Reborn as an Extra with the SSS-Divine Debt System and my Past Skills

The group made their way back to the village, the night wind brushing against their faces as silence hung between them.

The unconscious body of Verus was slung carefully across Berry's broad back, and his heavy steps carried them toward the heart of Dawn Village.

Lucian walked ahead, his expression calm as ever, though his thoughts were racing. Once they reached the gates, the guards parted quickly, bowing respectfully before closing the way behind them.

Wordlessly, Lucian gestured toward his residence.

"Berry, take him to my house for now. We'll keep him there until I decide what to do."

Lucian said, his tone firm.Berry nodded but hesitated slightly.

"Are you sure? Someone like this… it feels like inviting trouble into our home."

Lucian's eyes didn't waver.

"I'm certain. Just carry him. I'll handle the rest."

Turning his head, he looked at Luna.

"You follow them. I'll need your help soon."

Luna's face lit up with a rare brightness. She nodded quickly, casting a sidelong glance at Mira. That superior smile tugged at her lips, sharp as a blade.

Mira noticed. Her chest tightened and jealousy surged.

"Lucian, what about me? What can I do to help?"

She spoke up, her voice holding a faint edge.

Lucian's gaze softened for a moment, but his words were unyielding.

"For now, there's nothing you can do. I'll let you know once I need something from you."

The words landed like a hammer. Mira lowered her gaze, the disappointment plain across her face, far clearer than before.

She wanted to argue, but in front of everyone, she couldn't. Instead, she bit her lip and took a step back.

Lucian pretended not to notice. He turned away, though the weight of her expression still pressed faintly on his chest.

Berry glanced between them, sighing. Once Mira had slipped out of earshot, he leaned closer.

"You should go easier on her. She likes you, Lucian. You can't just ignore her feelings like that."

He said quietly.

Lucian gave him a small, tired smile.

"I know. I like Mira as well… but I'm not sure if I could ever love her. And if that's the case, it's better nothing starts to begin with. Better she never has to feel that pain."

Berry shook his head, unconvinced.

"Maybe you're just overthinking it. Maybe she doesn't need certainty right now, just a chance. Give her that much, at least. Don't decide for her."

Lucian's lips parted, as though to answer—but before he could, the sharp sound of a door swinging open cut through the air like thunder.

Bang!

Both men turned their heads. Luna stood in the doorway, her hand still on the handle. Her face was blank, her eyes unreadable. Yet the silence that followed was heavier than steel.

Berry froze, a chill crawling up his spine. He had the unsettling feeling that he had just said something he absolutely shouldn't have.

"Bring him inside. We need to check him over and see if anything is wrong."

Luna said flatly, her voice carrying no emotion.

Her tone left no room for argument.

Berry blinked, then quickly adjusted Verus's weight and stepped past her into the house. The tension in the air was suffocating, but he couldn't place what exactly had set her off.

He swallowed the questions rising in his throat and obeyed.

Luna turned away without another word, heading toward the kitchen. Her footsteps were sharp, deliberate, almost as if she was putting distance between herself and them.

Berry frowned as he set Verus down on a bedroll in one of the inner rooms. Once the boy was settled, he leaned closer to Lucian and whispered.

"Why did she react like that? I didn't say anything that bad, did I?"

Lucian crossed his arms and watched Luna's retreating figure.

"Maybe because you were joking about Mira. Perhaps she doesn't like hearing it."

He said evenly.

Berry blinked.

"That doesn't make sense. She and Mira are always butting heads. It's not like she's defending her."

Lucian shrugged lightly.

"Maybe it's because she likes Mira in a romantic way. That would explain her behavior."

Berry almost choked.

"What? No way. With the tension between them? Impossible. It's more likely that she likes the same person Mira does, but is trying to be more subtle…"

He shook his head firmly.

His words trailed off as realization struck him like a hammer. His eyes widened, his jaw dropping slightly as he pieced it together.

"…Oh gods. It's not…How did i never…fuck…"

He muttered.

Lucian raised an eyebrow but didn't deny it.

Berry rubbed his face, groaning.

"I'm such an idiot. Of course. She likes you, doesn't she? All this time, and I didn't notice… I'm the dumbest man alive."

Lucian didn't answer, but the faintest sigh escaped him.

The air in the room grew heavy once more as the three threads of emotion—Mira's quiet disappointment, Luna's silent jealousy, and Lucian's calm refusal to acknowledge either—wove themselves into a knot that none of them wanted to untangle.

Berry shook his head again and muttered under his breath.

"I've really stepped into it this time…"

Lucian did not reply at first, but then he gave Berry a look.

"It's fine. It was not really clear on Luna's side. Besides, I do think that this feeling Luna has for me is temporary. I did save her life, and there has been no one close to her after that. She may be projecting these feelings onto me because of that."

'And even if she's not, I don't want her to be in love with me. For the sake of repaying my debt, I need her to form a relationship with the hero. Otherwise, there are too many important scenes that won't take place.'

It felt too much like meddling on Lucian's part, but he no longer cared about any of it. He had long sold his soul and even manipulated these people to follow him anyway.

For the sake of clearing his debt and gaining his freedom, Lucian was willing to do anything.

'Does that make me worse than even a devil? I wonder who I am turning to and who I will become once the debt is no longer there.'