Reborn as an Extra Chapter 529: A Meeting Arranged By Fate. Part-1.

A young dwarven boy navigated the deserted streets of his small hamlet, making his way toward the distant forest.

As he crossed the final road, the local shopkeeper spotted the youth. The boy was skipping and trotting with an expression of pure excitement on his face.

"Oh, is our young Kifrid heading out for sword practice again? Which great enemy do you plan to topple today?"

Upon hearing the shopkeeper's voice, Kifrid pouted. He attempted to shout back with an intimidating roar, but his voice remained as precious as his appearance.

"Don’t tease me, old man! One day, I’ll be the most powerful of all! I am Kifrid, the 'Invincible Warrior'!"

While making his declaration, Kifrid thrust his wooden toy sword toward the heavens, a look of immense pride crossing his features.

The shopkeeper couldn't help but find the young boy's determination highly entertaining.

"Haha! By the way, is our 'invincible warrior' going to buy some sweets today or not?"

The moment 'candy' was mentioned, Kifrid’s eyes sparkled with light, nearly causing him to abandon his strict warrior's code of conduct.

"Eh... b-but my mother told me that too many sweets will stunt my growth, and then I won't be able to become a powerful warrior..."

The old man grinned at Kifrid’s concern and continued to tease him.

"You’re already so tiny; you couldn't possibly get any shorter than this, pfffftt..."

Infuriated by the old man's mockery, Kifrid puffed out his cheeks and stomped his foot against the dirt.

"Hmph! Just you wait! I’m going to be the tallest person in this town one day! Hmph!"

With that final word, Kifrid hoisted his wooden sword over his shoulder and marched toward his usual training area near the woods.

Plenty of daylight remained before sunset, and it was his habit to remain at practice until the evening grew late.

With a scowl still on his face, Kifrid approached the training site, where several partially chopped tree trunks served as targets for the local children to hone their skills.

"Hmph! One day I’ll prove to everyone that I’m not just some helpless little kid!"

As he reached his usual spot, however, he noticed an individual already occupying a nearby stump.

This stranger was someone Kifrid didn't recognize; he was exceptionally tall and far thinner than any adult the boy had ever encountered.

The man wore strange attire and held a flute in his hand.

Kifrid knew what the instrument was, having seen adults play them before, but the most striking feature of this man was his pitch-black hair and matching dark pupils.

His raven hair fluttered in the evening breeze as he played a soft melody on the flute.

While the tune itself was simple, Kifrid found himself unable to look away from the mysterious figure.

Having never met a human, he had no concept of what this peculiar being actually was.

Driven by pure curiosity, he stepped toward the stranger, finding the flute's melody irresistibly captivating.

For some reason, he sensed a strange type of energy radiating outward every time the man played a note.

Sensing Kifrid’s approach, the stranger finally ceased his playing and opened his eyes to observe the child who had appeared beside him.

"You? Who are you? I’ve never seen you around here... and what are you doing at our training grounds?"

Kifrid was a brave boy; as long as his sword was in his grip, he feared nothing in the world. With his blade, he felt capable of even taking on dragons.

"I didn't expect to see anyone wandering near the forest this late... Meeting a random child while passing through a town... I suppose this is what people call destiny?"

The stranger whispered to himself before finally answering Kifrid's inquiry.

"Hmm, I am Rio, a humble 'travelling bard.' I play music for my own pleasure and enjoy roaming the world..."

"I was just passing through and found this pleasant spot to sit, so I couldn't resist taking a short break... And who might you be, little one? Why are you so close to the woods alone?"

"The sun is going down in about an hour; you should be heading back home. Your mother will surely worry about your safety..."

Ignoring the warning, Kifrid pointed his sword at the sky and announced with unwavering conviction:

"My name is Kifrid Gale!"

"I’m here to train! One day, I will be the strongest person in the entire Dwarf nation! I want to be the greatest swordsman in the world!"

The intensity behind the boy's declaration was so profound that Rio’s pupils shook, and his instincts began to scream.

'This child... his talent is monstrous...'

While Rio was still reeling from the shock, Kifrid tilted his head in confusion and asked another question.

"I’ve been wanting to ask... why does it feel like there is some weird energy... Hmm... what is that... it’s like something is wrapping around your whole body..."

"When you were playing that flute... it was spreading out everywhere... how strange... It’s hard for me to explain it..."

A look of bafflement took over Kifrid’s adorable face as he tapped his forehead with a small finger, struggling to find the right words to describe his thoughts.

"You!? You can actually perceive the presence of my 'Sword Intent'!?"

Rio nearly leaped from the stump in sheer disbelief, his jaw dropping at the child's observation.

Even elite S-rankers struggled to detect Rio’s Sword Intent unless he chose to reveal it.

For a child who hadn't even awakened to notice the Sword Intent surrounding his body meant the boy was anything but ordinary.

"Is it called 'sword intent'? What was its sword instant?"

Kifrid stumbled over the unfamiliar term. He was startled by Rio's sudden outburst, not expecting such a shocked reaction.

He had only mentioned it because he assumed Rio was being bothered by that strange energy.

"Uh... I just thought that having so much of that weird energy around you might be a burden, so I said it out loud. Don't be upset, though; I won't tell anyone that it's pestering you..."

"Uh... pinky promise!"

Just as Rio began to process the first shock, Kifrid delivered another blow to his common sense!

"What do you mean by 'burden'? Why do you think it is burdening me?"

Rio was truly baffled as to why Kifrid would use such a comparison for his Sword Intent.

In response, Kifrid tapped his forehead a few more times until he found the right analogy to describe the feeling.

"Hmm, it’s like... uh, when you cover a toy golem in clay to keep it from getting damaged... but then that clay ends up jamming the golem's joints from the inside..."

Upon hearing Kifrid’s words, Rio felt as though a bolt of sudden enlightenment had struck him. The sensation was beyond words!

'This!? Why did I never consider it from that perspective!?'