Extra’s Rise: I Stole All The Women In The Hero’s Party

The scent of sizzling bacon and freshly baked bread filled the air as Zayn plopped down into a wooden chair, stretching his arms with a satisfied sigh.

Across from him, Bran was already tearing into a roasted chicken leg, eating like a man who had been starved for weeks.

Kara tapped her fingers on the table impatiently. "If the food doesn't get here in the next five minutes, I'm flipping this whole place."

The tavern was lively, filled with the chatter of adventurers, merchants, and common townsfolk. 

Unlike the grand halls of the royal palace, this place had an earthy charm, the kind of warmth that made it easy to relax.

Tobias adjusted his glasses, calmly observing the surroundings.

"You may order whatever you like," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "You are the hero's party. We are granted privileges above the average citizen, and that includes food."

Zayn's ears perked up at that.

"Wait, so we can eat as much as we want? For free?"

Tobias nodded. "Within reason. The kingdom provides us with resources to ensure we stay well-fed and capable."

Bran grinned. "Ain't that nice? Guess I'll be taking another chicken then!"

Kara leaned forward. "And I want extra bacon. And eggs. And whatever that meat thing is over there."

Elisse, ever the saint, smiled gently. "I shall take a light salad and some fruit."

Zayn, meanwhile, grinned deviously.

'If that's the case… then let's see just how much I can push this.'

He cleared his throat, raising a hand. "Excuse me! Yes, hi. I'd like a roast boar platter, a stack of honey-drizzled pancakes, an entire loaf of sweetbread, a bowl of creamy stew, and — oh yeah — some of those fancy elven pastries I saw on the way in. And a large mug of juice."

The tavern wench, a tired-looking woman in her forties, blinked at him.

"You… sure about that, lad?"

Zayn nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, absolutely. I'm feeling a bit peckish."

Tobias sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Zayn, moderation is key."

Zayn waved a hand dismissively. "You just said we could have whatever we wanted. And I want everything."

Bran laughed. "Let the man eat! We're heroes, right?"

Tobias didn't respond, merely rubbing his temples.

Minutes later, the food arrived.

And Zayn, to his own utter horror, realized he had severely underestimated his own order.

The table was now stacked high with plates, bowls, and trays. 

There was so much food that the wooden surface creaked under the weight.

"…Oh," Zayn muttered.

Bran whistled. "Damn. You weren't kidding."

Kara leaned forward, stealing a slice of his bread. "You better finish all of that."

Zayn forced a chuckle. "Haha. Yeah. No problem."

He gulped.

This was going to hurt.

As they ate, Zayn found himself lost in thought.

It had been months since the heroes had been summoned, but in that time, the kingdom had kept them locked away, ensuring they were properly trained before being released into the world.

The heroes weren't just random people anymore — they had been taught advanced swordsmanship, magic, and tactics by the kingdom's best trainers.

And now, here they were.

'Surreal,' Zayn thought as he chewed on a piece of roasted boar.

Sure, he had reincarnated into an extra, but at least he wasn't starting from absolute zero. 

He had a plan. He had skills. He had the knowledge of the story.

And most importantly —

He was not going to be cannon fodder this time.

As he reached for his mug of juice, something caught his eye.

A floating tab had appeared above Tobias's head.

At first, Zayn thought he was hallucinating, but no — there it was, clear as day.

[Hero of Knowledge, Lv.20]

Zayn's grip tightened around his mug.

'Wait… what?'

He froze, eyes widening.

'So I… have a system, huh?'

His heartbeat sped up.

This was huge.

If he had a system, then —

He needed to test something.

Zayn focused his gaze on Bran.

A second later, another tab appeared:

[Iron-Blood Warrior, Lv.18]

Zayn barely held in his excitement.

'Oh-ho… this is interesting'.

He quickly glanced at Kara.

[Earthen Fist, Lv.19]

And Elisse —

[Saint of Lumina, Lv.21]

He nearly choked on his drink.

Level 21?!

She's the strongest one here?!

As he struggled to process this new information, Tobias shot him a look.

"You've been staring at everyone for the past minute. It's unsettling."

Zayn blinked, forcing a nervous chuckle.

"Haha, uh, yeah. I was just, you know… admiring how cool you all look."

Kara snorted. "Nice save."

Bran laughed. "Yeah, yeah, we're all amazing. Now eat your damn food."

Zayn nodded absentmindedly, but his mind was racing.

This changed everything.

If he could see levels…

Then that meant he had a clear path to power.

He could track his own growth.

And more importantly —

He could see who to avoid and who to fight.

A smile crept onto his face.

Thirty minutes later, Zayn was slumped over the table, groaning in pain.

Kara patted his back smugly. "Told you to pace yourself."

Bran cackled. "That was honestly impressive, though. You almost finished everything."

Zayn groaned. "This is what hubris feels like."

Tobias shook his head. "Let this be a lesson in restraint."

Elisse simply smiled. "May the light ease your suffering."

Zayn narrowed his eyes. "Where was that blessing when I was fighting for my life against that last pancake?"

Elisse chuckled.

As the group finally stood up to leave, Zayn patted his stomach, taking a deep breath.

This had been a good meal.

And more than that —

It had been an eye-opening morning.