An Extra’s POV

"How strange…"

After hearing all of Rey's detailed narration of everything that happened in the Shrine, those words naturally proceeded from Esme's lips.

"Right? I thought about it for so long, but it still makes no sense to me."

"Yeah…" Esme mumbled. "Why would they request for me specifically? I'm the hated Half Elf vermin, after all…"

"Well, I think—"

"Guess we'll find out once I ask them." She interrupted Rey, snapping her fingers once she made her choice.

"Wait, Esme. It's actually dangerous to—!"

"I know what's going on in your mind. It's possible that they want to execute me or something. However, all of this lies in conjecture. Are you really willing to throw away all your efforts thus far for just that?"

Rey had a rather conflicted expression on his face. He wanted to open his lips to say "Maybe?" but something stopped him from speaking out loud.

Esme smiled as soon as she saw this, shrugging a little nonchalantly. "It's fine, Rey! I also have many questions I want to ask this Oracle person, so it's a win-win for both of us."

It almost seemed like Esme was the one trying to convince Rey to go at this point. The latter understood why she was doing it, and instantly realized that being more difficult would only be an insult to her resolve.

"Thanks, Esme… really."

"I believe I owe you even more thanks." She beamed with a smile. "I guess I really was relevant to this whole adventure, after all!"

Rey laughed upon hearing this. "Yeah, I guess I'll have to thank Ater later. He always has such good sense on matters like this."

"Yup! You should! Do you think he predicted that this would happen?"

"Pfft! No way!"

The two continued in this good spirit as they increased their pace, their attention fixed on the path ahead that led to their goal.

—The Elven Shrine.

**********

point when Rey

both simply

turned to Esme, who had already done away with her hood

"Yup!"

by Rey's Skill. The statue stood in its usual position, and the general ambiance

all of that was soon

fell to the ground, clutching her

"E-Esme—?!"

she fell to her knees. Her expression depicted something

you? Can

coherent words. She just kept groaning

or any other

a Status Condition,

Condition: Linked Connection

The Oracle? Is Esme

feared that taking her out now would completely disrupt

if it could be

he didn't want to see Esme

the hell are you doing Oracle? Stop hurting Esme!" He yelled out, but was

the last straw for

something. There's no guarantee that any of this is positive!' He gritted his teeth and

out of

~ZZZZTTTZZ!~

barrier suddenly manifested within the shrine, shrouding both Rey and Esme

That wasn't all, though.

out?!' A bead of sweat formed on Rey's face as slight hints of panic began to

'Damnit! Damnit!! Damnit!!!'

couldn't help but constantly feel the anxiety rise as he found the crying Esme and

barrier with brute force—a

was the face of the statue staring intently at Esme; almost as if it had come