The ember of Greed's captive burning mass.

Rohan approached it with purposeful strides as it still showed no movement.

"..."

He didn't know what it was.

If it contained any harmful foreign substance, he would dispose of it immediately.

'Even if combat occurs during the process, it shouldn't be a problem.'

Even if it harbored hostility like the ember, Rohan was already immune to mental attacks.

Even if a new mental demon appeared and caused chaos like before, Rohan's mind would easily withstand it.

"Hmm."

As he got closer, he could feel a faint warmth from the round mass.

It wasn't residual heat from the ember's burning. It was something the mass itself contained.

To resolve his curiosity, Rohan placed his hand on the mass.

His eyes widened at the information flowing through his palm.

'Knowledge?'

Looking closer, it was different. This was memory and power.

'It's also nutrients to fuel Greed's ember.'

Most surprisingly, it contained the memories of two people.

This mass was Rohan himself, Rowell's son. Not the current Rohan, but the original Rohan of this world.

And Kirke, the friend of the Kun Ardo family head, was here too.

'The family head was said to be dead... why is this woman here?'

Curious, Rohan examined the permeating memories and unconsciously spoke.

"Ah."

Kirke, who had worked with the Kun Ardo family head researching Rowell's ember, had proposed a solution to fix young Rohan whose consciousness had burned away.

If that solution was to have the current Rohan possess him, then Rohan should have memories from that point onward.

But Rohan's possession began on the day of the Orion Academy placement test.

'...I understand now. So that's what happened.'

The memory gap between when Kirke did something to young Rohan, who had become mentally impaired due to Rowell's flame, and the Orion Academy placement test.

That mystery was now solved.

'Until I settled in, Kirke herself was controlling this body.'

According to the Ardo family head, Kirke was Solarea's greatest researcher and technician.

She had played a major role in creating Rowell's ember and gained much knowledge about the taboo of handling souls and consciousness.

With this foundation, Kirke had transferred her soul into Rohan's body, and the Ardo family head had discovered Kirke's empty shell after her breath had ceased.

'I'd like to curse her out, but her consciousness is probably no longer here.'

Kirke was never compatible with Rowell's ember to begin with. She had lived in this body until her consciousness flew away on the placement test day.

Afterward, the insurance she had set up activated, placing the current Rohan in position.

This made everything even harder for Rohan to understand.

'How is this possible? Coincidence?'

Even if the previous life and current world had different timelines, like the dungeon guided by the Monolith and the present world, wasn't this still strange?

How could the timing of Kirke summoning the current Rohan align with when Rohan became a character model for Abyss City after his hunter life?

'When I go south, I should visit Kirke's laboratory. Even if everything is coincidental, I need to confirm.'

He knew the laboratory's location.

The knowledge from the mass didn't contain everything, but he knew that much.

Whoosh!

Rohan ignited fire in his hand.

Unlike Greed's ember, this was a warm fire without ferocity, quietly enveloping the mass.

As he granted liberation, a warm energy seeped in.

[You have achieved the achievement: Gifting freedom to Rohan]

[As a reward for the achievement, your growth rate has greatly increased]

After cleanly erasing the mass, Rohan blinked at the notification window.

The energy he had just received as a reward was more impressive than expected.

'Greatly?'

Not just increased, but greatly increased growth rate. Was this perhaps a fragment of talent remaining in Rohan?

He felt dazed.

'I should head back now.'

As he made up his mind, his consciousness floated.

Rohan, who had been sitting cross-legged in the dormitory, opened his eyes.

"..."

Magical power, as abundant as if he had consumed a great elixir, circulated throughout his body.

Energy that frolicked excitedly like a child. Rohan continued his meditation, gathering and quietly settling the increased magical power.

Checking the notification window again, complete immunity to the mental realm was not a dream.

The time was 4 AM.

*****

Early morning, Rohan visited Sion's mansion.

He was dressed ready to attend Orion Academy.

Above all, Sion and Clara immediately noticed that Rohan's capabilities had jumped significantly.

"Rohan. What happened overnight...?"

"Oppa...?"

The increase in magical power was one reason, but what stood out most was the growth of his mind through enlightenment.

