The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist-Chapter 372 : Fixing Broken Relationships (1)
After exiting from the room, Alex stepped out into the corridor.
A calm voice came from the side. "Do you finally have the time to talk now?"
Alex turned toward the source and smiled. "For beauties like you, I always do."
He added after a beat, "Even if you’re old as hell."
Alyssa Vega was standing in front of him.
A mother figure to Alex, she carried a mature, graceful beauty. Her long dark hair, swas tied into a loose ponytail that fell over one shoulder.
She wore simple casual clothes—a cream blouse tucked into dark trousers, a light cardigan draped over her shoulders, boots laced neatly. No jewelry, no makeup—just quiet elegance.
But her expression was deadly serious.
As if she was here to commit a murder.
"Can we talk outside," she said flatly.
Alex’s breath hitched. He could only nod, unable to deny her.
They walked out of the royal elven palace and into the garden. Moonlight and lights lit the stone paths, flowers rustling softly in the night breeze.
Alyssa’s eye twitched. In a low voice she said, "Brat, do you know how many times I called you?"
Alex opened his mouth, but she suddenly cut him off. "One hundred and seven calls. That’s the number of times I called you."
"And I’m not even counting the times Lily also tried to contact you."
Sadness filled Alyssa’s face. "I understand if you do not consider me anyone to you... and don’t want to talk."
"But don’t forget you still have a sister who cries at night because her brother refuses to meet her. Who sometimes disappears without a word... and she doesn’t even know if he’s dead or alive."
She turned away, beginning to leave. "Maybe you never considered me your family, so I understand your behavior. But at least talk to her now."
As she walked away, Alex just stood there, speechless.
He couldn’t find words to say to her.
Everything she had said was the absolute truth.
Suddenly, the system spoke in his mind.
[Host, please stop being a coward now and talk to her. She has already lost her daughter, and you also know we were one of the reasons for her death.]
[Now she has nothing to live for except you and Lily. So man up now, or you will regret it for the rest of your life. If something went wrong and we were never able to bring your memories back and died out there... this regret will be too hard to bear.]
As Alex heard those words, his body moved instinctively.
He ran toward Alyssa and, in a blink, appeared in front of her.
What he saw broke his heart.
Her face was full of tears she had been trying to hold back. She kept wiping them away quickly, as if refusing to let herself fully break down, but they kept coming. When she saw Alex appear before her, she froze.
In a low voice that only reached her, Alex said, "I will bring her back no matter what—even if it’s the last thing I do."
Alyssa stared. "What are you talking about?"
"I’m going to bring Selena back."
A harsh shudder ran through Alyssa. "What the hell are you mumbling about... She’s already dead. Just accept it and move on. Don’t try to make promises that you can’t keep."
Alex took a breath. "You wanted to talk to me, right? Wanted to know why I was avoiding you all."
"The reason is none other than myself."
He suddenly yelled, voice cracking. "I was one of the reasons she died that day!"
"I was the one responsible for taking her away from you—your sole family!"
"Stop blaming yourse—" Alyssa began.
"I tried!" Alex shouted over her. "I really tried! Everyone just keeps repeating the same words—’Don’t blame yourself.’"
"But it’s not that easy, you see!"
"How could I meet your eyes... talk to you properly... when I know you lost your everything because of me?"
"How can you expect me to act normal, laugh with you guys, make jokes...?"
Tears started to stream down his face.
"But I just can’t. You can say that I’m a coward all you want—and I know I am one too."
"I avoid you guys because I’m afraid the same thing will repeat itself."
"Not for myself—because I know that if something like that happens again, I will lose myself. And if that happens... I don’t know what I’m going to do."
He clenched his fists.
"But just know this—after Lily, you and Selena were the only real family I ever had. So please don’t say that I don’t care."
"It actually hurts more than any scar or injury."
"Please don’t say it."
"I’m also afraid of losing my loved ones, you know. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to keep you both safe too."
Alyssa stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
Alex returned the hug, arms trembling.
"You guys are also all I have left now, you know," Alyssa whispered.
"I know," Alex replied. "So I’ll just say this once, so listen carefully—thank you for everything."
"Mother."
Alyssa froze.
She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Tears wouldn’t stop streaming down her cheeks.
She broke the hug slightly, holding him by the shoulders. "Did you... did you just... call me mother?"
Alex smiled. "Maybe I did, maybe I did not. Who kno—"
Before he could finish, a slap landed across his cheek.
He winced. "That hurt..."
"Repeat it one more time," Alyssa said, eyes narrowed.
"I will... n—" Alex started.
Alyssa raised her hand again.
"Alright, alright!" Alex yelped.
He leaned forward, kissed her cheek lightly, and said, "I’m really grateful to have you in my life, Mother."
A big smile bloomed on Alyssa’s face, and a strange warmth spread across her chest, filling the empty spaces that grief had left behind.
"I forgive you... you snot‑nosed brat," she said.
Alex grinned. "Thanks."
For a few minutes, they talked about trivial things. Alex told her everything he had been doing all this time—his adventures, the ridiculous situations, the battles, the people he met.
Alyssa listened carefully, occasionally scolding him, occasionally laughing with him.
Finally, she looked at him seriously. "Also... forget about bringing Selena back. I’m sure she would just want you to live your life happily instead of putting yourself in danger."
Alex shook his head. "That’s the thing—I don’t care what she wants. I only care what I want, and I want to bring her back."
"That’s it. End of story."
Alyssa sighed. "Whatever am I going to do with you."
Suddenly Alex said, "I also have something to talk to you about."
"What is it?" Alyssa asked. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
"I’m going on a long mission soon. I don’t know how long it will take this time..."
"But I promise you all that I will return safe and sound."
"So until then, can you please take care of Lily and yourself?"
He added quickly, "And please don’t ask where I’m going to go."
Alyssa opened her mouth, clearly about to ask exactly that—
Then she stopped.
She took a slow breath. "Alright. I won’t ask anything. Just make sure you come back safe and sound."
"I will," Alex said.
Right then, a flying kick came from the side and landed straight on his head.
He rolled over again and again on the grass.
"Why does everyone keep hitting me today..." he muttered.
A silver‑haired girl was standing in front of him, arms crossed.
Alex smiled up at her. "Is that any way to treat your big brother, huh, brat?"
