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 and Esme arrived,

both simply sped into the outer court

Esme, who had already done away with her hood and was wearing her usual white

"Yup!"

she said this, they were transported to the inner sanctum by Rey's Skill. The

that

Esme let out a sharp cry as she fell to the ground, clutching

"E-Esme—?!"

fell to her knees. Her expression depicted something akin to pain,

to you? Can you

She just kept groaning as

to check her Status Window, Rey couldn't see her Life Force or any other Stat of hers being affected, so he was reluctant to think this

did notice a Status

Condition: Linked Connection

connection all Elves have with The Oracle? Is Esme feeling

feared that taking her out now

if it could be

see Esme in any

Esme!" He yelled out, but was met

last straw for

Esme's soul or something. There's no guarantee that any of this is positive!' He gritted his teeth and enveloped the both

get out

~ZZZZTTTZZ!~

suddenly manifested within the shrine, shrouding both Rey and Esme in its

That wasn't all, though.

Why can't I teleport out?!' A bead of sweat formed on Rey's face as slight hints of panic began to seep out of

'Damnit! Damnit!! Damnit!!!'

he couldn't help but constantly feel the

he could think of something else—like destroying the barrier with brute force—a bright light suddenly

saw in the Shrine was the face of the statue staring intently at Esme; almost as if it had