Reborn as an Extra Chapter 724: Pleased to see you again... Part-2.

"Yo! You guys are finally back! Feast your eyes on this! Isn’t this giant plush toy absolutely magnificent!"

Link puffed out his chest with evident pride, proudly displaying the enormous stuffed bear he had managed to snag from the arm-wrestling challenge.

Upon seeing the colossal plush toy, Riya’s eyes lit up in sheer delight, and she immediately dashed forward to embrace it with a joyful hug!

While Riya was understandably ecstatic, Rio lightly clapped Link on the shoulder, a hint of disappointment etched on his face as he shook his head.

"To think that you, an S-rank awakener possessing a formidable legendary skill, would stoop to such a level as to engage ordinary individuals in an arm-wrestling match, all for a mere stuffed toy..."

"You have truly brought great dishonor to the esteemed Rex family name..."

Recognizing that Rio was teasing him, Link simply rolled his eyes and gave a dismissive shrug.

"No way, I didn't use any Qi or powers at all; it was a completely fair, hand-to-hand contest. Just because I'm naturally stronger than most doesn't mean I cheated..."

A quick glance towards the happily hugging Riya prompted Link to respond with unwavering sincerity.

"As long as she’s happy, I have no qualms about doing ‘bad’ things for her, even if it means bending the rules in some competitions..."

Link then shifted gears, changing the subject with a shake of his head.

"Enough about me. What have you two been up to? I was practically dying of boredom waiting for you both..."

"By the way, Rio, you really should have stayed with me on Island Dreamer; the various training facilities across this nation are truly one-of-a-kind, each offering unique methods..."

"Plus, they had this special potion that remarkably stimulates the beastfolk bloodline, significantly boosting physical stats with only minor adverse effects..."

Rio, however, simply shook his head at Link’s suggestion.

"Absolutely not, we didn’t come here with the intention of training, you know; our primary goal was to enjoy a relaxing vacation... and even if I were inclined to train, I wouldn't dare disregard my cute girlfriend’s desires at any cost..."

Riya was different; she was perfectly content to accompany Link wherever his adventures took him, even to a gym teeming with muscle-bound men engaged in rigorous training.

It was her personal choice to be by Link’s side, no matter the destination, but Rio held different aspirations for Lia.

Lia possessed her own distinct preferences and interests. Rio found it far more rewarding to engage in activities that brought her joy, especially since he considered himself a rather unremarkable individual with little of personal interest happening in his life.

"Ah, here, please accept these; we picked up these souvenirs for you all while we were exploring the other islands..."

Lia presented Link, Riya, and Miki with their individual souvenirs, eliciting surprised and pleased reactions from each of them.

"Speaking of souvenirs, I’ve got something for you guys too..."

With evident excitement, Link produced a rather suspicious-looking vial from his space ring and held it up for Rio to inspect.

"Behold, this is that potent concoction they consume to enter a berserk frenzy within the dog tribe... I actually had the opportunity to try one myself while I was checking out their facilities, and I must admit, the taste was surprisingly decent..."

"However, its effectiveness on humans isn't quite on par with its impact on beastfolk... I only experienced a slight surge in my physical attributes before the potion’s effects waned entirely."

"Would either of you care to sample it?"

In response to the offer, Rio recoiled with a look of blatant disgust, firmly pushing away the hand holding the potion.

"That concoction possesses an undeniably shady appearance; who in their right mind would willingly ingest something like this..."

"Furthermore, it’s common knowledge that your innate physique is overwhelmingly powerful; such low-grade enhancers would naturally have negligible impact on you!"

"I suspect you might have been swindled into purchasing this dubious item..."

As the companions continued their casual conversation, Miki distributed the various snacks she had purchased for everyone. Following this, the group began making their way towards a secluded spot Miki had personally recommended.

"There’s a quaint little plaza nestled behind a shrine, situated atop this very hill... From that vantage point, one can witness the fireworks display in all its splendid glory. Moreover, it’s remarkably uncrowded, as only a select few are privy to this hidden gem..."

As the group ascended the hundreds of steps leading directly to the summit of the hill, Miki animatedly shared interesting tidbits, acting as their unofficial tour guide.

Link, who was visibly not paying attention to her explanation, gazed up at the seemingly endless staircase and remarked,

"There are an astonishing number of stairs here; who even conceived of this place... Thankfully, we have storage rings to stash our belongings, otherwise, we’d be burdened with carrying that enormous plush toy..."

Disregarding Link’s trivial commentary, Rio suddenly inquired,

"Have you heard from Uncle Ashtel recently regarding any pressing matters?"

Link expressed a slight surprise that Rio had also adopted the familial address of ‘Uncle’ for Ashtel, similar to the others. However, he didn’t dwell on it too much, acknowledging Ashtel’s consistent and supportive demeanor towards Rio.

"Nah, he’s likely far too occupied indulging in his usual drinking sessions with his newfound companions to bother contacting us mere youngsters..."

"I did hear that the Elf king had arrived yesterday, and as the two of them are close friends, he must be enjoying himself with the Elf king somewhere..."

"I wonder if the elf king brought his children with him though... It’s been so long since we last met them..."

Hearing Link’s words, Rio inquired in his usual, unexpressive tone,

"The elven princess did seem to have taken a liking to you; if she comes, she might challenge you to a duel again..."

"Last time you beat her too thoroughly, she might seek revenge, perhaps..."

At those words, Link merely smirked and responded with composure,

"Hah, who cares? I am not afraid of anyone! I would beat her senseless again if she dared to conspire against the great almighty Link Rex!"

Rio rolled his eyes at Link's boastful declaration and immediately shouted towards Riya, who was occupied in a conversation with Lia.

"Hey! Riya! Link said he’s not afraid of you getting angry at him!"

A look of bewilderment crossed Riya’s face, and before she could utter a single word, Link hastily covered Rio’s mouth with his hand to silence him, yelling at Riya in a booming voice.

"He’s spouting bullsh*t! Don’t listen to this idiot!"