Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 123: [122] A new - begins

If That’s the Case, Then the Situation Is More Complicated Than It Seems

Arkan leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Wait, what about the Church’s movements?" he asked, his tone contemplative.

Florence remained calm as she answered, "The Church is still in a state of instability. They’re still embroiled in internal conflicts."

(If I can use the Church to suppress that foolish prince’s actions, then...) Arkan began formulating a strategy in his mind, searching for a way to counter the prince’s aggressive movements.

The Empire itself stood on the foundation laid by the Holy Order of the Church, which worshiped the god Krisihan—a faith originating from a disciple who revered a divine incarnation known as Krisihan. This belief had long been woven into the fabric of society, making the Church one of the key pillars of power.

The center of this religious power was located within the Empire, and its history was deeply intertwined with politics. Aside from the Empire’s founding rulers, the Church also played a significant role in governance, especially since 70% of the continent’s population adhered to Krisihanism. Their influence was so vast that no political movement could escape the scrutiny of the high priests.

"Hmm... Should we ask for his help?" Arkan muttered, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the desk. His gaze shifted to Florence as if seeking her opinion.

"Excuse me? Him?" Florence frowned slightly, not understanding whom he was referring to.

"Ah, right—you wouldn’t know him," Arkan smirked faintly, recalling a figure he had once misunderstood.

Florence remained silent, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Hmm?"

"It’s time to call on an old friend," Arkan murmured, gazing blankly out the window. A man he had once considered a villain in the first volume of the story—yet now, he might become a valuable ally.

Pastor Hongward.

---

A Small Village in Arleon

In a small village within the Arleon territory, life was gradually returning to normal after years of being shrouded in a mysterious plague. Once nearly abandoned, the village was now slowly being repopulated, with its residents rebuilding their daily lives.

Inside a modest church at the village center, a pastor knelt down, tending to the wound of a young boy seated on an old wooden bench. His hands moved deftly, cleaning the scrape on the boy’s knee with a damp cloth before applying medicinal ointment.

"Try not to move too much," the pastor spoke gently, though his sharp eyes remained fixed on the wound. The boy winced but obediently stayed still, his hands clutching the sides of his worn robe.

Outside, the church bell tolled softly, signaling the arrival of evening. Meanwhile, a figure steadily approached the church with a purposeful stride.

"Thank you!" the boy chirped happily before hopping off the bench.

The pastor gave a small nod, adjusting the bandages in his hands. "Be more careful next time. Don’t run around on the stone roads," he advised with a firm yet gentle tone.

At that moment, a nun entered the church, carrying a neatly sealed envelope. "Father, a letter has arrived for you," she said hesitantly.

"A letter?" The pastor frowned, taking the envelope with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Yes. The sender is from Lawrence... It might be from him," the nun continued cautiously.

The pastor let out a quiet sigh, weighing the envelope in his hand before murmuring, "Hmm, I see... It’s been half a year since that incident..."

Carefully, he opened the letter, his eyes scanning each line of text with sharp focus. His expression remained composed, though a glimmer of interest flickered in his gaze.

The nun beside him stole a curious glance at the letter but refrained from asking directly. After a moment, the pastor let out a light sigh and slipped the letter into his robe.

"Hmm, it seems I’ll need to make a journey..." he murmured, accompanied by a faint, unreadable smile.

---

At the Railway Project Site

The clanging of metal and the shouts of instructions filled the air as the railway project bustled with activity. Workers busily inspected wheels and rail joints, ensuring everything was ready for today’s trial run.

Amidst the commotion, Gunnar, the project supervisor, stood with his arms crossed, overseeing the progress. It was then that Arkan arrived, accompanied by Rainer, who walked a step behind him.

"As you can see..." Gunnar rested one hand against the steel frame of the locomotive, his eyes gleaming with pride. "This is the greatest thing I’ve built since I started my career as a blacksmith. But, well... I have to admit, your blueprints were damn detailed."

Arkan gave a small nod, his gaze fixed on the massive machine before him. "That’s how it should be... Once this trial run succeeds, the next step will be the demonstration and official launch."

Rainer, who had been observing the locomotive, spoke with enthusiasm. "With this, mobility within our territory will improve dramatically. People might not realize it yet, but this will change everything."

"Precisely because they don’t realize it yet, we need to ensure everything proceeds smoothly," Arkan remarked, glancing at his silver pocket watch. "Alright, let’s see how far this iron marvel can go."

Gunnar patted the locomotive’s side proudly before signaling the workers. "Alright, get everything ready! We’re moving on to the final test run!"

