The Extra Who Inherited Ragnarok

The roar of the arena had finally died.

For the first time in days, Hildgard felt almost quiet.

Almost.

Beyond the towering buildings and ancient streets, the enormous structures built for the Inter-Academy Tournament remained illuminated beneath the night sky. Students from the academies moved through the wide roads in exhausted groups, some laughing loudly about their victories while others limped toward their temporary accommodations.

Above them, the three moons watched.

One burned red.

One glowed blue.

And between them, the third hung silently in the heavens, bathing the great city in an eerie mixture of scarlet and pale light.

The tournament was over.

But Hildgard was not done with them.

Noah Blackwood sat beside the window of his temporary room.

His eyes were fixed on the city.

He hadn’t said anything for several minutes.

Eric was lying across a couch nearby, one arm covering his face.

"I swear," Eric muttered, "if someone tells me there’s another tournament tomorrow, I’m jumping out the window."

Sophia looked toward him.

"We’re on the third floor."

"I’ll survive."

"You’d probably break both legs."

Eric removed his arm and stared at her.

"You’re supposed to be supportive."

"I am."

Luna, sitting nearby, quietly smiled.

Laura stood beside the opposite wall, her arms folded as she watched the others.

For a brief moment, everything felt normal.

Damien was leaning against the doorway.

Sophia was arguing with Eric.

Luna was trying not to laugh.

Laura remained quiet, though there was a faint softness in her expression.

Noah watched them.

Then suddenly—

THUMP.

His hand gripped the edge of the windowsill.

His vision blurred.

The red moon outside twisted.

For less than a second, the entire city disappeared.

Darkness replaced it.

Noah’s breath stopped.

Then—

Everything returned.

"...Noah?"

Sophia’s voice reached him.

He blinked.

Laura was staring directly at him.

Luna had risen slightly from her seat.

"You okay?" Eric asked.

Noah slowly released the windowsill.

"Yeah."

Laura’s eyes narrowed.

"That didn’t look like ’yeah.’"

Noah forced a faint smile.

"Just tired."

Damien studied him silently.

Everyone was tired.

That was true.

The tournament had pushed nearly every participant beyond their limits.

But something about Noah felt different.

Laura noticed it too.

She didn’t say anything.

Not yet.

A loud magical bell suddenly echoed through the building.

DING—!

Everyone paused.

A glowing symbol appeared near the ceiling.

Then a voice echoed throughout the temporary academy district.

"Attention to all participating academies."

Eric sat up.

Sophia frowned.

The voice continued.

"Due to a technical malfunction involving the long-distance transport mechanisms, all scheduled departures have been temporarily delayed."

A collective wave of groans erupted throughout the building.

Eric slowly closed his eyes.

"No."

"Repairs are currently underway. Students and staff are requested to remain within Hildgard until further notice."

The message paused.

"The estimated delay is between five and six days."

Silence.

Then Eric shouted:

"FIVE DAYS?!"

Sophia immediately laughed.

"You were just complaining about another tournament."

"I wanted to go home!"

"Now you get to enjoy Hildgard."

Eric pointed accusingly toward the ceiling.

"I’ve enjoyed enough!"

Luna covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Even Damien allowed a small smirk.

Laura looked toward the window again.

Five or six more days.

That meant every academy would remain here.

Valhalla.

Asgard.

And all the others.

The streets of Hildgard would remain crowded.

Noah turned away from the window.

"At least we’ll have time to explore."

Sophia immediately looked at him.

"That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all night."

"Thank you."

"I wasn’t complimenting you."

Noah sighed.

Later that night, the group slowly separated.

Eric returned to his room.

Sophia and Luna left together, still discussing where they wanted to visit the following morning.

Damien disappeared without another word.

Laura remained behind.

Noah noticed.

"You’re not going?"

Laura hesitated.

"I will."

Her eyes moved toward him.

For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something.

Something important.

Noah waited.

But Laura simply shook her head.

"Get some sleep."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"That’s it?"

"Yes."

"Very mysterious."

Laura gave him a look.

"You should be worried about yourself instead."

Then she left.

The door closed.

Noah stood alone.

The room became silent.

He walked back toward the window.

Hildgard stretched endlessly beneath the three moons.

