Game's Extra: Starting With SSS-Ranked 1000-Death Talent-Chapter 53: Beer

Noa smirked, raised his hand, and said,

"It was me."

"What do you mean, it was you?" Gio asked, standing behind the old man.

The latter neared the corpses, inspecting them.

His eyes glowed as if some kind of ability was used.

Then he glanced back at Noa, waiting for the answer to the question Gio had asked.

"Embers with hearing problems?" Noa mocked. "What more do you want me to say? Some losers tried to kill us, but it turns out I’m better at their job."

The air turned still.

It lingered for a while, devoured by silence.

The grandpa broke it, his name emerging in Noa’s mind.

"What an interesting youngster. Can you share more details?"

The instructors weren’t the only ones interested in his story.

After hearing his confession, his classmates also wanted to hear directly from him.

Yet Noa booed them away.

"Just do your job right and investigate. Shouldn’t you help the injured first?"

His voice was prideful, cocky even.

It was an attitude no teacher would tolerate, but seeing the wounded students, the old man sighed.

"I was blinded. The emotions got the better of me. This was my mistake."

Noa knew his character and wasn’t surprised by his quick acknowledgement.

As Elowen and Gio took injured pupils into the infirmary to heal them, Noa left the gym.

The Arcane Academy had dormitories as well.

But using them wasn’t mandatory, and the majority of the students never visited them.

"I am called Excel."

The gray-haired grandpa followed him closely.

"Care to join this old fart for a quick stroll?"

Excel was a friendly, chill guy who was popular amongst the players.

The reason was simple.

Everyone loves good elder characters as long as they are cool.

And Excel not only met these criteria, but he was also badass.

In the game, he trained Arthur for years and constantly kicked his ass.

Even if Noa acted coldly on the surface, he would be more than happy to befriend the old man.

Especially if he was stealing Excel from useless Arthur.

"Why not?" Noa agreed. "But you have to invite me to the beer."

Excel’s white brows twitched in surprise.

It wasn’t every day that youngsters asked him for a drink.

Knowing the way to his heart, Noa grinned at patting grandpa on the back.

"My pleasure," Excel agreed excitedly, trailing his words. "But I feel like he wants to join as well."

Noa followed his pointed finger to see Arthur following them.

"How annoying," he said, not hiding his thoughts.

Then he corrected his lowered posture, smiled, and said,

"You can join us. Let’s celebrate our survival..."

He paused and added,

"Like friends do."

Arthur didn’t comment, walking beside them.

’My life... Instead of hanging out with real friends, I am going for a drink with one asshole and a teacher.’

Excel was talkative, putting holes in his head.

However, the man didn’t mention the incident and led them to the vending machine.

It was located inside the academy building, not too far away from the gym.

"What’s your take?"

Finally, he asked after putting coins inside the coin slot.

There were no watchful eyes around, creating a perfect spot for secret conversations.

"Exactly what you think," Noa answered vaguely.

Yet he knew Excel would understand, as the man was an old government agent.

Nevertheless, the grandpa laughed in puzzlement.

He wanted to pry.

His curiosity was piqued as he struggled to hold his tongue in check.

Still, his barrier crumbled, and he gave up, offering Noa something Arthur had to suffer to hear.

"After the first assessment you went through, there is a second one planned for tomorrow. It’s for Returne and higher grade teachers to select students and cultivate them."

He was watching Noa, sipping his beer and gauging his reaction.

"I have an offer for you to become my disciple. Technically, I am not allowed to poach you this soon, but I am getting impatient with age."

Noa took a sip as well.

The bitter taste assaulted his mouth, bringing a surge of pleasure with it.

’Tasty,’ he thought.

As for the offer Excel made, Noa had opinions of his own.

First things first, he didn’t want to go the same route Arthur did.

Nor did he need a mentor to raise his strength.

He was part of the organization that already scared the Axis and the government.

What’s more, Punchy was his tutor, and there was nothing left for Excel to teach him, but Noa wouldn’t follow the man for just a beer and a drinking buddy.

There was one thing the man could provide—something no one else could give him.

"What a tempting offer. I can only ask for a single day of practice and one condition."

A slight disappointment could be seen on Excel’s face.

He was eager, thinking that he had found the real talent and could use him for his research on the government.

Yet Noa declined his proposal.

However, all hope wasn’t lost.

From Noa’s perspective, he wanted nothing more than to make Arthur’s life difficult, and in no state of mind would he ever help him.

Yet, he was greedy.

Noa would never allow his emotions to control him.

Just because he despised someone didn’t mean he couldn’t still use them.

So, going against his hatred, Noa leered and glanced at Arthur.

He was sitting beside them on a wooden bench, listening after refusing the drink.

’Might as well,’ Noa pondered and said,

"My condition is to take my friend as your student. Believe me, he has great potential."

Both of them looked at him in bewilderment.

Excel knew Arthur’s score and couldn’t understand why Noa would recommend him.

As for Arthur, his doubt and fluster clashed.

It was true that he wanted Excel as his instructor.

But he fully recognized that getting the man to agree without disclosing his talent would be nearly impossible.

Noa was doing him a favor, and he couldn’t explain why.

Was it friendship, or was he hiding some kind of agenda?

"I will consider after seeing him in action," Excel spoke as he stood up.

He seemed conflicted.

"I will see you guys around. Be careful on your way home."

Then he left, leaving Noa with Arthur.

The latter had millions of questions he wanted to ask and finally got the chance to ask them.

Arthur wasn’t a pushover.

He was a blunt dude who would either get answers or throw hands.

"Earth," he said, studying Noa. "Does this word ring any bells?"