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?

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

the Rey you knew from

pushing her face forward, she brought it close to

was so close that they could feel each

see your

why he

wasn't enough of a

~VWUSH~

and Ater stepped out of it with a casual sense

frozen in place as he witnessed Ater

as she gazed upon the tall, sleek

ah, apologies for the

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

Ater vanished from his position.

flustered state was immediately suppressed, reminding

I'm sure he now has the wrong

innocently turned her face to Rey and gave him a

"Wrong idea how?"

we were about to kiss… or something like

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

had one before."

does it feel

at

did not

For the first time since forever, Rey stuttered, fidgeting a little as he analyzed the question she asked

you've kissed before, haven't

Rey swiftly responded, his

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

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

"Well, I—"

was 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 Esme

feel something in his chest

more experienced

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

case, answer me already." Esme

departed from his until they retained reasonable distance from each

you decide to show me

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

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

Then, he spoke up.

didn't want

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

never even croseed

her, and he wanted her to

was all there was to