Reborn as an Extra Chapter 704: Burdens of being an Awakener. Part-2.

Rio offered a gentle nod to Riya’s words, his usual serene smile gracing his features once more.

"I’m beginning to understand how you managed to capture the attention of our academy’s ‘Mad Demon Sword,’ renowned for her aversion to men..."

"You possess a remarkable gift for eloquence... you excel at inspiring others, ah..."

"If only I possessed your skill in self-motivation..."

With these pronouncements, Riya began to ascend into the air.

"Thank you for your assistance, Rio... The hour grows late; I must return home now. Should I be absent for too long, my doting and affectionate boyfriend, who resembles a cuddly bear, might start to worry and feel lonesome..."

"Despite his rugged exterior, he becomes quite melancholic if I’m not by his side..."

Rio offered a parting wave as he responded.

"Well, I trust you will address matters with him directly and share your troubles..."

"Utilize his robust frame to let him bear some of your burdens..."

Riya acknowledged Rio’s advice with a nod and a smile before soaring away toward the capital city.

For a moment, Rio gazed at Riya’s retreating form until it vanished from sight. He then ambled over to a nearby bench nestled beneath a tree and took a seat.

Leaning his back against the bench, Rio fixed his gaze upon the sun descending towards the horizon and spoke.

"For how much longer do you intend to remain concealed? You are aware, are you not, that I am among the premier tracking experts in this land?"

At Rio’s declaration, the air shimmered subtly, and Raji materialized on the very bench Rio occupied.

"Your reputation as the strongest S-ranker is not without merit... I confess, your ability to detect me surprises me..."

"It seems inevitable that you will soon attain the SS rank..."

Raji was, in truth, quite taken aback that Rio had perceived her presence so readily, despite her utmost efforts to remain undetected.

Typically, the chasm between S-rankers and SS-rankers is so profound that it’s virtually impossible for even the most formidable S-rankers to contemplate confronting an early-stage SS-ranker, let alone one of considerably greater power.

However, Rio presented a distinct exception.

He already possessed considerable prowess in detection, augmented by his unusually potent ‘intuition.’ Now, standing on the precipice of SS rank, his skills had ascended to an entirely new echelon.

Given the overwhelming might of his soul manipulation abilities, Rio could now discern and pursue the hidden soul fluctuations of even early SS-rankers like Raji.

Furthermore, it was inconceivable that Riya could have journeyed all the way to Oaklum without her absence from the capital city being observed.

Ordinarily, no one would give much thought to an S-ranker traversing the nation without apparent purpose. Yet, Riya was no ordinary individual.

She held connections to two SS-rankers and stood as the foremost healer in the entirety of the land.

Ensuring her safety was paramount; moreover, as Riya’s elder sister, Raji’s concern for her younger sibling’s emotional well-being was only natural.

Consequently, Rio astutely inferred that Raji had positioned herself to safeguard Riya from the shadows.

"I had anticipated your appearance during our conversation to offer her solace... I am surprised you maintained your hidden state until the conclusion..."

Rio’s words prompted a sigh from Raji as she observed a hairpin clutched in her hand.

"It is not a matter of unwillingness to emerge and console her... rather, I am profoundly inept at offering comfort and tending to the needs of others..."

"My upbringing was centered on the pursuit of becoming a formidable and unyielding warrior; unlike her, I have borne witness to the world’s harsh realities with stark clarity... as the saying goes, one cannot skirt the periphery of a river without eventually wetting one's feet..."

"That inherent cruelty and cold detachment have profoundly shaped my character... I struggle immensely to articulate emotions; I simply could not find the appropriate words to convey to her, even knowing the burden she carried..."

Rio let out a sigh upon hearing this.

"Indeed... such is the nature of being an awakener... it proves challenging to maintain a connection with ordinary human sentiments within one’s heart..."

The path of an awakener is fraught with difficulty, particularly when one cherishes loved ones who are not awakeners and cannot fathom their existence.

The realms inhabited by an awakener and an ordinary individual are vastly dissimilar.

Each traverses their own set of trials and leads lives of distinct complexity; comprehending both worlds concurrently presents a formidable challenge.

"Well, she is journeying back to converse with Link... will you not accompany her and lend an ear to her concerns? Even without offering words of solace, your mere presence is often sufficient, you understand..."

"At times, merely having a shoulder to rely upon is enough to alleviate one’s burdens and restore one’s strength..."

Raji acknowledged Rio’s words with a sigh, rose from the bench, and inclined her head.

"Indeed... you speak the truth; I ought to depart..."

"Rio... Lia was correct. You are a genuinely good person, and I am deeply thankful that you are friends with Riya and Link... You have assisted them and me significantly... I will remain eternally grateful for that..."

Rio dismissed her words with a wave of his hand.

"It's nothing extraordinary... I merely aim to offer my assistance to the best of my ability when needed... I am not perfect myself; no one is..."

"But persisting through challenges is all we can do... after all, that is the essence of being human..."

Raji nodded her head at Rio as a gesture of gratitude before flying away to pursue Riya.

Witnessing the two sisters finally depart, Rio let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh... despite my own lack of emotion... I find myself offering advice on humanity to others... what profound hypocrisy... sigh..."

To be entirely truthful, Rio harbored no regret or sorrow regarding the demise of Zach or Riko. It wasn't that he harbored any animosity towards them; rather, he was simply incapable of extending his concern to anyone other than Lia.

However, in order to assimilate with others as a typical human being, Rio was compelled to maintain a facade and act constantly.

'Emulating human behavior... proves more exhausting than I had anticipated...'

'Sigh... I was just lecturing Riya on the importance of sharing her burdens with her loved ones, and here I am... unable to confide my own struggles even with Lia, the one I trust implicitly, while simultaneously advising others...'

It wasn't that Rio lacked the desire to share his anxieties with Lia. It was simply that he wished to avoid causing her additional worry, considering the burdens she already carried.

Shaking his head, Rio rose to his feet, deciding to return home earlier than expected.

'Let it be... all this intense contemplation has drained my energy; I must return home and embrace my wife to recuperate...'