Reborn as an Extra Chapter 525: To The Dwarf Kingdom! Part-3.

"Your rapport with the others is quite surprising... I had always imagined the hero known as 'Dark Star' to be a frigid, ruthless executioner who took pleasure in using the most brutal tactics to hunt criminals..."

"It was truly a revelation to witness you sharing jokes with the rest of the group..."

In response to the captain's observations, Rio simply shook his head.

"To begin with, I am no 'Hero'... it would be far more precise to label me a freelance 'Assassin.' The awakener’s association merely contracted me to eliminate those chaotic elements..."

"Furthermore, since those people are close to me, I find it preferable to maintain a relaxed and calm demeanor in their presence..."

While Rio had appeared at ease around Ashtel and the others, he had already slipped back into his habitual, stoic state; his face was a mask of indifference, and his eyes had become dull and lifeless, resembling those of a corpse.

The ship captain felt a wave of anxiety wash over him while speaking to Rio, largely due to the dark reputation the young man carried in rumors.

The older generation typically favored stable and composed individuals like Ashtel; consequently, Rio’s devoted following consisted mainly of the youth, including the captain’s own ten-year-old daughter.

"Changing the subject, as the captain of this vessel... shouldn't you be stationed in the primary control room right now?"

At Rio’s inquiry, the captain offered a proud, beaming smile.

"Hehe, this vessel is actually a custom model... I commissioned the installation of a sophisticated AI system. Since it can manage nearly every situation, the physical presence of a Captain is rarely required..."

"I’ll head back to the bridge shortly, right after I provide you with a brief tour of the ship—"

Rio immediately cut him off with a shake of his head before the captain could finish.

"No, that won't be necessary. I am merely a humble travelling bard. If the ship's captain personally escorts me, my disguise will be ruined. I am perfectly capable of exploring on my own; do not worry about it..."

Though the captain had hoped to show off every corner of his ship to Rio, he could only sigh in resignation at the refusal, handing over the required tickets and identification instead.

"This is a commercial vessel used for transporting significant amounts of cargo. The majority of the people you encounter will be ordinary staff members or individuals here for business..."

"Mr. Ashtel has readied these for you; here are the forged identity papers for whenever they are needed, and this is the key to your quarters..."

Accepting the key, Rio stowed the paperwork inside his space ring.

The key was engraved with the number 234, marking his assigned room. After delivering the documents, the captain stood tall, gave a crisp salute, and spoke with gravity.

"Even if you do not view yourself as a 'hero,' the lives you have saved are beyond count. As a citizen of this land, you have my deepest admiration, Sir 'Hero.'"

The captain turned and departed abruptly, leaving no room for Rio to respond.

"Good grief... that man has clearly done his homework on me..."

Rio possessed the ability to discern a person's thoughts simply by observing their micro-expressions, aura shifts, and soul fluctuations.

Provided the target was not his superior in rank and lacked a legendary skill to shield themselves from detection, Rio’s profound mastery over the 'Soul' attribute made reading others a simple task.

The captain was an ordinary man; Rio could sense his conflicted emotions when the man had asked for an autograph earlier. He was likely troubled that his daughter idolized someone like Rio.

He had undoubtedly researched Rio’s history and character.

'I see... perhaps he's just a doting father?... Whatever! I shouldn't be poking around in the private lives of others...'

Dismissing the thought with a shake of his head, Rio began walking down the deserted hallway. With every stride he took, his physical presence grew fainter.

Within seconds, Rio had vanished from sight.

Beyond just masking his presence, he manipulated light elementals to bend light around his frame, rendering him completely invisible as he began his solo tour of the vessel.

His first stop was the dining hall, where he observed numerous employees taking their breaks.

'This is a fine ship... the staff seems at ease, probably because the captain isn't the type to micromanage or stress his crew...'

Rio moved to a vacant seat by the window and sat down.

Gazing out, he saw nothing but the boundless expanse of the deep blue ocean stretching toward the horizon.

'Now that I think about it, this marks my very first solo journey to a foreign land...'

Though he had previously visited the elven realm and even the restricted dragon valley, those missions were always carried out alongside his comrades.

Lia and the others had always been at his side; this was his debut mission as a lone wolf.

'Sigh... such is life; everyone follows their own "path," and it's rare to walk the same road with others for very long...'

Rio felt neither sorrow nor regret; his heart remained empty. However, he found that solitude often led him into these philosophical reflections on 'life.'

'This vessel really is impressive, though...'

To shift his focus, Rio pulled out the files provided by the captain, which contained extensive details regarding the ship and the shipping firm.

He was aware that commercial vessels were astronomical investments that few could ever hope to own.

While most citizens survived on government subsidies, men like the captain—who would risk their entire life's fortune on a ship vulnerable to the perils of the sea—were rare.

In Rio’s former world, cargo ships navigated the seas with relative safety.

However, that was a world of the mundane.

This world was different, plagued by catastrophic disasters and lethal monsters; the open ocean was no place for the timid.

Beasts as massive as metropolitan cities roamed the depths, and most possessed a chilling level of intellect.

Consequently, these flying vessels stuck to specific, high-maintenance routes secured by the world alliance.

Attempting to purge the oceans of all monsters was a fool's errand that would bankrupt the world and annihilate the fishing trade.

Even if such a feat were achieved, underwater dungeons would simply spawn new threats, making the effort futile.

After finishing the documents, Rio explored the rest of the ship's amenities before discovering a perfect hiding spot.

High atop the vessel, on the roof above the cafeteria, he found a secluded area.

After a bit of wandering, Rio settled down, leaning his back against the base of a communications mast.

From this vantage point, he watched the mechanical robots and human crew working on the deck below, while the blue sea met the sky in the distance.

As the briny sea wind tangled his hair and the sun warmed his skin, a sense of tranquility finally washed over him.

'I wonder if this is how "L*ffy" felt while sailing on the "Going M*rry"... this spirit of adventure is actually quite pleasant...'

In a rare moment of genuine joy, Rio summoned his sword, which shifted into the form of a metallic flute.

Vibrant flickers of 'Sword Intent' danced across the surface of the plain instrument as Rio brought it to his lips and began a gentle melody.

Rio possessed zero musical training, but he held a near-perfect 99 percent mastery over 'Sword Intent.'

'Sword Intent' allowed him to treat any object as a 'sword' or 'weapon'; thus, the flute was simply another tool for his craft.

By channeling his 'Sword Intent' through the flute, he could generate perfect pitches and harmonies without knowing a single note, treating the sound waves like controlled strikes.

While the resulting music lacked the technical soul of a professional musician's work, Rio didn't mind.

He simply wanted a soundtrack for his current mood, and thus, the first recital of Rio 'The Travelling Bard' commenced.

No longer hiding his presence, the melody reached the ears of the crew below, washing away their exhaustion and leaving them feeling rejuvenated.

Unbeknownst to the staff, the terrifying pressure of the Sword Intent laced within the music sent sea monsters and flying beasts fleeing in terror, ensuring the ship's path remained undisturbed.