Hello! I am not sure if you are still looking for answers, but I will help.
When the author says “I was not afraid in the ordinary sense, as I would have been if I had been alone”, they are basically saying that the character is NOT afraid. The author is using the word “as” to make a simile. They are comparing the (nonexistent) fear the character feels when they are alone to the (nonexistent) fear the character has when everyone is watching him.
In the ordinary sense means something like… a basic understanding.
Many humans are afraid of being watched by a lot of people, which makes it UNORDINARY for him to NOT be afraid.
I will rewrite the text to make it simple.
With the crowd watching me, I was not afraid, like you would expect. I was as unafraid as being alone.
I hope this helps! I am sorry if this does not answer your question. 😅