Reborn as an Extra Chapter 526: Dharheim, The City of Treasures. Part-1.

The voyage toward the Dwarf Kingdom was exceptionally tranquil and pleasant.

Thanks to the advancements in modern technology, the trip lasted only a few hours, despite the vessel maintaining a slow and cautious speed.

Typically, maritime travel necessitates fending off various sea monsters, which is the primary reason every ship is outfitted with weaponry and staffed by professional awakeners.

In fact, the most frequent cause of logistical delays is the inevitable confrontation with monsters along the sea routes.

Although an international coalition works to maintain the security of these established paths, the sheer density of the aquatic monster population means that a few lucky creatures occasionally slip through the defensive perimeter.

Consequently, most vessels employ awakeners and equip them with high-tech energy weapons to neutralize any potential danger.

These escort roles are frequently filled by awakeners who have retired from active duty or those who no longer wish to endure the grind of raiding dungeons.

It is a misconception that every awakener is a fearless warrior ready to charge into battle; they are human beings with complex emotions, regardless of their personal power.

Many who are reluctant to gamble with their lives, or those with families to return to, prefer these low-risk jobs. This creates a mutually beneficial arrangement for both the employer and the awakener.

Rio’s vessel didn't run into a single monster, but this wasn't due to a lack of threats in the area.

The true reason was Rio himself, who was infusing his flute with "Sword Intent" while playing. The sheer pressure of the music caused every monster to flee in terror the moment the ship came into view.

The captain could only watch the scene with a sigh and a shake of his head. He looked at the other hired awakeners, who were standing around uselessly with nothing to do, looking completely dazed.

A fair number of those guards recognized Rio, and several even approached him to ask for autographs.

Since Rio was in a particularly cheerful mood, he obliged every single one of them.

By the time he grew tired of playing his flute, the ship had already crossed into the waters of the Dwarf Kingdom.

The architectural style of the dwarf nation stood in stark contrast to the human empire.

As they pulled into the harbor, Rio observed that while human ports were defined by futuristic technology, this place felt deeply integrated with the natural world.

The entire port had been carved directly into a massive seaside plateau; the stone structures were embellished with rare, incredibly expensive metals and gemstones.

Though the continent inhabited by the dwarves is significantly smaller than others, it is a land overflowing with precious minerals and rare resources.

Mining has been the lifeblood of the dwarves for centuries, and even now, half of their national economy is sustained by mining operations and the extraction of rare ores from dungeons.

The primary reason for the limited trade between humans and dwarves is their status as direct competitors in similar industries.

Humans possess advanced technology and a larger population to harvest dungeon resources, which mirrors the economic foundation of the dwarf nation.

Because of this, the two races view each other as rivals; they are constantly vying for control over global markets and frequently engage in complex geopolitical maneuvering.

The ship Rio traveled on was owned by one of the few human corporations permitted to conduct business within the dwarf borders.

As the vessel finally docked, Rio hopped down onto the main deck.

‘Err... they gave me a private cabin, but I spent the whole trip sitting on the roof... that’s a bit awkward...’

Suppressing his slight embarrassment, Rio made his way over to the ship's captain.

"This place is truly impressive... I’ve never seen such a distinct style of architecture before..."

Rio was captivated by the intricate stonework, where every carving depicted legendary heroes or great warriors from dwarven history.

There were even murals celebrating the historical inventions of the dwarves.

One notable example was a device that shifted the momentum of the demon extinction war: the ‘miasmic soul fluctuation detection device,’ commonly referred to as the ‘MSD.’

This artifact was designed to scan an individual's soul fluctuations to determine if they had been tainted by miasmic corruption.

During the reign of King Allen, demons frequently used demonic curses to turn humans into their mindless thralls, as these curses attacked the soul directly.

While awakeners could resist the influence—and the most powerful were entirely immune—ordinary civilians were vulnerable targets for demonic subversion.

The ‘MSD’ functioned as a safeguard to identify those who had been infected.

In later years, this soul-scanning technology became widespread and was adapted by various organizations into the devices currently used to measure an awakener’s ‘talent.’

In reality, those modern talent-testing artifacts are still capable of detecting miasma infection.

Lia and Kira had undergone testing with such a device in the past. However, the device failed to find any corruption; in fact, even SS-rankers would be unable to detect it, as their corruption was the work of a being far more powerful than any SS-ranker.

...

"Indeed! You’ll find even more breathtaking sights as you explore the rest of the country!"

"Oh, you should definitely try to visit the Tower of Sea Gazers in the far south... I’ve never been, but the rumors say it is a spectacular location..."

Rio was already familiar with the ‘Tower of Sea Gazers,’ as it had been featured in the original novel.

It was one of the rare locations on the planet where one could observe the ‘Sea of Endless Miasma’ in the far reaches of the universe using specialized high-powered telescopes.

The ‘Sea of Endless Miasma’ is located many light-years away, but that specific geographical point provides the clearest view because it aligns perfectly with the sea of miasma during certain times of the year.

"I'll keep that in mind and visit if I have the opportunity..."

Rio gave the captain a nod while waiting for the final docking procedures to finish.

"Will you be heading out immediately? Why not join the crew and me for a meal?"

Rio appreciated the gesture but didn't want to intrude on the staff's private celebration.

Most of the crew recognized him, and his presence would likely cause a chaotic scene as they swarmed him for attention.

On this particular mission, Rio preferred to keep a low profile.

"Maybe another time; I have business to attend to. I appreciate you bringing me this far."

Rio returned the key to the room he hadn't stepped foot in. The captain offered a final salute before speaking.

"I wish you success, ‘Hero.’ Whatever task you are here for must be of great importance; I’ll be praying for your safety..."

"Please return safely; my ship is only permitted to stay in this port for six months. After that, the dwarves won't let us stay regardless of our excuses. Make sure to return within that window..."

Rio nodded, and as soon as the ship was secured to the dock, his form became a blur and vanished as if he had never been there.

The port was under tight surveillance, with numerous security officers moving to inspect the ship and its personnel before granting entry into the nation.

Rio, however, simply walked past them in the middle of the day without being stopped.

By manipulating the space around him and utilizing light elementals, he ensured he remained invisible to the naked eye.

His presence was completely erased, and his movements were silent; even an early-stage SS-ranker would find it impossible to detect him unless he got close enough to trigger their survival instincts.

As he walked, Rio scanned his surroundings.

In addition to humans, he saw elves and members of other races; it appeared the dwarves were more willing to trade with others than they were with humans.

This wasn't shocking given their rivalry with the human empire. What did surprise Rio, however, was the extreme level of security at the port.

Powerful space-stabilizing artifacts were positioned throughout the area, and hundreds of guards patrolled the grounds.

Rio even sensed the auras of two S-rankers coming from a distant control tower.

‘Why on earth are two S-rankers guarding a single port? Isn’t that a bit much?’

Even major cities in human nations rarely have more than one S-ranker on permanent station, let alone a mere harbor.

The presence of two such powerful individuals in this location was definitely suspicious.

‘Err... whatever, it doesn't concern me. I have a more critical mission to focus on...’