The soot-covered workers sprang into action, double-checking every joint and steel wheel. Steam began hissing from the locomotive’s chimney as fuel was fed into the furnace, indicating that the machine was about to move.

Arkan folded his arms, observing every detail with keen concentration. "Make sure the steam pressure remains stable. I don’t want any accidents that could endanger the workers."

Gunnar let out a small chuckle. "Relax. I’ve run all the calculations. If anything goes wrong, it’s probably because the gods don’t like us playing with iron and fire."

Rainer scoffed at the remark. "Better to rely on reason than to count on the gods’ mercy." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Slowly, a deep rumble echoed through the ground as the steel wheels began turning on the tracks. The locomotive started moving forward, emitting a sharp screech as metal ground against metal.

The workers let out small cheers, some raising their fists in excitement. Gunnar grinned with satisfaction, while Arkan continued watching with a calm, calculating expression.

"Perfect," Arkan murmured, then glanced toward Rainer. "Make sure all data from this test is recorded. We’ll need a full report before the official demonstration."

"Understood." Rainer pulled out his notebook and quickly began jotting down observations.

Gunnar turned to Arkan, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. "So, when do you plan to show this off to the nobles?"

A faint smirk crossed Arkan’s lips, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Soon... I want to see their faces when they realize that the era has changed."

---

Somewhere Far from Castel Grey

A man cloaked in black rode through a dense forest, his horse’s hooves muffled by the thick undergrowth. The dim moonlight cast a faint glow on his face, partially concealed beneath the shadow of his hood.

Reaching into his robes, he retrieved a rolled-up parchment, unrolling it to read under the pale light. A faint smile crossed his lips as he clenched the paper tightly in his grasp.

"This will be interesting... watching how everything unfolds," he murmured before pulling on the reins and continuing his journey toward the capital.

In the darkness, the rhythmic sound of hooves echoed through the trees, as if heralding the arrival of an impending storm.

---

Imperial Palace

Inside the grand halls of the imperial palace, Soren Vale Zagon sat upon his throne, his golden eyes fixed on the large map spread across the table before him.

A royal advisor stood bowed in front of him, his voice steady but filled with tension. "Your Majesty, the latest reports indicate that troop movements in the southern territories have been increasing. There is a high likelihood that they are preparing for something significant."

Soren leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest. "Hmph... Let them play for a while. I want to see who makes the first move."

The advisor swallowed nervously before continuing in a slightly wavering tone. "But, Your Majesty, if we let them act unchecked for too long, the situation could—"

"I have already made my decision." Soren’s golden eyes glared sharply at the advisor. "Do not make me repeat myself."

The advisor immediately lowered his head, not daring to argue further.

Soren returned his gaze to the map before him, his mind calculating every possible outcome.

"This is only the beginning," he whispered to himself, a small smile curving his lips.

-Arkan Lawrence-

It has been nine months since I transmigrated into the body of an insignificant extra in a novel. At first, I thought I could live a meaningful life and carve my name into the annals of this world’s history—because that is who I truly am.

I have no desire to be ordinary. I want to be a driving force of civilization, someone whose influence lingers long after I am gone. However, problem after problem keeps pulling me deeper into a whirlwind far greater than I had ever imagined.

Over these past nine months, I have accomplished things I never would have thought possible. From the moment I realized I had transmigrated into this novel’s world, I began drafting a plan—not just to survive as an extra, but to become someone who could steer the course of history.

One of my most significant achievements so far has been the introduction of technology that should not have existed in this era. With the help of talented individuals like Gunnar, I began developing the concept of locomotives and railway tracks—an innovation that will revolutionize transportation and logistics across the continent.

The project is still in its testing phase, but if it succeeds, I will gain more than just political influence—I will wield true economic power. With rapidly expanding infrastructure, I can ensure that Lawrence Territory becomes an irreplaceable hub of trade and industry in the future.

Since I govern a region, economic stability must be my priority before I venture into the realm of military strength. Without a solid economic foundation, financing an army, expanding my domain, or maintaining sovereignty amid the ever-growing political strife would be impossible.

Once this phase is complete, I will be entering a new Chapter—one filled with twists, blood, steel, and tears. Just thinking about it sends a shiver down my spine, but I have no choice but to keep pushing forward to survive.

I must prepare myself—not just for the battles fought on the battlefield, but for the wars waged behind the scenes. If this world has changed because of my presence, then I will ensure that I become the one remembered by history.