The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Chapter 102 : A mother’s worry and Alicia’s choice

The room was a strange mix of antiquity and grandeur. Towering bookshelves stretched toward the high, dome-shaped ceiling, crammed full of dusty tomes and glowing scrolls.

Golden runes pulsated faintly on the marble walls, etched so intricately that they seemed almost alive—breathing with power, whispering secrets long lost to the ages. A fireplace crackled softly, throwing flickering light over arcane diagrams hovering midair.

This was the office of Professor Rick—a legend in rune studies, feared and respected in equal measure.

At the center of the room, a wide oaken desk sat like a throne, behind which the professor lounged in an overly stuffed, rune-stitched chair. Rick looked to be in his late fifties, his grey-streaked beard trimmed with military precision. He sipped tea calmly from a porcelain cup, his expression unreadable.

Across from him sat a teenage boy with silver hair and narrowed eyes—Alex Dragonheart. He leaned back in his chair like a hostage trying not to provoke a lunatic, arms folded and gaze suspicious.

The silence stretched.

Then Professor Rick broke it with a light chuckle. "I must apologize for my earlier... outburst."

He set his cup down gently.

"My geni—I mean, Alex. It’s just... when I saw the way you used aero scripting—I simply couldn’t help myself. You’re something else."

Alex sighed, a long, drawn-out breath as if this wasn’t the first time someone had lost composure around his brilliance. "It’s okay, Professor. Even geniuses like yourself can be overwhelmed when faced with someone as amazing as me."

At that, Rick just stared at him blankly.

Then burst out laughing.

"You really don’t know how to be humble, do you?"

Alex tilted his head in mock confusion. "What do you mean, Professor? This is humility. If I weren’t being humble, I would’ve told you to start worshipp—"

"Alright, alright, that’s enough, you brat," Rick cut him off, waving his hand. "I already know what you’re doing."

Alex blinked innocently. "Doing what?"

"You’re trying to annoy me enough that I lose my temper and kick you out—so you can pretend you wanted to leave all along. You’ve got one cunning mind, you little schemer."

Alex clicked his tongue in frustration. ’Tch. This old bag of bones really is sharp,’ he thought.

Rick squinted. "Did you just think something rude?"

Alex’s eyes widened. "No, no! Professor, how could I? You’re the most distinguished scholar I know!"

The professor sighed, rubbing his temples. "Enough games. I don’t like beating around the bush."

He looked Alex square in the eye, his voice taking on a rare seriousness.

"I want you to become my disciple and learn about runes from me. I’ll teach you myself. Consider it an honor."

Alex blinked. "But Professor... didn’t you promise that position to Lilia?"

Rick leaned back with a smirk. "My class, my rules. It’s not her choice to choose someone—it’s mine. So, what do you say?"

Alex paused, rubbing his chin dramatically. "Hmm... but Professor... how could I trust someone who goes back on his own word? That’s a little dangerous, don’t you think?"

A vein throbbed on Rick’s forehead. "Alright, enough! Just tell me what you want, you cunning brat."

A sly grin spread across Alex’s face. "Now we’re talking."

He held up a finger. "First condition—whenever I get into a little trouble, just have my back. I tend to attract... situations."

Rick nodded begrudgingly. "Fine."

"Second," Alex continued, "I want resources—mana stones, intel, and your full academic support. Like access to the third-year department of the library."

Rick grumbled something unintelligible but nodded again.

"And third—"

"You said two!" Rick barked, interrupting.

Alex leaned in with mock hurt. "Do I need to remind you, Professor, that you just secured the most handsome, talented, and amazing student on the continent? A little generosity wouldn’t kill you."

Another vein throbbed visibly on Rick’s forehead. "...Go on."

Alex grinned. "Third condition—I want a mana contract. Full magical accountability."

Rick snapped. "You don’t trust me even a little bit, do you, brat?!"

Alex shrugged, expression dead serious now. "How could I? You dropped Lilia like an ant the moment you saw someone better. That’s... impressive. But not comforting."

Rick froze for a second. His eye twitched. ’This cunning little bastard... he brought up Lilia on purpose, knowing I’d discard her. And now he’s using it against me...’

The professor let out a long groan, defeated. "Fine."

With a flick of his fingers, two glowing scrolls materialized in midair—mana contracts etched in ethereal light. He signed one and tossed the other across the desk.

Alex took his time reading the fine print, even pulling out a monocle from seemingly nowhere just to be extra obnoxious. Then he signed.

The moment both signatures were complete, the scrolls disintegrated into radiant particles that sank into their bodies—marking the contract as sealed.

Rick slumped back in his chair. "You can go now, brat. We start training from tomorrow. Try not to drive me crazy before then."

Alex stood with a devilish smirk. "Wouldn’t dream of it, Professor."

He turned on his heel and exited the room, the large wooden doors closing behind him with a soft thud.

Silence returned to the office.

Then—shiver.

A chill ran down Rick’s spine. He looked at the door Alex had just exited through.

"...What the hell was that?"

He rubbed his arms, trying to shake off the sudden dread.

"I made the right decision, didn’t I? That brat’s got potential... but why do I have this horrible feeling?"

He groaned again. "He’s too intelligent for his own good. And far too confident."

Shaking his head, Rick turned back to his desk and resumed reviewing an ancient rune scroll—though his hand trembled just slightly as he picked up his tea.

---

Meanwhile, in the luxurious Third-Year Top Cadets’ building of Zenith Academy, a scene very few had ever witnessed was unfolding. Alicia von Crestvale—the famously elegant, genius student council president of Zenith Academy—was currently anything but that.

Wearing an oversized hoodie, fluffy socks, and with her white hair tied in a lazy bun, Alicia was crouched on a high-end gaming chair, furiously clicking away on her holographic screen.

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