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

so long that I never expected

I'm not the Rey you knew

Instantly pushing her face forward, she brought

close that they could

longer see your Status Information, there's no

know why he

wasn't enough of a shock for

~VWUSH~

formed within the room and Ater

in place as

also turned as she gazed upon the tall, sleek frame

apologies for the inconvenience. Please

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

any more, Ater vanished from his position. His disappearance

immediately suppressed,

guy. I'm sure he now has the

Rey and gave him a quizzical

"Wrong idea how?"

thought we were about to kiss… or something like that." Rey looked away, blushing even harder than

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

I've never had one

does it

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

the System did not intervene

even ask me that?" For the first time since forever,

kissed before, haven't

sure?!" Rey swiftly responded, his voice

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

yes… technically he hadn't 'kissed' anyone yet. Someone kissing him didn't count

"Well, I—"

you've probably never kissed before." Even though this was the

feel something in his chest

ask a more experienced person about

hearing that. Sure, he didn't have much of an experience when it

case, answer me already." Esme began to shift

they retained

did you decide to show

reality. He took in a deep

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

Then, he spoke up.

didn't want to hide

into disguise and face her with

never even croseed his

he wanted her to

was all there was