What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?

Rozen

The atmosphere in Rozen was very festive today, particularly in the center of the city, where all the trade centers and various transactions were bustling with people.

Although Rozen was always crowded with people, today was different as it was an extraordinary day.

Everyone in the Balka Empire was eagerly anticipating the day of awakening, which occurs once a year and is the only day when people can change their destiny.

In a world where the strong prey on the weak and the mighty are right, this day is highly significant.

However, this year's awakening day was particularly special in Duke Asvold's territory. Unlike usual, David Asvold, the leader of the Asvold Family Territory and the most respected person in Duke Asvold's territory, had invited all Luvics into his territory.

Luvic is a title given to noble families under the rule of the three powers in the Balka Empire.

The three major powers that rule the entire Balka Empire are the Imperial family, led by the Balka family; the Duke of Asvold, led by the Asvold family; and the Duke of Wilhem, led by the Wilhem family.

These three families were the founding and main families of the Balka Empire.

The Balka family was the strongest of the three, holding two territories, the west and the east, while the Asvold family held the south and the Wilhem family held the north.

Due to an agreement between the two founding Duke families and the first Emperor of the Balka Empire, both Duke territories were under the auspices of the Balka family.

The Luvic is a noble family subordinate to the center of the three powers, with each territory having its own Luvic family divided into three levels: high, middle, and low. Each level of a Luvic noble family holds different degrees of power and influence.

This year's awakening day galvanized the entire territory of Duke Asvold's family and may have even spread throughout the Balka Empire.

David Asvold invited all Luvics in his territory and announced that there was an important announcement.

As the leader of the main family and a person whose status was almost equal to the Emperor, his announcement was of significant importance, and all the Luvics in the Asvold Family territory dared not come.

David also extended invitations to high-level Luvic families from the other two regions, which further fueled the excitement and anticipation surrounding the announcement.

Everyone wondered if this announcement would surprise them all.

It was safe to say that Rozen would be the center of attention for everyone in the Balka Empire region.

...

In the bedroom

Arthur stood in front of the mirror, calmly gazing at his reflection. He then looked down at his attire: high-class noble clothing with a white robe draped over his right side. The robe appeared luxurious, made with priceless materials, and emblazoned with the symbol of Duke Asvold's family: a blazing red flame.

Of course, only the Duke and his family were permitted to wear such a robe; it was a symbol of their high status and identity.

"What a beautiful and arrogant-looking robe," Arthur muttered, unable to resist admiring his outfit.

Today was an incredibly significant day, arguably the turning point of his life.

"What core element will I awaken?" Arthur wondered to himself.

Since the novel didn't explain what element Arthur would awaken, he was hesitant about whether he would inherit his father's fire element or his mother's water element.

"I hope I can awaken the space core and control space to return to my world," Arthur sighed, indulging in a daydream.

However, he knew it was impossible because awakened cores typically followed the four major elemental powers of fire, water, earth, and wind, and bloodline played a significant role in determining one's elemental affinity.

There were rare cases of individuals awakening special elemental cores outside of these requirements, and they were referred to as "special cases."

Those who did were considered monsters, with potentially unlimited potential in the future.

They might even break through to the level of Elemental Supreme or even Elemental Lord. However, until the end of the novel, only Abel succeeded in becoming an Elemental Lord. Despite others with special powers having equal talent and potential, they were only at the Elemental Supreme level, a phenomenon known as "plot armor."

However, this world was different from the world in novels, as every individual had their own thinking and feeling abilities.

Talented people could have the ability and opportunity to become Elemental Lords in the distant future.

Although the books Arthur read claimed the Elemental Lord level was nothing more than a fairy tale, he believed it was possible to achieve.

In fact, heroines such as Elena and Lucia in the novel were each legendary figures.

"If it weren't for making Abel look really strong, he might not be the strongest at the end of the novel," Arthur thought to himself, and suddenly remembered something.

"Abel should have also awakened his core!" Arthur's eyes lit up, and he smiled mockingly.

"This should be the time when you are considered trash, right?"

