Extra's Path: The Eternal Frost Monarch

He did manage to explain everything to her eventually.

It took some time.

But to his surprise, Mary accepted it far more quickly than he expected.

In truth, it wasn’t really her concern whether he was involved with someone else or not. And he hadn’t actually asked her on a date either. She apologized for overreacting. She had simply been too shocked in the moment.

After dinner, Noah walked back toward the dormitory alone.

The lamps along the path had come on, casting warm light across the road.

He was almost at the entrance when he noticed someone standing outside.

He was Edward.

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

’Why is he here? Is he waiting for someone?’

Edward spotted him and his face broke into a wide smile.

"Hello, my friend Noah! Could you spare a moment? There’s something important I need to talk to you about."

Noah frowned. "What important? What you want to talk about?" Naoh questioned. Not liking the polite and friendly way of Edward.

"Hehe! We should move away to a better place. So, no one will hear anything. Please follow me." Edward turned back to walk.

Noah thought for a while, then decided to follow Edward. He was curious at what this guy wanted to talk about.

’No way he want to beat me with his gang in secluded area. Like those bullies.’

Noah followed Edward around to the back of the dormitory building, into a secluded area where no one could easily see them

There was no one here. At least not at first glance. But then Noah noticed, four figures were standing near the wall. He saw them clearly now.

Noah recognized two of them immediately.

One was the fat Richard. The other was glasses-wearing Tetsu. Both of them were Edward’s usual underlings. Whom Noah had beaten together with Edward.

But the other two were different. He didn’t recognize them at first. But they looked familiar to him. As if he had met them before.

One was a tall man, around six feet, with short curly black hair and amber-colored eyes. His build was strong.

The other had green hair and eyes to match. He was also similar height to curly hair guy.

’I think the old Noah knew them.’ Noah thought. Since he was feeling familiarity from them.

He searched through his memories. After a moment, it came back to him. He does know those two guys.

’Travis Elensar....And Michael Morraith.’ He thought.

Travis was the eldest son of the Elensar family, a marquis family based in the western part of the empire, responsible for managing the border region. That family was pretty strong.

Michael was from the Morraith County, a family closely tied to the Elensar’s, also based in the same western region. Those two were childhood friends.

Noah looked them over quietly as he approached.

"So," he said, his gaze settling on Travis. He already had a feeling Travis was the one who had sent Edward to fetch him. "Why did you call me here?"

Since only he could command and order Edward.

Travis’s face broke into a wide grin. "Haha! Noah! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? How many years now... maybe two?" He spread his hands in a welcoming gesture, his tone easy and warm, like a man greeting an old friend he genuinely missed. "How have you been?"

Though it was totally fake. Noah could tell that easily.

Noah knew perfectly that there had been very few people in his past who would have called him a friend. He bad met these guys in gathering of noble families or events. But he was never friendly with them.

Still, he didn’t let that show. He returned a polite smile.

"Hey, Travis. I’m doing well. Good to see you." He glanced to the side. "You too, Michael."

Michael’s expression flickered with a hint of displeasure at Noah’s friendly tone. But he smoothed it over quickly and forced a smile of his own. "Yes. Nice to see you again."

Edward quietly stepped back and positioned himself beside Richard and Tetsu.

Noah decided to get to the point. "So what did you actually bring me here for, Travis? I don’t think it was just to say hello."

Travis’s grin faded at Noah’s direct tone. His expression turned into something more serious. "You’re right. I didn’t call you here just to greet and catch up. There’s something important I wanted to discuss with you."

Noah raised an eyebrow, looking mildly curious. "I’m all ears."

The corner of Travis’s mouth curved slightly.

"I wanted to speak with someone from Class A-1. Someone who was the biggest scu-cough! " He paused mid-sentence with a short cough, clearing his throat. "...someone smart. Someone who thinks for themselves and knows how to look after their own interests."

Noah’s lips twitched. ’He was about to say scum.’

But he said nothing and kept his expression neutral.

"Alright. So what does that have to do with me? I know I’m smart. Get to it. What do you want?"

This time it was Michael who smiled. He stepped forward slightly. "You do know that next week your class will be going up against ours in the VR battle."

’So they’re from Class B-2.’ Noah had never paid much attention to who was in B-2. He had never particularly cared about winning the match either.

His class already had two of the top-ranked students in the first year. There was nothing to worry about on that front. But knowing now that these five were from B-2 made everything very clear.

"We’re here to ask for your help," Travis said, his expression carrying a faint villainous smile. "During the VR battle. We want information. Your class’s plans, team formations, strategy. Things like that."

The same kind of smile was sitting on the faces of the three young men standing behind him.

Noah was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Why does winning this match matter so much to you? It’s just a VR battle. I wouldn’t think it’s worth the effort of pulling someone over to your side."

Noah asked wondering why this guy Travis was so eager to win this battle. Though he did have rough idea.

He still decided to asked.