Seeing that Lia was about to continue her endless chatter, Rio ignored her and fell asleep.
There is still a long way to go to figure out the truth, he thought.
Lia continued muttering to herself until she noticed him:
"Y-you! How can you fall asleep when I'm still talking?!"
"Hey! Wake up!"
And so, the journey on the train continued. A few hours later, they finally arrived at the port — a massive, bustling harbor. Several large and small ships were docked, and the sheer scale of the place made it impossible to describe with just one word: huge.
Ms. Anna coordinated with the captain of the ship they would board, leading the students to their vessel: the Stormwalker.
"You might wonder why it's called Stormwalker," the captain bragged. "This ship has weathered hundreds of thunderstorms and countless monster attacks. I've worked with Stormwalker since I was a child."
Whether it was bragging or truth, the captain's pride was infectious, and the students listened in awe.
"You can explore the port until the ship departs tomorrow morning. Anyone left behind will have to return to the academy. Make sure to come back!" Anna instructed.
Most students ran straight to the shopping areas. Rio, on the other hand, strolled at his own pace. Opportunities to relax were rare, after all.
Should I buy some clothes? I haven't touched the money Lia transferred yet…
As he wandered, Rio noticed a group of students arguing with a shopkeeper. He remembered the "face-slapping" event from the novel, where Fade's poor background clashed with a shopkeeper's arrogance — only for Kira to intervene and give him the entire shop.
Hmm… better avoid that cliché. I don't need to deal with this nonsense.
Before he could leave, a small hand grabbed his:
"Where are you going? Come with me; I want to visit that bar!" Lia demanded.
"Oh… okay," Rio replied, deciding to go along.
The bar was small and dimly lit. Lia immediately grabbed a drink, a slight blush on her face. Her beauty drew attention from a few rowdy patrons, but Rio subtly released his aura, and they fainted harmlessly.
Such small fries can't do anything against me. Only the protagonists need to stage dramatic confrontations… he mused with a sigh.
"Hey! What are you waiting for? Drink this!" Lia handed him the cup.
"Yeah, okay," Rio replied calmly. Sigh… this woman is a real headache.
She drank quickly, and within hours, Lia was thoroughly drunk, chattering nonstop:
"You know, no one ever saved me as a child… not even my father!"
"If not for you running away, I would've beaten you black and blue!"
"My father said only danger makes you strong, so don't get in my way again!"
"Otherwise, I'll beat you to a… a… pulp…"
And then she fell asleep, sprawled over the bar stools.
I didn't know she had such a harsh childhood… Rio thought. Her past wasn't in the novel. Maybe it explains her behavior now. Anyway, it doesn't matter to me. If her story changes, it's a good sign — maybe she won't die like in the novel. My path is my own. I'm an extra.
Rio carefully lifted Lia and carried her back to the ship. Unsure of her room number, he brought her to his own. He laid her on his bed and quietly slept beside her.
Although I'm a loner, I'm not naïve — having someone nearby doesn't hurt. I might tease her a little in the morning… Rio smirked.
The next morning, the ship had departed the port. Lia stirred and looked around, clearly confused:
"Hmm… where is this?..." she muttered.
Her clothes were neat, which made her sigh in relief — until she noticed Rio.
"Oh, you're awake. Take this coffee," he said.
Lia froze, staring blankly at him. Her mind raced, eyes losing color as though the sky were falling.
"Oh, come on, what are you thinking? I didn't know your room number, so I brought you here. Stop acting like a child whose candy was stolen by a bad uncle," Rio teased.
"I-I'm not a kid! Wh-what did you do to me!?" Lia stammered.
"What do you mean? What could possibly have happened while a young, beautiful girl was asleep on my bed, completely defenseless?" Rio said with mock indignation.
Lia's urge to punch him surged, but her hangover and intoxication made her body unresponsive.
"Here, drink this coffee. You'll need energy — you spent last night clinging to me after all," Rio added, grinning.
"W-wha… that's impossible! I didn't cling to anyone!" Lia protested.
"Well, if you don't remember, then what can I do? You were quite aggressive last night," Rio said with mock offense.
Seeing her at her wit's end, Rio finally relented:
"Okay, okay, don't cry. I didn't actually do anything. You're still as pure as milk, don't worry."
"Are you serious?" Lia asked.
"Yeah, just teasing you," Rio replied.
Realizing she had been fooled, Lia's cheeks burned crimson. She stormed out of his room:
"Humph! You idiot! Meanie! I'm going! I'll definitely get back to you one day!"
Rio leaned back near the window, a satisfied smile on his face as he watched the scenery. Evening had fallen when the ship suddenly shuddered. Screams and commotion erupted from outside.
Rio sighed. What now? Can an extra not even enjoy a cup of coffee in peace? Let me rest a bit…