An Extra’s POV

The two spoke for hours.

It was just like old times… with them babbling on and on about varying topics and stories.

It went without saying that Rey had to explain himself and the reason he was late—apologizing for what he determined to be caused by his weakness.

Of course, Esme would not have that.

"There's no way you could have known about or prepared for such a calamity. Besides, if I was stronger… you wouldn't have had to face it all alone. It's not your fault!"

Her words reinforced what Ater and his friends had told him, yet somehow hearing her tell him this put his simmering heart at ease.

As always, Esme just always had an atmosphere about her that relaxed him.

Not once did he need to struggle with controlling his emotions, and the system also didn't shut them off at any period.

He was worried and cautious at first, but not anymore. Esme was just the kind of person he could be comfortable with.

No… that wasn't quite it.

"I expected you to be a lot more awkward about all this…" Esme admitted at some point as she smiled at Rey.

Her hand was placed on her cheek as her smile broadened.

Merely staring into her eyes made his heart leap, yet there was no response from the System.

In fact, none of his other physiological reactions—since he encountered Esme—triggered the Class Privilege's effects.

'I initially thought I wasn't flustered enough because it's Esme, but the System has intervened for even less displays of emotion in the past. So what's happening here?'

Rey was surprised and confused at this point.

However, he had a theory—or rather, a question.

'Is the System being biased here?' When he thought about it, Esme had always been favored by the System.

Even now, he was being told to help her out.

That was definitely not a sign of a Side Quest, as Rey had already figured out long ago. It seemed, by all regards, that she was being protected by the System.

And she wasn't the only one.

'The other Elves I met also had similar stuff written in their Additional Information.'

That meant, for some reason, Elves were special in this world.

'Maybe the System does not register any emotion generated from me towards her to be harmful, so it filters all of that out. Does that mean it'll be the same with the rest of the Elves?'

He found himself growing ever curious as he stared at Esme, just in time for time to quicken so he could answer her statement.

what?

about it for so long that

the Rey you knew

head. Instantly pushing

they could feel each

"Even if I can no longer see your Status Information,

didn't know why he blushed at

wasn't enough of a shock

~VWUSH~

formed within the room and Ater stepped out of it with a

frozen in place as

as she gazed upon the tall, sleek frame

ah, apologies for the inconvenience. Please

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

Rey could say any more, Ater vanished from his position. His disappearance was too instant that even Rey

immediately suppressed, reminding him of his current

he

to Rey and

"Wrong idea how?"

we were about to kiss… or something like that." Rey

this made him want his emotions to be suppressed, but he also liked that he could

had one before." Esme

does it feel

found his heart racing upon hearing that. One glance at Esme's serious and curious

did not intervene

that?" For the first time since forever,

you've kissed

so sure?!" Rey swiftly responded, his voice raised

like 'he' kissed 'her'. In fact, wasn't he the victim

hadn't 'kissed' anyone yet.

"Well, I—"

just asking because I was curious. If you're acting like this, then you've probably never kissed before." Even though this was the excuse he was going for, hearing

something

more experienced

his chest upon hearing that. Sure, he didn't have

any case, answer me already." Esme began to shift

until they retained reasonable distance from each

decide to

back to reality. He took in a deep breath, allowing the sweet scent that now filled the room

seconds, feeling Esme's gaze on

Then, he spoke up.

want to

get into disguise and face her with a mask or with any

never

and he

there was