The Retired Hero is an Extra

'Why was he looking at me!? There's no way I just imagined it!' Jash thought, perturbed by the unexpected occurrence.

He had done his level best to not get any unnecessary attention from any key figure, be it a strong hunter or a calamity magnet.

'As if those calamity magnets being here together isn't irksome, even the Emperor!' Jash yelled internally, somehow maintaining a calm exterior.

However, his attention was caught by the Emperor who continued his speech with a very long pause.

"Before I announce the most impressive performance, I would like to express gratitude for playing along with my little game."

His words were steady, not polite in the slightest, yet the nobles clamored otherwise.

"No, no, Your Majesty, it is our blessing to be here today..."

"Your Majesty, we are the ones in luck to have children who could participate in a game..."

While many nobles said one thing or the other, it was the low-ranking ones who said a lot.

'What nonsense!' Jash grumbled inwardly, irritated by the noise of so many sycophantic noble.

In his eyes, they were no different than a bunch of third-rate trash complimenting everything the average Young Master did.

It was quite unfortunate Jash couldn't speak out his true feelings and had to maintain his expression amidst his twitching eyes and lips.

He was just too weak to have a say in such matters despite them being so fake that even an idiot would notice.

'Even if I am strong enough, there's no way I am dissing the Emperor! Who'd want to take their responsibility then?'

Those were Jash's true thoughts. He couldn't care less about strength, it was about living a life without unnecessary burdens.

That's why he didn't really want to be so strong that no one could stand as an equal.

'The path to power is lonely, when one achieves it, they have no one around them,' he mused, recalling the reason for his last battle.

In truth, he could've skipped the battle with the Demon King and let him take over the world, yet he chose to fight.

He just wanted to end his life, who knows why he ended up in another?

By the time Jash came to his senses and rapidly blinked his eyes, a few minutes had already passed.

—Clap!

The sudden applause shocked him. 'What!? So soon?' he wondered in confusion, but followed along.

As the Emperor concluded his address and the round of applause ended, murmurs of anticipation rippled through the hall.

The nobles and participants alike focused their attention on the Emperor, waiting for the name of the one who would be bestowed with the special reward.

The Emperor stepped down from the elevated platform, his gaze traveling amongst the participants for a moment.

The hall fell into a hushed silence, each eye tracking the Emperor's every movement.

With deliberate steps, the Emperor approached Amael, his presence commanding and regal.

Amael stood poised, his earlier calm now mingled with a subtle but undeniable sense of triumph.

"Amael," the Emperor's voice resonated through the hall, "You have demonstrated exceptional skill and resolve. Your performance surpassed all expectations."

He extended a hand, holding a gleaming medallion embossed with the imperial crest. "For your exemplary performance, I bestow upon you this special reward."

Amael's eyes flickered with gratitude and finality as he accepted the medallion.

The cool metal felt nice to the touch, as he remained unbothered about its weight symbolism.

After all, it symbolized not just the Emperor's favor, but the culmination of his hard work and strategy.

He bowed deeply, acknowledging the honor with the respect it deserved.

The crowd erupted into applause, their claps echoing through the grand hall.

However, before anyone could say anything, the Emperor silenced them with a single raise of his hand.

"With this, you may take any one item from the Empire's treasury," the Emperor declared, shocking everyone in the hall.

The Nobles exchanged impressed glances, recognizing the significance of the special reward.

A single thought coursed their mind, 'Why would the emperor give such a reward for such a simple test?'

Unfortunately, no one knew the answer and the one who did couldn't be bothered with it.

'This stingy Emperor, he knows Amael wouldn't know what to pick,' Jash thought, clicking his tongue internally in displeasure.

He knew better than anyone why the Emperor gave the reward, just like the novel entailed and how Amael wasted the chance.

'That's why it was even mentioned in the first place, to make Amael seem stupider than the protagonist.'

Remembering the details, Jash couldn't help but think about changing the novel's plot. 'What if I tell Amael what to pick up?'

The image of a certain armor appeared in Jash's mind and he pondered on what should be his next steps.

Meanwhile, the Emperor's stern gaze fixed on Amael as he congratulated him once again, his words heavy with expectation.

"May this medallion serve as a reminder of your potential and a token of the high regard in which you are held."

Amael nodded, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thank you, Your Majesty," he said, his voice steady and appreciative.

As Amael stepped back, the Emperor turned his attention to the remaining participants and declared, "Let the achievements of all be acknowledged."

"Each of you has faced challenges that have tested your limits. Carry forth the lessons learned here with pride and determination," he advised them.

The hall buzzed with renewed energy as the participants absorbed the Emperor's words.

Following which, the atmosphere was charged with a blend of relief and anticipation for the next phase, that is, the long-awaited banquet itself.

Amael, with his medallion now prominently displayed, stood as a beacon of success, his achievement marking a high point in the day's events.

Yet only he knew his internal thoughts.

'Everything worked out as it should have, so why did I gain these points?' he asked the system in confusion.

{Host, you helped others and eliminated the trash, and the special reward... If looks could kill, you'd be deader than dead.}

Amael merely chuckled at the system's remark, thinking of taking the one thing that would net him tons of Villain Points.

{Hold your horses, host!}

'Hm? Why?'

{That weapon originally got stolen by a different villain, but if you take it...}

'You mean, it won't affect much since we both are in the villain camp?'

{Exactly!}

'Then what do I take?'

As if clearing his confusion, Jash brought Amael out of his reverie. "Congratulations, Amael," Jash whispered with a warm smile.

"Thanks," Amael reciprocated with a satisfied smile, yet Jash could notice the nuanced difference.

Fortunately, Jash had come to help Amael.

'If I can't interfere with the protagonist yet, then why not make his enemy stronger?' Jash thought, finally coming to a decision.

Thankfully, the Emperor had returned to the elevated platform or Jash would've stayed in his position.

"You know," Jash began, "I heard there is this very good armor inside the Imperial Treasury. I forgot its name, though."

"Hmm." Jash pretended to contemplate as Amael felt skeptical about his sudden approach, something that didn't happen in the novel.

Meanwhile, the Emperor was keenly eavesdropping on their conversation, his interest in Jash rising by the second.

Oblivious to the attention he got, Jash acted as if he suddenly remembered. "Ah, right!" he exclaimed.

"The armor is black, made up of meteorite iron and mithril and orihalcum as its outer protective covering," he muttered in a daze.

As if remembering it, the system sent a confused message to Amael.

{Ah! I know what he's talking about! But how does he know?}

Sensing Amael's confusion, the system shared the armor's details with Amael and also its suspicion about how Jash knew of it.