The Extra Who Shouldn’t Exist - Chapter 294

Chapter 294: Chapter 294 : The weight of a life
Death energy poured out of Roselia’s small body like a silent storm, the air warping under the pressure. Her crimson eyes burned as she spoke in a low voice that shook even Alex.

“Once someone is dead, they can never be brought back to life,” she said. “Even asking for something like that is an insult—to the beauty of death itself. By making that request, you insult not only our King, but the entire Underworld. Can you bear the consequences of that, mortal?”

Most people would have shivered under that pressure, or stayed silent.

Alex didn’t.

“I don’t really trust anyone except myself, Miss Roselia so I am already taking enough risk to come here to become a avatar even if don’t want to be one,” he said calmly. “The whole point of my request is simple—I’m asking for one innocent soul back. Someone who didn’t deserve to die.”

Roselia stared at him for a beat.

Then she started laughing—soft at first, then louder, until the sound echoed across the black plain. “You really are an interesting mortal, aren’t you…”

With a flick of her finger, a dark pane appeared in the air between them—a holographic screen woven from death energy itself.

On it, a city burned.

Towering buildings crumbled one after another, explosions ripping through streets and plazas. Shockwaves flattened everything in their path.

People ran, screaming, trying to escape the destruction.

An old man stumbled with a child in his arms, only to vanish under falling debris. A mother reached out for her son—and a collapsing building erased them both in an instant. Merchants, guards, children, nobles, beggars—it didn’t matter. The city was a slaughterhouse.

Alex’s breath hitched. He recognized those streets, those towers, those plazas.

Avaloria.

Three months ago.

—

Words caught in his throat. For a moment, his mind went blank as the weight of what he was seeing pressed down on his chest.

Roselia watched his expression with sharp interest, then spoke again. “Tell me, Alex… are those not innocent people? Did they deserve to die?” Her gaze returned to the screen. “Did they not have families? Children? Lives of their own?”

Alex’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

Roselia continued, voice sharper. “The deaths you see here are the same ones whose souls came to us recently. And one of the reasons they’re dead… is you.”

She pointed at the image—at a familiar, silver-haired figure clashing in the sky. “In your little battle against that child, Kyle—Sabrina’s avatar—the two of you turned Avaloria into a crater. How many innocents died that day because the two of you fought at that level?”

She glanced at him again. “You may not have meant to. You may have been forced into it. But you’re still one of the reasons they’re down here right now.”

Finally, she smiled—a small, cold smirk. “So tell me, Alex Dragonheart… what right do you have to be this selfish? To demand the return of one soul you care about, while ignoring the thousands of others who died that same day?”

The screen showed another building collapse, wiping out dozens more lives in a heartbeat.

“Wouldn’t that be cruel to them?” Roselia asked. “Can you really live with yourself, knowing you chose one over thousands?”

Alex didn’t speak for a long while.

Roselia watched him closely. ‘Come on, then,’ she thought. ‘Show me what you have… the thing that made our King reach for you first.’

Eventually, Alex lifted his head. His eyes were calm, but there was a hollowness in them. “You’re right,” he said at last. “I am a selfish bastard.”

A dry, empty laugh left his lips.

“But what can I do?” he went on. “From childhood, there’s only one lesson I really learned: take care of yourself, or no one else will. When my sister and I were fighting on the streets every day just to survive, none of those ‘innocent’ people you’re showing me offered a hand. Not one.”

He looked at the screen again, then back at her. “So here’s the thing, Miss Roselia. In the world I live in, it’s everyone for themselves.”

He didn’t flinch. “And I’m sure of one thing—if I hadn’t stopped Kyle, the casualties would’ve been far worse. So no, I don’t feel guilty. Not even a little.”

He gave a cold half-smile. “In fact, you should be grateful. I made your job easier by sending fewer souls down here than there could’ve been.”

Roselia blinked. For a moment, she was completely speechless.

Then she laughed—loud and wild, her small figure shaking with amusement. “What an interesting piece of work you are…”

Her gaze slid down to his hands. They were trembling.

“Despite all that confidence, Mr. Alex,” she said softly, “why are your hands shaking?”

Alex quickly hid them behind his back. ‘Tch…’

Roselia shook her head. “Don’t be ashamed. What you felt just now was the weight of a life. To someone you don’t care about, it’s nothing. To someone you love, it’s everything.”

She looked back at the dying city on the screen. “Between those two extremes… lies death. Something that doesn’t care who’s precious and who isn’t. It treats all equally. That’s why death is beautiful.”

Her red eyes lingered on him. “Understand this: I’m telling you all this because I see potential in you. But I still can’t grant your request.”

Alex exhaled slowly. “I know it sounds unreasonable to you,” he said. “But for me, it’s not.” His gaze hardened. “And to tell you the truth… I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think.”

