REINCARNATION OF THE STRONGEST WAR HERO-Chapter 64: CURIOSITY AND CALCULATION

"Why did you lose willingly?"

A heavy silence followed.

Rowan stood still, eyes locked on Logan’s, searching for the answer he already suspected. He wasn’t just asking. He was confirming.

His mind wandered—back to the duel.

At first, he thought Logan was simply a worthy opponent. Talented, disciplined, and sharp. But something in Rowan’s gut told him Logan was holding back. So Rowan increased the pressure—slowly at first, then more aggressively, trying to crack the calm exterior and force out the truth. Testing him.

And as expected, Logan didn’t break.

He adapted. Responded. Countered. Not with panic, not with arrogance, but with a chilling kind of control. It only pushed Rowan further. He escalated, pushing harder, forcing Logan to show his hand. But slowly Logan began to falter—his spells weakening, his stance losing shape, his breathing heavier.

Rowan assumed that was Logan’s limit.

But he was wrong.

The truth only struck Rowan in that final moment.

He hadn’t intended to end the fight with that much power. His last strike—meant to be firm but controlled—had come down with brutal force. Why? Because Rowan had anticipated resistance. Gravity pressure. Spatial distortion. The kind of force Logan had used before to manipulate his movements.

But there had been none.

No gravitational shift. No resistance. No warning.

By the time Rowan realized it, his punch had already landed.

The impact threw Logan back with a thunderous boom.

Rowan was sure his punch had killed Logan.

And guilt followed—fast and heavy.

Not for the match. But for Logan.

Logan wasn’t just talented. He was humble. Quiet. Reserved. The kind of prodigy the kingdom needed. Someone with potential to surpass them all—not just in power, but in character.

Regret was clear in his eyes.

Until.....

First a twitch. Then a groan. He tried to stand but stumbled. And fell again.

But he moved.

Rowan was stunned.

He was alive.

After the referee called the match, Logan rose—slowly, painfully, but on his own feet. He wasn’t just breathing. He was focused. Conscious. Composed.

Rowan had no words.

Because in that moment, he understood—

The talent everyone admired in Logan... was only the tip of the iceberg.

Back in the present, Logan blinked, keeping his expression carefully neutral.

"What do you mean, Prince? Why would I lose willingly?" he asked, his voice calm—too calm. Or that’s how he wanted it to be.

"Come on, Logan," Rowan said with a quiet scoff. "Do you think I’d ask a question like that if I wasn’t sure of the answer?"

Logan didn’t respond.

But his silence wasn’t submission—it was calculation.

Rowan stepped closer. "Spill it already. If you didn’t want to fight seriously, why join the tournament? Why fight like it meant something to you? You had serious injuries. Was that just part of some act? Or do you just think... none of us are worth of your full strength?"

His tone sharpened.

"And you’re only twelve. How did your tiny frame survive that kind of damage? My last attack wasn’t just for show. It was dangerous even for a Tier 3 mage. But look at you. Standing like that was nothing. Don’t tell me you’re doing body strengthening training."

Logan was already planning how to deflect. Weighing which words to say, what mask to wear. But that last question cracked through his wall before he could stop it.

"What’s body strengthening training?"

He said it too fast—like a reflex.

Rowan raised an eyebrow. He caught that sudden change. "So, you are really doing it. But where did you find it? Those techniques are long lost. Most people don’t even know they ever existed." Rowan thought Logan was caught off guard because he really knew about it.

"I didn’t do any body strengthening training," Logan replied smoothly, recovering. "I was just curious. That’s why I asked." Logan soon regained his composure and replied.

"Then how do you explain your body?" Rowan asked, not backing down. "It’s not normal. You took a direct hit from me and stood up like it was nothing. That’s not just fitness, Logan. That’s something else."

Logan exhaled quietly. "Prince, I think you’re mistaken. I just train physically. I don’t want to rely solely on magic." Logan replied, maintaining his cool.

Rowan narrowed his eyes. "So you’re not going to come clean?"

He leaned in slightly, eyes glinting.

"Alright. How about this—you tell me your secret, and I’ll tell you everything I know about body strengthening training. You seemed interested." Rowan tried to lure him. He was desperate to know Logan’s secret.

Logan offered a polite smile. "I really don’t have any secret, Prince. You’re surely mistaken. And even if I did... umm... why would I reveal it just to hear about some old training method? Anyone could explain it."

Logan tried to hide his curiosity.

But Rowan saw the flicker of it in Logan’s eyes—and didn’t miss it.

"You’re not wrong," Rowan said, smirking. "Why trust someone you’ve barely spoken to?"

He turned, took a few steps away, then paused and looked back over his shoulder.

"It was just my way of trying to quench my curiosity. A one-sided deal. But if you really want to learn about body strengthening training... I’m afraid I’m your only hope."

Logan narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you mean?"

Rowan looked genuinely amused now. He guessed correct about Logan. Logan was genuinely interested. "It’s a lost technique—gone for thousands of years. Long before the dungeons ever appeared. There’s no trace of it in any public archive. Only the royal library still holds records—and only members of the royal family can access it."

Though Rowan had baited him, he wasn’t lying. He truly was the only one who could help Logan—if Logan wanted to know more.

Logan’s mind buzzed.

"Body strengthening was real... and lost? Thousands of years ago? And dungeons came after that?"

The knowledge he gained till now about this world started to crumble.

"Is it the same as cultivation? Or just harsh physical regimens?"

The questions hammered at him.

He was so deep in thought, he didn’t notice Rowan watching.

"What? What are you thinking?" Rowan asked. "If you still don’t trust me, that’s fine. But I’m still offering to share what I know. Later on if you can trust me then share yours as well?"

Logan hesitated.

His instincts told him to keep silent. But the temptation—the need to know more—gnawed at him.

Quietly, he answered.

"Okay, Prince. But my secret... it’s not something I can reveal lightly. How can I be sure you won’t tell anyone?"

Rowan gave a small nod. "Fair enough. Here’s my offer—there isn’t much time before the next match. After it ends, follow me to the palace. I’ll show you what you want to know. To prove my sincerity. And then you decide. What do you say?"

Logan studied him for a moment.

Then nodded. "Deal."

"Good," Rowan was delighted. " See you after the final."

As Rowan turned and headed toward the royal chamber, Logan walked in the opposite direction—toward the noble spectator area where his family waited.

But his mind was elsewhere.

Body strengthening... lost knowledge... royal records... dungeons that came later...

All these thoughts jumbled up in his mind.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