Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 98: [97] Report in

-Third Person POV-

Back to the Present

Arkan began to understand the changes that had occurred with Cecilia. So, this was all about love and the ambitions of one person...

If that’s the case, then the person who would ignite the war on the Empire’s side must surely be Cecilia’s lover.

Arkan crossed his arms, staring at Aurelia with intense curiosity.

"So, can I know the name of Cecilia’s lover?" he asked casually, though his mind was working rapidly. "It seems like this person is quite cunning, considering they managed to control and change your friend into someone like this."

Aurelia let out a short sigh, then looked at Arkan with a cold expression.

"She’s clearly no longer my friend," she said firmly. "But fine... her lover’s name is—Leon von Astoria."

Arkan stiffened immediately.

Not because of his first name...

But because of his family name.

’Astoria... Is he Rainer’s older brother!?’, Arkan thought, his body freezing as he realized the possibility. ’This is complicated... No, if the Astoria family is involved, this is clearly going to be much more difficult!’

Astoria was the family name of a Duke who was the sword of the Northern Empire.

The bloodline of the greatest swordsmen, users of Force with the highest level of power in the world today.

Although one day Rainer would take that position, facing the Astoria family in war would undoubtedly be a formidable challenge.

Even now, though Rainer was by his side, he was still too weak.

His development was slow—but that was because he hadn’t truly been in a critical condition yet.

Except for that time... when he faced the Behemoth.

Arkan took a deep breath, his mind working quickly. This situation was much more complicated than he had imagined. If the Astoria family was involved, this war would not be as simple as a clash between two nations.

He glanced at the chessboard still set between them, then moved a pawn forward with a slow motion.

"Aurelia," he said in a serious tone, "try to imagine the current kingdom’s situation as a chess game."

Aurelia raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t interrupt. She just stared at the chessboard, waiting for further explanation.

Arkan tapped one of the pawns lightly with his finger. "The pawns represent the common people. They are the most numerous, but also the most vulnerable. They can only move forward one square at a time, and most of them will be the first casualties in a war."

He then picked up one of the rooks and placed it beside the board. "The rooks represent the great nobles—they have strong power and defense, but their movement is limited by their own personal interests and territories."

Aurelia began to understand his point and looked at the board more seriously.

"So then," she said, reaching for one of the knights, "the knights represent the elite forces or the royal knight orders, right?"

Arkan nodded. "Exactly. They have more flexibility in their movements, but they are still bound by the larger rules. In this war, they could become the spearhead of an attack or even be sacrificed as pawns for the ruler’s benefit."

He then tapped the bishop with his finger. "And this... represents the Astoria family."

Aurelia narrowed her eyes. "The bishops are the most flexible and most dangerous pieces in this game."

"Correct." Arkan leaned back in his chair, looking at Aurelia with a sharp gaze. "Astoria is the sword of the Northern Empire. They don’t move recklessly, but when they enter the game, they can quickly disrupt the enemy’s formation. And what’s more dangerous, they don’t move alone—they are always near their king."

Aurelia paused for a moment, processing Arkan’s words.

"Then... who is the king in this game?" she asked eventually.

Arkan gave a small smile. "Now that’s an interesting question."

He picked up the king piece and raised it slightly before setting it back down.

"Technically, the king on our side is Empress Seraphina Veilhardt."

Aurelia raised an eyebrow. "So, you think she’s at the center of all this?"

Arkan gave a faint smile, but his gaze remained sharp. "The question isn’t whether she is at the center or not."

He sighed quietly, then tapped the chessboard with the tip of his finger.

"The question is... who is the true player in all of this?"

Aurelia fell silent for a moment, a little slow in grasping Arkan’s meaning. But as soon as she understood, the corner of her lips lifted.

She chuckled softly, then asked in return, "So, who is it?"

Arkan only gave a subtle smile. "Who knows... maybe time will tell."

Although he already knew who was pulling the strings behind the Empire and Cecilia, the evidence was still too weak.

And more than that—the existence of that sect itself was still shrouded in mystery.

Aurelia observed Arkan’s expression, her eyes narrowing slightly. As though she knew there was something he was deliberately withholding, but chose not to press further.

As someone used to dealing with politics and negotiations, she knew that everyone had information they preferred to keep for the right moment.

Finally, she just sighed softly and leaned back in her chair. "Of course. The classic answer."

