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

a big deal about it for so long that

perhaps I'm not the Rey you

laughed as she shook her head. Instantly pushing her face forward, she brought it close to

that they

see your Status Information, there's

didn't know why he

that wasn't enough

~VWUSH~

and Ater stepped out

in place as he witnessed

face also turned as she gazed

ah, apologies for the inconvenience. Please

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

could say any more, Ater vanished from his position. His disappearance was

immediately suppressed,

sure he now

face to Rey and gave

"Wrong idea how?"

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

suppressed,

huh? I've never had one before."

it feel

his heart racing upon hearing that. One glance at Esme's serious and

the System did not

time since forever, Rey stuttered, fidgeting

kissed

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

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

hadn't 'kissed' anyone yet. Someone kissing

"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 was the excuse he was going for, hearing Esme say it like that hurt his

something

a more experienced person about

didn't have much of an experience when it came

answer me already." Esme

his until they

did you decide to show me

question floated in the air, Rey brought himself back to reality. He took in a deep breath, allowing the sweet scent that now filled the room to enter his nostrils

few seconds, feeling Esme's

Then, he spoke up.

just… didn't want to hide

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

the thought never even croseed

her, and he

there