Chapter 2

⚔ IT'S GOOD TO BE AN EXTRA ⚔

Chapter 2 — The Gift

After the light disappeared, I felt like my entire body was being pulled by an incredible force.

It felt as if I was being dragged somewhere.

Then—

My feet touched the ground.

I immediately started opening my eyes.

Because of the blinding light from before, my vision was still blurry. I rubbed my eyes and blinked several times.

Finally, I could see.

“…?”

I looked around.

We were inside a huge circular dome-like structure.

And all of my classmates were here.

“...”

“What happened? Where are we?”

“Ahhh!”

“Woooow!”

“This isn't our classroom anymore! What is this place?”

The students became noisy.

Some looked shocked.

Others were amazed.

And some were clearly scared.

I slowly observed our surroundings.

The place looked both medieval and futuristic at the same time.

It was like something straight out of a fantasy movie.

At least, that was the only way I could describe it.

…

“Welcome, everyone, to Galixus.”

“!”

“!”

Everyone immediately became startled by the sudden voice.

A beautiful woman was standing on a raised platform in front of us.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties.

She had curly, golden hair that reached her chest and wore what looked like a futuristic instructor's uniform.

Several people were standing behind her.

Her voice was strong, yet strangely calming.

“I know most of you are shocked, puzzled, and have many questions.”

The students slowly became quiet.

“Hmm... some of you might even be scared.”

She paused.

“To tell you the truth, we are not aliens who abducted you so we could perform experiments on you.”

Some students looked relieved.

“The students standing before me were chosen to attend the Academy of Galixus.”

“…”

It seemed that everyone had calmed down a little.

They were still worried, but at least they were listening.

“If you are still worried about what will happen to your life, your family, or your home world, don't worry.”

She smiled slightly.

“Your parents have already been informed. Some of them may already know that you will be attending this academy.”

That settled my worries for now.

At least my family knew I was here.

“To begin the introduction to this place...”

She looked around at all of us.

“You are now in a world called Lendel.”

“Hmmm…”

That name sounded familiar.

Lendel.

It was the same name I had read in that article back in our classroom.

“….”

“You are now in a world where magic, powers, and abilities exist. We call these abilities Gifts.”

She continued.

“And we, here at Galixus, will help you adapt to this world. We will teach you about Lendel and help you hone your abilities.”

The students listened carefully.

“All of you came from a world where these things do not exist.”

She paused.

“And so, to allow you to possess these Gifts, we will give each of you a fruit that you must eat.”

“….”

She looked at every student inside the dome.

I noticed that her gaze lingered longer on some individuals.

Eren.

Anna.

Elaine.

Yoona.

And Kevin.

Hmm...

“The rest of you are expected to enroll in Galixus as well.”

“Many of the students present here may already have connections to Lendel through their bloodlines and generations of ancestors who have lived here for a very long time.”

“Some of your ancestors were famous heroes and powerful Gift users.”

“Some came from the most influential families in Lendel.”

“And some of the students here...”

She smiled.

“I am already familiar with.”

“…”

“Others, I may not know yet.”

“Perhaps you were caught up in the transportation because you were close to one of the known students.”

She spread her arms.

“But rejoice.”

“You were chosen for a reason.”

“Perhaps you will make a name for yourselves, continue your family's legacy, or even make history here in Lendel.”

“….”

I'm sure I'm one of those students.

I didn't really have any famous ancestors.

At least, not that I knew of.

The woman then held up a strange fruit.

“This is called the Arcane Fruit.”

She raised it slightly.

“It comes from the Tree of Giving Gifts, known as the Tree of Acadia.”

“This fruit is the root of all magic and abilities that have existed in this world.”

“We at Galixus possess one of these trees and safeguard it.”

“We are responsible for passing its Gifts from generation to generation and educating those who receive them.”

“….”

The people standing behind the woman began walking down from the stage.

Each of them carried a bag filled with Arcane Fruits.