Arkan laughed quietly. "Better than a wrong answer, don’t you think?"

Aurelia rolled her eyes before returning her gaze to the chessboard between them. The game wasn’t over, but the strategies on it nearly mirrored their current situation—complex, full of traps, and with too many parties moving in the shadows.

She tapped her fingers on the edge of the board, thinking for a moment before moving her piece.

"I’ll go along with this alliance."

Arkan raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"

Aurelia shrugged. "I’m not someone who likes to delay decisions. Besides, I don’t need too much consideration. A war will happen sooner or later, and regardless, I have to choose a side. If you truly have information that could save this kingdom from destruction, then that’s more than enough for me to consider this alliance."

Arkan studied her expression, looking for signs of lies or doubt, but all he found was the conviction of a leader who had already decided her path.

He finally smiled, leaning slightly forward. "In that case, let’s make sure this game goes the way we want it to."

Aurelia grinned. "In other words... let’s make sure we’re the ones playing it, not just the pieces."

Arkan nodded. "Exactly."

A brief silence filled the room before Aurelia once again turned her attention to the chessboard and smiled faintly.

"By the way... whose turn is it now?"

Arkan chuckled softly before glancing at the board. He moved his piece to a fairly strategic position, then looked at Aurelia with a confident gaze.

"Your turn."

Aurelia narrowed her eyes, then smiled. "Alright... let’s see who wins this time."

With a calm movement, she advanced her piece, and the game continued—not just on the board, but also in the real world, which was about to be swept into war.

###

After their game ended, Aurelia left Arkan’s mansion—taking the chessboard as a souvenir.

Of course, she didn’t go far just yet. For the time being, she was merely relocating to a villa that Arkan had prepared, a place situated a fair distance from the castle, safe enough to avoid unwanted attention.

Inside the carriage that carried her there, Aurelia stared at one of the chess pawns in her hand.

Her gaze was empty, but her mind was filled with countless thoughts.

She recalled her conversation with Arkan.

In this chess game, the most important thing wasn’t the pawns... but the one who played them.

Aurelia let out a quiet sigh, gently rolling the pawn between her fingers.

"Truly... who is the one playing this game?" she whispered to herself.

Looking back at the Northern Empire’s movements, there was something off.

Every action they took was perfectly organized—not rushed like a hasty war preparation, yet not blatant enough to be considered an immediate threat.

Everything was done so naturally, as if it were merely part of their routine.

And now... Cecilia had returned.

Aurelia clenched the chess pawn slightly tighter. Something didn’t feel right.

All this time, the scenario had seemed like a blurred shadow, but now, it was slowly becoming clearer.

If Arkan’s words were true... then they were all just pieces in this game.

And the real player?

Was a hand unseen by the public.

Aurelia closed her eyes for a moment, letting her thoughts weave together the unanswered possibilities.

Then, in a barely audible voice, she murmured,

"Is there truly someone orchestrating all of this?"

The carriage continued forward, cutting through the darkness of the night.

And in her mind, the real chess game had only just begun.

Arkan stood by the window, gazing at the moon hanging in the night sky. Its silvery glow flooded the room, casting faint shadows over the desk where he sat.

In his hand, a pen moved slowly across the paper.

He was rewriting a book he had read through his system, carefully noting down every piece of information he deemed important.

The atmosphere was silent, accompanied only by the faint sound of the pen gliding over the parchment.

However, the stillness was soon interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps approaching the front door.

A servant entered the room with near-silent movements—graceful, efficient, yet beneath it all, full of vigilance.

She was beautiful, with shimmering silver hair and sharp crimson eyes that stood out against the dim lighting. She wore a French-style maid uniform that Arkan had prepared, making her appear like an ordinary servant.

But she was no ordinary servant.

She was an assassin.

Arkan glanced at her briefly and recognized her figure with ease.

"Florence?"

The girl stopped before him, offering a slight bow with professional composure.

"Reporting... I have identified the Empire’s spies."

Arkan raised a brow.

"Oh? That was quick."

Florence straightened her posture, her crimson eyes flashing coldly.

"I’m merely doing my job, Master."

Arkan smirked faintly. He closed his book slowly and regarded Florence with keen interest.

"In that case... give me a full report."

Florence nodded. Without hesitation, she stepped closer and began speaking.

Outside the window, the moon still shone brightly, as if silently witnessing the plans that were beginning to take shape in the shadows of the night.