REINCARNATION OF THE STRONGEST WAR HERO

Noah settled into the seat with an easy smile. "Thank you for letting us join you. We hope we are not intruding."

Logan shook his head lightly. "Not at all."

Emily sat gracefully, her eyes calm but curious. "That mask suits you. Still… even behind it, you stand out. It is rare for someone your age to carry such presence."

Logan inclined his head. "Masks only hide a face, not much else."

Noah chuckled softly. "True. And presence cannot be hidden, no matter the disguise. It lingers in how a person walks, how they breathe, how they look at the world." His tone was friendly, but there was a hint of meaning beneath the words.

Logan met his gaze for a moment before replying, "Perhaps. But sometimes presence is mistaken for something else. People often see what they expect to see." He knew exactly what the couple was after.

Emily's lips curved faintly. "Wise words. And spoken with such calmness… You remind me of someone. Maybe the height seems a bit off, but everything else? The resemblance is… uncanny. Someone we believed to be dead."

After yesterday's talk with Logan, even though Ali now knew about Logan's real identity, he hadn't spoken with Noah and Emily yet. So while they were almost certain, they still couldn't confirm whether Aiden was really Logan. His voice was also slightly different from before when he participated in the tournament. Otherwise, even Lilith would have caught on.

Logan's finger drummed softly on the table, one steady beat after another. His mind turned over the choices. "They already suspect me. And it's only a matter of time before they hear it from the guild master or anyone in Gideon's party that I have five affinities. It's better not to drag it further and make sure no one else knows about it."

Meanwhile, almost every eye in the tavern had turned toward their table. After all, the Starwind couple were not just hunters. They were closer to celebrities.

Noah Starwind, one of only three S-rank hunters in the entire kingdom. Emily Starwind, Arcadia's most renowned healer. And their daughter? A gem. A prodigy admired everywhere she went.

So naturally, curiosity filled the room. Everyone wanted to know why such figures would sit down with someone so young.

Many of them already knew about Logan as well. The young hunter who had cleared ten dungeons all on his own. Talented, yes. But still, no one could find a reason why the Starwinds would bother talking to him. It wasn't as if hunters of their level needed help from a newcomer. And so young, at that.

"Isn't that Aiden?"

"It is. But his mask seems new. And quite interesting too."

"You are still concerned about the mask? Don't you see who he is talking to?"

"Yeah. Damn! That kid sure is lucky to get noticed by the Starwind couple. And did you guys notice? Their tone and posture seem like they are talking to someone important."

"Maybe that Aiden kid is trained by them. And now he is on a secret mission or something."

"You are so damn right. How else could he get that strong? So that's how things are."

Many stories and guesses started to escalate.

Back at Logan's table, after a long pause, he finally raised his head. His voice dropped low, meant only for their ears. "You are on the right track, Mrs. Starwind. It's me. Logan." He let out a quiet sigh. "But I would like you to keep this between us. I don't want anyone else finding out about this."

Noah leaned back, relief softening his expression. "So it was really you. I can't express how hard it was for us to accept the news that you died.

Emily also released a slow breath, her eyes warm with quiet understanding.

They both felt as if a heavy weight of tension and unease had finally lifted from their hearts.

For a brief moment, silence settled between them, filled only by the hum of the tavern.

Then...

Emily leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle yet carrying a trace of worry. "Tell me, are you in danger? Is that why you are hiding behind that mask? Perhaps someone tried to kill you and still poses a threat to your life. If you wish, we can help. We know many trusted hunters and comrades. Some of them have even worked as bodyguards in the past. And they are really capable. Specialized in silent assassination and keeping an eye without anyone noticing. They could protect you… or even your family, if needed."

Logan's eyes suddenly flickered with a brief light. He only revealed his identity because he didn't want to play hide and seek with both of them. But he had no plan to get any help from them. Protection for himself was unnecessary. He was confident in his strength. But now that Emily mentioned it, an idea lit up in his mind. His family, especially his mother, was still in danger. Even if almost no one knew he was still alive, danger still lingered in the shadows.

His mind turned sharply. The Third Eye Sect… If those fanatics decided they couldn't reach him, they might turn their hatred toward his family. Torture, threats, and cruel schemes to get their hands on the cultivation techniques.

Emily's words struck him like a golden opportunity. For the first time, he felt tempted to accept help. Not for his sake, but for theirs. His lips parted, ready to agree. He was about to ask her for that protection....

But just then...

Creak!

The tavern door swung open, slamming against the wall. A man stumbled inside, gasping for air, his chest heaving as though he had sprinted across half the city. His face was pale with panic.

"B-bad news!" he shouted, his voice breaking the lively hum of the tavern. Every head turned toward him at once.

He bent over, hands on his knees, and forced the words out between desperate breaths. "There's… a dungeon break! The guild… they're calling for everyone available!"

The noise in the tavern froze. Cups halted halfway to mouths, dice stopped mid-roll, and chairs scraped against the floor as hunters rose to their feet.

The man's voice cracked as he raised it higher, trembling with urgency. "It's… It's an A-class dungeon!"