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.

**********

the point when Rey

formality, so they both simply sped into the outer court

with her hood

"Yup!"

soon as she said this, they were transported to the inner sanctum by Rey's Skill. The statue stood in

that

a sharp cry as she fell to the ground, clutching

"E-Esme—?!"

side, holding her tight before she fell to her knees. Her expression depicted something akin to pain, but it was more as though she was overwhelmed by something

you? Can you

just kept groaning

Rey couldn't see her Life Force or any other Stat of hers being affected, so he was

a Status Condition,

Linked

The Oracle? Is Esme feeling it all at once now because she's in the

feared that taking her out now would completely disrupt whatever process was

if it could be

see Esme in

hurting Esme!" He yelled out, but was

was the last

could be attacking Esme's soul or something. There's no guarantee that any

out

~ZZZZTTTZZ!~

shrine, shrouding both Rey and Esme in its brilliant white and

That wasn't all, though.

A bead of sweat formed on Rey's

'Damnit! Damnit!! Damnit!!!'

constantly feel the anxiety rise as he found

something else—like destroying the barrier with brute force—a bright light suddenly covered everything

the statue