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



"Where am I?" Arthur whispered, his gaze fixed on the intricate web of programming data surrounding him.

He trod cautiously, taking slow steps as he observed his surroundings with unwavering attention.

Once again, a sense of bewilderment washed over him, intensifying for the third time.

First, he had been reborn; second, he encountered that peculiar woman; and now, once again, he found himself in an unfamiliar location.

How mighty must a being be to orchestrate such occurrences?

Was it the work of a god?

Or was there something else at play?

He swiftly pushed aside his thoughts and redirected his attention to the unchanged surroundings.

As he observed his surroundings, the data program abruptly halted, appearing to be malfunctioning or broken.

Following that, the data program gradually vanished, and the environment instantly transformed into a white hue, reminiscent of the room where he had encountered the enigmatic woman.

"What a strange place." He thought to himself.

"Is this the gift the woman is talking about?"

"However, I'm still confused." He whispered softly until, unexpectedly, he heard a faint female voice responding to his whisper from behind him.

"So, would you like me to explain?" The unfamiliar voice jolted Arthur's senses, and he spun around swiftly.

In front of him stood a woman, her silhouette adorned by a flowing black lace dress.

Her face radiated extraordinary beauty, accentuated by her dark, slightly purple hair cascading in a graceful, easy half-twirl that flawlessly complemented her black dress.

However, Arthur remained steadfast, refusing to let his guard down as he continued to scrutinize the mysterious woman before him, who seemed to have materialized out of thin air.

"Who are you?" Arthur asked, his brow furrowing inquisitively.

Upon hearing his question, the woman responded with a gentle smile, her pink eyes fixed unwaveringly on Arthur.

"Finally, we can meet again," she uttered, her words infused with an unmistakable tenderness that further intensified the already peculiar atmosphere.

Arthur's confusion deepened, his brow furrowing even more.

Once, there had been a peculiar woman, her face covered by light.

Now, standing before him, was yet another enigmatic woman, casting him into deeper bewilderment.

"Can you tell me who you are?" Arthur asked once more, his voice steady and composed.

He needed to gather all the information before reaching a conclusion.

The woman's face lit up with an expression of pure joy, as if every ounce of her overwhelming longing had been etched upon her countenance.

The woman approached Arthur with deliberate, unhurried steps, her outstretched hand moving slowly as if she yearned to caress his face.

Arthur, witnessing the tears and longing etched upon her countenance, made no attempt to evade her advance, choosing instead to remain in his position.

"I-I am..." The woman's voice faltered just as she stood directly in front of him, her hand frozen in its attempt to touch Arthur's face.

She remained immobile, resembling a statue in stillness.

Witnessing this sudden transformation, Arthur's astonishment grew as he observed the rapid shift in the woman's expression.

In the blink of an eye, the yearning and tears that once adorned her face vanished, replaced by a mundane smile.

It was as if she were a programmed automaton!

"Are you alright?" Arthur asked, his concern evident in his voice.

The woman lifted her gaze and offered a smile.

"I'm fine," she replied softly.

A slight frown formed on Arthur's face as he observed the peculiarity of the woman before him, whose demeanor seemed to have undergone a sudden shift.

Nevertheless, he paid no mind to it, directing his unwavering attention solely toward her.

"In that case, could you please enlighten me about your identity and the reason behind my presence here?" He inquired, his tone laced with a hint of curiosity.

Upon hearing his question, the woman responded with a soft smile and proceeded to provide an explanation.

"I am the one who will assist you and remain faithfully by your side, Master," she declared with conviction.

"With that said, moving forward, I will be your guide and support in all matters within this realm," she explained in a gentle manner.

Upon hearing her words, Arthur's mind swiftly absorbed the information, his thoughts working diligently to comprehend the implications.

"In that case, may I inquire about your name?" Arthur inquired casually, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Me? I cannot recall my name," she replied, shaking her head gently.

Arthur gazed at the woman before him, contemplating his next question.

With a hint of curiosity, he asked, "Then, why did you mention 'We finally met again' as if we had already crossed paths before?"

"Indeed, it is quite apparent that this is our initial encounter, isn't it?" Arthur expressed his intention to test his curiosity about the woman.

As anticipated, the woman froze upon hearing Arthur's question, taking a moment to regain her composure before responding with a perplexed expression.

"What do you mean?" she inquired, tilting her head in confusion.

"When did I say something like that?" she added, her confusion deepening.

Observing this exchange, a faint smile graced Arthur's lips as various conjectures began to form in his mind.

However, he quickly dismissed his thoughts, shaking his head gently, and spoke softly, "It's nothing; never mind."

"By the way, since you don't have a name, how about I bestow one upon you?" Arthur suggested.

The woman's eyes sparkled with delight as she nodded eagerly.

"Really? Yes, please!" she exclaimed, her agreement coming swiftly.

Arthur smiled warmly, closing his eyes to contemplate.

"What a fitting name for her..." Arthur pondered until he finally arrived at a name he deemed perfect.

"So, how about Arthasia as your name?" Arthur suggested, his gaze fixed upon the woman before him, who was eagerly awaiting his decision.

"Arthasia?" The woman's eyes widened in surprise, and she murmured.

Seeing her reaction, Arthur asked lightly, "Is it not suitable?"

However, the woman shook her head very quickly and said, "No! It fits perfectly."

"Now, I am Arthasia!" she exclaimed with excitement, a radiant and extraordinarily beautiful smile gracing her face.

Witnessing her joyful expression, Arthur couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness himself, though he couldn't quite pinpoint its origin.

Suddenly, as if recollecting a matter of importance, Arthur asked curiously, "By the way, in what ways will you be assisting me?

Arthasia, still reveling in her newfound happiness, quickly regained her composure upon hearing Arthur's question.

"Oh, I will explain that," she responded in a calm tone.

"This place, or more precisely, this room, is known as the System Room," she elaborated.

Arthur, having observed the programming on the room's walls, nodded in understanding, his lack of surprise evident.

"Then, what exactly are you?" Arthur inquired with genuine curiosity.

"I? I am the controller of this room, and one could say that I am the very essence of this system room," Arthasia replied, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she offered her explanation.

"I see..." Arthur murmured, his gaze drifting downward.

A surge of understanding washed over Arthur as he finally comprehended the true essence of the gift bestowed upon him by the enigmatic woman.

A system!

Little did he expect that one day he would possess a system, much like the main characters in other novels.

This unexpected development surpassed all of Arthur's expectations, leaving him overwhelmed with gratitude towards the mysterious woman.

He couldn't help but wonder if this system would pave the way for a smoother journey than he had ever envisioned.

In addition, he couldn't help but speculate that this system might alleviate some of his worries along the way.

Lost in contemplation, Arthur exhaled deeply, a sense of relief washing over him.

He lifted his head, locking his gaze on the woman standing before him, and posed the question, "So, in what ways can you assist me?"