Roselia’s mouth twitched. “You really don’t know how to talk to people, do you.”

But beneath the annoyance, there was something else in her eyes now—reluctant respect, and a hint of curiosity that hadn’t been there before.

Alex didn’t look away from her as he went on. “Yeah… maybe this is the first time I really felt the weight of a life.” His voice was low, but steady. “To be honest, what you just showed me shook me to my core.”

He let that hang for a second, then continued, “But I already decided back when I had no one. When it was just me and my sister on the streets, I made myself a promise—that I’d protect the people I care about. The ones who actually show me real, genuine care.” His gaze hardened. “Miss Selena was one of them.”

His fists clenched at his sides. “So, I’m sorry. If you can’t help me bring her back, then becoming an avatar loses half its point.”

He lifted his head, eyes sharp and unwavering. “But let me be clear about something. If not from here, then from somewhere else—I will find a way to bring her back. Even if I have to rip everything apart in the process.”

Roselia stared into his eyes and, for the first time, saw no hesitation there. No bluff. No dramatics.

‘Does this kid… really have what it takes to challenge death itself…?’ she wondered. ‘He’s a mystery—with no divine blessing, and yet he can wield both life and death energy. And his resolve is unwavering een if the odds are against him…’

A chill—not of fear, but of realization—ran through her. ‘I have a feeling… this mortal will shake even the gods someday.’

Alex’s voice snapped her back from her thoughts. “Well? Is that all you wanted to show me?”

“Damn it… Damn it…” Roselia hissed under her breath, grabbing her head with both hands. The gesture looked annoyingly cute in her chibi form.

She groaned, then exhaled sharply. “Fine. Listen carefully.” Her eyes met his. “I can’t give you that soul back. I’ve said it already—it goes against the law itself. Even I’m bound by that.”

Alex’s shoulders dropped slightly, but his gaze stayed fixed on her.

“But,” she added, “I can tell you a way.”

Alex’s attention sharpened immediately. “I’m listening.”

Roselia folded her arms again. “It will be extremely dangerous. But I’m guessing that doesn’t matter to you.”

Alex nodded without hesitation. “It doesn’t.”

Roselia sighed. “Then… reach the 25th floor of the Tower of Ascension. There’s someone there who might be able to help you.”

“Someone?” Alex echoed. “Not the God of Death?”

“There is no one in the Underworld who has authority over souls except my Lord,” Roselia said. “But the one I’m talking about is… special. You’ll understand when you get there.”

Alex tilted his head. “Heeh it Doesn’t sound like much of a lead.”

Without missing a beat, Roselia jumped up and slapped him across the cheek.

“Be grateful I even told you that, you ungrateful mortal.”

Alex winced, rubbing his cheek. “Alright, alright, I get it…”

Roselia nodded firmly, satisfied. “Remember this: to become Lord Hades’ avatar, you must completely accept the concept of death. Not just use its power—but understand it. If you don’t… your body, soul, and mind will be crushed.”

She pointed at his chest. “He is one of the most powerful gods in the cosmos. If you wish to bear even a fragment of that power, you must first understand death so thoroughly that your hands never shake from its weight again.”

Her voice softened, just a fraction. “So from now on, I will teach you. About death. Its weight, its laws, its beauty. Without that, you cannot become his avatar.”

Alex gave a small smile. “I accept.”

He stepped forward and reached out, patting her head gently. “And… thanks. For the help. I won’t forget it.”

Roselia’s cheeks turned slightly pink as she closed her eyes, clearly enjoying the patting despite herself. “Hmph. I’ll allow it… this once.”

She then pulled her hand from her pocket and produced a ring—pure black metal with faint silver runes spiraling along its surface.

“Take this,” she said. “As long as you wear it, you’ll be safe in the Underworld—even as a mortal. But listen carefully: if you take it off while you’re here, you will die a very miserable death.”

Alex swallowed hard. “Duly noted,” he said, sliding the ring onto his finger. Even as it settled, he could feel an alien chill coil around his soul—protective, but unforgiving.

“Good.” Roselia nodded in satisfaction. “Now go back to your world. First, get the weapon Hephaestus promised you. Without it, you won’t survive even a single day in the Underworld.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Wait… how do you know about that…?”

“You don’t need to know that,” Roselia replied quickly, looking away.

Before Alex could ask anything else, a magic circle flared beneath his feet—carved from pure black light and spiraling sigils. Its pull was irresistible.

“Until next time, blessed one,” Roselia said, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

In the next instant, the Underworld vanished.

Alex felt himself falling—weightless for a heartbeat—then crashing into something soft and warm. His hand sank into something… familiar. Very familiar.

“Aah~”

A cute, startled voice yelped above him.

Alex froze.

That sound.

That softness.

‘Wait… I know this feeling,’ he thought, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple as he slowly looked up.

—–