The Extra is a Genius!?
Chapter 113: The Escape

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: The Escape

Noel’s eyes opened to darkness.

The first light of dawn had yet to break over the mountains. The room was silent and still, but sleep had already fled from him. There was something he needed to do before setting foot on Frostspire Peak.

He sat up without hesitation, pulling on the layers of dark clothing he had laid out the night before. Thick boots rose to his knees; his cloak and hood were drawn tight to block the cold. Only a few strands of blond hair fell across his brow, and his emerald eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of the hood.

Across the room, Noir sat waiting, black and violet fur blending into the darkness. Her gaze was steady, patient.

Noel adjusted the last buckle on his belt and glanced her way.

"Are you ready, Noir? We might not even make it to Frostspire Peak before they kill us."

"Wof."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Noel’s mouth.

"Yeah, it is crazy... but I can’t just sit still and do nothing, right?"

"Wof."

He let out a quiet breath, the faintest trace of tension lingering beneath his calm exterior.

’Let’s move.’

Without another word, he stepped toward the door, boots silent on the stone floor.

Noir followed, her form a shadow in the deeper darkness.

In the hallway, the fortress was still cloaked in shadows. No torches burned along this stretch—only the distant flicker of patrols in other wings. The cold air seeped through the stone, pressing close.

Noel drew a quiet breath and pulled Revenant Fang from his Dimensional Pouch, securing the blade at his waist with practiced ease.

He glanced at Noir, who stood at the ready near the threshold.

"Lead the way."

Without a sound, Noir moved forward, paws gliding over the floor with fluid grace. Noel followed close behind, each step measured, careful not to betray their presence.

’Honestly... it’s incredibly useful,’ he thought as he watched her move. ’Makes sense though. She is a Shadow Wolf, after all.’

They wove through the darkened halls, staying close to the walls, each turn taken with caution.

At intervals, the glow of torchlight approached—pairs of guards passing on routine patrols.

Noel pressed back into the shadows with Noir each time, breath held as the guards moved past, oblivious.

Minutes stretched long as they navigated deeper into the keep, always one step ahead of the next patrol.

Still following Noir’s lead, Noel moved without a word.

Soon... they would reach their destination.

After several more turns through the dark, empty corridors, Noir slowed her pace.

She stopped before a narrow, unlit hallway where no torchlight reached. At the far end, a single door stood alone—no guards, no sounds.

Noel crouched beside her, voice low.

"Is this it?"

Noir wagged her tail once, the movement soft but certain.

Noel glanced down the pitch-black corridor.

"Well... a strange place to be a bedroom."

He exhaled slowly, straightened, and moved forward. Each step echoed faintly in the narrow space. The door at the end loomed closer.

’No going back now.’

He reached the door, fingers closing lightly around the handle. With a careful twist, he eased it open, just enough to slip inside.

The room was dim—no window, only the faint glow of a spent candle on the table. On the bed, Selene lay sleeping, her breathing slow and even. Her hair, short and loose, framed her face, soft in the pale light.

Noel approached quietly, steps barely audible. He knelt beside the bed and reached out, fingers brushing her shoulder.

"Selene... Selene... wake up," he whispered.

She stirred, brow furrowing.

"Mother...?" Her voice was groggy, laced with lingering fear.

"No," Noel whispered again, a faint smile in his tone. "Not that scary. It’s me—Noel. Get dressed. We’re leaving."

She blinked rapidly, confusion settling into her features.

"Leaving? My mother said you’d go alone tomorrow."

"Yeah... change of plans."

Selene sat up, shaking her head slightly.

"I can’t."

"You’ll be fine. Nothing will happen."

Her voice dropped lower, brittle.

"You don’t know what she’s capable of."

Noel’s gaze softened slightly.

"Trust me. Just get dressed. I’ll wait outside. Don’t make too much noise."

Without waiting for a reply, he stood and slipped quietly out of the room, leaving the door just slightly ajar behind him.

