An Extra’s POV

"W-what do you mean all wrong?"

For a moment, Ater remained quiet after Rey's question. Instead, he took time to observe the boy's appearance once more, his gaze scrutinizing even the littlest detail. It even almost felt like he was undressing him with his eyes.

"Your appearance… it feels odd—almost like you are cosplaying as a Dragon—if you know what I mean…"

"Wait…" Rey knew this wasn't an important thing to bring up at the moment, but he just had to satisfy his curiosity. "How do you know about cosplaying?"

"Belle told me about it."

"O-ohh…" It all made perfect sense once he knew who the knowledge came from.

'I guess the two of them really talk a lot, huh?'

"In any case, it doesn't feel very authentic. I believe it also does very little to hide your human-like features, and doesn't blend the two together. For example, you need slightly bigger eyes and more defined jaws. Your ears should also…"

By the time Ater was done with explanations, Rey realized just how off he was when it came to disguising as a Dragon. It wasn't that he wasn't that he didn't know what a Dragon looked like, but it was simply that he didn't know how to incorporate it into his own custom appearance.

The only thing he really got right was the number of horns. Even the age of his disguise was slightly off, but that was only because Rey had only encountered adult Dragons. In conclusion, he needed to rework his design from scratch—and that was exactly what he did.

Under Ater's supervision, he was finally able to get the design right. ************

"Thanks. I finally figured it out." Rey sighed, collapsing on his bed for a moment, mostly due to mental exhaustion.

He wasn't tired in the true sense of the word, but he definitely felt like he was.

"This is nothing, Master. You can always rely on me."

Ater bowed his head after saying this, and the sincere manner by which he said this caused Rey to feel a slight pang of guilt within him. It genuinely seemed like Ater was doing his best for the sake of his Master, yet Rey was viewing everything through the lens of suspicion.

At that point, Rey had two options—remain the way he was, or address the ever-growing gap of trust between the two of them.

He chose the former.

"Hm. Thank you."

do my best in the South. As promised, I will resort to as little violence as possible, and also ensure they become

look

words, but he was really surprised and impressed by how much Ater had changed over the course

used to be regarding his dark inclinations, but he had slowly gained more tact and understanding as time went on. In fact, he rarely ever brought up suggestions or plans

these changes were due to the conditions that Rey

studied my preferences and chosen to act in accordance with them.'

all the more difficult to view Ater in a negative

still owe me a reward for my most recent accomplishment of

Rey heard this, he gave

"Ah, yes…"

and after becoming occupied with their other plans, it skipped his mind. Considering the gravity of what Ater did, Rey reckoned

get this strong as well. The plan he concocted with Emil was

even though he no longer

he wants.' And so

deep contemplation upon being asked to

if I was

Rey remembered what Ater chose as his reward the last time—being

weirder now! Please don't choose that!' He cried inside, looking at Ater with pleading eyes

chosen to receive some praise from you, but…

is it that you desire most?" Rey smiled, relieved it wasn't

Silence.

then approached the boy with a

longer

Rey like a sledgehammer, cousin yet another

by a contemplative expression that drew even more sympathy and guilt from Rey. He wanted to believe that Ater was merely trying to manipulate the situation, but everything about him oozed genuineness. It began to seem as though Rey was the one

and especially after. After watching you and thinking for quite a while, I have come to

could not deny those allegations, because

the fact that the usually smiling figure in the room was completely serious gave off

want you to trust me.

he fell to his knees and made a

"Ater, I—"

you

Cursed Box

to alter a curse, or I would have done something to help Alicia.