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?

such a big deal about it for so long that I never expected you'd show it to me that

not the Rey you knew

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

close that they could

Rey alright." She smiled. "Even if I can no longer see your Status Information, there's

he blushed

wasn't enough of a

~VWUSH~

formed within the room and Ater stepped out of it with a casual sense

was frozen in place as he witnessed

as she gazed upon the tall,

for the

"Ater wai—!"

~VWUSH!~

say any more, Ater vanished from his position.

flustered state was immediately suppressed, reminding

that guy. I'm sure he now

her face to Rey

"Wrong idea how?"

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

made him want his emotions to be suppressed, but he also liked that he

had one before." Esme

does it

hearing that. One glance at Esme's

the System did not intervene

forever, Rey stuttered, fidgeting a little as he analyzed

you've kissed before,

you be so sure?!" Rey swiftly responded, his voice raised

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

he hadn't 'kissed' anyone yet. Someone kissing

"Well, I—"

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

could feel something

a more experienced

hearing that. Sure, he didn't have

answer me already." Esme began to shift away

they retained reasonable

you decide to show

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

seconds, feeling

Then, he spoke up.

want to hide

and face her with a mask or with

thought never

wanted to see her, and he wanted her

all there