After finishing the five books, Ivan finally gained a clearer understanding of the vast wizarding world.
Yet his gaze slowly returned to the worn diary lying quietly on the table.
The name on the cover once again stirred questions in his mind.
Willem Lionheart.
Who exactly was this man?
Why had a high-level wizard apprentice appeared in here?
And why had his legacy ended up in the hands of a fallen noble ?
Ivan leaned back in his chair, his brows slightly furrowed.
After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't find any clues.
Finally, he spoke softly.
"Nova."
"Yes, Master."
"Search the historical records of the Blackwater Kingdom. Is there any noble family with the surname Lionheart?"
"Understood. Beginning analysis."
The room fell silent.
A few seconds later, Nova's calm voice sounded again.
"Master, historical records have been located."
Ivan's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Report."
"The Lionheart Family was established approximately three hundred years ago in the Blackwater Kingdom."
"They originally began as an ordinary knight family without any noble title."
"Over the next hundred years, through military achievements and participation in multiple wars, they accumulated enough merit to receive the title of Baron and established the Lionheart Barony."
Ivan nodded slightly.
Such stories were common in the kingdom.
Many noble families had risen through battlefield achievements.
Nova continued.
"For the following eighty years, the Lionheart family remained ordinary barons with average strength."
"But one hundred and twenty years ago, the family experienced a sudden and extraordinary rise."
"They achieved continuous victories in several wars."
"The speed of their expansion was extremely unusual."
"It appeared almost… miraculous."
Ivan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Continue."
"Within twenty years, the Lionheart family rose from a remote barony to the rank of Count."
"They became one of the stronger noble families within the kingdom."
Ivan quietly listened.
But Nova's tone soon changed.
"However… approximately eighty years ago, the family suddenly began to decline."
"The decline was extremely rapid."
"Within thirty years, their strength nearly collapsed."
"And according to the final historical records…"
"Forty years ago, the Lionheart family lost their territory due to heavy debt and internal conflicts."
"Their noble title was revoked."
"The Lionheart family ceased to exist."
Silence filled the room.
Ivan slowly leaned back in his chair.
A rough outline gradually formed in his mind.
"So that's how it happened…"
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
"When the Lionheart family first became barons, they must have learned about the wizard aptitude test."
"They likely sent their most talented member to participate."
Ivan's eyes fell on the diary again.
"And that person…"
"…was Willem Lionheart."
Nova remained silent.
Ivan continued analyzing.
"According to the diary, Willem became a high-level wizard apprentice."
"But he failed to advance further."
"Without becoming a formal wizard, his lifespan would still be limited."
"So he eventually returned here."
Ivan's eyes flickered with understanding.
"For the next twenty years, he probably used his power and knowledge to help his family grow."
"That explains the sudden rise of the Lionheart family."
"Continuous victories."
"Rapid expansion."
"All of it likely came from the support of a high-level wizard apprentice."
Ivan slowly exhaled.
"But eventually…"
"Willem's lifespan came to an end."
"And after his death…"
"The Lionheart family lost their greatest support."
"Without him, their strength quickly declined."
Nova added calmly,
"Probability of Master's deduction being correct: 87.6%."
Ivan nodded slightly.
"That legacy…"
His gaze moved toward the spatial ring and the potion bottle.
"…was most likely left behind for Willem's descendants."
"But unfortunately…"
"They lacked the ability to protect it."
"The family lost their territory and eventually became fallen nobles."
Ivan's eyes turned cold.
"Until it finally fell into the hands of that bandit leader."
The Black Wolf.
Ivan remembered that fierce man clearly.
His thoughts inevitably drifted back to the mysterious box—and the potion and spatial ring hidden within it.
According to Willem's diary, the potion had only been briefly mentioned.
But after combining the diary's records with Nova's analysis, Ivan quickly arrived at a conclusion.
"The Black Wolf must have drunk the potion as a gamble."
Nova responded calmly.
"Correct."
"When a knight breaks through from the mortal stage into the transcendent stage, their mental energy experiences a slight increase."
"After consuming the potion, the Black Wolf's mental strength temporarily rose."
"This allowed him to successfully advance into a Lower Knight."
Ivan slowly shook his head.
"What a waste."
"That potion was originally meant to assist wizard apprentices in their cultivation."
"And he used it merely to break through into the Lower Knight realm."
Ivan sighed.
"That Black Wolf was truly foolish."
Such a valuable resource had been completely squandered.
After organizing his thoughts, Ivan slowly stood up and walked toward the window.
The night sky stretched endlessly beyond the castle walls.
Now that he understood the wizarding world, Ivan began to seriously consider his future path.
According to the books, there was a critical age limit for wizard cultivation.
To become a wizard—
One had to begin training before the age of sixteen.
