Reborn As An Extra In My Own Novel-Chapter 44: Missing Students

March 26, 2036—

First class on Tuesday—Gates And Dungeons

Well, that was what the class was intended to cover, but now...

"Class, I have unfortunate news to share with you all." Neko-sensei’s next words sent a chill down my spine; my eyes widened as though they were about to burst from their sockets, my fingers digging into my palms, tearing skin from them.

I hadn’t thought much of Rachel’s absence from her seat that morning, even though I could still sense the faint presence of death looming—I chose to ignore it.

But earlier today, before classes commenced, Hari’s classmate and friend had approached me, informing me that she hadn’t returned to her room the previous night, and since many had seen Hari enter my room, assuming we were distant relatives, they asked me about her whereabouts.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news..." Neko-sensei’s gaze swept across the room before she pointed at the projector. "But five students from the academy have gone missing, three of whom are first-years, and two of those three are from our class."

The point her conjured staff indicated was a PDF displaying the faces of the three girls who had been abducted.

"Because of this, no one foolish enough should leave the...."

Neko-sensei’s subsequent instructions didn’t even reach my ears, let alone register. It felt as though my heart was about to explode.

How reckless of me to allow Hari to be taken.

I clenched my fists to keep them from trembling. ’I have to save her. No matter what, I can’t let the last family I have in this world disappear.’

In truth, I needed Hari more than she needed me. I couldn’t even fathom my life in this strange world without anyone familiar, without the family and friends I grew up with.

Worse still, I might have already committed suicide due to the absurdity of the situation I was in at the time.

Humans were the most adaptable species, but also the easiest to break, and no one, no matter how prepared, could maintain their sanity after waking up in another world.

Disbelief, paranoia, hallucinations—then finally collapse. They would forget who they were before or question if they had ever truly existed. Wondering if their entire life was just a fabrication.

But because I had someone who shared the same memories as me, I was able to suppress those intrusive thoughts.

’Still, I couldn’t even protect that one person.’

"Kai, are you alright?" It was Neko-sensei calling me, but I didn’t respond.

I fell into silence for some time as the class stared at me, then... I rose to my feet. "Neko-sensei..." I faced my chair, not wanting to reveal my expression. "I would like to use the restroom."

As I walked toward the door, hiding my face from the class, I saw someone’s feet standing in front of it, blocking my path. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

"Move aside, Matt." I tried to conceal my panic, anger, and sorrow, but they escaped me without warning.

Matt’s shadow shook its head. "No, Kai. I don’t know what your relationship with Cordelia is, but... It would be wise to reconsider your actions."

He gestured outside the classroom and continued. "What do you think you’ll accomplish by leaving? Do you think she’ll just reappear in front of you? Or are you acting on some vague assumption? Do you think this is a game?"

"Haha.... Hahaha." A dark, bitter laugh slipped from my lips. It was honestly amusing—the most ignorant person in the room was lecturing me.

As my laughter faded, I finally spoke. The room was silent as the students watched in disbelief. I could hear footsteps from the neighboring class, drawn by the commotion.

"Don’t give me that crap."

Matt’s eyes widened as my lifeless, pale-purple eyes locked onto his. "What?"

"You can’t help it, can you? That urge to be in control. To always be the focal point." I let out a faint, venomous smile. "Let me ask you something, Matt. Why do you fight?"

Matt’s expression darkened at the question. "To protect those I care about."

"I’m glad." I said with a gentle smile, then took a step back. "So don’t take this personally."

Matt also stepped back and locked eyes with me. At that moment, we were no longer allies.

Mana surged through the air, our eyes glowing intensely.

Matt looked at me, his piercing blue eyes filled with intensity and blazing azure flames. "Even if you get hurt, you’ll still be my friend, Kai."

"I was about to say the same thing."

The world seemed to narrow as the two of us charged forward.

------

(In The Underground Chamber Of Noctis: Deerheart’s Lab)

"Bastard." Hari’s voice echoed throughout the room as the figure in a lab coat, surrounded by large tubes filled with blue liquid, turned around.

He slowly approached the two girls tied up at the very edge of the chamber.

The sharp sound of his shoes clashing with the metal floor echoed through the dimly lit space, giving the impression of a distant battle.

"Why does the little princess talk so much?" he said, placing his hand on her cheek. "Unlike Rachel, I can’t touch you. The only thing that man and our Lord requested of me was to convert you into a demonic human... But who would’ve guessed, Kim Hari."

Hari spat in his face. "Don’t you dare utter that name."

Deerheart merely smiled faintly. "I won’t, princess. If I do, only death would follow, and I have no intention of dying just yet."

Hari clicked her tongue. "Disgusting Bastard."

Deerheart casually waved his hand and walked away.

The surrounding tubes didn’t just contain blue liquid—but the preserved bodies of human students, female academy students.

Hari’s expression darkened as her gaze swept across the tubes—from faces she recognized to ones she didn’t, until it finally landed on the unconscious Rachel.

She couldn’t help but curse herself for the mistake. She couldn’t blame anyone else. The pitiful state Rachel was in, and the fact that it was her fault she had been abducted.

What pained her the most, to the point she couldn’t even cry, was that this wasn’t the first time. She had made the same mistake across two lifetimes.

’Pride comes before a fall; those were my own words. I always believed that overestimating yourself was far worse than underestimating your enemies. Such fools were only giving themselves away as puppets to be controlled by others, yet I became one of the aimless herd. This wasn’t something I could dismiss as mere human emotion. No, it was failure. But what I can do now, in this new life, is push forward—never getting ahead of myself again. Because a single misstep can bring consequences far worse than death. Never again will I wander like the flocks of fools that roam the land, letting pride dictate my actions.’

That was the vow she made to herself that moment. And there was still a glimmer of hope. Not everything was lost for her or the other girls trapped in the lab.

"Even if something happens, Oppa will come find me." She smiled, completely certain that he would.

Now the only question was: would he arive before or after her demonization.