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



"Am I finally back?" Arthur opened his eyes and looked around, realizing that he was in his bedroom.

He slowly rose from the bed and settled back into a seated position.

"Will this be our last encounter?" Arthur pondered, his thoughts drifting to the woman whose face was veiled in radiant light.

For some inexplicable reason, he experienced a mixture of melancholy and nostalgia.

Without delay, he shook his head vigorously, determined to clear his mind of all distractions, and directed his attention inward, towards his heart.

Inhaling deeply, he entered a state of deep meditation.

A profound surge of mana coursed steadily toward his heart as a radiant red fire core enveloped it, resembling a celestial body orbiting its star.

Overwhelmed by the immense power coursing through him, he exclaimed, "The strength of my fire core is truly staggering!"

As he reveled in his extraordinary capabilities, he redirected his attention to his true essence—the core of space!

A translucent, ethereal white core, reminiscent of invisibility, encased his heart, evoking a sense of profound wonder and fascination.

However, what left him astounded was the sight of his fire core appearing to be compressed by his space core, causing them to revolve at a significant distance from each other.

"Is this the difference between a basic element and a special element?"

Deep in thought, he finally grasped the reason behind those who awakened elements beyond the four main elements being labeled as "monsters" and why their journey toward becoming an elemental lord held such immense potential.

From this observation alone, it became evident how profoundly intimidated his fire core was by the overpowering presence of the space core!

Subsequently, a realization dawned on him, prompting him to furrow his brow in contemplation.

"Come to think of it, I might be the only person in the world to awaken two cores simultaneously," he speculated, drawing his inference from his knowledge of the novel.

One could indeed describe him as a dual-element user, endowed with the rare ability to wield two elemental cores.

"Nevertheless, I must conceal the existence of my space core at all costs," he added, realizing that he might be the sole individual to awaken the space core in this world, considering the previous owner had perished hundreds of thousands of years ago.

In contrast to the other unique cores that still held the potential for others to possess them, like Elena and Lucia, who awakened the special core of light, his space core had no other bearer beside himself, without a doubt!

The enigmatic woman had elucidated this fact to him.

"This is truly peculiar," he contemplated, a perplexed expression forming on his face.

"It doesn't align with the novel that Arthur didn't awaken the space core," he mused, finding the inconsistency rather puzzling.

"Furthermore, the novel fails to elucidate the reason behind his consistent use of core power throughout the entire story."

"However, it is undeniable that he did awaken a special core. So, what core did he actually awaken in the past, to the extent that even David, a strong character in the novel, remained oblivious?"

Curious and unsettling thoughts continued to flood his mind, leaving him with a sense of unease.

In addition, the enigmatic woman had stated that the Arthur depicted in the story was not truly him.

"Then, who am I?" he questioned, his hand grasping his face with suspicion.

It felt as if the character named Arthur in the novel was somehow distinct from his own identity.

"Could this be the butterfly effect resulting from my fifteen years of reincarnation in this world?" he sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness.

However, he quickly discarded the thought, realizing that the butterfly effect typically influenced the events and circumstances of the world rather than core awakenings.

When it came to the awakening of the cores, the butterfly effect should not have played a role in altering the course of events.

Swiftly dismissing his musings, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of concern due to the other warnings imparted by the mysterious woman.

And, undoubtedly, it was none other than Charlotte, who had also undergone reincarnation in this very world!

"Damn it!" he exclaimed, frustration etching across his face, as he contemplated the possibility of the lunatic woman also arriving in this world.

"Could it be that she ended up taking her own life after stabbing me with that fruit knife?" he speculated, considering the various possibilities and realizing that this explanation seemed to align most closely with the circumstances.

"This woman is utterly unhinged!"

"In every way, Luna surpasses her," he declared emphatically.

"Hey, I deeply regret ending things with Luna," he sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness.

"At least Luna would never resort to such madness and attempt to end my life," he expressed with profound regret, particularly when reminiscing about the breathtakingly beautiful woman who always addressed him with tender affection as "my dear."

However, dwelling on regrets proved futile, and his only viable option was to survive in this world and strive to become the strongest.

Furthermore, he couldn't afford to let his guard down, as the specter of death loomed over him, capable of striking at any moment.

Unlike a protagonist like Abel, who could shape the course of the plot, he found himself in a different position altogether!

He realized that he played the roles of both a stepping stone and a villain in the novel's narrative.

