The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 345

Chapter 345: Chapter 345 : Reward and Realisations

Elaria, Alex, and Jacob all held their breath.

Mirina’s eyes slid over them, unreadable.

"You have passed."

Elaria exhaled, only then realizing she’d been holding her breath.

Alex didn’t move.

Jacob swallowed.

Mirina’s gaze lingered.

"...Barely."

Her attention swept over the three, finally settling on Alex.

"While it was entertaining to watch," she said, "it was not the only path you could have taken. You even killed innocents with your own hand."

Her eyes shifted briefly to Elaria and Jacob.

"And you two simply went along with his decision, without once judging the situation for yourselves."

Elaria and Jacob fell silent, stunned.

Mirina looked back at Alex. "Tell me, Alex. You killed people without blinking. How did it feel? Even knowing they were being manipulated."

Alex met her gaze without flinching.

"I felt nothing," he said.

Elaria and Jacob stared at him, shocked.

"Nothing at all," Alex repeated. "In fact, if I hadn’t needed half of them alive to see that the lame‑ass hero was innocent and clear his name, I would’ve burned that country down myself."

His voice stayed calm.

"And those ’innocents’ you mentioned? They were eagerly waiting for that guy to die, like they’d get some kind of satisfaction from seeing his corpse. They forgot that without him, they’d already be six feet under—or worse, enslaved. Not one of them asked why. Not one of them even thought for a second that he might be innocent or framed."

Alex gaze did not waver.

"I hate hypocrites like that the most. So yes—I didn’t feel anything. The closest thing I felt was... how can I say it yes—exhilaration."

"It was exhilarating."

Elaria and Jacobs mouth fell open.

A faint frown appeared on Mirina’s face.

"So you enjoyed it."

"Yes," Alex answered, smiling slightly. "And if you told me to do it again, I would. Again and again, the same way."

Elaria elbowed him sharply. "Shut up, Alex. Don’t make her think we’re crazy people. Let’s take the fruit and leave."

Jacob’s mouth opened, then closed again. He thought.’Why is he trying to make the guardian spirit angry...?’.

Alex tilted his head. "Why, Ms. Mirina? Did you not like what I said?"

Mirina didn’t answer him.

Instead, she turned to Elaria.

"Don’t you have anything to add, Princess?" she asked.

"I... I..." Elaria began.

"What is it?" Mirina pressed. "Say it."

Elaria stiffened.

"Why did you not choose?"

The words were simple.

Inescapable.

"You possessed a will of your own," Mirina said. "Yet you followed him blindly. Why did you allow another to decide in your place? Are you not supposed to become a ruler in the future? Yet you did not even try to resolve the situation in your own way."

For a moment, Elaria stayed silent.

Not because she had no answer.

But because she refused to lie.

She lowered her gaze.

When she spoke, her voice was steady, though quiet.

"Because I was afraid."

Mirina did not interrupt.

"Not of the situation," Elaria continued.

"Not of the people there."

Her fingers clenched at her sides.

"I was afraid of being wrong."

Her eyes lifted.

"If I chose, and the hero died..."

"If I chose, and the kingdom burned..."

She swallowed.

"Then the sin would be mine alone."

She drew a breath.

"Following Alex meant the burden was shared."

She didn’t try to sugarcoat it.

"That was my weakness."

Mirina remained silent.

Elaria went on.

"But it was also honesty and selfishness of mine. I knew I wasn’t ready to judge a whole world. I knew my mercy would hesitate."

She took another breath.

"And hesitation kills as surely as cruelty."

Her voice shook—just once.

"So I chose not to pretend I was something I am not."

She straightened her back.

"I followed because he could act when I could not. But it also made me realize this is a weakness I have to overcome if I want to be a good ruler for my people—and make this nation better and stronger." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

She bowed her head slightly.

"That’s all. Nothing else. This was my shortcoming, and I’m not afraid to admit it."

Mirina’s lips curved into a small smile.

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