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…~

helpful to threaten Emil like that." Rey said, staring

do you mean,

completely gone, almost as if it never existed to begin with.

take none of

ignore Ater's killing intent towards Emil. He could

though they're very capable…' He held his forehead and sighed despite having no headache of

Ater. You know the terrain more than

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

It was non-negotiable.

repeat the same mistake as last time. Unless I've made all preparations to secure everyone's safety, it would be foolish for

bowing

~Hihihihihi!~

her laughter of victory, but he decided to ignore it. At the very least, she was

Rey!" Esme's voice suddenly erupted into the air, both of

"What?"

desire to help, but he also understood just how problematic it would

sure? The Elves don't take too well to

I want to help you however I can, and if possible, I want to change how

Elves were quite stubborn. He

I add Esme to the mix…' He turned to Ater for assistance, hoping his

idea, Esme. I am in

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

that?" Rey muttered, looking to see if this was just a joke on the part of a Familiar—perhaps revenge for not signing him up for the mission—or if he

Half one, grants her some form of connection to The

little in confusion, so Ater went

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

Rey stated, trying his best to convince both Ater

was too dangerous for

used my [Shapeshift] Skill to become an Elf

"And? Did it work?"

in that land, which is

Ater said made sense, but Rey

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

as he wanted to be with her—as a friend, of

didn't want her to