The Heart System Nov Chapter 387

Chapter 387: Chapter 387

"So," I said quietly, leaning forward a bit. "How are you holding up?"

Cora shrugged, eyes darting briefly to a group nearby before returning to her mug. "Nervous," she admitted. "But... not in a bad way. I think."

"That’s progress," I said.

She nodded, then glanced at Es. "You?"

Es’s head dipped slightly, then lifted just enough for her to nod once. No words. Just confirmation that she was still technically awake.

I chuckled under my breath and leaned back in my chair.

This was good. Really good. No pressure, no expectations—just getting them out, letting them exist sowhere new. Especially Cora. She was quiet, but she wasn’t shrinking. That alone felt like a win.

I took another sip. Cora followed suit, taking a careful, shy drink of her mocha. Es lifted her teacup with both hands, sipped, and imdiately looked like she might pass out right there.

Around us, the room buzzed. Laughter, chatter, the clink of glass. A couple of people glanced our way—quick looks, curious, appreciative. A few won held my gaze a second longer than coincidence would explain. Charm doing its thing, I guessed.

I didn’t lean into it.

I didn’t co here for that.

Tonight wasn’t about credits or status effects or dates that blurred into sothing ugly. Tonight was about sitting at a tavern-thed table, watching Cora slowly relax and Es fight sleep with heroic determination.

I took another sip of coffee and let the noise wash over us.

A few minutes later, while I was halfway through my coffee and Cora was still carefully negotiating with her mocha like it might bite her, three won drifted over to our table.

They looked confident. Too confident.

One of them—short blue wig, little crown accessory, corset over a blouse—smiled brightly. "Hey! Sorry to bother you guys."

Cora stiffened instantly. Es barely reacted, blinking once.

"No, uh—hi," Cora said, a beat too late.

"We just wanted to say," another woman chid in, tall, long red coat with gold trim, "your cosplays are super cute."

Cora’s brain visibly short-circuited. "O–oh. Um. Th-thank you."

Es nodded. "Thanks."

The first woman leaned closer, eyes lighting up. "What are you cosplaying from? I swear I recognize the tail."

Cora glanced at

for help.

I gave her an encouraging look. You’ve got this.

She swallowed. "I–it’s from, um... Nightbound Familiar. The, uh... side character. Season two."

"Oh my god!" the woman clapped her hands once. "Yes! The silver familiar girl, right?"

"Yes," Cora said quickly, then imdiately panicked. "I an—no. I an—kind of. It’s not exactly her. It’s more like—an inspired version. Like if she was—uh—casual."

There was a pause.

"That’s still really cute," the woman said diplomatically.

Cora nodded way too hard. "Thank you."

The red-coated woman turned to Es, tilting her head. "And you?"

Es took a slow sip of her tea. "Peasant."

"Oh." The woman blinked. "From...?"

Es lowered the cup. "From Ashfall Chronicles. Volu one. Before demonization. It’s a side-story to the main ani."

The third woman—short black hair, cara hanging around her neck—snapped her fingers. "WAIT. The first human who gets corrupted and becos the Demon Lord’s aide later?"

Es nodded. "Mm."

"That’s actually really deep lore," the photographer said, impressed. "Most people skip straight to demon form."

Es shrugged. "Too much effort."

Cora looked at her like she’d just witnessed a miracle.

The first woman laughed lightly. "I love that. Honestly, that’s so on-brand."

She glanced at

then. "Are you cosplaying too?"

I lifted my goblet slightly. "Background NPC."

They laughed.

"So," the blue-wigged woman said, leaning back a bit, clearly trying to keep the conversation going, "have you guys been to many conventions before?"

Cora opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "N–no. This is my first."

"Oh!" the woman said warmly. "That’s exciting."

"Yes," Cora agreed, imdiately regretting everything. "Very. Exciting. Extrely. I am—excited."

Silence.

Es stared into her tea like it held ancient secrets.

"Cool," the red-coated woman said, nodding. "You picked a good one for your first ti."

"Y–yeah," Cora said. "I almost didn’t co."

"Oh? Why not?"

Cora’s soul left her body.

"I—uh—crowds," she said weakly. "And talking. And... people."

The photographer smiled sympathetically. "Totally fair."

"I also almost tripped on the stairs," Cora added, for reasons known only to panic. "And I spilled sugar on myself earlier. Not now. Earlier."

"That happens," the woman said.

Es nodded. "She survived."

Cora covered her mouth. "Es!"

"What?" Es said. "You did."

The won laughed again, thankfully.

"Well," the blue-wigged woman said, clasping her hands, "it was really nice eting you guys. Your cosplays are genuinely adorable."

