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

The night's chaos slowly faded into the hush of dawn. Ash and smoke lingered in the air, but the shouting had quieted.

The Lumious settlement stood battered, yet strangely lighter, as though the chains weighing on everyone's shoulders had finally snapped.

When the torches dimmed and the soldiers reassembled, Lucian stepped out to meet them.

His companions stood at his back, though he allowed them to remain in the background. This moment wasn't his to take.

The secretary—no longer trembling, no longer shrinking into the corners—stood before the gathered men.

His voice carried a rough edge of inexperience, but the soldiers listened. They weren't just obeying; they were hoping.

When Lucian appeared, all heads turned. The new leader dipped into a deep bow, surprising even himself.

"Lord Lucian, I must apologize. You came here expecting to trade, and instead, you saw the ugliest parts of us. The failures of our leadership… of me, too."

He said, his voice raw but steady.

Lucian regarded him quietly. There was no mockery in his eyes, only patience.

"I will do better. And I would like to continue the partnership General Ryan signed with you. Our people… they still need food, and I cannot let them starve."

The secretary pressed, biting his lip.

For a long moment, Lucian said nothing. The soldiers shifted nervously, uncertain of what their fate would be if he refused.

Then, with a faint curve of his lips, Lucian answered.

"Fine. I'll agree to those terms. But once you've stabilized things here, we'll renegotiate properly. I don't deal in scraps and desperation."

Relief washed over the man's face. He bowed again, murmuring his thanks.

The soldiers straightened into their new formation. None dared cheer—they were still wary, still unsure what freedom even meant—but the atmosphere was different.

They no longer looked at the ground.

Lucian turned away.

"Rest. We leave at first light."

He said to his companions.

The next morning, dawn spilled across the battered settlement, bathing broken walls in gold. Lucian and his group departed quietly, without ceremony.

The new leader had been too busy to come see them off, but Lucian didn't mind. The man had a mountain to climb.

They traveled in silence for a time, boots crunching against dirt paths. Verus eventually broke it, his voice low.

"Lucian… are you sure this is fine? Leaving like this?" His brows were knit in concern. "They're barely standing. If we walk away now—"

Lucian didn't look back. His tone was calm, final.

"That's exactly why we leave. If we linger, they'll lean on us instead of learning to stand on their own. And when we're gone, they'll collapse."

Verus pressed his lips together, wanting to argue but finding no words. He fell silent.

Berry, walking beside him, gave a small chuckle.

"Don't overthink it. One day you'll go back to wherever you came from, Verus. You don't want the weight of another man's village tied around your neck."

Verus scowled but didn't reply. Mira yawned and stretched, clearly eager to put the miserable settlement behind her.

Luna walked wordlessly at Lucian's side, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon as though already seeking the next storm.

By the time the familiar walls of the Dawn Village came into view, their fatigue was forgotten.

The villagers rushed out to greet them, relief and joy lighting their faces. Warm voices, clapping hands, food and drink offered without hesitation—it was a stark contrast to the suffocating gloom of Lumious.

Lucian offered only a faint nod in response, letting his companions bask in the welcome. He had other matters on his mind.

When he finally returned to his office, the sun had dipped low. The door creaked shut behind him, and immediately, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Someone else was here.

Lucian's voice cut through the stillness, cold and commanding.

"Show yourself."

From the shadowed corner, soft footsteps emerged. A figure stepped into the dim light, every motion calculated and precise. A woman—slender, confident, her gaze sharp as steel.

Jamie.

Her pistol was raised, steady, its barrel aimed directly at his head. Her finger rested on the trigger, no hesitation in her stance.

"Good evening, Lucian. I was wondering how long it would take for you to get back."

She said smoothly, almost casually, though her eyes glinted with something dangerous.

Lucian didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. His lips curved, faint amusement flickering across his otherwise calm expression.

"Pointing a gun at me in my own office. That's bold."

He said lightly, almost like it was a joke.

Jamie's grip on the weapon didn't waver.

"Bold enough to put a bullet through you if I don't like your answers."

The air between them thickened. Outside, the sounds of villagers celebrating drifted faintly through the walls, but here, in this office, silence pressed down like a vice.

Lucian tilted his head ever so slightly, his crimson eyes locking onto hers.

"Then ask. Let's see if I can keep you from pulling that trigger."

He said, his voice low and deliberate.

Lucian's gaze lingered on the barrel of the gun, then flicked back to Jamie's eyes. His voice was calm, almost bored.

Enough. Stop playing around."

For a beat, Jamie's smirk held, then she sighed and lowered the weapon, twirling it once before holstering it.

"Tch. You're no fun."

She leaned casually against the desk, arms crossed.

"But you really picked the worst time to vanish, you know. Yesterday, while you were busy with… whatever you were doing out there, one of the biggest trash rains hit."

Lucian arched a brow.

"Trash rain suddenly?"

Jamie grinned, her earlier menace gone, replaced by a glint of excitement.

"Mm. And not just any storm—it's left the best haul I've seen in years. Junk, relics, tech… maybe even a few things worth killing over."

Her eyes gleamed.

"It's the perfect time for us to go treasure hunting."

Lucian leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable.

"Treasure hunting, huh? It's been some time since I did something that troublesome."

Jamie's grin widened, sharp and daring.

"Oh, it's trouble, alright. But the kind that pays off. Come on, Lucian. Don't tell me you're going to sit this one out."