They started handing one fruit to every student.

As I received mine, I couldn't help but think about everything that was happening.

This is getting exciting.

I couldn't believe it.

To think that I'm actually in a fantasy world...

The random article I read was actually telling the truth.

Lendel really exists.

I never expected my dream of witnessing and experiencing something like a webnovel to actually happen.

A shiver ran through my body.

As expected, the main group is probably Eren, Anna, Elaine, Yoona, and Kevin.

I looked at the fruit in my hand.

It had a round, almost flame-like shape, with a mixture of red and blue colors.

It says that eating this will allow us to obtain a Gift.

I didn't really expect anything grand.

If I received a Gift, I just wanted something that would allow me to stay on the sidelines.

Something that would let me support them from the shadows.

I wanted to watch their story develop.

Watch them fight.

Watch them grow.

Just like reading a webnovel...

Except this time, I would be watching it happen right in front of me.

“Hehehe.”

I couldn't help smiling.

I probably looked like some shady person planning something in the background.

The other students began eating their fruits.

Some were hesitant.

Others immediately took a bite.

Eventually, everyone ate theirs.

A few minutes passed.

Then—

Shing.

Shing.

Shing.

Several students suddenly began glowing.

Then I heard a strange voice.

◇ Successfully acquired a Gift.

…

◇ Installing Creator Privilege to the individual...

…

◇ Analyzing individual...

…

Welcome, Emi Crowley, to Lendel.

“...”

Several holographic words appeared in front of me.

Before I could fully understand what was happening, the woman on the stage spoke again.

“Okay, everyone.”

She smiled.

“Let me introduce myself.”

“I am Chloe Vermilion.”

…

That name is kind of cute.

Chloe... pfft.

Cute name, fierce personality.

Some students began mumbling among themselves.

Then—

THUD!

She stomped her foot against the stage.

Her expression became annoyed.

I think she actually heard them.

“…”

“…”

A cold wave suddenly spread through the dome.

Chloe looked at the students with a terrifyingly cold expression.

Everyone immediately became quiet.

“Each of you here...”

Her voice became sharp.

“...is now under me.”

“…!!!”

The statement sent shivers through everyone.

“And that means all of you are my students.”

“I will be your instructor for the rest of your school year here at Galixus.”

“So...”

“We will be seeing each other very often.”

“…”

Uggggh.

Several students nervously swallowed.

The cold atmosphere was intimidating.

But just like that, Chloe stopped releasing her aura and returned to her calmer attitude.

“Well...”

“Lendel is actually the world of the Creator.”

“And because of that, the people who live here are able to possess some of the Creator's powers.”

“Which is what you call the System.”

“You can say...”

“System Status.”

The students looked at one another.

“System Status.”

“System Status.”

One by one, the students began saying it.

I decided to try it as well.

“System Status.”

…

◇ Processing...

A holographic screen appeared in front of me.

…

STATUS

Name: Emi Crowley

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Height: 5'7

Gift: Potion Master

Abilities: ◇ The system is still processing...

Variable Stats

Strength: 1.00

Dexterity: 1.00

Vitality: 1.00

Stamina: 1.00

Magic Power: 1.50

Intelligence: 2.13

Luck: 5.60

Gift Traits: ◇ The system is still processing...

…

“Huh?”

“Is this it?”

Chloe looked at the students.

“As you can see, a screen should now be in front of you.”

“You can interact with it by touching it, just like you're using your phone.”

Okay.

I touched the screen.

Tap.

Another window appeared.

Gift: Potion Master

◇ Gift Rank: E

You are the first individual to possess such a Gift.

Information still processing...

“….”

I stared at the screen.

“So, each one of you now knows what Gift you received.”

“Acquiring a Gift may be influenced by your bloodline, ancestors, or even your inner desires.”

She paused.

“I didn't explain this before you ate the fruit because I didn't want some of you to acquire ridiculous or dangerous types of Gifts without understanding the consequences.”