While this world may not precisely align with the novel or resemble it in every aspect, he resolved to remain vigilant and not let his guard down.

After concluding his thoughts, he gingerly rose from the bed and made his way toward the closet to retrieve fresh attire.

As a result of the intense agony he had experienced, his clothes appeared soiled and dampened by perspiration.

"Hmm, which one would suit me best?" he pondered, casting a casual glance at the array of beautiful garments filling his closet.

"That's the one!" he exclaimed, selecting a simple, lightweight shirt.

In any case, his immediate destination was the library within the mansion, which houses a vast collection of books.

Frequently, he would venture there to immerse himself in reading about this world and acquire newfound knowledge.

After all, knowledge is the most formidable weapon of all!

Nevertheless, his intention was not merely to peruse books but rather to seek out the diverse collection of fire elemental art scrolls within the library.

As the esteemed Duke Asvold, renowned throughout the Balka Empire as a master of the fire element, his mansion harbored a wealth of elemental arts, particularly those pertaining to the fire core.

This realization filled him with both joy and a profound sense of gratitude for the woman who had bestowed upon him the fire core.

With his preparations complete, he exited his room and made his way toward the library, eager to delve into the treasures of knowledge that awaited him there.

...

Arthur proceeded with a light stride, making his way toward the library.

As he passed by, the maids would offer warm smiles and bow respectfully whenever they caught sight of him.

These gestures stemmed from their genuine affection for and dedication toward him.

Truth be told, ever since Arthur assumed control of Duke Asvold's mansion, he had implemented certain changes to ensure the well-being and happiness of everyone within it.

It wasn't that the welfare of the people was inadequate before, but Arthur desired to enhance it further, giving it a more appealing appearance.

As a simple example, the servants and guards within the mansion typically receive a single day off per week.

However, Arthur implemented a change, increasing the number of days off to a generous three, thus affording them more leisure time.

Arthur had a valid rationale behind his actions, considering that the majority of the mansion's staff were ordinary individuals without elemental abilities.

It was crucial to provide them with additional care and consideration.

Fortunately, managing the numerous maids in the mansion proved to be relatively easy, and the necessary adjustments could be made without much disruption to their routines.

Arthur refrained from interfering extensively with the laws of another significant mansion, making only minimal changes.

Nevertheless, he still needed time to acclimate himself to harnessing and consolidating his newfound powers.

After a few minutes of walking, Arthur arrived at the entrance of the library and stepped inside, ready to immerse himself in the wealth of knowledge it held.

"It's as magnificent as I remember," he thought to himself, marveling at the library's extensive collection of wondrous books.

Approaching the librarian, who appeared to be anticipating his arrival, Arthur exchanged a respectful nod.

"Young Master Arthur," the librarian addressed him, bowing his head in reverence.

Returning the gesture with a warm smile, Arthur acknowledged the librarian's greeting.

"Please make the necessary arrangements for my room, and kindly fetch me some one- to two-star fire elemental art scrolls," Arthur requested in a casual tone.

Acknowledging Arthur's request, the library guard nodded respectfully and promptly proceeded toward the section of the library housing the elemental arts.

Arthur, in turn, made his way toward the special room designated for reading.

Upon reaching his destination, he settled into a comfortable chair and began contemplating his thoughts.

"The one- and two-star elemental arts are the highest level I can currently attain as a one-circle elemental," he contemplated.

In this world, the elemental arts were organized into ten levels, each represented by a star.

Beyond the ten-star level, there existed the sacred level, followed by the legendary level. 

Ultimately, at the apex of elemental arts in this realm, lay the mythical level, the most formidable tier achievable.

As Arthur pondered, a forgotten thought resurfaced in his mind.

"Wait, there shouldn't be any space elemental arts available here, right?"

"Could it be that the gift given to me by that woman is the key to this dilemma?" he contemplated, recalling the gift bestowed upon him through a kiss.

Without delay, he entered a meditative state, clearing his mind and focusing his energy.

Soon, he sensed an immensely potent force emanating from his chest, rapidly ascending towards his head.

"Boom!"

In an instant, Arthur felt a jarring impact on his head, causing him to lose consciousness.

...

Gradually, Arthur regained consciousness, only to find himself in an unfamiliar location.

Surrounding him were intricate streams of programming data, creating a perplexing environment.

"Where am I?" he questioned, overwhelmed by confusion.

"Could this be a system room?"

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Cough cough! Finally, the tag system came in handy too.