[{"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-88":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},1550261,2013,"Chapter 88: Assigned Missions","the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>The mood was light, laughter still lingering in the air from Alden's dramatic sighing, when Seraphina stepped forward. Her voice, usually reserved and elegant, was smooth but casual this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, Draven and I also had our potential assessed while you were out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let that statement linger, like it wasn't a big deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Turns out… we both have Transcendent-rank potential.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex raised his eyebrows, genuinely impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned back against the pillow, smiling—not his usual smirk, not the mischievous grin that usually spelled doom for someone—but a sincere, almost proud smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations. Both of you. That's a big deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphina gave a faint, almost embarrassed smile in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven, however, looked slightly uncomfortable, as if Alex's calm reaction unnerved him more than the news itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Alex's expression changed subtly. The sincerity was still there, but now there was a certain glint in his eyes as he turned toward Draven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like you and I have a lot more to discuss… especially now that you've joined the big leagues.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why does that sound like a threat disguised as small talk…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted uncomfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have a really bad feeling about this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex chuckled to himself. 'You should. I'm going to recruit you one way or another. Whether you like it or not, genius boy.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, almost as if remembering someone important, Alex shifted his gaze toward Ethan, who had been quietly watching the exchange with his usual calm, unreadable look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what about you, Mr. Hero?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room instantly hushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the light hum of the medical monitors seemed to quiet down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan blinked once, slowly, as if debating whether to answer. Then he scratched the back of his head, almost sheepishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well... the crystal started climbing pretty fast. Shot right past Master-rank... then went up to Monarch-rank...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then it just... stopped. And showed question marks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a dry, awkward laugh. \"So... yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlotte groaned loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seriously? Question marks?! That's just—ugh. Of course you got the 'mystery rank' reading. Why even bother comparing with a divine cheat code?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She jabbed a finger toward him dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're the Avatar of the Goddess of Light. Your potential broke the machine. Typical.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan shrugged, his smile tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps you're right. Doesn't really change anything, though. I still have to train like the rest of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alden leaned against the wall, arms crossed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I really envy this bastard. He gets divine buffs, sword arts from ancient kings, and now question marks. What's next? The ability to sneeze and blow up demons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No surprises here', Alex mused, watching Ethan. 'He is the protagonist, after all. The chosen one. The plot magnet. If he wasn't breaking crystals, I'd be worried.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension could have gone on longer, but Seraphina smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speaking of broken things... missions. You should know—while you were unconscious, they started assigning our first official missions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex blinked, turning his attention back to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait. Missions? Already?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat up slightly. \"We've barely been here a month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlotte sighed, throwing her hands in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome to Zenith. Where even sleep deprivation earns you points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flopped onto the nearby chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're not wasting any time. It's all about struggle here. Suffer now, shine later—maybe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be fair,\" Alden added, \"the lower-ranked cadets were actually relieved. These missions give them a shot to earn some C.P. Beats starving or selling notes for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex crossed his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And let me guess... we top-ranked cadets got the short end of the stick?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, we got something alright,\" Alden said with a wry grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"S-Rank missions. For all the top-ten cadets. Congratulations, you're elite cannon fodder now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My team is me, Charlotte, Thalor, and two other cadets from Class 1-B,\" he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphina nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And our team is... me, Ethan, you,\" she pointed to Alex, \"Ava, and... hmm. Right. Lilia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex's expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you just say... Lilia?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphina tilted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. Why? Do you know her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex's smile didn't waver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. i don't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So everything's fine right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. everything's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No, it's not fine. That's a Shadow Serpent operative. A spy in disguise... and she's been assigned to my team?!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphina narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't press the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright. Just making sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She softened. \"You don't need to worry. We're not leaving for the mission immediately. It's in three weeks. That gives you time to fully recover.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. That's more than enough time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Time to prepare… and maybe dig a little deeper into our mysterious teammate.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spent the next half hour talking and teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlotte brought out a ether pad filled with notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are the classes you missed. Don't worry, I recorded all the important ones... and the not-so-important ones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlotte leaned in with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We did consider making a meme folder titled 'Alex's Academic Doom.'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your life will be nothing but studying for the next week,\" Ethan added with a sympathetic smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll start digging my grave now,\" Alex muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too late. We already marked your plot under the 'Burnt-Out Idiots' memorial tree.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, the banter subsided and the group began saying their goodbyes. Draven gave him a firm nod, Charlotte gave him finger guns, Ava left him a lollipop (In case of sugar withdrawal), and Alden warned him not to die again because it was \"way too inconvenient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door hissed shut behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex was alone again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence felt heavier now, like the weight of everything they had said was finally sinking in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Looks like they intentionally didn't ask me about the move I used on Alicia at the end. To not make me uncomfortable.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared up at the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Things are already going off-script. Lilia joining the team wasn't supposed to happen and there's me… and these mission assignments are coming way faster than the game timeline.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile tugged at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Well… nothing ever goes according to the script. Might as well write my own.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let his eyes close for a moment, then opened them slowly, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"System.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1032,"2026-06-06T07:14:57.154Z",1,"novelbin.me","2081e05a3e265c5ba933d1ba5c215218f62d22a3c61de16610e120b0c4d3a452","the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-chapter-89","the-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-chapter-87",418,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-extra-who-shouldn-t-exist-cover.jpg"]