The Extra is a Genius!?-Chapter 172: Those Who Stay

The group stepped onto the deck one by one.

Noel’s boots touched the familiar polished wood. The ship was just as he remembered it—sleek, elegant, reinforced with enchanted runes that shimmered faintly under the sun. A warm summer breeze swept across the deck, carrying with it the scent of salt, wood, and distant pine.

Strapped to his belt, his dimensional pouch hung on the right side. On the left, Revenant Fang rested in its sheath, dormant but ever present.

Waiting near the mainmast were Elyra and Elena.

Elyra stepped forward first, her gray eyes sharp and direct. "Are you all alright? We heard what happened in the Holy Capital."

Elena stood beside her, arms crossed, her amber gaze focused on Noel. "The news reached Valor faster than I expected."

Noel met both their eyes.

"We’re fine," he said. "Well... almost all of us."

His voice dropped slightly near the end. That subtle change in expression—just a flicker—was enough for both girls to catch it.

Elyra frowned but didn’t press.

Elena’s eyes lingered a second longer before she looked away.

"We should talk somewhere more private," Noel said.

"Agreed," Elyra replied.

Behind him, Marcus, Clara, Garron, Laziel, and Charlotte followed in silence. Charlotte, her Sancta Veil still active, kept her head slightly lowered, red hair swaying in the wind.

They walked together toward the private quarters of the Estermont vessel.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.

The private cabin was spacious, furnished with velvet-cushioned seats, a carved oak table in the center, and windows that offered a view of the sea below the treetop dock. Subtle enchantments kept the air cool and fresh despite the summer warmth outside.

Everyone found a place—some sitting, others leaning against the walls.

Charlotte remained quiet, still wearing the Sancta Veil, her red hair and hazel eyes making her look like a stranger to most of the room.

Marcus leaned forward on the table, both hands clasped. "Alright... I’ll explain everything."

And he did.

He spoke clearly but not dramatically, recounting the attack on the Holy Capital, the infiltration of the church, the corrupted priests, and the experiments with the children. He explained how Noel, Charlotte, and the rest had stopped the enemies—and what it cost.

The room was silent when he finished.

"...Wow," Elyra murmured, her gray eyes slightly wider. "Honestly, things keep getting worse every time we look away."

"You can say that again," Clara sighed beside her.

Elena narrowed her eyes slightly, scanning the room. "By the way... who’s the red-haired girl? We’ve never seen her before."

Noel looked over at Charlotte. "That’s the Saint."

Elena blinked. "What? I thought the Saint had pink hair. And amber eyes."

Charlotte turned to Noel, voice playful. "Don’t you think I wanted to keep my identity hidden?"

With a soft motion, she deactivated the Sancta Veil. Her hair shifted from red to soft pink, her eyes brightening into their natural amber hue.

Elena’s mouth opened slightly, but she said nothing.

Noel added calmly, "You don’t need to worry. These two are the people I trust the most."

Elena’s expression didn’t change much, but a faint thought crossed her mind.

’So I’m one of the people he trusts the most...’

Elyra stood up. "Well, I imagine you’re all exhausted. I’ll assign everyone their rooms. Noel, you’ll have the same cabin as last time."

"Sounds good," Noel replied. "I could use a proper rest."

Marcus stretched. "Yeah. I think we all could. Second year’s not going to go easy on us."

’You don’t even know the half of it...’ Noel thought. ’But I’m not alone this time. I’ll do everything I can to stop the rest of it from happening.’

Steam clung to the walls of the cabin, fading slowly as Noel stepped out of the small bathroom, drying his hair with a towel draped over his shoulders. He wore a fresh shirt, halfway buttoned, and looked like he was already halfway to falling into bed.

And then he stopped.

Inside the room—already seated without invitation—were Elyra and Elena.

Noel stared at them, dripping slightly onto the wooden floor.

"...Okay. This is new," he said flatly. "From Elyra, I kind of expected it. But you, Elena?"

Elena flushed instantly. "It’s not what it looks like!"

She crossed her arms in a weak attempt to cover her embarrassment. "And what do you mean ’you expected it’? Has Elyra done this before?"

Noel rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly, it’d be weird if she didn’t at this point."

Elyra, completely unfazed, smiled from her seat. "Good to see your expectations are finally catching up."

Noel sighed. "Alright. What exactly are you two doing here?"

Elyra leaned back casually in the chair, one leg crossed over the other. "And what’s with that tone, Noel? Aren’t you happy to see your current girlfriend?"

She said it with a faint smirk—but her eyes flicked toward Elena as she did.

Noel let out a slow breath. "Sorry. Didn’t mean it like that. I’m just... tired. Mentally drained."

Elyra tilted her head. "Don’t worry. I was only teasing a bit."

Elena, now a little more composed, nodded softly. "We saw your expression earlier. When you said ’almost all of us’... you looked different. We were worried."

Noel sat down on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his damp hair.

"...Guess I’m not that good at hiding how I feel."

Elyra raised an eyebrow. "Oh no, you’re very good at it. But it’s different when someone knows you."

Noel gave a quiet nod. "Yeah. I get that."

The room grew quiet for a moment, the soft creak of the ship’s hull the only sound between them.

Elena broke the silence gently. "So... will you tell us your version of everything?"

Noel looked up, meeting her eyes. There was no pressure in her tone—just concern.

He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees.

"You probably already heard the broad strokes," he said. "But it was worse than it sounds. A lot worse."

He didn’t go into detail yet. But the exhaustion in his voice carried more than facts ever could.

Elena and Elyra waited, giving him space.

Noel looked down for a moment, then gave a half-smile—tired, but genuine.

"...It’s a long story."

Elena nodded. "We’re not in a hurry."

Elyra added softly, "We’re here. That’s enough for now."

Noel leaned back against the wall, the sway of the ship almost calming beneath him. Moonlight filtered through the porthole, brushing the edges of the room in silver.

"I wasn’t there at the start," he said quietly. "I arrived later... I had to attend my sister’s wedding."

Elena and Elyra stayed silent.

"When I got to the Holy Capital, the pieces were already in motion. They were planning to kill the Saint."

He paused, eyes lowered.

"We started digging—trying to figure out who was behind it, how deep it went. But by the time we understood anything... it was already too late."

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