The door closed with a faint click, leaving Selene alone in the dim room.

She sat on the edge of the bed, heart racing, hands gripping the thin blanket as if it might anchor her.

’What is Noel doing here?’

The thought swirled through her mind, sharp and disorienting.

’Does he even understand? My mother could kill him for this.’

She swallowed hard, breath shaky. Her gaze drifted to her clothes folded neatly nearby, and to the slim wand resting beside the burnt-down candle on the table.

’Why am I getting dressed...? I shouldn’t leave.’

Her hands moved before her mind caught up, fingers pulling at the fabric, slipping out of her nightclothes and into her usual attire. Movements automatic, almost numb.

’He’s serious about this... but why? Why take me with him?’

She reached for her wand, fingers curling around its familiar weight.

Another pause.

’This is reckless... I shouldn’t be going.’

Yet her feet carried her forward, each step slow, deliberate. The door opened with a faint push, the dark hallway beyond waiting silently.

Noel was there, his presence calm, steady.

And without understanding why... she followed.

"Are you ready?" Noel’s voice was quiet in the dark as Selene stepped out of her room. "I can’t really see you in this darkness... but let’s go."

Without waiting, he reached out and gently took her hand, fingers firm but not forceful.

Selene stiffened for a moment but allowed it, her grip tentative.

’What is happening?’

Noel gave a short nod toward Noir. "Alright, Noir. Take us outside."

The wolf moved ahead with silent precision, tail low, steps measured. She had spent the past day studying the castle’s layout, each hallway and turn memorized. Now, she led them with unwavering certainty.

Through narrow passages and shadowed corridors they moved, each footstep deliberate, breaths held whenever distant torchlight flickered ahead. Twice they pressed into alcoves, watching silently as guards passed by, oblivious.

Selene’s heart pounded with each close call.

’If we get caught... what will she do to us?’

Noel kept his grip steady on her hand, his pace calm, movements smooth. It was as if he had done this countless times.

Soon, the stone walls gave way to the faint, cold air of the outer courtyard.

The fortress gates loomed ahead, and just beyond them—the way out.

Noel whispered softly, releasing her hand. "Stay here for a second."

He stepped forward alone, approaching the gate where the red-haired guard stood, axe leaning casually against the wall.

"Morning," Noel greeted, voice light, controlled. "I’m ready to leave."

The guard eyed him from head to toe, brow lifting slightly. "You think that’s enough to get you through up there? Well... if you say so."

Noel smiled faintly and reached behind him, making a subtle gesture with his hand—low and slow.

Selene caught it and moved carefully, creeping forward with silent steps as Noel kept the guard’s attention.

From his Dimensional Pouch, Noel pulled a small wooden barrel—roughly five kilos.

"A small gift," he said easily, offering it forward. "For the trouble I’ve caused."

The guard blinked in surprise, a grin breaking across his rough face.

"Oh? You’ve no idea how rare a good drink is around here. Much appreciated, boy."

As the man busied himself with the barrel, shifting it with eager hands, Selene slipped past behind him, breath caught in her throat. Noir followed smoothly at her side.

Moments later, Noel rejoined them just beyond the gate. The cold wind of the open night met them fully now.

They were outside.

Free.

They moved quickly away from the outer wall, the fortress shrinking behind them with each step. The wind bit harder here, carrying the chill of the mountains. Their breaths came in soft clouds as they followed a narrow path along the treeline.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then, at last, Selene’s voice broke the quiet, uncertain and tense.

"I need to go back."

Noel glanced at her in the dark, then reached out, taking her hand again—firm this time.

"No."

She blinked, breath catching.

"No?"

"No." He gave a small, almost mischievous smile. "I’m kidnapping you."

Selene stopped mid-step, staring at him.

"You’re... kidnapping me?"

"That’s right." Noel’s tone was calm, steady. "I’m kidnapping you."

Selene’s thoughts spun wildly.

’What is happening?’

But his grip was sure, and for reasons she couldn’t explain... she didn’t pull away.