The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist-Chapter 374: A moments of peace (1)

As Lily’s body started absorbing mana like a sponge, the golden glow around her slowly faded into her skin.

Alex smiled at her. "Now you are also a proper awakened."

Lily felt the mana flooding inside her body—warm currents circling through her veins, gathering in her core, answering her will when she simply thought of moving it. She clenched her fists, opening and closing her hands as tiny threads of mana danced across her fingers. She still couldn’t believe it—that she could now use mana like everyone else.

She ran toward Alex and hugged him tightly, tears spilling from her eyes. "Thanks, Alex. You are the best big brother..."

Seeing them like this, Alyssa smiled gently. "I have some work to do. You guys can talk it out."

She turned and left, giving them space.

Lily continued hugging Alex, refusing to let go.

Alex spoke in a low voice. "You think I’m the best big brother, right...?"

"Yes, you are," Lily said without hesitation.

Alex smiled, hiding his face in her hair for a moment, clinging to that thought. "I also have something else I wanna tell you."

Lily pulled back slightly, breaking the hug so she could see his face. "What is it...?"

Alex sighed. "This best big brother of yours is going to be away on a long mission."

"A mission...?" Lily repeated.

"Yes," Alex said. "A mission. And the thing is... I don’t know how long it’s gonna take to complete it."

"It could take months or years... honestly, I don’t know."

"So while I’m gone... you will have to live with Alyssa, alright? She is our family now."

"And also, don’t give her too much trouble. And just because you can use mana now doesn’t mean you can become a hunter and go on dangerous missions. Also, don’t even—"

Lily suddenly cut him off, yelling, "Will you please just shut up for a second and tell me what the hell is happening!"

"What do you mean you don’t know when you’re coming back?"

"At least try to explain yourself instead of lecturing me on futile things!"

Alex blinked. "What happened to all that ’you’re the best big brother’ moment we were having...?"

"Don’t change the subject," Lily snapped. "Just tell me what happened."

"Nothing happened," Alex said quickly. "You know, it’s just... I have found some clues about where Mother and Father are, and I’m just going to investigate those clues. That’s all."

Lily’s eyes sharpened. "Is that true?"

Alex took a small step back and scratched his cheek. "Of course... it’s the truth. Why would I lie...?"

"Because you have a bad habit of taking a step back and scratching your face when you try to lie," Lily said flatly.

Alex took a huge gulp. ’How is she telling me things that I don’t even know about myself...?’

The system snorted in his mind. [Because you’re an idiot.]

[And also, weren’t you going to tell her the truth?]

’If I tell her the truth, I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me,’ Alex said.

[Coward.]

’Shut up,’ Alex shot back.

Lily’s voice cut through his thoughts. "If you’re telling the truth, then take me with you."

Alex’s mouth twitched. His expression turned serious. "Don’t even think about it. You won’t last a minute where I’m going."

"I knew it," Lily said. "You’re lying to me."

Alex sighed deeply. "Listen, I’m not lying. I’m just... not telling you the full truth. Okay? There’s a difference, I’ll have you know."

He raised his hands before she could snap again. "Also, if I do find Mother and Father’s whereabouts, I promise I will bring them back to you."

"And the reason I’m going is because I really need to... or I would never leave you like this."

"And you’re not alone. There is Alyssa, Alicia, Serena, and the others to keep you company, you know. So you’re not alone at all."

Lily’s voice came out softer. "When are you leaving...?"

"In two days," Alex answered.

He hugged her lightly. "C’mon, don’t get all sad now."

"Remember where we started... when nobody was around us."

"When we were just trying to survive however we could."

"I will never forget that time," Lily said quietly. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

They both sat down on the grass, side by side.

Alex looked up at the sky. "You were the sole reason I kept going and came this far. So don’t you dare think that I will leave you."

"For me, you’re one of the most precious things in the world—something I just can’t live without, okay?"

Lily snorted. "Your level of cringe is increasing day by day, you know."

"Come on, you brat, I was having a moment there," Alex grumbled.

Lily started laughing. "You’re also very important to me, Alex. I don’t need Mom and Dad now. As long as I have you, Alyssa, and everyone else, I’m the happiest person."

"After all, my brother is the strongest person in the world."

Alex almost cried. "My precious child has finally grown up... I am so happy I could die..."

Lily’s face flushed. "Stop that!"

Alex laughed out loud, delighted by her flustered expression.

"You will come back, right?" Lily asked.

"As you said, I’m the strongest," Alex replied. "So don’t worry."

"I will come back. Because everything I hold dear is here."

Lily smiled. "I’ll hold you to that."

Alex smiled too, but stayed silent.

In his mind, he said, ’I don’t have the guts to tell her that she’ll forget me after all... and I thought I was different from our parents...’

The system spoke again. [Don’t you dare compare them to yourself, Host.]

[You are leaving her with everything a child could ask for—money, family, friends.]

[Not like what they did... leaving two children to fend for themselves in a society like this.]

[Someone like you is a million times better than them.]

Alex heard all of this and was stunned for a moment.

Then, suddenly, he started laughing out loud.

Lily looked at him, confused. "Are all those cringy lines messing with your head? Why are you laughing like a maniac?"

Alex looked toward her with a soft grin. "No reason."

Inside his mind, he said, ’Partner, I love you. I know I don’t show it, but without you, I would’ve been dead by now for sure.’

A pause.

[Of course you would be dead—in a ditch somewhere, you cringe bastard. That’s why I always tell you to pray before me after waking up every morning.]

Alex laughed even harder.

Now Lily really started to worry. "Hello? Is someone here? My brother has gone insane!"

In his mind, Alex muttered, ’You really make it hard to love you sometimes, you useless system.’

[As do you, my hopeless and reckless Host.]