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

After days of sweating, exhaustion, and multiple near-explosions in the herbal shop, I finally did it. In front of me lay a bar of high-quality soap with a smooth texture, a natural bright color from the herbal oil, and a faint, refreshing fragrance. It sat gracefully atop the wooden table.

I stared at it, eyes glistening with emotion, almost unable to believe what I was seeing. My hands trembled as I picked up one of the soap bars and held it close to my nose. The scent was subtle, not overpowering, but it gave off a clean and crisp impression. This is it! This is exactly what I wanted!

"I DID IT!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, nearly jumping for joy in the cramped room.

I was utterly overwhelmed. This feeling… it was like escaping the wrath of a killer professor back in college, walking out with a grade better than I ever expected! I remembered how close I was to giving up while working on my final thesis, constantly battered by revisions that made my head spin, but the moment I graduated and saw the result… damn, it felt incredible.

And now, in this world, this soap—made from oil, wood ash, and a little herbal infusion—had become a symbol of my success. A product that didn't yet exist in this medieval society.

I clutched the bar of soap to my chest like the most precious treasure in the world. "I did it… I really did it!"

The system, which had remained silent throughout the process, finally chimed in with its signature irritating tone:

[Achievement Unlocked!]

[Congratulations, you have successfully created your first innovative product: ARKAN'S HERBAL SOAP!]

[Reward Points: +10]

I grinned widely. Even this rude system finally acknowledged me. I didn't care if its next comment would be another insult.

"Arkan's Herbal Soap, huh?" I mumbled, gazing proudly at my creation. "That's a good name. Someday, my name will be remembered across this entire world!"

Just as I was basking in my moment of victory, Old Man Oldan's gruff voice rang out from the back door. "Arkan! What are you yelling about in there?! Don't tell me you set something on fire again?!"

I shot up to my feet, quickly hiding the soap behind my back like a child caught red-handed in mischief. "N-nothing! Nothing's on fire, Old Man! Everything's perfectly fine!"

He appeared in the doorway, staring at me with narrowed, suspicious eyes. "Hmm… then why are you crying while hugging… a rock?"

"This isn't a rock!" I snapped, holding the soap up in front of him with pride. "Look, Old Man! This is soap! Something that's going to change the world!"

Oldan stared at the soap for a long moment, then looked back at me. His face clearly screamed: This kid's beyond saving.

"Soap? What's it for?" he asked flatly.

I smiled victoriously. "For bathing, Old Man. This thing will make you clean, smell fresh, and feel human."

He snorted skeptically, but I knew—this was only the beginning. I had created something that didn't exist in this world, and this herbal soap would be my first step toward reaching the pinnacle I'd dreamed of.

I looked at Old Man Oldan with enthusiasm, while he stared at my handmade soap with a look of pure skepticism—like I had just handed him rat poison.

"You want me to… what?" he asked, eyebrows furrowing deeply.

"Try the soap, Old Man!" I replied eagerly. "It's for bathing! You just need to clean yourself with water, then scrub this soap all over. I guarantee it'll make you clean and fresh!"

Oldan stared at me like I'd just spoken an ancient incantation no human could comprehend. "Bathing? Kid, do you think I'm some noble who has time to play with water?"

I resisted the urge to groan. Of course, he'd say that. In this world, bathing was a luxury reserved for nobles or wealthy individuals with access to clean water and private facilities. Even then, it wasn't something they did frequently—maybe once a week or even just once a month. As for common folk? Living in dirt, sweat, and grime was just part of normal life.

I crossed my arms firmly. "Listen, Old Man. I don't care how proud you are of your 'natural scent,' but just try this once. Just once. If you don't like it, I'll stop bothering you."

He stared at me sharply, seemingly assessing whether or not I was insane. After several seconds, he let out a long sigh and grabbed the soap from my hand gruffly. "Fine, fine! I'll try this weird thing. But if my skin gets itchy or I get sick, you're taking the blame!"

"Relax, I guarantee you'll feel ten years younger!" I replied confidently with a grin.

A few moments later, the sound of splashing water echoed from the back of the shop, where there was a simple water basin used for daily needs. I peeked from behind the door, barely holding back laughter as I watched Old Man Oldan standing reluctantly beside the basin. His face looked like someone undergoing a sacred ritual to abandon his honor as a "true man."

"Damn kid…" he grumbled, pouring the cold water over himself. He shivered slightly but kept going.

