Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character

I paused in front of a bucket filled with water meant for washing herbs. My reflection stared back at me from the still surface. I tilted my head, studying the details that came into view.

"Hmm... wait a minute," I muttered, leaning closer to the water.

Arkan's face—or rather, my new face—wasn't bad at all. Compared to how I looked back on Earth, I was definitely more handsome now. My slightly messy black hair gave off a relaxed vibe, and my sharp gray eyes carried a mysterious charm. The only problem? This body was too skinny, like someone who forgot to eat because they were too busy working.

"If I started hitting the gym in this world... wouldn't it be easy to build an ideal body? If I got muscular, I might even catch the attention of some noblewomen," I mused with a small smirk.

My reflection gazed back at me with newfound confidence. I imagined myself wearing expensive clothes, standing beside a wealthy noble's wife, living a leisurely life without having to lift a single finger. Just picture it: my life as a kept man! No more tending herbal fields, no more listening to Oldan's morning nagging—I'd only need to maintain my appearance and entertain the lady of the house.

"Ah... what a beautiful life that would be," I sighed dreamily, but my fantasy was quickly shattered by a familiar voice.

"Arkan! Are you daydreaming again?! How many times must I tell you not to slack off? If you keep this up, I'll really kick you out of here!" Oldan's voice thundered from inside the shop.

Immediately, I stood straight and waved my hand toward him, trying to calm down the man who was about to explode like a boiling kettle. "Yeah, yeah! I'm working now!"

With a long sigh, I glanced back at the water's reflection. "Well, being handsome isn't enough if you don't have money," I muttered bitterly. For now, it seemed I had to accept my reality as this skinny guy—and postpone my dream of becoming a noblewoman's favorite.

Three days had passed since I arrived in this world. Without realizing it, I'd begun to adapt to the simple routine of Arkan, the humble owner of a small herbal shop. My body worked as usual—arranging shelves, mixing herbs, serving customers—but my mind still struggled to accept the truth: I was trapped in the world of Warrior Destiny.

As I said before, this world had a medieval setting with... questionable morals. I'd read about how brutal this world could be, but seeing it firsthand? It was far stranger and harder to believe.

Take this morning, for example. Outside my shop, a middle-aged woman who could only be described as a "flirtatious auntie" stood in a narrow alley with a young boy. What were they doing? Well, judging by the auntie's expression and the boy's awkward smile, something inappropriate was clearly happening.

I simply stared blankly at them from behind my shop shelves, trying to process the utterly inappropriate sight. "This world is absolutely insane," I thought with a sigh.

But then, like a bolt of lightning, another thought struck me.

That kid… he was so lucky.

DAMN IT! I'M JEALOUS! Jealous to death! How was it possible for that kid to get attention from a flirtatious auntie like that, while I, a handsome (albeit skinny) adult man, could only watch from afar?! Truly, in this world, even children had better lives than I did!

I smacked my forehead, trying to erase the ridiculous thoughts. "Focus, Arkan. You're not your old self anymore. Don't lose your sanity in this morally dubious world!" I muttered under my breath, as if scolding myself.

Still, even though I said that, I had a feeling this was only the beginning. This world was full of chaos, injustice, and… well, opportunity. If I wanted to survive—or even enjoy life—I needed to start thinking more strategically.

And who knows? Maybe one day, I would be the center of attention for those noble aunties.

Looking toward my future plans, I decided to glance back for a moment. Reflecting on my past life might help me figure out what to do in this unfamiliar world.

What had I really achieved on Earth? I was a mechanical engineering graduate from a university that, while not prestigious, was good enough to offer decent career prospects. I was a fresh graduate, just beginning to take my first steps into the working world. Everything was still blank, still at the starting line, but I had unwavering confidence that I could go far.

But life had other plans for me. I hadn't even had the chance to move forward; hadn't built anything worth being proud of. And now I was here, in the world of Warrior Destiny. A world completely unfamiliar to me, with a medieval setting far removed from the technology and science I had relied on before.

So, what should I do now? Live as a small-time herbal shopkeeper, inheriting Oldan's store once he inevitably hands it over to me? Marry some plain village woman, have two or three kids, and then die quietly with no one remembering my name?

No!

In my family, there was a motto that always pushed us forward: "Be the best." My older siblings had already proven it—they had reached the pinnacle, becoming individuals who turned heads and captured the world's attention. I'd always lived in their shadow, trying to chase them, trying to prove that I could achieve something too.

And here, in this world full of challenges and uncertainties, I wouldn't allow myself to simply exist as an extra character. I knew most people would think that being an insignificant side character was a comfortable life—no pressure, no spotlight. But I wasn't most people.

If I had to die in this world, I would die as someone remembered.

I wouldn't settle for an ordinary life.

I wouldn't remain an extra!

With everything I had, I would climb to the top of this world! If I had knowledge of this novel, then that was my advantage. I would carve my own path to greatness, even if I had to fight against a world that had already decided my fate as a side character.

This journey was just beginning.