I'm an Extra, so What?
Chapter 86 - 86: Indirect Kiss

"Where do you think you're going?"

The voice came from above.

Rosie didn't hesitate.

In a blink, she knocked an arrow to her bow, spun on her heel, and fired upward in one smooth motion.

The arrow whistled through the air like a silver streak, targeting the source.

A figure stepped to the side midair—light as a feather—and the arrow embedded itself into the bark of a tree behind him.

Thunk.

"Whoa," the figure said, clicking his tongue.

"That could've actually hurt."

Luka dropped to the ground gracefully, hands casually tucked behind his back.

He landed with barely a sound.

"That was an interesting fight, huh?" he remarked, gesturing to the unconscious body behind her—now surrounded by a pool of blood.

Rosie didn't answer right away.

She simply shrugged, indifferent.

"How long were you watching?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "I didn't sense you at all."

Luka tapped a finger to his cheek and winked. "That's a secret."

"Tch…" Rosie muttered, then raised her voice just slightly.

"Why didn't you interfere earlier? Don't tell me… you've fallen for my beauty?" She gave a mock-blush and glanced away dramatically.

Luka chuckled, amused.

"In your dreams. I don't third-party fights," he said, now pulling out his dagger.

"It's more fun when it's one-on-one. Pure. Clean. Personal."

He stepped forward slightly, dagger held low but ready.

"So—shall we start?"

Rosie dropped her bow.

It hit the ground with a dull thud.

Then, raising both hands into the air, she said simply:

"I surrender."

Luka blinked. "Huh?"

The system's voice resounded in his mind.

[You have affected the plot majorly]

[500 Fate has been deducted from the Main Character.]

[97,000 Fate remaining.]

On the outside…

From the audience watching—

An audible gasp spread like wildfire.

They had expected a clash.

Instead, she had just… quit.

On the inside…

Luka stared at her, jaw slightly ajar.

"You're not going to surprise-attack me? No trap? No bluff?"

Rosie calmly shook her head.

The illusion of the forest shimmered and vanished—dispersing into glimmers of light—revealing the bare platform below.

Her boots echoed as she began to walk off.

"I don't fight my connections," she said without turning around.

"Especially not the ones I deem… special.".

"…" Luka remained still, fingers twitching near the hilt of his dagger, as he watched her walk away.

And for the first time in a long while, he didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, the booming voice of the Headmaster echoed throughout the stadium, drawing all attention to the center stage.

"It appears," he announced with a proud smile, "we have our Ranger for the Annual Elf-Human Showdown!"

Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd, mixed with scattered cheers and gasps of excitement.

The spotlights shifted as the Headmaster strode onto the platform.

He approached Luka, clapped a firm hand on his shoulder, and subtly turned off the mic in his other hand.

"Congratulations," he said more softly, his expression warm.

"I'll be selecting you to represent both our race and the Academy."

Luka just gave a casual shrug. "Sounds good."

He put away his dagger as he walked off the platform with his hands in his pockets, shoulders slightly slouched.

Honestly, the whole battle royale had been kind of underwhelming.

He hadn't even gotten a decent fight out of it.

Climbing back into the stands, he was greeted by two familiar faces.

The Second Princess, Charlotte, and the Saintess, Elysia, both smiled at him.

"Congratulations," they said in unison.

"Thanks," Luka replied with a lazy wave of his hand as he dropped into a seat.

His eyes narrowed almost immediately.

"…Wait. Are you two eating popcorn?"

He licked his lips instinctively.

The smell alone was a betrayal—

Salty, buttery, warm.

His stomach grumbled in response.

Charlotte smirked mischievously, quickly hiding the bucket behind her back.

"Nooo~ why would you think that?"

"Oh, come on!" Luka groaned.

"Give me some! I just fought my way through all that bullshit! I'm starving!"

"Fine," Charlotte relented, holding out the bucket like a queen bestowing charity.

"Seeing how you're today's victor and all…"

Luka didn't hesitate.

He grabbed a handful and began munching greedily.

"Don't forget to drink some water, too!" Elysia chimed in, reaching down to grab a bottle from beside her.

She held it out with both hands.

"Wow…" Luka paused dramatically, taking the bottle.

"An indirect kiss from the Saintess herself? I'm honored."

He took a long drink.

The moment the words left his mouth, Elysia froze—

Eyes wide, cheeks exploding in crimson.

Steam might as well have risen from her head as she nearly dropped the popcorn she didn't have.

"H-Hey! You're so mean!" she stammered, covering her face with both hands.

Charlotte immediately whacked the back of Luka's head.

"W-Why would you say something like that?!" Charlotte immediately whacked the back of Luka's head.

"Don't tease her like that, idiot," she scolded.

"She's literally the purest woman in the entire human race."

"Yeah, yeah…" Luka grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.

He handed the bottle back sheepishly.

"Sorry. My bad."

Elysia, still red-faced, took the bottle with trembling fingers.

"…It's fine," she mumbled, barely audible.

Then the Headmaster's voice rang out again across the arena:

"Now, will all the Fighters please come down to the platform?"

Charlotte stood up, dusting off her uniform.

"Well then, seems it's my turn," she said with a wink.

Luka turned to wish her luck—

All the while…

Elysia stared at the bottle she still held.

Her fingers slowly traced the rim where Luka had taken a sip.

'An indirect kiss…'

She bit her lip lightly, cheeks still flushed.

Far above—

Goddess Lucia was watching the scene unfold with narrowed eyes, her gaze fixed on Luka like a blade.

The divine glow behind her dimmed slightly as shadows wrapped around her form.

"That damn bastard! How dare he have an indirect kiss with little Elysia!?"

Luka suddenly shivered.

'…What the hell?' he thought, glancing around warily.

But there was no hostile eyes on him.

It seemed that, without knowing it…

Luka had just been sentenced to divine judgment.

Crime: An indirect kiss with the Saintess.

Punishment: The rage of the Goddess Lucia.

A sudden gust of wind slapped Luka in the face.