An Extra’s POV

"NO!"

Both Ater and Esme said this at the same time, and the expressions on their faces showed just how much they meant every word.

"Master, it's too dangerous for you to go there on your own! You need guidance of the terrain and might require my assistance!"

"Isn't that why you're going to tell me every single thing you found out in that place?" Rey asked with a smile on his face.

"Besides… I can't allow you to leave the Capital while I'm away. It'll be too vulnerable, and there's no one I trust more than you to handle things.

Ater seemed to slightly blush once Rey said this. However, his eyes still displayed concern for his Master. It wasn't really that he was worried for him, but because he didn't want to leave his side.

"No fair. Why don't I get to have my own adventures with Master…" He mumbled, almost sulking at this point.

When Ater looked through his history with Rey, he didn't see a single moment where they both went to an important event or mission together.

He was always apart from him.

'Why do things always end up like this? It sucks!' Perhaps this was his competence coming back to bite him.

Right as he was thinking this, a voice echoed in the air.

~Don't worry, Ater! I'll take care of our Master really well!~

It came from a mouth that had formed from Rey's current attire. A portion of it was stretched out, like dark slime, and the mouth that formed from it was smiling in an overly confident—slightly mocking—manner.

"Y-you…" Ater narrowed his eyes in bottled rage, his eyes now glowing a fierce crimson as he frowned at the Symbiote Slime's sneer.

"I should have destroyed you while I had the chance!"

~Should have? Stop acting like you could, even if you wanted to.~

"Oh? Why not come and find out?"

~Pfft! Please! I don't need to do any—!~

"Emil!" Rey slightly raised his voice. "You shouldn't pop out like that unless I give you permission to."

~B-but Master…~

to threaten

do you

almost as if it never existed

Please take none of

better than to ignore Ater's killing intent towards Emil. He could also sense the animosity that the

though they're very capable…' He

with me, Ater. You know the terrain more than anyone present, and your abilities are pretty

strong as Ater at the moment. The only one he

It was non-negotiable.

made all preparations to secure everyone's safety, it would be foolish for me to

mumbled, bowing his head

~Hihihihihi!~

to ignore it. At the very least, she was doing it in

air, both

"What?"

help, but he also understood just how problematic it would be for everyone if she tagged along

The Elves don't

want to help you

to be a bad idea. Based on his interactions with them, the Elves were quite

the mix…' He turned to Ater for assistance, hoping his blunt rejection of her desires would

Esme. I am in

his eyes if he wasn't controlling his emotions. He wasn't expecting Ater to say something like that,

if this was just a joke on the part

Half one,

little in confusion, so

to all Elves and sometimes speaks to them. I could confirm this from a few people—even from

be fabricated." Rey stated, trying his best to convince

too

So I used my [Shapeshift] Skill to become an Elf and try to tap into this

"And? Did it work?"

something special among the Elves in that land, which is

said made sense, but Rey still felt uncomfortable with

began to course through his body, and he searched for any excuse or alternative to make her remain in the Capital—where it

he wanted to be with

didn't want