I watched as he picked up my soap and rubbed it onto his hands. A moment later, soft white foam appeared, something he had probably never seen before. A look of pure surprise crossed his face.

"This… it foams?" he muttered in disbelief.

"Of course! Now scrub it all over your body, Old Man!" I called out from behind the door, unable to contain my excitement.

Reluctantly, he complied. Slowly, he began lathering the soap onto his arms, chest, and face. The foam grew thicker, and from a distance, I could see specks of dirt washing away. The fresh, herbal fragrance began to spread through the air.

Minutes passed, and finally, Oldan finished his bathing ritual. He wiped his face with a ragged towel and stood still, as if he'd just experienced some kind of life-altering revelation.

I stepped closer with a triumphant smile. "So? How does it feel, Old Man?"

He looked at me with wide eyes, clearly amazed. "My body… feels clean?"

"Of course! I told you, this soap will change your life!" I declared proudly.

He inspected his hands, now free of grime and dirt. His skin looked cleaner—maybe even a little healthier—and I was pretty sure he smelled fresher, too. "I… feel lighter. More comfortable. Like… I'm younger again?"

I chuckled. "What did I say? This is a revolution, Old Man!"

Before I could savor any more praise, he snorted loudly and returned to his gruff demeanor. "Tch! Don't get cocky, kid! Just because this thing is useful doesn't mean I'm going to praise you." But I caught the faint, secret smile on his face that he couldn't completely hide. Deep down, he was impressed.

"So, you're going to keep using it, right?" I asked, trying to hold back my grin.

He grumbled as he turned to leave. "We'll see…"

I stood there, staring at the soap in my hand with immense pride, as though this little bar was a treasure I had just unearthed. Yet, I wasn't satisfied with stopping here. My grand plan was still in its infancy, and I knew exactly where I wanted to go.

Old Man Oldan, who had already begun to walk away, stopped at the doorway and turned to me, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. "You plan on selling that thing, don't you? To the nobles?" he asked skeptically, like he'd just read my mind.

I chuckled softly, leaning against the wooden table still cluttered with soap-making leftovers. "No. Since when were they the only ones allowed to buy this?"

He stared at me sharply, as if I'd just said something utterly foolish. "Are you dreaming, Arkan? Nobles are the only ones with the money to buy expensive things like that. Common folks don't even know what 'soap' is, let alone why they'd need it."

I smirked, as though he'd just told me a joke. "This soap isn't expensive—at least, not yet. Don't misunderstand, Old Man. I'm not going to settle for a small profit by selling to a handful of lazy nobles who can't be bothered to bathe. If I want to get rich, I'll start a business—one that reaches everyone."

"Business?" He looked at me with a mixture of confusion and irritation. "There you go again, talking big! How do you plan to sell something no commoner even knows exists? They won't care!"

I stepped forward, the smile on my face widening. "You're wrong, Old Man. All I need is a little promotion. You know as well as I do that people don't care about something until they understand how it benefits them." I pointed to my chest confidently. "My job is to make them understand. This soap isn't just about cleanliness; it's about comfort, health, and… who knows, maybe it'll even help them attract their partners."

Oldan narrowed his eyes, suspicious. "You're starting to sound like one of those market hucksters, kid."

"A smart market huckster!" I shot back quickly. Turning to the rack where I'd arranged the finished soap bars, I inspected them with pride. The shapes might still be simple, but this was just the beginning. In my mind, I envisioned a future where my soap would be sought after by everyone—from village farmers to royal nobles.

I picked up one of the bars, holding it high in the air as though showcasing a masterpiece. "Old Man, the world doesn't yet know what it needs. They have no idea how much better their lives could be—and I'm going to be the first to show them the solution!"

Old Man Oldan stared at me for a long time before clicking his tongue in annoyance and turning away. "Hah… you're a strange one, Arkan. But if you can sell that thing to the villagers, maybe you're not as lazy as I thought."

I laughed softly, carefully setting the soap back on the rack. "Don't worry, Old Man! Starting today, I'm not just an ordinary herbal shopkeeper. I'm a visionary young entrepreneur!"

Though he didn't reply, I could still feel my newfound excitement filling the room. The world might not know me now, but this herbal soap would be my first step toward greatness.

I looked out at the clear blue sky through the small window of my shop. "Alright… Let's see just how far I can go."