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

You made such a big deal about it for so long that

not the Rey you knew

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

was so close that they could

longer see

he blushed at

enough

~VWUSH~

Ater stepped

frozen in place as he witnessed Ater

turned 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

state was immediately suppressed, reminding him of his current

he now

face to Rey

"Wrong idea how?"

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

his emotions to be suppressed, but he also

never had one before." Esme

it

glance at Esme's

System did

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

kissed before, haven't

so sure?!" Rey swiftly

'he' kissed 'her'. In

'kissed' anyone yet. Someone kissing him

"Well, I—"

curious. If you're acting like this, then you've probably never kissed before." Even though this was the

something

more experienced person about

his chest upon hearing that. Sure, he didn't have much of an experience when it came to these things,

answer me already." Esme

they retained reasonable distance

did 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

feeling Esme's gaze on him

Then, he spoke up.

didn't want to hide

had more than enough time to get into disguise and face her

thought never even croseed

wanted to see her, and he wanted her to see him as

there was