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?

made such a big deal about it for so long that

I'm not the Rey you knew from

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

that they could feel

if I can no longer see your Status Information, there's no way

didn't know why he blushed

enough of a shock

~VWUSH~

room and Ater stepped out of it

was frozen in place

she gazed upon the tall, sleek frame of Rey's

apologies for the

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

position. His disappearance was too instant

flustered state was immediately suppressed,

guy. I'm sure he now has

face to Rey and gave him

"Wrong idea how?"

to kiss… or something like that." Rey looked away,

be suppressed, but he also liked that he could feel things

huh? I've never had

it feel

upon hearing that. One glance at Esme's

System did

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

you've kissed before,

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

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

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

"Well, I—"

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

feel something in his

more experienced

that. Sure, he didn't have much

already." Esme began to

face departed from his until they retained reasonable distance from

you decide to show me your

question floated in the air, Rey brought himself back to reality. He took in a deep breath, allowing

few seconds, feeling Esme's

Then, he spoke up.

just… didn't want

had more than enough time to get into disguise and face her with a mask or

the thought never even

her, and he

there