Reborn as an Extra Chapter 682: I will find my heart back someday.

"Can you not leave for now?..."

At her question brimming with sorrow, Rio tenderly stroked Lia’s lovely face.

Even though they had stayed together throughout the journey here, Lia still craved more time; she longed to linger with Rio longer and hated the thought of parting.

The primary reason awakeners are trained to avoid unnecessary contact with any sentient beings in dungeons is precisely to avert scenarios like this.

Dungeons involve more than just beasts and battles; certain ones harbor complete ecosystems within.

Not every creature inside is utterly malevolent, not all foes seek combat, and not all boss monsters hunger for your demise.

Frequently, high-rank dungeons contain vast ecosystems, with numerous intelligent beings coexisting peacefully.

At times, the raid teams themselves turn into the true aggressors, sparking disorder and turmoil.

Such circumstances can lead to deep emotional scars.

Awakeners realize these dungeons vanish upon conquest, leading some to rampage wildly, butchering all in their path to quench their savage urges.

Occasionally, awakeners form bonds and grow too attached to dungeon inhabitants, facing severe psychological torment when departure arrives.

All aspire to become awakeners and heroes, yet they overlook the grim underbelly of this profession.

Awakening demands a resilient spirit; it’s a treacherous ’Path’ riddled with dangers, where death’s shadow looms eternally during dungeon assaults.

Bodily wounds and spiritual harm can heal via many techniques, but mental scars... even the mightiest elixirs or potions struggle to mend them!

"Well... This mission’s outcome has strayed far... Allow me to contact them and adjust plans..."

"Actually... we may require your strength as well... so no matter the strategy, you’ll have to join the meeting..."

"I’ll reach out and instruct them to delay while readying preparations..."

Upon Rio’s reassurance, Lia hesitantly released his shirt cuff and burrowed beneath the covers.

Just her head and eyes peeked out shyly as she whispered softly.

"Come back soon, okay?"

Rio gave a nod, planted a gentle kiss on his sweet girlfriend’s forehead, and exited the chamber.

Beyond the door, Lia’s devoted maid Mel stood rigidly like a sentinel.

"Why linger out here? Why not enter?"

Meeting Rio’s gaze directly, Mel responded with her signature stoic expression.

"Because I’d rather not witness the lovey-dovey pair smooching or getting intimate... interrupting something private would be embarrassing..."

Rio rolled his eyes at Mel’s remark and swiftly shifted subjects.

"She’s under the weather right now; go keep her company for a bit. I need to make a call..."

"Oh, and did you confine those two troublemakers?"

Mel affirmed with a nod.

"Yes, for causing young lady distress, they’re confined to their room with no supper tonight..."

"I itched to punish them harsher, but young lady’s already upset enough..."

Rio acknowledged with a nod and began departing.

Right as he turned to seek the terrace for a secluded spot to converse, Mel called out from behind.

"It’s wonderful that you’re aiding young lady and offering her such support... but remember to look after yourself too..."

"I know you face your own burdens... yet I can’t bear seeing Lia grieve... I’d be grateful if you avoided anything that might hurt her..."

Gazing at Rio, Mel continued,

"I regard her like my very own child... if misfortune befell her... I couldn’t endure it..."

"Though I’m merely a commoner unable to grasp the woes of one so mighty... please cherish my daughter and refrain from reckless acts too frequently..."

Finishing her words, Mel offered a slight bow to Rio before stepping into Lia’s room and vanishing from view.

Mel’s earnest plea struck Rio’s heart deeply, rattling his very spirit.

Staring at his reflection in the nearby glass, Rio saw how eerily hollow and lightless his eyes appeared.

Journeys through the spirit realm, clashes with Raika, witnessing Ellie’s death before him, nearly forfeiting Lia.

Events crashed upon him relentlessly, denying even a single day’s respite.

For months, he’d dashed ceaselessly without true rest.

While his robust physique endured unscathed, his psyche fared far worse.

Gazing into those lifeless eyes, Rio whispered to himself,

"Power comes with a price... I don’t wish to bear this burden, yet weakness is something I can’t tolerate..."

"Asking me to look after myself... that’s rather unfair, Mel..."

"You sure know how to strike right at the heart... sigh..."

A wry chuckle escaped Rio’s lips from his own thoughts, and for the first time in ages, a sense of powerlessness gripped him.

From the moment Rio ascended to S-ranker, nearly every challenge in life had turned effortless for him.

Fights lost their former intensity, and in the end, even Riaka fell to his superior strength.

However, no amount of power could shield Rio from the emotional void that tormented him relentlessly.

The issue had escalated to such extremes that even Mel—typically distant and concerned solely with Lia—had begun to pick up on it.

"I would never cause harm to Lia... someday, I’ll surely laugh freely like all others..."

"If I persist toward my ambitions... my missing heart will return to me one day as well..."

Fist clenched tight, Rio rekindled his resolve before turning and pressing onward with firm steps.