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

The journey to Marquis Arleon's manor had begun in earnest. Sitting in the back of the wagon, I watched the dense forest framing the narrow path, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the trees. The wagon carried the finest goods from my company—high-quality candles, soaps, and fine fabrics, carefully packed as gifts for the Marquis.

Given the risks of the road, I had hired a team of mercenaries to escort me. The world was too dangerous to travel without protection, especially for a two-week journey.

My guards consisted of three individuals:

Garren - A massive man with cropped hair and a prominent scar running across his left cheek. His enormous greatsword strapped to his back matched his imposing figure.

Mila - A young woman with a bow slung over her shoulder and a quiver of arrows at her side. She moved with practiced agility and carried an air of confidence.

Rudolph - A middle-aged man dressed in worn leather, perpetually silent but with keen, watchful eyes. He carried twin daggers that rarely left his grasp.

They weren't exactly warm or conversational, but I didn't hire them for their charm. As long as they could keep me and my cargo safe, I wouldn't complain.

The first day was uneventful. The road leading to the manor was mostly flat and easy to navigate. Garren walked ahead of the wagon, Mila patrolled the flanks, and Rudolph kept a vigilant watch over the goods at the rear.

I spent most of my time inspecting the inventory to ensure everything was accounted for, but my thoughts repeatedly wandered to my destination. What exactly did Marquis Arleon want from me?

By the third day, the terrain grew more treacherous. The road became rockier, and the forest denser. The once lively atmosphere turned unsettlingly quiet, the only sounds being the occasional chirp of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"I don't like this place," Garren said, stopping briefly to survey the surroundings.

"What's wrong?" I asked, peering out from the wagon.

He shrugged but kept his sword hand ready. "Just a feeling. Merchants use this route often, but it's rare to get through without trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" I asked, trying not to sound too alarmed.

"Bandits, wild animals, or worse—monsters," Mila replied from the side, already nocking an arrow to her bow as her sharp eyes scanned the undergrowth.

Despite their vigilance, nothing happened that day. Night fell without incident, and we set up camp near a small river, lighting a campfire for warmth and light.

I sat by the fire, gazing up at the starry sky. For all its dangers, this world possessed a raw, untamed beauty that took my breath away.

"Ever been in a situation like this before?" Mila asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the crackle of the fire. She sat across from me, sharpening one of her arrows.

I offered a faint smile. "No. I grew up in a small town, and this is the first journey I've taken of this scale."

She nodded, her eyes briefly flicking to the flames before returning to me. She didn't say anything more but seemed to be studying me, as though trying to gauge something unseen.

The next morning, trouble found us.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the forest, an ominous thud that sent chills down my spine. It wasn't the cadence of a human or any ordinary animal.

"What's that?" I whispered, peering into the shadows among the trees.

Garren raised his sword instinctively, Mila climbed onto the wagon for a better view, and Rudolph gripped his daggers, his sharp gaze fixed on the source of the noise.

"Stay sharp," Garren warned. "It might be…"

Before he could finish, the creature emerged—a massive ogre, its green skin gleaming as it carried what looked like an uprooted tree as a club.

My blood froze. I had read about these creatures, but seeing one in person was an entirely different experience. Towering over any man, it exuded a terrifying combination of raw strength and mindless rage.

"Stay in the wagon!" Garren roared. "We'll handle this!"

But hiding in the wagon wasn't an option. If I fought the ogre directly, I would die. That much was certain. However, I wasn't completely helpless. My strength wasn't in brute force—it was in strategy and innovation.

Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a weapon of my own design: a crossbow.

A Revolutionary Weapon in This World

The inspiration had come while visiting an armory in the city. Among the swords, bows, and spears, one idea had sparked in my mind—an innovation yet to exist in this world.

I had asked the shopkeeper, "Have you ever heard of a bow that uses a mechanical system to draw the string?"

He had given me a blank look, followed by laughter. "Sounds like something from a wizard's workshop, not a smithy! Never heard of it."