WHAT THE—?!

My eyes widened.

My Gift is Potion Master...

And it's Rank E.

I don't think it came from my bloodline or ancestors.

The system literally says I'm the first person to possess it.

That means it came from my inner desires.

I thought about it.

I did strongly desire a support-type Gift.

Something that would allow me to help the main group while staying on the sidelines.

Maybe that's why I received Potion Master.

Still...

If I could choose a support-type Gift, I would've preferred something like an ability enhancer or Gift enhancer.

I sighed.

Well...

There was nothing I could do about it.

Chloe continued.

“If you are somehow dissatisfied with your Gift, you might think about eating another Arcane Fruit to change it or obtain another Gift.”

She suddenly became serious.

“Don't.”

“Eating more than one Arcane Fruit will kill you.”

The students became silent.

“I can't even properly describe what happens to someone who does it.”

“But I can tell you this...”

“It is not a pleasant way to die.”

“Some famous Gift users have already died because of their greed for more power.”

“…”

Well...

Potion Master.

I looked at my status again.

I think it's the right Gift for an extra.

Let's just think positively.

How bad can it be?

Chloe clapped her hands.

“Okay.”

“I know all of you are exhausted.”

“We will guide you to your respective dormitories.”

“You will have one week before the school year officially begins.”

“Use these days to adapt to Lendel.”

“You are free to explore inside Galixus.”

“But we cannot guarantee your safety if you leave the academy and venture outside.”

“Food will not be a problem.”

“You can visit our cafeteria and eat whatever you want.”

The students seemed relieved.

“There is also a function in the System called Full Synchronization.”

“It will insert basic information and history about the world of Lendel into your mind.”

“The System may also answer some of your questions.”

“It will also synchronize information about your bloodline, allowing you to better understand your Gift.”

“That should make adapting here much easier.”

Before we could leave, Chloe raised her hand.

“But before we bring you to your dormitories...”

“Each one of you will come up on the stage and place your hand on this white pole.”

She pointed toward a white pole about waist-height.

At the top was a flat surface with a square-shaped scanner.

“It will scan your status and register you as cadets of Galixus.”

“….”

The students began walking onto the stage one by one.

As I watched, I noticed something.

The people standing on the stage weren't the only ones observing us.

Through the windows, I could slightly see people inside the surrounding buildings.

They were watching us too.

Ding!

A student placed her hand on the pole.

Immediately, a large holographic screen appeared above the stage.

Everyone inside the dome could see it.

The student's status appeared on the screen.

However, her abilities and Gift Traits weren't displayed.

Those were considered private information.

Of course, a person could choose to reveal them if they wanted.

I continued watching.

Status

Name: Lina Fret

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Gift: Mage

◇ Rank: D

Potential: Can grow up to Rank A

Variable Stats

Strength: 1.12

Dexterity: 1.25

Vitality: 1.20

Stamina: 1.45

Intelligence: 2.12

Magic Power: 2.45

Luck: 2.16

◇ Cadet Rank: E

…

“Hmm...”

Chloe nodded.

“Not bad.”

“Ohhh!”

The students became amazed.

The pole continued scanning each student.

It determined their Gift Rank, their potential growth, and their overall Cadet Rank within Galixus.

As I watched, I saw students receiving different Gifts.

Mage.

Swordsman.

Archer.

Rogue.

And many others.

Everyone was amazed by how everything was developing.

But something caught my attention.

The people standing on the stage weren't showing much excitement.

Neither were the people watching from the surrounding buildings.

They simply observed.

Quietly.

Almost as if they were waiting for someone.

Unlike Chloe, who seemed genuinely interested in every student, they didn't praise or react much at all.

I think I know who they're waiting for.

Then—

Elaine stepped onto the stage.

She approached the white pole.

She slowly placed her hand on the scanner.

And—

Ding.

…