Chapter 5 – Research
The penthouse Jack lived in was a palace of glass and marble, perched high above the bustling city below. It was one of the most luxurious in the world, spanning hundreds of square meters and occupying the entire upper floor of the tower. Wide, sunlit windows framed the horizon. The balcony stretched outward like a kingdom in the clouds, complete with its own pool that shimmered in the morning light.
Walking through the quiet halls, Jack made his way to the kitchen. The scent of butter and sugar lingered in the air, warm and sweet. Lidia stood at the counter, humming softly as she worked, her golden hair tied back loosely. She wore a light robe that draped casually over her body, clinging in certain places and slipping in others, accentuating her figure without effort. Her skin caught the light, glowing faintly, as though she had stepped out of a dream.
It was the kind of sight that would leave most men breathless. But for Jack, it was a daily luxury.
"Sit down, young master. Breakfast will be ready in a moment~," she said with a cheerful lilt, never breaking her rhythm. She looked really happy just cooking and humming different songs while swaying her body left and right.
Jack pulled out a chair and sat, leaning back slightly as his gaze lingered on her.
'Her relationship with him is… complicated,' he thought, studying her carefully. 'She started as his caretaker, became a mother figure… and now she's something more. Far more.'
The book had never gone into much detail about Jack Ashenblood's personal life. All of this—the intimacy, the history with Lidia—was new to him. But with Jack's body came Jack's memories, his attachments, and his feelings. They blended with his own, creating a strange, unfamiliar mix.
When he looked at Lidia, he didn't just see beauty. He saw warmth, comfort, devotion. He saw love.
'He really loved her,' Jack realized. His fingers tapped lightly against the table. 'But then why am I here? Did the real Jack die, and I replaced him? Or… am I him, just rewritten?'
The questions spiraled endlessly. He had no answers.
For now, though, he pushed them aside. Breakfast first. The rest could wait for after he filled his empty stomach.
"Waffles! Ta-dah~!" Lidia announced proudly as she set down two steaming plates. Fluffy waffles stacked high, golden brown and drizzled with chocolate. Fresh fruit glistened on top, with a cup of rich coffee at the side.
Jack's stomach stirred at the smell.
"Thank you," he said politely.
"Mhm, enjoy, young master." She smiled so brightly it seemed to light the room more than the sun.
But Jack didn't pick up his fork right away. Instead, he stared at her quietly. His heterochromatic eyes studied her like he was seeing her for the first time—though in truth, his mind was far away.
"Hmm?" Lidia paused mid-bite and tilted her head. "Is everything alright, young master?"
"…Yeah. It's fine." His voice carried a faint daze.
Her brow furrowed, concern softening her features. "You've been acting a little strange since this morning. Are you sick? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"
He shook his head quickly. "No. I'm fine."
She chewed slowly, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then her eyes sharpened with sudden clarity.
"Are you thinking about The First Step?"
Jack froze. Silence answered her better than words could.
"That time has truly come," Lidia said, her voice low but warm. She set down her fork and looked at him with pride brimming in her eyes. "My young master has grown so much. But don't be afraid. You are unbelievably talented and sharp. Smarter than anyone I've ever known. Honestly, I won't be surprised if you… break the machine."
She laughed lightly at her own words, but Jack didn't.
The First Step…
It was the rite of passage. When one turned eighteen, they underwent a ceremony that awakened their ability to harness mana. Without that transformation, the energy that coursed through Reveil remained untouchable. But with it, one became an Arcane.
And Arcanes were the pinnacle of this world. They bent mana into flame, steel, or lightning. They forged miracles with their bare hands. They ruled kingdoms, toppled armies, and carved their names into history.
Jack's own ceremony was only days away. It was supposed to be the dawn of his new life.
Instead, it was his death sentence.
In the novel, Jack Ashenblood didn't live long past his awakening. He died early—pathetically—after provoking the wrong person. That person being none other than Arthur Starborn, the protagonist.
He underestimated the hero and paid for it. For someone who claimed to be clever, it was such a stupid death. Jack ran a hand through his hair, irritation prickling his chest. And the worst part? That fight didn't even need to happen.
"Break the machine, huh?" Jack forced a chuckle, leaning back in his chair. "I wouldn't put much hope on that."
Lidia grinned at him. "There's the smile I love to see."
He smiled faintly with her, but his mind churned beneath the surface.
'I need to change this. Whatever brought me here, it wasn't so I could just repeat his fate. I won't die again. Something—or someone—put me here, and I need to know why.'
But survival wouldn't be easy. Fate was stacked against him. He had already made an enemy of the story's chosen one, and the world itself seemed eager to see him fall.
If he wanted to live, he had to fight against the current. He had to outwit the story itself.
For now, that meant caution.
'I know the sequence of events, at least for a while. I can't afford to make drastic changes yet. The butterfly effect could spiral into something far worse.'
"Young master?" Lidia's voice broke through again. "You don't like the waffles?"
Jack blinked. "What? No—they're perfect, as always. Thank you, Lidia."
Her smile softened again. "Mm. That's all I needed to hear."
He finally picked up his fork and began eating. The two of them slipped into casual conversation—about his business ventures, about school starting again, about mundane plans for the day. It all felt strangely normal, even comforting. Despite everything, the rhythm of these mornings was something his inherited memories knew well.
Jack enjoyed these times a lot, where he could just talk to Lidia and be himself. Not having to scheme or deal with unwanted situations. He can just laugh, talk, and enjoy her presence as he always did.
Nearly an hour passed before breakfast ended. Jack washed the dishes himself, letting the warm water run over his hands as his thoughts simmered.
"Practice is in an hour, young master," Lidia said as she tied her hair back and slipped into her training attire. Even in casual clothes, there was a poise in her movements, a strength hidden beneath her soft smile. "I'll head out to pick up a few things first."
He nodded. "Alright. I'll be in the study."
"See you soon."
The door closed behind her, leaving silence in her wake. Jack exhaled slowly, then made his way to the study room.
The computer hummed to life beneath his fingers. He opened the search engine and typed in one word: Reveil. Maps filled the screen, dozens of them, each more detailed than the last.
But none were complete.
"As expected," Jack murmured, crossing his arms. "These maps only cover the civilized regions. The rest of the world remains blank—uncharted, crawling with beasts and monsters. No sane person would dare map it for the public."
That was fine. He didn't need the uncharted wilds. Not yet.
What he needed was clarity.
He opened a notepad and began typing, his fingers flying across the keys.
"Step one… record everything I know about Jack Ashenblood's story."
The notes filled quickly. There wasn't much—the original book had barely mentioned Jack beyond his role as a villain. But he remembered enough. He listed Jack's talents, his arrogance, and finally, his death. Then he shifted focus to the protagonist—Arthur Starborn. His abilities. His allies. The rapid growth that turned him from nothing into a monster.
"This bastard got strong too quickly," Jack muttered. "No wonder he killed me. He's almost on par with a god-born family."
It was true. Arthur's talent was absurd. His rise to power felt unstoppable, inevitable, like gravity itself. And killing Jack had been his first stepping stone.
Jack frowned, tapping his chin. "Three main reasons led to my death… First, arrogance. I underestimated him, and I didn't fight well, so he used that opportunity to end me. Second, I picked a fight I didn't need to, since it was all just me being egotistical and angry that he was a talented Arcane. And third…"
He leaned back, closing his eyes.
"…the people who surrounded him. What do they call them again?"
The answer came with a bitter laugh as if it was comical, and it was.
"A harem."