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?

so long that I never expected you'd

Rey

her head. Instantly pushing her

was so close that they

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

he blushed at that very

that wasn't enough of

~VWUSH~

within the room and Ater stepped out of it with a

place as he

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

ah, apologies for the inconvenience. Please

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

say any more, Ater vanished from his position. His disappearance was too instant that even

was immediately suppressed, reminding

sure he now has

her face to Rey and gave him a quizzical

"Wrong idea how?"

thought we were about to kiss… or something like

suppressed, but he

had

does it feel

hearing that. One glance at Esme's serious and

did not intervene at

the first time since forever, Rey stuttered, fidgeting a little as he analyzed

kissed before,

can you be so sure?!" Rey swiftly responded,

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

'kissed' anyone yet.

"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

feel something

a more

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

Esme began to shift away

from his until they retained

to show me

reality. He took in a deep breath, allowing the sweet scent that now filled the room to enter his

few seconds, feeling Esme's gaze on him through

Then, he spoke up.

just… didn't want

disguise and face her with a mask or with any face

never

see her, and he wanted

there