Beautiful.

Ancient.

Alive.

But Noah couldn’t shake the feeling from earlier.

That moment when the world disappeared.

His reflection stared back at him from the glass.

Dark hair.

Tired eyes.

Normal.

Noah frowned.

Then—

His reflection smiled.

Noah froze.

The reflection’s lips slowly curved upward.

But Noah wasn’t smiling.

A cold voice whispered inside his head.

You should enjoy these peaceful moments, Noah.

His body went completely still.

The reflection’s eyes darkened.

They won’t last.

The window suddenly cracked.

CRACK—!

Noah stumbled backward.

The reflection vanished.

His breathing became uneven.

Outside, Hildgard remained peaceful.

The three moons continued shining.

And somewhere deep within Noah’s consciousness—

Something was awake.

[SYSTEM WARNING.]

Noah’s eyes widened.

The blue screen flickered.

[UNKNOWN RESONANCE DETECTED.]

[HOST STATUS: UNSTABLE.]

The screen distorted.

Then one final message appeared.

[RAGNAROK DEAD ZONE: 0.1% RESONANCE.]

Noah stared at it.

The message disappeared.

Darkness returned to the room.

Noah slowly looked back toward the cracked window.

Above Hildgard, the red moon seemed brighter than before.

And far away, somewhere within the ancient city...

Someone else was beginning to search for answers.

Morning arrived slowly over Hildgard.

It wasn’t because the sun was late.

It was because half the students staying in the academy district had apparently decided that recovering from the tournament was more important than waking up.

Noah agreed.

Unfortunately, Sophia did not.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Noah!"

Noah buried his face deeper into his pillow.

"Go away."

BANG!

"We’re leaving in ten minutes!"

"Then leave in ten minutes."

A brief silence followed.

Then Sophia’s voice became dangerously calm.

"Eric said there was free food in the city."

Noah’s eyes opened.

"...What kind?"

The door immediately swung open.

Sophia stood there with her arms crossed.

"I knew that would work."

Noah stared at her.

"You lied."

"I said Eric said it."

From somewhere behind her, Eric shouted:

"I DID!"

Noah slowly sat up.

Luna stood beside Sophia, trying unsuccessfully to hide her laughter.

Laura was farther down the hallway.

Damien leaned against the wall with his usual expression of complete disinterest.

"You people are loud," Noah muttered.

Sophia smiled.

"And you’re slow."

Less than thirty minutes later, the group entered the streets of Hildgard.

Noah stopped walking.

For the first time since arriving for the tournament, he was actually able to look at the city properly.

Hildgard was enormous.

The academy district had hidden that fact from him.

Outside its boundaries, ancient stone roads stretched between towering buildings covered in glowing runes. Magical lamps floated above the streets, their light still visible despite the morning sun.

Merchants shouted from open stalls.

Students from different academies filled the roads.

Strange creatures moved through the crowds alongside ordinary humans.

Everything felt alive.

Eric stretched his arms.

"Finally."

Sophia looked at him.

"You’ve been here for weeks."

"That was tournament Hildgard."

He pointed ahead.

"This is vacation Hildgard."

"We’re trapped here because the transport broke."

"Vacation against our will."

Luna laughed.

Noah shook his head.

"That might be the dumbest thing you’ve said."

"Might be?"

Laura walked beside Noah.

Her eyes moved through the streets.

"You haven’t explored the city before?"

"No."

"The tournament kept everyone busy."

Laura nodded.

That was true.

Every academy had been focused on preparation, competition, and survival.

Now that it was over...

There was suddenly room to breathe.

Noah looked upward.

Even during the day, faint traces of the three moons remained visible.

Hildgard’s sky never looked completely normal.

The city beneath three moons.

There was something strangely beautiful about it.

Something unsettling too.

They spent the morning wandering through the city.

Sophia dragged Luna toward several clothing stalls.

Eric disappeared twice.

Damien somehow vanished completely.

Noah wasn’t sure when it happened.

One moment Damien had been walking behind them.

The next—

Gone.

"Does he do that often?" Noah asked.

Laura glanced around.

"Yes."

"That’s concerning."

"You’ll get used to it."

"I don’t want to."

Laura smiled faintly.

