Inside Jurgen's mansion in his study, Jarek and Eira were going through every document they came across.
"Are you sure we are going to find any clues here?" Eira was doubtful.
She didn't expect the place Jarek was referring to was the mayor's mansion.
Jarek, who sensed Eira's doubts, explained, "If there is any place that would have the information we want, then it's here. Thrain had so much information about us. He knew about you and the other nine whom he captured as hostages. And then Grandmasters from the mayor's mansion are sent to assist him. It becomes obvious where he got our information from. Jürgen must have investigated us and handed the information to Thrain."
While she continued searching, Eira couldn't help but ask. "Wasn't Jurgen an Empyrean? What could Thrain have offered him to look the other way for all those years? I can't imagine Thrain giving him something valuable."
"It's nothing much. He must have offered him more spirit stones. Thrain had a lot of them, and his wealth far surpassed Jurgen's because of his previous background. The only thing Jurgen had that Thrain didn't was power."
'Back on Earth, there were plenty of people like Jurgen and Thrain. People who used their wealth to do as their hearts desired, even at the cost of others' lives, and those who had so much money that it would never run out, even generations later, yet still hungry for more, even if others are harmed.'
"Resources are a form of power. The more resources you have, the more power is at your fingertips." Jarek said with a thoughtful look, thinking of his previous world.
Eira's expression darkened at the thought that the reason why countless children from Arvenca suffered was so that Jurgen could fill his pockets even more.
For centuries, how many lives have been lost because of Jurgen's greed?
"It was a good thing he died," Eira muttered.
Jarek internally shook his head, but he didn't say his true thoughts.
'Even if Jurgen is dead, the person who would replace him would most likely be no different from him. Power tends to corrupt people.'
Eventually, after an hour of searching, they ended up with nothing.
They couldn't find anything related to them.
"It seems they are not here." Jarek was confused.
How could he have known that Selena would use the chaos generated by his battle with Jurgen to escape with all the information he had come looking for?
Having found nothing, the two could only leave.
"The town is going to be in an uproar," Eira muttered as she thought about today's events while she stealthily left the mansion through the window.
More specifically, about Jurgen's death, which is bound to cause a stir.
Jarek followed behind after returning the study to its original state.
The next day, Jarek attended his classes as usual.
But as soon as class ended, the other students surprisingly crowded near his seat.
"Jarek. You were amazing at the tournament. Why don't you come under our family? We are willing to support your cultivation. Yesterday, you were in a bit of a hurry, so I couldn't invite you like today." A female shadow demon offered, unwilling to give up this fat piece of meat.
Jarek's talent was top-tier, even surpassing that of royals.
If she could tie him down to her family, then they were bound to soar.
But who would be willing to let all the benefits fall to another?
A fire phoenix pushed the female student aside, proposing his offer. "Don't listen to her. Why don't you join my family? Their House can only take you so far. We would give you resources that far exceed what her family can."
Soon, more offers came, others promising more resources and others more freedom, but Jarek just calmly raised his hand to silence them.
"For now, I have no intention to join any noble House."
But this did little to deter them. "But what will you do when you get to the sect? You will need resources, something you lack. But if you join my family, I am willing to offer you resources so that you can complete the first and second phases."
Jarek raised his eyebrows, 'This guy must be very rich.'
But then he sighed, 'Too bad I don't need spirit stones to cultivate, otherwise you would have won me over, that is if I hadn't noticed the scheming nature of these powerful forces.'
"The answer is still no." Jarek's intent was made clear.
It didn't matter how many of them came or who was proposing the offer; his answer wouldn't change.
Brynhild, who was watching everything from a distance, had long understood this.
'A person of his caliber will never want to be under anyone, no matter how tempting the benefits are. He will only see submission as a cage. Trying to subordinate him to a force is impossible.'
Astrid, who was next to her, calmly watched the scene unfold, her thoughts similar to those of Brynhild's.
Time flew by quickly, and soon all of the day's lessons were over.
As usual, Jarek left for Eira's place to assist her in her cultivation.
Eira, who had closed her eyes in meditation, opened them to see Jarek.
For a moment, she was surprised and took a long look at him.
Jarek, who was at the receiving end of the stare, flinched slightly. "Is there something on my face?"
After a moment, Eira replied. "You seem different."
It was only something she could notice, having known Jarek for so long.
"Your expression seems less stiff, and it isn't as cold as it was before. If I had to put it into words, you look more alive than you were before. I didn't notice it yesterday, but now I can tell."
"Hmm?" Jarek was surprised, and he turned to look at the mirror, which was quite a distance from him, but was still facing him.
With his enhanced vision, it wasn't a problem to see that far.
And though it was not that noticeable, there were indeed some changes.
'Did the Jarek part of myself find peace after I avenged my mother? Is that why..."
Strictly speaking, Jarek's cold exterior was just an act of adaptation to his changing situation.
If he hadn't taken that disposition, he would have remained broken all of those years ago.
And when the transmigration happened, those experiences didn't magically vanish.
The memories were still there.
While the current Jarek could be said to be a different person, it would be more accurate to call him an amalgamation of two people: a traveler from Earth and an orphan whose experiences were shaped by a tragic past when he lost something very precious to him.
"Jarek, I may not be that helpful, and I might need your help more than you need mine, but just remember that I am here for you. If you need any help, I will be happy to lend it to you."
For some reason, as he heard Eira's words, they strangely seemed to overlap with her mother's words.
"Please… take care of Eira."
For so many years, he had always thought that he was obligated to protect because it was one of his mother's last wishes.
'Ah. I see. You didn't want me to feel alone.'
Memories of the past replayed in his mind, the times when he, his mother, and Eira spent time together like a family.
It was a time he wouldn't be able to forget for as long as he lived.
'Eira is still here. I am not alone.'
As he thought of this, Jarek couldn't help but smile, a smile Eira hadn't seen in a long time. "Yes. I'll be sure to remember that."