Reborn as an Extra Chapter 526: Dharheim, The City of Treasures. Part-1.

The travel to the Dwarf Kingdom passed by in a cozy and tranquil manner.

Utilizing modern technology, the journey was completed in a mere few hours, even though the vessel maintained a steady and unhurried pace.

Typically, maritime vessels are forced to battle monsters during transit; this reality is why awakeners and heavy weaponry are permanently stationed on ships of all classifications.

In fact, the primary cause of transport delays is the frequent appearance of sea monsters along these established routes.

Despite the collaborative efforts of many nations to protect these sea lanes, the sheer density of aquatic monsters is overwhelming, allowing some lucky beasts to occasionally slip through the defensive nets.

Consequently, most shipping companies recruit awakeners and outfit them with energy-based weaponry to neutralize potential threats.

These escort roles are frequently filled by awakeners who have retired from active duty or those who no longer wish to participate in dungeon raids.

It is a misconception that every awakener is a fearless warrior ready to charge into combat; they are human beings with emotions, regardless of their personal power level.

For those who fear for their lives or have families to return to, these low-risk jobs represent a perfect compromise for both the employer and the employee.

Rio’s vessel didn't encounter a single beast, though this wasn't due to a lack of monsters in the area.

The lack of interference was actually because Rio was channeling his "Sword Intent" into his flute, playing at such a volume that any nearby monsters fled the moment the ship came into view.

Watching this, the ship's captain could only shake his head and sigh; the hired awakeners were standing around uselessly with nothing to do.

Recognizing Rio, several of the awakeners even approached him to ask for autographs.

Since he was in high spirits, Rio obliged everyone who asked.

By the time he grew tired of playing his flute, the ship had crossed into the waters of the dwarf kingdom.

The architectural style of the dwarf nation stood in stark contrast to that of the human empire.

As they pulled into the harbor, Rio noticed that the port was integrated with nature, unlike the high-tech, futuristic docks of the humans.

Carved directly into a stone plateau overlooking the sea, the port was adorned with incredibly expensive rocks and rare metals.

The continent inhabited by the dwarves is significantly smaller than others, yet it is exceptionally dense with rare minerals and ores.

Mining has been the lifeblood of the dwarves for centuries, and even now, half of their economy is sustained by extracting rare ores from dungeons.

The limited trade between humans and dwarves stems from their status as direct competitors in similar industries.

With humans becoming technologically sophisticated and possessing a larger population to harvest dungeon resources, the dwarf nation’s economy faces direct pressure.

As a result, the two nations view each other as rivals, constantly vying for dominance in global markets and engaging in complex geopolitical maneuvering.

The vessel Rio traveled on was owned by one of the few human corporations permitted to operate within the dwarf kingdom.

As the ship finally docked, Rio leapt down toward the deck.

’Err... I was assigned a private room, but I spent the entire trip sitting on the roof... that’s a bit awkward...’

Pusing aside his embarrassment, Rio approached the captain.

"This location is truly incredible... I’ve never seen such distinctive architecture before..."

Rio was captivated by the intricate stone carvings, each one immortalizing an ancient warrior or hero of the Dwarf race.

Other reliefs depicted the historical technological breakthroughs of the dwarves.

One notable invention shown was the ‘miasmic soul fluctuation detection device,’ or ‘MSD,’ which turned the tide during the demon extinction war.

This artifact functioned by scanning an individual's soul fluctuations to identify signs of miasmic corruption.

During the reign of King Allen, demons frequently utilized curses to turn people into their thralls, targeting the soul directly.

While powerful awakeners could resist or even ignore these curses, ordinary civilians were vulnerable targets for demonic conversion.

The ‘MSD’ served as the primary tool for identifying those who had been infected by the miasma.

Eventually, this technology evolved into the modern devices used by organizations to measure an awakener's ‘talent.’

In truth, the modern talent-testing apparatus is still capable of detecting miasmic infection.

Lia and Kira had undergone testing with such a device, but their corruption remained hidden; even SS-rankers would fail to see it, as their curse was placed by an entity far beyond that rank.

...

"Indeed! You will find even more wonders as you explore the rest of the country!"

"Oh, make sure you visit the Tower of Sea Gazers in the far south... I haven't been personally, but the rumors say it is a spectacular sight..."

Rio recalled the ‘Tower of Sea Gazers’ from the descriptions in the original novel.

It was one of the few locations on the planet where one could use specialized equipment to observe the ‘Sea of Endless Miasma’ in the far reaches of the universe.

Located light-years away, the Sea of Endless Miasma is only visible from that specific geographic point when it aligns with the tower at certain times of the year.

"I’ll try to visit if I have the opportunity..."

Rio gave the captain a nod, waiting for the final docking procedures to finish.

"Are you heading out immediately? Why not join the crew and me for a meal?"

Though he appreciated the gesture, Rio didn't want to disrupt the staff's celebrations.

He knew that if he joined them, he would be swarmed by fans, creating a scene.

Maintaining a low profile was essential for his current mission.

"Perhaps another time; I have business to attend to. I appreciate the escort."

Rio returned the key to the room he hadn’t used, receiving a final salute from the captain.

"I wish you success, ‘Hero.’ I’m certain your task is of great importance; I’ll be praying for your safety..."

"Please return before we depart; we can only stay in this port for six months. The dwarves won't tolerate our presence beyond that, regardless of our excuses. Please come back within that timeframe..."

Rio nodded, and as the ship finally settled against the dock, his form blurred and vanished as if he were a ghost.

The port was under heavy guard, with security teams rushing to inspect the vessel and its crew before granting entry into the nation.

In spite of the security, Rio walked right past them in the light of day without being noticed.

By manipulating light elementals and the space surrounding him, he rendered himself invisible.

His presence was erased and his footsteps were silent; even an early-stage SS-ranker would struggle to find him unless Rio moved close enough to trigger their survival instincts.

As he moved, Rio took stock of his surroundings.

He saw elves and various other races, suggesting the dwarves were more willing to trade with others than with humans.

This made sense given the rivalry with humanity, but the level of security at the port was what truly shocked Rio.

Powerful space-stabilizing artifacts were active, and hundreds of sentries patrolled the area.

He even detected the distinct auras of two S-rankers inside the distant control hub.

’Why are there two S-rankers guarding a single port? That seems like complete overkill.’

Even major human cities rarely had more than one S-ranker on duty, let alone a mere harbor.

The presence of such high-level power in this location was highly suspicious.

’Never mind, it doesn’t concern me. I have my own mission to focus on...’