'I hope Alicia didn't take it the wrong way.'

As Rey teleported to the official KariBlanc Premises on the surface, he had that thought swirling in his mind.

'I just can't afford for her to find out…'

Rey pondered on why he just couldn't tell her about his identity as Ralyks, but he reckoned it was the same reason why she didn't tell him about the entire thing with Billy.

'It'll lead to a whole spectrum of conversations.'

Rey would have to reveal some of his involvements, by consequence, and she might not approve.

The truth was… he was telling too many lies.

'It's a risk. I just… don't want her to see me any other way…'

Rey entered the reception area of the building and was greeted by a pretty woman who recognized him well.

He was donning his Ralyks costume, after all.

"Sir Aldred and Lord Blanc aren't present at the moment." The lady said with an official smile.

Whether it was on the surface or in the Black Market, Ralyks would always be treated with utmost respect.

As a result, even the lady before him was trembling as she spoke.

"Where are they?" Rey's deep voice went forth as he tried not to look at the lady too much so as not to make her too uncomfortable.

"They're in the Black Market sorting through a few things. They told me to make you very comfortable and entreated that you wait for them… if that pleases you, of course."

Rey slowly nodded as he crossed his arms and sighed.

'Seems there's a lot to be done. I guess that's understandable…'

He found it to be a waste of time to simply wait around for them to arrive. Hence, he found another way to while away time.

"Where is the residence of my… partner here?" Rey found it difficult to utter the words, but he did so anyway.

"Partner, Sir Ralyks?"

"Yes. The very beautiful lady that is affiliated with me."

Rey couldn't call her "Esme" or "Half-Elf" since no one here properly knew of her identity.

'Come to think of it… I don't think she knows that I know.' Rey stroked his chin a little.

'[Absolute Appraisal] allows you to see the surface-level Stats of your target, but since my own Appraisal Skill is under [Doppel], she probably doesn't know I have access to her Status Window.'

In essence, Esme probably didn't know that he knew her name or identity.

'Should I change that?'

"A-ah! Yes, she is in her quarters in this building. The Lord thought it would be safer and better to move her to the surface."

'Yeah. Rebal already told me…' Rey shrugged.

He wanted to see her, so he jumped to his feet and looked at the woman who stood beside him.

"Take me to her quarters."

It would be unfair if she had to constantly dress up to meet him. He just wanted to have a brief conversation with her and see how she was doing.

'Just a casual discussion, I guess…'

*******

It only took a few moments, but Rey now found himself in front of the girl's door.

The hallway was luxurious, as expected of the KariBlanc Group, and the entrance before him was painted white, contrasted with obsidian black and blue designs all around.

He was here, at long last.

'Ahh…'

It was at this moment that he remembered one very crucial information.

'… I've never entered a girl's room before.'

This was the first time he would be doing such a thing. He felt nervous as hell, but thankfully, that didn't stop him from drawing his hand close to the door to knock.

'What am I doing? It's not too late to turn back now.'

Rey didn't know why he was feeling so awkward all of a sudden.

'Esme is a cool person… right? I saved her life, and it doesn't seem like she has some sort of snobbish personality.'

In fact, remembering the last time they spoke, she was pretty open with him.

'There's no need to be anxious.'

The moment he thought like this, all the tremors within his body vanished.

It felt like Magic.

'I suppose [Dead Calm] had something to do with it. Once I've decided on something, it helps numb the detrimental emotions associated with it.'

Once his thoughts settled, he took in a deep breath and proceeded to knock on the do—

~CREAK~

—or.

Rey's hand was already in motion, so despite the door opening on its own, he had already begun to move his wrist.

The result of that was disastrous.

"Owww…"

He ended up knocking Esme's forehead.

'A-ahh!' Rey instantly took a few steps back as soon as he noticed what he did.

His widened crimson eyes noticed Esme rubbing her pale forehead as she looked at him with one of her cool blue eyes.

The second was closed, probably due to her wincing in pain.

'I think it has reddened a little.' Rey's thoughts echoed inside him, and all the comportment he thought he had built up ended up vanishing.

At this point, he remembered that [Dead Calm] wasn't active at all since he chose not to keep it on during his activities in the Black Market—or such related matters.

He had no emotional crutch for such a situation.

"S-sorry…" He managed to mutter, his gaze totally captured by her once again.

She had a pure white shirt—one that looked casual. It was oversized, exposing a great deal of her shoulders while also reaching the very end of the shorts she wore.

'About that…'

Rey looked at her shorts, and they were very low. They barely neared her knees, so a lot of her pale skin was displayed in front of him.

She was also barefoot, and her pretty little toes felt strangely alluring.

'What am I even thinking? Why am I looking down there?' Rey quickly raised his head and saw Esme's face.

She was smiling at him.

'Did she notice anything?!' He wondered, once again glad that he had his mask on.

"It's fine. This much is nothing." Her voice was clear and calm, and her calm smile told him that.

'This much…? Ohhh! She's talking about her forehead!'

Rey looked at the spot he accidentally knocked, and the redness had vanished.

He heaved a sigh of relief instantly.

"Ufu… you're quite honest, aren't you?" She chuckled, her delicate fingers slightly covering her mouth.

'Well, damn.'

Rey somehow felt frustrated in front of Esme.

'She pretty much knows who I am, and it seems like she can pretty much see through me.'

In that way, at the very least, she was in the opposite position of Alicia.

"You should come in." Esme smiled invitingly, opening the door even more as she walked into her room.

Rey stood at the entrance for a few more seconds, preparing himself for the experience.

'My first time. This is my first time.'

He had wanted it to be with Alicia, but it couldn't be helped this time.

'Let's go!'

*

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Thanks for reading!