[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist":3,"chapter-the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-chapter-43":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1549966,2013,"Chapter 43 : A favour","the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>Alex’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, what the he—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp whoosh of air passed Alex’s cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ow—!\" he flinched as an arrow barely grazed him, tearing a thread of his collar. \"You maniac! You could’ve killed me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, a bat-like monster—barely novice rank—let out a dying screech and crumpled, the arrow having impaled it clean through the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria stepped out from behind a moss-covered boulder, lowering her bow and smirking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now we’re even, human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex turned to her, dumbfounded. \"Even?! Are you joking? I just saved you from an Abyss Dreadmaw—a mid-rank monster that could turn you into elf pudding—and you skewer a flying rat that was a mild inconvenience at best. And that’s even?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe next time I see a Dreadmaw, I’ll let it nibble your ears off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As expected from a brute and by the way i didn’t need your help,\" Elaria sniffed. \"You chose to interfere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex clutched his chest dramatically. \"You wound me, princess. Both literally and emotionally. Your arrow grazed me, by the way. I might need years of therapy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria rolled her eyes. \"That’s for dropping me like a sack of potatoes, you brute.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh come on, I saved your life and I didn’t drop you—I placed you down with minimal bruising!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minimal bruising?\" she scoffed. \"My back still hurts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria folded her arms. \"Next time, maybe cushion my fall with your ego. I saw that it’s thick enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Says the elven princess who thinks she’s doing me a favor by almost killing me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Says the human who thinks he’s charming when he talks like a second-rate theater actor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stood there for a moment, glaring, then simultaneously both of them smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Name’s Alex,\" he said, giving a theatrical bow. \"Alex Dragonheart, future famous figure, current sarcasm enthusiast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria raised a brow. \"Elaria Moonshade Lareth’Thalas, Princess of the Elven empire, wielder of the Moonshade Bow, future Queen, and currently suffering your company.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, Your Royal Elfiness, pleasure’s all mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t call me that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too late. Nickname achieved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked toward the cave’s exit, the teasing banter faded, replaced by silence. The light at the end of the tunnel glowed faintly, a reminder of the world outside. Then Elaria stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Elaria’s tone shifted, serious. Her bow lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Why did you save me, Alex?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. \"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You would’ve benefitted if I was eliminated,\" she said softly, her expression unreadable. \"You had no reason to interfere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex stared at her, mind racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can’t tell her the truth... if she gets eliminated, it screws up the plot. Who knows what ripple effects it’ll cause?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his throat and struck a heroic pose, hands on hips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, my fair lady, I simply couldn’t allow a damsel to fall to the fangs of foul evil!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked. \"...Did you just quote a bad fantasy drama?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Coincidence,\" Alex said with a mock-sparkle in his eye. \"I’m just naturally that chivalrous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. \"You’re a terrible liar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m hurt. Truly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She studied him for a moment longer, then looked away with a sigh. \"...Fine. I’ll let it go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria narrowed her eyes. \"You are dangerously cheesy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And yet, undeniably effective.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She huffed, clearly not convinced. Internally, she was analyzing every move he made. Was he a threat? An ally? Or just a reckless lunatic with a death wish and a silver tongue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, she exhaled. \"You saved me. That means... I owe you one favor. Within reason, of course. That’s all I can do for a human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex smirked inwardly. Bingo. He carefully controlled his expression so she wouldn’t notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For an arrogant elven princess, you’re pretty generous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That did it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you just call me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You heard me, your Elviness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, you insufferable—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the bickering could escalate into arrows and fists, a booming voice echoed from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"[Announcement: Only 10,000 candidates remain in the Zenith Entrance Exam.]\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria blinked. \"That many already down?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at Alex, then smirked. \"You know... I could take advantage of your ’injury’ and eliminate you now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? That how you treat your saviors?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As I said, I’m generous. I’m letting you off this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex chuckled. \"You’re welcome to try.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air around him shifted slightly, the atmosphere growing heavy for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria’s eyes narrowed—but then it faded, like a mirage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Tch. Showoff.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned to walk away in opposite directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t get yourself eliminated, human,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You too, your Elviness,\" Alex quipped with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could hurl a well-aimed insult, he activated [Shadow Step] and vanished into the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elaria crossed her arms and muttered, \"I hate that guy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’ But he was strong undeniably so maybe he’s worth keeping an eye on just like the others.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that she glanced down at her EVOband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranking: 14\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Points: 4220\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I have to do better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finally descending the cursed Northern Cliffs, Alex stood on the forest edge, glaring up at the jagged rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hate those cliffs. I swear they tried to kill me more than the monsters did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sigh, he tapped his EVOband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranking: 4\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Points: 5800\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nice. Top five. Still got it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out a low-rank healing potion and chugged it. The bitter taste reminded him of old cough syrup. \"Blegh. Still gross.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wounds slowly began to close, the dull ache fading. Sitting beneath a mossy tree, he took a moment to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I could just nap for an hour... no monsters, no elves, no death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breeze blew past, but the air didn’t feel right. It was too cold. Too still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His senses flared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the shadows of the trees, figures began to emerge—subtle at first, then all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least seven cloaked silhouettes. None of them made a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex didn’t move. Not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, well...\" he muttered, cracking his knuckles. \"Looks like the bloodsuckers are finally making their move.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figures remained silent, the air heavy with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex stood slowly, reaching for his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he heard the sounds of the footsteps approaching him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1019,"2026-06-06T07:14:56.876Z",1,"novelbin.me","845e89c50163087aa279076ef3b74a12bf09d74facffdc146d9708e33eef4c1b","the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-chapter-44","the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-chapter-42",418,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-cover.jpg"]