CHAPTER 80: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DEFEAT

Logan kept reading, turning page after page. The more he read, the more it felt unreal.

Up until the moment he was betrayed by Nolan... everything matched.

Every single detail.

This wasn’t just a case of people sharing the same names.

They were the same people.

He read until the last sentence, and finally closed the book with trembling hands.

"So it really is the Nolan I knew. The one who betrayed me..."

Logan’s heart began to race.

"Then... I’m not in a different world. I’ve been reborn in the same world. Just too far in the future to connect the dots."

He turned his eyes toward the other books Rowan had selected for him. He considered reading those too, but quickly dismissed the thought.

The prince was still waiting outside. It was unacceptable to keep him standing there for so long.

Logan stood up and walked slowly toward the library gate.

He pushed it open gently.

Outside, Rowan leaned against the wall. He had been standing for quite a while now and was starting to grow restless.

"He better tell me everything after this," Rowan thought, arms crossed. "Why did he react so strongly though? Did he find something in that book which was in the ground? And even if he did, how was he able to read it?"

Just as his thoughts raced, the door creaked open.

Logan stepped out.

Rowan straightened instantly. "Are you done?"

"Not entirely," Logan replied calmly, "but enough to answer your question. Prince, why don’t you come inside now? I want to hear about the dungeons—how they began, what secrets you’ve uncovered so far."

Logan knew he couldn’t solve the mystery of his reincarnation and the transition from cultivation to era of magic alone. If there was anyone who could help him, it was Rowan. As a result, he finally made a choice—to put his trust in someone else.

He just hoped it wasn’t a mistake.

They walked back into the library together and sat facing each other across the same wooden table.

Rowan leaned forward, eyes bright with anticipation. "So... are you going to tell me your secret first? Or do you want to hear mine?"

Logan folded his hands. His voice was composed. "Let’s satisfy your curiosity first. Ask whatever you want."

If he was going to uncover the truth of this world, he needed Rowan’s complete trust. And to earn it, he had to give something in return. What he didn’t know—was that Rowan already trusted him more than enough.

Rowan flashed a satisfied smile. "Alright then."

He sat straighter, excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Do you practice body strengthening techniques?"

"Yes," Logan answered without hesitation.

Rowan was thrilled. So what he guessed was really true. "How did you get your hands on it? That technique is long lost. Even with all the resources in this royal library, I couldn’t find a complete version—not even fragments."

Logan’s voice remained firm, though there was a flicker of caution. "Prince, forgive me if this sounds ungrateful... but that’s the one secret I can never reveal. Not to anyone. I didn’t earn it through study or inheritance. I was just... lucky. Beyond imagination."

Though Logan decided to share his secret, he could never let anyone know that he was actually reincarnated.

Rowan paused, sensing the sincerity in Logan’s voice. Then he nodded. "Alright. If it’s that serious, I won’t press. Then let me ask this instead. According to old records, body refinement has tiers. What level have you reached?"

"Martial Disciple."

Rowan blinked. "Already? That takes most practitioners at least fourteen or fifteen years of training!"

And he wasn’t wrong. Reaching that stage demanded years of grueling effort. Even geniuses struggled. But Logan had one advantage they didn’t—his memories. He had begun training far earlier than anyone else could have, and with perfect clarity. That alone had propelled him forward at an unnatural speed.

"Then... up to which Tier mage can you take on in a duel?" Rowan leaned forward, his voice lowering slightly. "I’ve been dying to know."

Rowan was never competitive. But this was important for him to know. Not to compare. But to understand how great the lost method really was.

Logan didn’t hesitate. "If I use both my magic and internal energy, I can hold my ground against any mage at Tier 3 or below in a straight fight."

He paused.

"But if I manage a surprise attack... I could probably take down a Tier 4." Which he had already done.

Rowan froze. "Tier 4?" he whispered.

The weight of that answer shook him.

A twelve-year-old capable of defeating a Tier 4 mage. Though with surprise, it was still unimaginable.

It was just unheard of.

"Then... why did you lose on purpose during the tournament?" Rowan asked.

Logan gave a dry smile. "Isn’t it obvious? If a twelve-year-old defeats a Tier 3 mage, what do you think happens next? People fear what they can’t control. What they don’t understand. That kind of display would paint a massive target on my back. It’d be like putting a bounty on my own head."

Rowan fell silent, realization finally dawning on his face.

He’d been too caught up in guessing Logan’s strength, trying to understand him. But he’d forgotten to consider the consequences if that strength became public knowledge. Now... all the pieces were falling into place.

Then, another question surfaced in his mind.

"But if you wanted to stay hidden, why enter the tournament in the first place? You still shook the arena with your performance."

Logan smiled a bit.

"What I revealed wasn’t unprecedented. A twelve-year-old with three affinities? That’s impressive, sure—but not the first in history. Is it?"

Rowan blinked.

And then, a name formed in his mind.

Lilith Starwind.

"You used someone else’s fame to cast a shadow over your own," Rowan muttered. "But even so... what you did was still flashy. It drew my attention—and others’ too."

Logan nodded. "True. And I wanted that."

Rowan looked confused. "You wanted to attract attention?"

"Yes," Logan replied, his voice turning cold. "You know my father has two wives. The first is Duke Arthur Steven’s daughter. My mother? She came from a humble background. Because of that... she lives like a prisoner inside her own home."

He clenched his fists under the table.

"I can’t let that continue. I needed to show them—every single one of them—that I’m not someone they can step over. Now they’ll think twice before mistreating her."

Rowan’s expression changed.

Now he understood.

Why Logan fought the way he did.

Why he revealed just enough strength to stir the crowd—but not enough to draw the wrath of the kingdom.

He wasn’t seeking fame. He was sending a warning.

A calculated storm. Just enough to shake the world... and protect the person he cared for the most.