Reborn as an Extra Chapter 525: To The Dwarf Kingdom! Part-3.

"You seem to get along remarkably well with everyone... I had always imagined the hero known as 'Dark Star' to be a frigid, merciless executioner who reveled in hunting down criminals using the most brutal tactics imaginable..."

"It was truly a revelation for me to witness you exchanging jests with the others like that..."

At the ship captain’s remarks, Rio simply shook his head.

"To begin with, I am no 'Hero'... describing me as a freelance 'Assassin' would be far more precise. The awakener’s association merely employed me to eliminate those chaotic elements..."

"Furthermore, I am quite close to that group, so I prefer to remain relaxed and at ease when I'm with them..."

While Rio appeared comfortable in the presence of Ashtel and the rest, he had now reverted to his habitual, vacant state; his features were devoid of expression, and his eyes had become dull, resembling those of a corpse.

The captain found himself feeling anxious while conversing with Rio, largely due to the numerous dark rumors he had encountered.

The older generation typically gravitated toward stable and composed individuals like Ashtel; consequently, Rio’s dedicated following consisted mostly of the youth—even the captain’s own daughter was only a ten-year-old child.

"Changing the subject, as the captain of this vessel... shouldn't your place be in the primary control room right now?"

In response to Rio’s inquiry, the captain offered a smile, his face lighting up with a sense of pride.

"Hehe, this vessel is actually a custom-modified model... I had a sophisticated AI system installed on board; it manages the majority of operations, so the constant presence of a Captain isn't usually required..."

"I'll head back to the bridge once I've given you a brief tour of the ship—"

Rio immediately cut him off with a shake of his head before the captain could finish.

"No, that won't be necessary. I am supposed to be a lowly traveling bard. My disguise would be instantly ruined if the ship's captain personally escorted me. I am perfectly capable of exploring on my own; don’t be concerned..."

Though the captain had hoped to show off every corner of his ship to Rio, he could only sigh and hand over the required tickets and paperwork after being turned down.

"This is a commercial vessel; we transport a significant amount of freight. Most people you encounter on deck will be ordinary citizens, either acting as staff or traveling for business..."

"Mr. Ashtel has already seen to your documentation; these are your forged identity papers should you require them, and this is the key to your quarters..."

Accepting the key, Rio tucked the documents away into his space ring.

The key was labeled with the number 234, marking Rio’s assigned room; after delivering the papers, the captain offered a formal salute and spoke with gravity.

"Even if you do not view yourself as a 'hero,' you have preserved the lives of countless people. As a citizen of this nation, I hold you in the highest regard, Sir 'Hero'."

The captain turned and walked away without a second glance before Rio could even formulate a response.

"Well... that man has certainly done his homework on me..."

Rio could generally discern a person's thoughts simply by observing their facial cues, the shifts in their aura, and the vibrations of their soul.

Provided the other party was not of a higher rank or possessed a legendary skill to shield themselves from his perception, Rio could easily utilize his mastery of the 'Soul' attribute to read them.

The captain was merely a normal human; Rio sensed the man's conflicting emotions when he had asked for an autograph earlier. He was likely troubled by the fact that his daughter idolized someone like Rio.

He had clearly studied Rio's history and character.

'Hmm... is he a daughter-con, perhaps?... Never mind! There's no reason for me to pry into the private lives of others...'

Dismissing the thought, Rio shook his head and began walking down the deserted hallway, his presence fading more into the background with every stride he took.

Within seconds, Rio had become completely invisible.

Not only was his presence suppressed, but he manipulated light elementals to bend light around his frame so he couldn't be seen, then proceeded to explore the vessel.

His first stop was the cafeteria, where he observed several crew members unwinding.

'This is a fine ship... the staff seems quite relaxed, probably because the captain isn't the type to exert undue stress on his workers...'

Rio moved to an unoccupied chair by the window and sat down.

Peering out through the glass, he saw nothing but the boundless, dark blue expanse of the ocean stretching in every direction.

'Now that I think about it, this marks my very first solo journey to a foreign land...'

While Rio had traveled to the elven realm and even the dragon valley—places usually forbidden to the rest of the world—he had always been accompanied by his companions during those trips.

Lia and the others had always been at his side, making this the first mission he had undertaken entirely on his own.

'Sigh... such is life; every person follows their own 'path,' and you rarely get to walk the same road with others for very long...'

Rio felt no sorrow or regret; rather, he felt a void of emotion. He simply found himself reflecting on the nature of 'life' more frequently during his moments of solitude.

'Still, this vessel is quite impressive...'

Seeking a distraction, Rio pulled out the papers the captain had provided, finding them filled with details regarding the ship and the shipping company.

He was aware that commercial vessels were incredibly costly; few individuals possessed the wealth to own one.

Most of the nation's citizens survived on basic state income, and rarely did anyone possess the courage of the ship captain to gamble their life savings on a vessel constantly threatened by the perils of the sea.

In the world Rio once knew, merchant ships crossed the seas safely, moving massive amounts of goods between nations.

However, that was only possible because it was a mundane world.

This current world was different; it was plagued by monstrous creatures and environmental catastrophes, and the ocean was no place for the timid.

Beings the size of metropolitan cities roamed the depths, and many of them possessed high intelligence.

These flying vessels typically stuck to a few established routes that were strictly patrolled and secured by the world alliance.

Even if there were a desire to purge the sea of monsters, the cost would be astronomical and would utterly ruin the fishing industry.

Furthermore, even if such a feat were achieved, underwater dungeons would eventually manifest and release new monsters, making the endeavor largely pointless.

Once he finished reading the documents, Rio toured the rest of the ship's amenities before finally discovering a place that suited his taste.

On the very roof of the cafeteria, at the highest point of the ship, was a deserted area.

After exploring for a while, Rio settled there, leaning his back against the base of the mast where the communication arrays were mounted.

From this vantage point, he could watch the various robots and crew members working on the deck while the deep blue sea spanned out toward the horizon.

He felt the warmth of the sun and found himself relaxing as the distinct, salty ocean wind blew through his hair.

'Is this how 'L*ffy' feels while sailing on the 'Going M*rry'... this sense of adventure is actually quite pleasant...'

Finding himself in a rare state of contentment, Rio withdrew his sword, which had been transformed into the shape of a metallic flute.

Intense flickers of 'Sword Intent' danced across the surface of the plain-looking instrument as Rio brought it to his lips and began to play a serene melody.

Though Rio possessed zero knowledge of musical theory or technique, he commanded the immense power of 'Sword Intent,' which he had mastered to 99 percent proficiency.

'Sword Intent' allowed Rio to treat anything as his 'sword' or 'weapon'; essentially, he was utilizing the flute as an extension of his martial path.

By channeling his 'Sword Intent' through the flute, he could generate melodies and rhythms without any formal training, as he was simply manipulating the resulting waves as if they were attacks.

A song produced this way lacked genuine musical skill and would be laughed at by a real maestro, but Rio was indifferent to such things.

He merely wanted a soundtrack for his current mood, and thus, the first performance of Rio 'The Traveling Bard' commenced.

Since Rio was no longer hiding his presence, the crew members heard the music and felt their spirits lift, their exhaustion seemingly washed away by the beautiful tune.

What the staff didn't realize was that the monsters of the sea and sky were being driven away in terror by the overwhelming pressure of the Sword Intent, ensuring the ship’s passage remained perfectly peaceful.