"Hehehe, don't worry. By the time you finally awaken your core element, I will have already strengthened myself so that I am far ahead of you," Arthur smiled slightly and thought.

This was the point where he was several steps ahead of Abel, and it was also the opportunity he had to defeat Abel in the future!

Just as Arthur was thinking, there was a knock on his bedroom door.

*Knock!

"Young master!"

"Are you ready? We're leaving right now!" Runa's cute voice sounded from behind the door of his room.

Upon hearing this, Arthur immediately snapped out of his reverie and smiled.

"Alright, just open the door," Arthur said lightly, looking toward the door.

Soon, the door opened and Runa's little head peeked inside.

"Young master!" Runa's eyes widened, and her face was filled with shock.

Seeing this, Arthur smiled gently and asked curiously, "Am I looking handsome?"

"Very handsome!" Runa nodded stiffly, her gaze fixed on him.

Arthur was not surprised to see Runa react this way; after all, his youthful face was quite handsome.

But what about when he grows up in the future?

Thinking of this, Arthur shook his head and pondered how interesting that would be.

"At least it's not that different from myself in my previous life," Arthur thought to himself.

He then looked at Runa, who was still staring at him motionlessly.

"Well, how long are you going to keep looking at me like that?" Arthur smiled a little and gently reprimanded her.

Upon hearing this, Runa's face turned red, and she immediately hid behind the door.

"How embarrassing!" Runa covered her flushed face with her palms and shook her head quickly.

Arthur simply smiled and said nothing more to Runa.

He then walked out of his room and saw Runa, who was still shaking her head quickly while covering her blushing little face.

"Runa?" Called Arthur.

"Yes, young master!" Runa turned around and was surprised to find Arthur standing beside her.

"Do you have any important news to share?" Arthur asked Runa lightly, trying to break the awkwardness.

Runa quickly realized this and held her small chin as if thinking.

"Yes, young master!" Runa replied hesitantly.

Arthur raised his eyebrows and asked, "What news, then?"

"It is rumored that Lord Duke Asvold sent invitations to all the Luvics in the southern region," Runa explained hesitantly.

"And also to all the high-level Luvics in the entire Balka Empire," she added.

As a little girl, Runa didn't understand why the annual awakening celebration had suddenly become so grand and unusual, or why all the Luvics were receiving invitations.

However, hearing this, Arthur's face froze slightly before he exclaimed, "Interesting!" and smiled a little.

"It seems that this is indeed different from the novel, where there is no scene like this at all."

"At least David in the novel wouldn't invite those Luvics on the day of awakening; he would just send out an announcement directly after Arthur in the novel awakens his core."

Arthur thought to himself, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"Sure enough, this kind of big change is indeed difficult if using the novel plot as a reference."

"Either my arrival changed the whole situation of the world, or there was no overall similarity between the novel and this world from the beginning."

"Maybe some details are still the same, like the characters and various other things, but they all have consciousness, and their actions do not follow the plot of the novel," Arthur mused.

"It's interesting!"

"Will there be a change in the plot, and will Abel, who shouldn't be able to awaken the core, suddenly be able to awaken it this year?"

"Hehehe, then let's see!" Arthur chuckled, his eyes looking up at the sky outside the window.

"The world is getting more and more unpredictable."

"I hope it's what I expected," Arthur said to himself, placing his right palm over his heart.

Runa, who had been watching Arthur's changing emotions, didn't say anything, but she was confused as to why her young master's expression had shifted several times.

Of course, she didn't ask and patiently waited for her young master's orders.

Soon, Arthur regained his composure and looked at Runa, who had been curiously observing him.

"It's okay; maybe there will be interesting things." Arthur ruffled her hair and spoke softly.

"Um!" Runa just nodded and didn't ask any further questions because she enjoyed Arthur's pampering treatment.

"Alright, let's go!" Arthur smiled, waving his white robe with a blazing fire symbol.

"Yes, young master!" Runa smiled and followed Arthur.

----

Damn, I was told to come to work for seven days without a day off, how horrible!

Sorry, just updated it!