Only then would there be a chance of reaching the rank of Formal Wizard.
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'm almost sixteen…"
If he delayed any longer, his chances would become much smaller.
Another thought appeared in his mind.
"If a small baron family like the Lionhearts knew about the wizard aptitude test…"
"Then my father might know about it as well."
After all, the Thornheart family was not weaker than the Lionheart family.
Ivan quickly formed a plan.
"First, I will ask Father about the wizards"
"If he knows about them, that will save a lot of trouble."
"But if he doesn't…"
Ivan's gaze turned distant.
"I will travel to Blackwater Harbor myself."
According to Willem's diary, every five years, representatives from the wizard academies of the Central Continent arrived there.
Their purpose was simple.
To recruit young people with wizard talent.
Ivan did not know when the last recruitment had occurred.
But he could not afford to wait too long.
His time was limited.
After confirming his plan, Ivan spoke again.
"Nova."
"Yes, Master."
"Do any of those books contain a meditation technique?"
Nova quickly analyzed the data.
"Negative."
"All five books contain only basic knowledge."
"They do not include meditation techniques."
Ivan nodded.
"That makes sense."
"These books were probably basic teaching materials from Willem's academy."
Nova added,
"According to Willem Lionheart's diary, meditation techniques are confidential knowledge."
"Every wizard academy strictly protects them."
"They are only given to official students after enrollment."
Ivan nodded slowly.
So that was how wizard civilization controlled knowledge.
Nova continued.
"Wizard civilization places extremely high value on knowledge."
"They pursue truth."
"The path to truth is filled with danger, calamity, and endless challenges."
Ivan smiled faintly.
"In other words…"
"Wizards are scientists."
"But scientists with terrifying combat power."
Ivan's gaze gradually grew thoughtful.
The Orin Civilization had also valued knowledge above all else.
It was through knowledge that they had risen to the pinnacle of their universe.
They fought against other civilizations.
Studied them.
Learned from them.
Absorbed their knowledge and integrated it into their own system.
Step by step, their strength grew until they stood at the summit.
In some ways…
The wizard civilization seemed surprisingly similar.
Ivan shook his head lightly, pushing the thought aside.
Ivan then spoke again.
"Nova."
"Display my status panel."
A faint blue screen appeared before him.
Name: Ivan Thornheart
Age: 15
Race: Human
Physique: 4.6
Agility: 4.7
Constitution: 4.5
Ivan's eyes widened slightly.
"These numbers…"
"They're too high."
For someone who had just advanced to Lower Knight, these stats were extremely impressive.
"Nova, analyze the cause."
Nova replied calmly.
"Two reasons."
"First, Master cultivates a high-level breathing method, which improves physical attributes more than ordinary techniques."
"Second, Master's mutated heart has further strengthened the body."
Nova continued.
"When Master activates Heart Burst Mode, combat power will increase for approximately one minute."
"During that time, Master's strength will reach the peak of the Lower Knight stage, approaching the Mid-level Knight boundary."
Ivan was slightly surprised.
"So my combat ability has increased this much…"
But another thought soon appeared.
"Nova."
"Calculate my mental energy."
Nova quickly responded.
"Master's mental energy value is approximately 3.9."
Ivan frowned slightly.
"That seems lower than my other stats."
Nova explained calmly.
"Mental energy is largely determined at birth."
"Ordinary people cannot increase it."
"Only special techniques or wizard training can improve it."
Nova paused before continuing.
"Before arriving in this world, Master's mental energy was approximately 1.5."
"But after Master's soul merged with this body…"
"The two souls combined and strengthened each other."
"As a result, Master's mental energy increased to 3.9."
Ivan's eyes flashed.
"So the stronger my soul…"
"The stronger my mental energy becomes."
"Correct."
Ivan finally understood.
After reviewing his stats, Ivan glanced outside the window.
The moon had already risen high.
It was nearly midnight.
Ivan looked at the Golden Dew Potion on the table.
He had no intention of using it now.
His body was still injured.
Using such a precious potion now would waste much of its effect.
"When my injuries heal…"
"Then I'll use it."
Before going to sleep, Ivan gave another command.
"Nova."
"Activate healing assistance."
"Yes, Master."
"Restore my injuries slowly."
"If my wounds heal too quickly, people will become suspicious."
"Even a Lower Knight requires five to seven days to recover from injuries like these."
"I cannot reveal anything unusual."
"Understood."
After everything was arranged, Ivan finally lay down on the bed.
Countless thoughts still lingered in his mind.
The wizard world.
The Lionheart legacy.
The upcoming aptitude test.
And the path he would walk in the future.
Gradually—
Sleep claimed him.
The room fell silent once again.
Only the faint flicker of candlelight remained.