"Thank you," Cora said, quieter this ti.

"Yeah," Es added.

"Enjoy the con!" the photographer said, already stepping back.

They waved and moved off toward another table, already chatting among themselves. The mont they were gone, Cora deflated like soone had pulled a plug.

She dropped her forehead into her hands. "Oh my god."

I snorted softly. "You did fine."

"I did not," she groaned. "Why did I say ’extrely excited’? Who says that?"

Es shrugged. "You didn’t scream."

"That’s not the bar!"

I leaned back, smiling. "Hey. You talked. You answered questions. You didn’t vanish into thin air."

Cora peeked at

through her fingers. "I didn’t?"

"Nope."

She slowly lowered her hands, cheeks still red. "I think my heart is still beating too fast."

"That’s normal," I said. "Adrenaline."

Es lifted her cup again. "Social combat."

Cora let out a weak laugh despite herself. "Ugh. Why did I keep talking."

"Because you’re human," I said. "And humans ramble when nervous."

She hid her face again. "Aw..."

Es took another sip. "You did better than last year."

Cora blinked. "This is my first ani convention, Es. I wasn’t here last year."

"Exactly."

I chuckled and took another sip of my coffee.

Cora finally relaxed enough to drink again, shoulders loosening bit by bit. "They were nice," she admitted. "I just... didn’t know what to say."

"And yet," I said, "you said things."

She groaned softly. "Don’t remind ."

Es leaned back in her chair, eyes half-lidded. "They liked the horns."

"That’s because the horns are cool," I said.

"They itch," Es replied.

Cora smiled faintly into her cup, still embarrassed—but it was real.

Progress.

A sharp ding rang through the café, bright enough to cut through the chatter.

I looked up just as the barista—sa woman who’d been theatrically slamming goblets down earlier—reached up and rang the little bell hanging from the ceiling again. It was an odd thing, really. A brass bell etched with glowing rune patterns that pulsed faintly, like soone had baked magic straight into the tal. She clapped her hands twice, loud and practiced.

"Alright, everyone! Adventurers, heroes, demons, familiars, and background NPCs—may I have your attention?"

The room gradually quieted. A few people groaned playfully, others perked up imdiately.

"We’re starting a special event!" she continued, grinning. "Since tomorrow’s storm forced us to cancel the outdoor carnival gas, we’re doing sothing a little different tonight."

Es cracked one eye open. "Mm..."

"Quiz event," the barista said, already pointing at a small chalkboard behind her. "Download the Here I Am ani app, enter the quiz room, and use the password—one three three one."

A murmur rippled through the café as phones ca out.

Cora glanced at , hesitant. "A... quiz?"

"Looks like it," I said, already pulling my phone out. "Free stuff involved. I’m in."

She hesitated for maybe half a second longer, then fished her phone out too. Es followed suit, slower, like this was already exhausting her.

The barista leaned on the counter. "Rules are simple. Twenty questions. Lore, characters, iconic scenes. First, second, and third place get rewards."

"What kind of rewards?" soone shouted.

Her smile widened. "Mystery prizes."

Es straightened a little. "Are there plushies?"

"Maybe."

That was all it took.

She turned to , eyes suddenly sharp. "You’re going to win that, right?"

I snorted. "You’re putting a lot of faith in

for an ani I half-watched."

She frowned. "Then why are we doing this?"

I shrugged as the app finished installing. "They were supposed to set up carnival gas outside. Ring toss, shooting gallery, that kind of thing. Storm warning ssed it up. This is the backup plan."

Es clicked her tongue. "So you’re saying we’re going to lose."

Cora looked mildly horrified. "W–we are?"

I crossed my fingers theatrically. "Let’s hope we don’t, huh?"

She did not look reassured.

The barista clapped again. "Alright! Quiz is live. Everyone ready?"

A chorus of yeses, cheers, and a few dramatic groans answered her.

Question one popped up on my screen.

Q1: What is the na of the city where the protagonist awakens in episode one?

"Shit," I muttered.

Cora leaned closer, squinting. "Is it... Luris?"

Es yawned. "No. That’s episode three."

"Great start," I sighed, tapping a random answer.

The questions kept coming.

Character birthdays. Weapon nas. Episode-specific dialogue. Symbol anings. OST titles.

At so point, I stopped pretending we had a chance.

Cora was biting her lip, clearly trying her best. "Wait—no—wasn’t that before the betrayal arc?"

"I don’t know," I whispered back. "I was emotionally checked out by then."

Es answered maybe one out of every five questions, and even then only when she was weirdly confident.

"That one," she said lazily at question fourteen. "Trust ."

It was wrong.