Reborn as an Extra Chapter 549: Raika and The Lyre of Faith. Part-2.

"So, you're the kind who avoids seeking glory and favors lurking in the darkness instead..."

"Lurking in the shadows feels pretty good too... hehe... you get to scheme and pull off all sorts of stuff without a soul catching on... it's really pleasant... hehe..."

A smile curved Raika's lips as he ran his fingers through his hair, twirling the strands idly.

"When it comes to those Shadow dragons... I actually know their whereabouts, but they're everywhere in droves... how exactly do you plan to track down the specific one you're after?"

Rio's eyes sharpened while he responded in his typical flat, emotionless voice.

"Just share the spot with me, and I'll handle everything from there on my own... I can locate the one I'm seeking without any help..."

As long as Rio captured even a single shadow dragon, he had plenty of ways to pull out the details he required.

Whether by delving into its memories or bending its soul to his will, he could uncover every bit of intel necessary; relying on others simply wasn't required.

Revealing anything about Ellie and Liam to this stranger was out of the question for Rio, since he aimed to shield them from having their dire circumstances laid bare.

"Fine, I suppose I can share that info, since it's nothing major... but only if you agree to one term of mine."

Those words from Raika caused Rio to furrow his brow, yet he held back from cutting in, letting the man go on.

"My term is simple: you have to take me with you on this hunt for that 'special dragon' you're after..."

At the sound of that demand, Rio shook his head right away.

"No way, I turn down your term; I'm not taking you along, because I don't trust you at all..."

Rio's goal was to rescue Liam and Ellie, not pile on more problems or unleash chaos upon them.

Things were already grim enough for them, and he refused to make it any worse.

"What about another option then..."

A sly smirk tugged at Raika's mouth as he countered Rio's refusal in his soft, familiar manner.

"How about you hand over the dearest treasure in your existence, the one you cherish above all else..."

Once more, Rio denied it with a shake of his head.

"Nope, I refuse that term as well; no chance I'm agreeing to something like that..."

Raika was boldly demanding that Rio surrender his deep affection for Lia!

To Rio, that bond represented the last thread tying him to his human side; Lia meant everything to him currently, and his feelings for her ran profoundly strong.

He wouldn't yield it to anybody, no matter the circumstances.

"Or perhaps you could reveal your biggest, most buried secret? Don't bother fibbing, since I'm sharp at spotting lies..."

Rio rejected Raika's latest proposal with yet another head shake.

"No, I won't accept this term either; I'll never spill my innermost secrets to a single person... not even to someone I hold most dear..."

Buried deep within Rio's core lay the truth that this world wasn't his origin, that his presence here defied the natural order, and that he had no rightful place in this vibrant, wondrous realm.

Voicing that reality could unravel countless disasters.

The 'heavenly luck' that ruled over the cosmos might twist against him; proclaiming himself a 'flaw' in the fabric of existence would only summon doom.

That's a key factor in why Rio had kept this hidden from everyone to this point, including Lia herself.

The farthest he'd go publicly was admitting to 'transmigrating'; claiming origins from another world outright would spell danger.

And he had zero intention of confessing it at this moment.

Sure, Liam counted as Rio's companion, but Rio carried a selfish streak; he wasn't some 'hero' figure. He wouldn't risk his own valuables for anyone else's sake, save for Lia.

"Sigh, I reject this, I turn down that... your lordship, you're one tough bargain, aren't you..."

Though Raika's smile lingered and his voice stayed mild, a clear edge of annoyance crept in at Rio's stubborn stance.

Rio seemed ready to let Liam perish rather than forfeit anything vital of his own; it stemmed not from indifference toward Liam, but from prizing his personal treasures higher.

"You won't even mask your self-centered ways, yet you aim to fulfill your goal without sacrificing a thing... you're awfully covetous, you realize..."

Rio gave a firm nod in agreement.

"True enough, and I couldn't care less about others' judgments... I'd rather embrace being self-serving and avaricious than forfeit what's essential to my very being..."

The tense quiet stretched between them again as Rio shot down each of Raika's proposals.

With a heavy sigh, Raika gazed at the dilapidated temple before he continued.

"You should know... it was avarice and self-interest that doomed this temple and everyone inside it as well..."

"Rather than relinquishing their treasures, aiding one another, and uniting as one, they turned on each other and grew vulnerable to the miasma's onslaught..."

"Their demise was so gruesome it could unsettle even the hardiest warriors..."

Raika turned his eyes to the statue of the sword of promised destiny, his voice dripping with sarcasm,

"They lingered in hope, beseeching a 'Hero' to rescue them, yet never bothered to band together into a community deserving of salvation..."

"You're treading the very same 'road' of 'selfishness and greed' they did... it's downright foolish and senseless, if you ask me..."

Those remarks eased the scowl from Rio's features, and he tucked his flute into his belt before stepping up to the towering statue.

"I get it now... that's the story behind this place. I wondered why a temple existed deep in the spirit realm... turns out it was built by some long-lost ancient folk..."

"They stuck to their principles right up to the bitter end; what a remarkable group they were..."

"They probably clung to their sense of 'uniqueness' until the last breath... that's a truly noble way to live..."

As soon as Raika brought up 'paths' and 'ideologies,' Rio felt no need to stay so defensively alert.

Their clash had shifted from fists to a duel of 'ideologies' and 'convictions.'

"Given your 'distinctive' approach of forging a brighter tomorrow just for your own sake, while dodging the ordinary views of the masses..."

"That's among the most renowned 'paths' that countless have pursued... plenty of SS-rankers have ascended by embracing it..."

A grin spread across Raika's face at Rio's observation, and he answered in his customary soothing voice.

"Oh? I figured you'd lean toward the 'path' of 'protection' and 'compassion,' considering your apparent human roots..."

"I recall that the notion of being the world's 'hero' and 'guardian' thrives among that species..."

"You're truly not human, right, Rio?"

Rio's gaze tightened as he fired back,

"And just why does it matter so much to you? What do you stand to gain if I admit I'm not human?"

"Sorry to disappoint, but I am human—a simple wandering minstrel from the human empire..."