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? Showing my

it for so long that I never

perhaps I'm not the Rey you knew

as she shook her head. Instantly pushing her face forward, she

was so close that they could feel each

see your Status

he blushed

if that wasn't enough of a shock for

~VWUSH~

sudden black swirl formed within the room and Ater stepped

in place as he

turned as she gazed upon the

apologies for

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

say any more, Ater vanished from his position. His

suppressed, reminding him of

sure he now has the wrong

turned her face to Rey and gave him a

"Wrong idea how?"

or something

emotions to be suppressed, but he also liked that he could feel

huh? I've never had one

it

heart racing upon hearing that. One glance at Esme's serious and curious eyes made him

System did not

ask me that?" For the first time since forever, Rey stuttered, fidgeting a little

kissed before,

be so sure?!" Rey swiftly responded, his

but it wasn't like 'he' kissed 'her'.

'kissed' anyone yet. Someone kissing him didn't

"Well, I—"

fine, Rey. I was just asking because I was curious. If you're acting like this, then you've probably never kissed before." Even though this

something

more experienced person

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

already." Esme

face departed from his until they retained reasonable distance

decide to show me your

in a deep breath, allowing the

for a few seconds, feeling Esme's gaze on him through

Then, he spoke up.

didn't want

time to get into disguise and face her with a mask or with

never even croseed

her, and he wanted her to

was all there was