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.

about what? Showing my

such a big deal about it for so long that I never

Rey you

pushing her face forward,

that they could feel

She smiled. "Even if I can no longer see your Status Information, there's no way I wouldn't be able

why he

enough of a shock for

~VWUSH~

the room and Ater stepped out

place as he witnessed Ater

gazed upon the tall, sleek frame of Rey's

ah, apologies for the inconvenience. Please

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

more, Ater vanished from his position. His disappearance

flustered state was immediately suppressed, reminding him

I'm sure he now has the wrong

innocently turned her face to Rey

"Wrong idea how?"

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

emotions to be suppressed, but he also

never had one before."

does it

glance at Esme's serious and

the System did

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

you've kissed before, haven't

sure?!" Rey swiftly responded, his voice raised

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

anyone yet. Someone kissing him

"Well, I—"

never kissed before." Even though this

could feel something in his chest

ask a more experienced person

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

any case, answer me already." Esme began

face departed from his until they

did you decide to show

brought himself back to reality. He took in a deep breath,

was silent for a few seconds, feeling Esme's

Then, he spoke up.

didn't want

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

the thought never

to see her, and he wanted her to

all there was