The Retired Hero is an Extra

The sun's first light shone brightly across the lush grass as dawn approached, casting long shadows over the grassy plains.

Jash awoke to the chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of the wind through the grass.

He rubbed his eyes and stretched, his muscles aching slightly from the previous day's exertions.

Despite the chill in the air, he felt a sense of satisfaction—his plan was progressing, and he was still very much in the running for the top spot.

'Hopefully so,' he mused, knowing that the key aspect to securing first place still awaited him, but so did Amael and the protagonist.

He had subconsciously considered anyone other than the two not even worthy opponents aiming for the first place.

'If not for Amael being different, I could even count him out,' Jash sighed before shaking his head and standing up.

Glancing around, Jash took in the serene landscape, where the once-encountered flower patch had given way to rolling hills and scattered trees.

Jash could see the distant outline of the next region he planned to explore—a gorge that promised both new challenges and opportunities.

'It is also the location for the final battle,' he thought while his hand inadvertently touched his stomach.

—Grr

"Hungry," he mumbled, feeling his rumbling stomach and its noises.

Alas, he had no rations, so he knew he needed to find something to eat soon.

The bananas he had devoured the day before had done little to sustain him for the long haul.

On an empty stomach, he secured his weapons and adjusted his attire, he reminded himself to stay focused.

'This darned test will be over soon,' he lied to himself despite knowing it was far from over, and securing the top rank required both strategy and endurance.

"No need to push myself over it, let's just go with the flow after arriving," he muttered, starting towards the gorge, his boots crunching softly on the dew-kissed grass.

The path ahead was not clearly defined, but Jash had learned to navigate through less obvious terrain with ease.

He was skilled at reading the subtle signs of the land—broken branches, disturbed soil, and animal tracks.

His past life experience to track demons and traitors had taught him how to survive and thrive in such—and worse—conditions.

"Hm? There's someone here?" he wondered aloud, seeing smoke rising nearby as he approached the grassland's edge.

—Rustle!

He used the long grass and some bushes as cover to peek at the source, not wanting to alarm them and get in a meaningless fight.

'My performance doesn't matter at the moment,' he told himself and raised his head to finally notice a group of examinees gathered near a makeshift camp.

They were sitting around a small fire, cooking what looked like a simple meal of dried meat and small fish.

The group's conversation remained a hushed whisper, with Jash only being able to hear their laughter and joy at reaching this point in the Entrance Test.

No one would be foolish enough to discuss their plans and strategies out in the open.

'The distance is just fine,' Jash thought, choosing to keep his distance, not wanting to draw any attention to himself.

Yet the thought of fighting and eliminating them echoed in his mind once before he gave up.

'Nah, it'd be too bad if I make it reach 2000 all of a sudden,' he told himself, moving on and slipping into the gorge's shadowy depths.

The towering rocks overhead created a cool, dim environment that was a welcome change from the harsh sunlight.

The gorge was alive with the sounds of flowing streams of water and distant calls from insects, monsters, and birds.

Jash kept his senses sharp, aware that the area could harbor both monsters and other examinees.

'I hope I meet no one though,' he prayed inwardly and continued going deeper into the echoes of the gorge.

After a few hours of trekking, he finally stumbled upon a small stream. The clear water was a welcome sight, and Jash decided to take a break.

Kneeling by the stream, he cupped his hands and took large gulps of water.

As he refreshed himself, he spotted a small fish darting about in the water, pecking at some plant.

It gave him an idea—maybe he could eat the plant as a meal.

Acting on it in the next second, Jash fashioned a simple dagger from his array of weapons, going into the water and harvesting the whip-like green plant.

With careful precision, he pulled out a few more dark green, wavy leaves.

It wasn't much, but it would serve to tide him over until he could find something more substantial.

Rinsing the leaves thoroughly to remove any debris, mud, or algae, Jash ensured they were clean and free from contaminants before consumption.

Taking a small bite, he exclaimed, "Bitter."

The fibrous texture alongside salty taste made it a chore to eat it and Jash chose to chew upon it as if he were ruminating.

Though he ate in silence, his thoughts drifted back to the other examinees, aware that many were working hard, pushing their limits to secure a high rank.

Some were likely struggling with the same challenges he faced, while others might be exploiting every opportunity they could find.

"Not like it matters," he muttered while tearing apart the tight leaf, confident in his own abilities and strategy.

The key was to stay one step ahead, to anticipate the moves of others while remaining focused on his own goals.

Jash decided to move on, aware that staying put too long could make him an easy target, not for other examinees but also for Rui.

'I don't want him messing around with me anymore. Once was already enough,' he mused and got a move on.

He moved on, not needing to pack anything as all he had was already on his body and continued deeper into the gorge.

His goal was to find a suitable location to rest before the final test began, ideally one that was hidden from prying eyes but still accessible enough to be a strategic advantage.

Also, he would stay on the lookout for anything that might help him despite him believing that he needed nothing.

"Finally," he muttered, finding a small cave nestled into the side of a hill—a perfect spot to camp as a sniper-archer.

The cave was dry and protected from the elements, offering a good vantage point to observe any approaching figures.

"It's similar," Jash mumbled, remembering the first cave he settled in.

At the same time, he used some clothing to make a makeshift pillow to rest as much as he could.

After all, why waste time doing this or that when he could just rest?

As he lay on the cave floor, staring at the ceiling, the peaceful sounds of the forest lulled him into a relaxed state, though his mind remained active.

His perception was being pushed to full throttle, running through various scenarios and strategies.

Unknowingly he yet again drifted off to sleep despite the sense of anticipation fighting against his drowsiness.

He remained oblivious that his excessive sleep was a cause for worry despite his talent and performance, something he had no control over.

Nonetheless, his mind was set on the idea of taking the first rank despite it being a wild and dangerous thought, but Jash was determined to emerge victorious.

"I've come too far and interfered too much to falter now," he mumbled under his breath as his voice faded into the background.

With a final thought of the challenges yet to come, he closed his eyes and let the forest's serenity carry him into dreams of triumph.