That was all the confirmation I needed: crossbows didn't exist here.

Using knowledge from my past life and guidance from the system, I spent weeks designing a prototype. While rudimentary compared to modern weapons, it was functional and powerful enough for combat.

Back in the present, I loaded a bolt into the crossbow with trembling hands, readying it for the fight.

"What are you doing?!" Mila snapped from atop the wagon, glaring at me in disbelief. "Stay down! This isn't your fight!"

"I'm not just going to sit here and do nothing!" I retorted. "I can help!"

Garren, now face-to-face with the ogre, gave me a brief glance. "If you get yourself killed, don't expect us to save you!"

With that, he charged, slashing at the ogre's leg. The beast roared in fury, swinging its massive club with terrifying force. Garren managed to dodge, his movements surprisingly quick for a man of his size.

I took a deep breath, leveling the crossbow. This wasn't a normal bow—I didn't need to hold the string taut, only steady my aim and pull the trigger.

"Focus, Arkan. Aim true."

I aligned my sights, hesitating only briefly as the system's interface sprang to life, analyzing the ogre.

[Ogre: Priority Target Areas]

Eyes: Blind the ogre to limit its accuracy.

Legs: Immobilize the creature to reduce its mobility.

Chest: High risk but potentially fatal damage.

I decided on its legs. "If it can't move, it'll be easier to finish," I whispered, steadying my breathing.

Thwack!

The bolt flew with deadly precision, embedding itself in the ogre's left knee. The monster roared in agony, its massive frame wavering as the wounded leg struggled to hold its weight.

"Nice shot!" Mila shouted from atop the wagon, following up with an arrow of her own aimed at the same leg.

Garren seized the opening and charged forward, his massive sword crashing down on the ogre's right leg. A sickening spray of dark green blood erupted from the wound, and the creature staggered further, teetering dangerously.

But the fight was far from over. With a guttural growl, the ogre swung its crude tree-branch club in a wild arc, narrowly missing Rudolph, who had tried to flank it from behind.

"It's still too strong!" Rudolph barked, ducking and rolling away to safety.

I quickly reloaded another bolt into my crossbow. This time, I aimed higher. If I could blind the ogre, we might tip the scales in our favor.

"Steady, Arkan…" I whispered to myself, ignoring the tremor in my hands as I lined up the shot.

Thwack!

The bolt struck true, embedding itself in the ogre's right eye. The monster bellowed in raw agony, a sound so fierce it made my ears ring. It stumbled backward, one massive hand clawing at its injured face.

"Now!" Garren yelled, rushing in with a final attack.

Mila unleashed another flurry of arrows, while Rudolph darted in to slice at the ogre's Achilles tendon. We worked in unison, exploiting every weakness until the giant finally collapsed, its massive body slamming into the ground with an earth-shaking thud.

The ogre let out a deep, guttural growl, and then it was still. The forest fell eerily silent.

I stood frozen in place, my breathing heavy and labored. My fingers tightened around the crossbow as I stared at the fallen creature, its grotesque form sprawled across the path. My heart thundered in my chest, the echoes of battle still ringing in my ears.

"Not bad, kid," Garren said, clapping me on the shoulder. His hearty slap jolted me back to reality. "That weapon of yours… never seen anything like it. You'll have to explain how it works one of these days."

I managed a small smile. "Maybe someday."

Mila hopped down from the wagon, a mixture of admiration and disbelief on her face. "You're completely insane," she said, her voice sharp. Then, after a pause, she added, "But I've got to admit… that thing packs a punch."

We all gathered around the ogre's corpse, taking a moment to catch our breaths. The fight had been brutal, but we had prevailed.

I looked down at my crossbow, the wood and iron still faintly warm from use. Relief and pride swirled within me. It was the first time I had wielded the weapon in a real battle—and it had proven its worth.

But there was no room for complacency. If this was the kind of threat we faced now, there was no telling what awaited us further down the road.