And there was also the control he had gained over his inner self.

As a result, Rohan's eyes had deepened and carried more weight.

Sion and Clara swallowed hard at their lover's intensified masculine energy.

"I had an unexpected enlightenment."

"I see! Congratulations! Huh, good news first thing in the morning."

"Congratulations, oppa...! Should I go buy a cake?"

Smiling, Rohan picked up both of them and headed to the living room.

"Words are enough. Let's have cake another time."

Rohan told his lovers he had something to discuss and sat at the table.

Since he had decided to talk, he thought a bright time like now was better than an emotional time after sunset.

Rohan hoped Sion and Clara would take it calmly.

"Oppa... here's breakfast!"

"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."

"So what's this about? Has something serious happened?"

Rohan smiled and shook his head at Sion's question.

While drinking the special supplement his lovers had prepared, he explained the previous night as lightly as possible.

"Yesterday, a visitor from Solarea came to see me."

"Solarea?"

"Oh, oppa's homeland...?"

Rohan nodded and fluently recounted his conversation with Kun Ardo.

He didn't hide the fact that he had unexpectedly learned about his parents' identity and that he was of Hyperion bloodline.

The girls' eyes widened in shock.

"Hyperion? That Hyperion from Solarea?"

"Oppa... is the son of Royce Well Hyperion?!"

"I don't plan to announce it everywhere, but I thought Sion and Clara should know."

Hyperion was a name Clara knew from her noble education, and even Sion, who wasn't particularly knowledgeable about worldly matters, recognized the fame.

"Next time we go south, let's check out the mansion's storage. There might be things Sion and Clara would like."

He concluded by saying he had met Juyeon and received good advice that enlightened his mind.

Sion and Clara had complex expressions, and Sion carefully asked Rohan on behalf of both.

"Rohan... are you okay with this?"

Sion's words were brief but contained many emotions.

Thanks to this, Rohan could feel even lighter. Indeed, his true family was the two before him.

"I'm completely fine. My family now is Sion and Clara."

""...!""

"I hope there are enough jewels in the Hyperion storage to set up our newlywed home."

The girls' expressions brightened as much as possible.

A deep red blush rose, resembling a soft sunset.

..

..

When Rohan arrived at Orion Academy after spending the morning with his lovers, Ichinose and Noah's gazes fixed on him.

Most students didn't notice, but Ichinose and Noah immediately did.

Rohan's change was extraordinary—not the kind of growth that comes from simply consuming an elixir.

"Oh! Hooo...?"

Noah showed curiosity before anyone else.

She approached Rohan, who was sitting down, wagging her tail in admiration.

Rohan didn't avoid Noah as she leaned in with interest.

"What?"

"What's this sudden change? Nose! Look at him!"

Baby Nose, who had been hesitantly observing the situation, approached with small steps at Noah's call.

With eyes closed, she sensed transparently and shared her impression.

"...It's amazing."

"Is it that obvious? Sion and Clara were surprised too."

Ichinose and Noah nodded simultaneously.

It was clear that this change was immediately noticeable to those who had reached a certain level.

"What are you talking about?"

When Gilbert showed interest, Noah giggled.

"The fact that we need to explain means you're out."

"What!!!"

Just as Gilbert's thick eyebrows twitched and he was about to burst out—

Slide!

The door opened and Juyeon entered the classroom.

Gilbert shut his mouth.

'Hmm?'

While exchanging morning greetings with the students and taking her place at the podium, Juyeon observed Rohan.

She too directed her gaze at the significant change, unable to completely hide her surprise.

But the difference was that Juyeon could make an educated guess.

'He's cleanly resolved his inner conflict and even gained enlightenment. His mental strength is truly remarkable.'

Rohan had properly seized an opportunity that might come once in a lifetime. She felt proud.

Rohan smiled as they exchanged glances. There was something beyond respect and gratitude in his expression.

Juyeon recalled their midnight embrace and conversation, cleared her throat, and averted her eyes.

A very rare occurrence.

"Ahem...! Are there any special circumstances or sick students?"

"""None!"""

With a nod, Juyeon regained her composure and opened the journal on the podium.

"I will now announce the mid-term practical exam for the second semester."