Noah noticed.

It disappeared almost immediately.

But he noticed.

They eventually stopped near a large stone bridge crossing a narrow canal.

The water beneath it glowed faintly blue.

Noah leaned against the railing.

For once...

Everything was quiet.

Sophia and Luna were arguing about something involving clothes.

Eric had returned carrying enough food for at least four people.

Laura stood beside Noah.

Neither of them spoke.

Then Noah’s vision flickered.

The bridge disappeared.

The streets disappeared.

The voices disappeared.

Darkness.

His heart stopped.

A distant sound echoed through the black void.

Thump.

Noah’s eyes widened.

Another.

Thump.

Something was walking.

No.

Not walking.

Approaching.

Noah turned.

There was nothing behind him.

Yet he could feel something.

A presence.

Cold.

Immense.

Familiar.

Then—

"NOAH!"

His vision returned.

Sophia was standing directly in front of him.

"What?"

"You’ve been staring into the water for nearly a minute."

Noah looked down.

His reflection stared back.

Normal.

His eyes.

Normal.

"...Sorry."

Sophia frowned.

"You’re acting strange."

"I’m tired."

"You’ve used that excuse three times."

Noah sighed.

"Then I’m consistently tired."

Eric laughed.

Sophia looked ready to hit him.

Laura, however, didn’t laugh.

She was staring at Noah.

Carefully.

Too carefully.

Later, while walking through one of Hildgard’s quieter streets, Luna slowed down.

"Can I ask something?"

Sophia looked toward her.

"What?"

Luna pointed toward an enormous structure visible between the buildings.

It looked ancient.

Massive.

Its towers disappeared above the surrounding rooftops.

"What’s that?"

Laura followed her gaze.

"The Milstrif Library."

Noah looked toward it.

"The library?"

Eric groaned.

"Don’t tell me we’re going there."

Sophia immediately looked interested.

"Why not?"

"Because it’s a library."

"Exactly."

Eric looked at Noah.

"Help me."

"No."

Traitorous silence followed.

Laura continued looking toward the building.

"Milstrif is one of the oldest libraries in Hildgard."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"What’s inside?"

"History."

Eric sighed dramatically.

"Even worse."

Laura ignored him.

"There are records from before most of the academies existed."

That caught Noah’s attention.

"Before Valhalla?"

"Yes."

Noah looked toward the ancient structure again.

Something about it felt...

Wrong.

A dull pressure formed behind his eyes.

His footsteps stopped.

Laura immediately noticed.

"Noah?"

He blinked.

The pressure vanished.

"I’m fine."

Laura’s expression didn’t change.

"You keep saying that."

Noah looked at her.

"And you keep asking."

"Because something is wrong."

For a moment, Noah had no answer.

Sophia and Luna had stopped walking ahead.

Eric was unusually quiet.

Noah forced a smile.

"Maybe I’m still recovering."

Laura stared at him.

Then slowly nodded.

But Noah knew she didn’t believe him.

That night, Noah returned to his room alone.

The academy district had become quieter.

Most students were exhausted.

He sat on the edge of his bed.

Then raised his hand.

A familiar blue screen appeared.

[STATUS WINDOW]

Noah’s eyes moved downward.

Everything appeared normal.

Then—

The screen flickered.

[RANK: F]

Static covered the letters.

Noah narrowed his eyes.

The screen distorted.

[RANK: F]

[ERROR.]

The letters vanished.

For less than a second—

[RANK: A]

Noah stood.

"What?"

The screen immediately disappeared.

Silence filled the room.

Noah stared at the empty air.

F.

Then A.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

A cold sensation crawled down his spine.

Then a voice whispered inside his mind.

You’re finally starting to see it.

Noah froze.

His eyes slowly widened.

The voice continued.

But you’re still looking at the wrong thing.

The room darkened.

Noah clenched his fists.

"Show yourself."

For several seconds—

Nothing happened.

Then the reflection in his dark window moved.

Noah hadn’t.

A smile appeared on its face.

Soon.

CRACK.

A thin fracture appeared across the glass.

Noah stared at it.

Outside, Hildgard remained peaceful beneath the fading moons.

But somewhere inside him...

Something was beginning to wake.

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