it."

The words hit closer than Noah expected.

He looked away.

"It’s complicated."

"I assumed."

Noah almost smiled.

Damien’s expression remained calm.

"I’m not asking you to explain everything."

Noah looked toward him again.

"But don’t handle it alone."

For several seconds, Noah said nothing.

"Thanks."

Damien nodded once.

That was enough.

Across Hildgard, Alcris stood inside the abandoned storage building.

Balgard floated above the table.

Its light had grown stronger.

Alcris watched as thin streams of mana rose from its surface.

His breathing was becoming heavier.

The medallion was draining him.

He could feel it.

But he didn’t stop.

A second student entered the building.

"We found information about another medallion."

Alcris immediately turned.

"Where?"

"The northern archive district."

His eyes sharpened.

"What about the third?"

"We’re still searching."

Alcris looked back at Balgard.

One.

Soon two.

And eventually three.

His perception reacted again.

This time, the pain was intense.

Alcris pressed a hand against his head.

For a brief instant, he saw Noah.

No.

Something wearing Noah’s body.

Red eyes.

A cold smile.

Alcris stepped backward.

His heartbeat accelerated.

"What the hell..."

The vision vanished.

Balgard fell onto the table.

Silence returned.

Alcris stared at the medallion.

Instead of fear, a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"So it’s true."

He looked toward the window.

Far away, beneath the same three moons, Noah stood unaware of how close Alcris was getting.

"Whatever is inside you..."

Alcris whispered.

"I’m going to drag it into the light."

At that exact moment, Noah’s system appeared.

[RAGNAROK DEAD ZONE RESONANCE: 3.4%]

Noah stared at the number.

It was rising again.

Inside his mind, Dead Zone spoke.

He’s becoming impatient.

Noah’s expression darkened.

"So am I."

Morning arrived with rain.

A thin mist covered Hildgard’s streets, softening the outlines of its ancient buildings beneath the three moons slowly fading from the sky.

Noah stood beneath the academy entrance, watching the rain.

Sophia joined him.

"You’re doing it again."

Noah glanced sideways.

"Standing?"

"Thinking."

"That’s still allowed."

Sophia folded her arms.

"For now."

Noah smiled faintly.

She watched him for a moment before her expression became more serious.

"Damien talked to you last night."

"News travels fast."

"He told Eric."

"Of course he did."

"Eric told Luna."

Noah sighed.

"And Luna told you."

"Exactly."

Noah looked at her.

Sophia smiled innocently.

"You should know better than to tell Damien anything."

"I didn’t tell him anything."

"Even worse. You managed to make him worried without explaining yourself."

Noah turned back toward the rain.

Sophia’s teasing faded.

"Seriously, Noah."

He remained quiet.

"If something happens, tell us."

Noah nodded slightly.

"I will."

Sophia seemed unconvinced, but she accepted the answer.

For now.

Later, Laura and Luna visited one of Hildgard’s older markets.

Sophia had come with them initially but disappeared after finding a shop selling magical accessories.

Luna watched Laura examine a collection of old jewelry.

"You like those?"

Laura shook her head.

"They remind me of something."

"Your family?"

Laura hesitated.

"Maybe."

She picked up a small silver pendant.

For a moment, another memory flashed through her mind.

A woman kneeling before her.

A hand placing something around her neck.

A voice whispering—

"Never lose sight of who you are."

Laura suddenly dropped the pendant.

Luna immediately noticed.

"Laura?"

Laura stared at her hand.

"I’m fine."

Luna gave her a look.

Laura sighed.

"Sorry."

They continued walking.

Luna didn’t push her.

That was one of the things Laura appreciated about her.

Meanwhile, Alcris entered the northern archive district.

Two students followed behind him.

The information had been accurate.

A second medallion was hidden somewhere within the restricted storage chambers.

The building had been abandoned for decades.

Dust covered the walls.

Ancient Hildgardian symbols were carved into the stone.

Alcris stopped.

His perception reacted immediately.

"It’s here."

One student stepped forward.

"Should we call the others?"

"No."

Alcris continued deeper.

The passage eventually ended at a sealed chamber.

A circular object had been embedded into the door.

Alcris recognized the symbol.

Three circles.

He placed his hand against it.

Mana flowed from his palm.

The door resisted.

Alcris increased the output.

His veins became visible beneath his skin.

The seal finally cracked.

The door opened.

Inside the chamber rested another medallion.

Sylthin.

Alcris stepped toward it.

The moment his fingers touched the artifact—

Pain exploded through his mind.

He saw a massive golden moon.

A woman standing beneath it.

And a city divided by darkness.

Alcris stumbled backward.

"What was that?"

The vision disappeared.

Sylthin fell into his hand.

His breathing became heavier.

One of the students looked terrified.

"Alcris?"

He slowly raised his head.

His eyes had changed.

Only slightly.

But his expression was colder.

"Find the third."

At the academy, Noah suddenly stopped in the middle of the corridor.

His system appeared.

[WARNING.]

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

The screen flickered violently.

[EXTERNAL RESONANCE DETECTED.]

Another message appeared.

[RAGNAROK DEAD ZONE RESONANCE: 4%]

Noah felt his heartbeat accelerate.

Four percent.

It had risen again.

"He’s got another one."

Dead Zone’s voice answered.

Yes.

Noah clenched his fists.

"Two medallions."

Dead Zone remained silent.

Noah’s eyes sharpened.

"I knew it."

You know very little.

"Then explain."

For once, Dead Zone sounded almost serious.

If the third piece is found, the city will remember something it was built to forget.

Noah froze.

"What does that mean?"

No answer came.

The system disappeared.

Noah stood alone in the corridor.

A cold sensation crawled across his skin.

For the first time, he understood that the medallions weren’t simply connected to Ragnarok.

They were connected to Hildgard itself.

Far away, Alcris placed Balgard and Sylthin beside each other.

The two medallions began glowing.

Thin streams of mana connected them.

Alcris smiled.

Only one remained.

Outside the abandoned building, rain continued falling across Hildgard.

And beneath the city...

Something sealed long ago shifted in its sleep.