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…~

It's not particularly helpful to threaten Emil like that."

do you mean,

as if it never existed to begin with. Replacing

Please take none of my words

of course, knew better than to ignore Ater's killing intent towards Emil. He could

are such problematic Familiars, though they're very capable…' He held his forehead and sighed despite

You know the terrain more than anyone present, and

as Ater at the moment. The only one he could count on to

It was non-negotiable.

preparations to secure everyone's safety, it would be foolish for me to leave just

bowing his head in all

~Hihihihihi!~

Emil for her laughter of victory, but he decided to ignore it. At the very least, she was doing it in his head

come with you too, Rey!" Esme's voice suddenly erupted into the air, both of her hands tightly

"What?"

also understood just how problematic it would be for everyone if she tagged along with

The Elves don't take

help you however I can, and if possible, I want

bad idea. Based on his interactions with them, the Elves

turned to Ater for assistance, hoping his blunt rejection of her desires

idea, Esme. I am

have popped out of his eyes if he wasn't controlling his emotions. He wasn't expecting Ater to say something

joke on the part of a

an Elf, albeit a Half one, grants her

a little in confusion,

Oracle is connected to all Elves and sometimes speaks to them. I could confirm this from

trying his best to convince both Ater and himself

was too dangerous

Skill to become an Elf and try to

"And? Did it work?"

among the Elves in that land,

said made sense, but Rey still felt uncomfortable with the

searched for any excuse or alternative to make her

as he wanted to be with her—as a

want her to