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



Arthur's eyes fluttered open, only to find himself back in the familiar confines of his study room within the library.

As he roused from his slumber, an abrupt knock echoed through the door, interrupting his peaceful reading.

"Knock!"

"Young master, pardon the interruption," came the voice of the library guard tasked with retrieving the elemental art scrolls from outside the door.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Arthur swiftly responded, "Please, come in."

Following that, the door swung open, and the librarian entered the room with measured steps, cradling five scrolls in his hands.

"Young master, these scrolls contain the elemental arts of the fire element," he informed Arthur.

"I have chosen offensive elemental arts that align with your present circumstances," he elaborated.

Arthur nodded, accepting the proffered scrolls, and expressed his satisfaction with a nod.

"Thank you for your dedicated assistance, librarian," Arthur replied, his expression adorned with a warm smile.

"You're most welcome, young master," responded the librarian, bowing his head respectfully before swiftly taking his leave.

"I shall not disturb you any further, young master," he respectfully conveyed before departing.

With a nod, Arthur watched as the librarian exited the study room, leaving him alone.

Shifting his focus back to the desk, his gaze fell upon the five crimson scrolls resting before him.

"Fire elemental arts of attack, hmm?" Arthur mused as he carefully examined the assortment of five scrolls, ranging in power from one to two stars.

Although the library possessed sacred and even legendary-level fire elemental art scrolls, he knew that utilizing such high-level magic was currently beyond his capabilities.

Moreover, his mana capacity simply couldn't accommodate the consumption of elemental arts exceeding two stars.

Having only one core meant that the source of his mana was derived solely from that core.

The number of cores generated directly correlates to the amount of mana capacity within the body.

It was theoretically possible to utilize high-level elemental arts; however, a crucial prerequisite was the type of core talent one possessed, as it directly influenced the comprehension of elemental arts and the mana capacities within one's body.

As Arthur regained consciousness, a flicker of remembrance prompted him to softly call out, "Arthasia, are you present?"

In response to his call, a luminous glow materialized on his right shoulder, revealing the presence of a petite woman who had settled herself there.

"Yes, my master?" Arthasia replied with a sweet smile, her legs lightly swinging.

Observing Arthasia's sudden manifestation and diminutive form, Arthur was taken aback, curiosity evident in his voice as he asked, "Why have you become so small, Arthasia?"

Arthur extended his index finger towards Arthasia's cheek, gently caressing it with a tender touch.

"Hmm, that way, I can assist you more efficiently, my master," Arthasia explained, closing her eyes and relishing Arthur's gentle touch.

Arthur smiled, acknowledging her response, and pondered for a moment.

"While it is true that systems in other novels are often limited to auditory forms, Arthasia does indeed possess unique qualities," he pondered, his gaze fixed on Arthasia, who relished his touch.

"By the way, how can I utilize the appraisal function and the possibility rating function?" He inquired with curiosity, unable to contain his eagerness to employ these two capabilities.

Upon hearing his question, Arthasia promptly snapped back to attention, offering a gentle explanation.

"Indeed, it is quite simple, master," Arthasia replied.

"Just utter the word 'appraisal,' and your statistics will manifest before you," she explained, drawing closer to Arthur's head and tenderly caressing her face against his soft hair.

However, Arthur remained undistracted, his mind fully engrossed in concentration.

"Appraisal," he whispered softly, and suddenly, a gentle glow materialized right within his field of vision.

[Statistics Data]

[Name: Arthur Asvold]

[Title: The Only Son of Duke Asvold's Mansion, Heir, Temporary Ruler of the Southern Region, Owner of Awesome Talent (Past)]

[Special Title: The only one with a space core, the only one who holds two cores]

[Age: 15 years old]

[Awakened Core: Fire (outer)/Space (hidden)]

[Level: Elemental One Circle (Fire)/Elemental One Circle (Space)]

[Hobbies: Reading, Practicing, Playing Chess,...]

[Elemental Arts Mastered: None]

[Ambition: Return to his world, become the strongest, change destiny, rule the Balka Empire,...]

[Talent: Extremely strong (Special Core Holder)]

These statistics appeared before Arthur as the soft glow unveiled his unique attributes, talents, and aspirations.

As Arthur laid his eyes on the revealed statistics, a profound sense of astonishment overcame him, leaving him utterly taken aback by the information laid out before his gaze.

"It's reminiscent of a game," he mused, his gaze fixated on the "Special Title and Awakened Core" section, which left him perplexed and filled with questions.

"By the way, what does the special title signify, and why are the awakened cores described as both external and hidden?" Arthur inquired, with Arthasia resting delicately on his hair.

Upon hearing his query, Arthasia responded softly, "The special title is bestowed exclusively upon an individual in this world, and it is an ability that cannot be replicated or shared with others, master."

"For the 'awakened core' column, it indicates that your awakened cores are both fire and space," Arthasia explained, moving to Arthur's shoulder and affectionately nuzzling her face against his cheek.

"The fire core is the visible core that others can perceive, while the space core remains concealed, hidden from the sight of others."

Her concise and illuminating explanation swiftly brought understanding to Arthur's mind.

"I see..." he contemplated, absorbing the newfound knowledge.

"Was that woman also the one who hid it?" As his thoughts swirled, a blend of speculation and gratitude welled up within Arthur's heart.

He pondered whether the enigmatic woman was also behind the concealment of his space core.

Directing his attention to the title column, Arthur's gaze fell upon the entry that read 'Awesome Talent Owner (Past),' followed by his perusal of the ambition column.

As the extent of the detailed information overwhelmed him, Arthur couldn't help but be astounded, realizing, "It's truly a remarkably comprehensive compilation."

"If applied to others, it could prove immensely beneficial."

"Especially when recruiting individuals, as it would unveil their true essence," he mused further, a surge of excitement coursing through his heart.

"By the way, will you and these statistics be visible to others?" Arthur sought further confirmation, eager to clarify the matter.

Arthasia let out a chuckle and gently explained, "Hahaha, master, fear not."

"Everything you see, including my presence, is solely within your consciousness," she replied, assuring him.

Upon hearing her reassuring answer, Arthur let out a sigh of relief, nodding in acknowledgment.

With a renewed sense of confidence, he reached out and picked up one of the elemental art scrolls, eager to test out the probability rating function.

"Probability rating!" He whispered, and in an instant, akin to the appraisal function, the scroll before him displayed the data of its probability rating.

The fire elemental art scroll in Arthur's hands unveiled its secrets:

[Fire Elemental Art Scroll: Fireball (One Star)]

[Explanation: An introductory-level fire elemental art scroll that elucidates the technique of conjuring fireballs.]

[Damage Level: Strong enough to be potent, contingent upon the user's elemental proficiency.]

[Chance of Mastering: 100%]

Observing the intricate data before him, Arthur experienced a mild sense of surprise, albeit not as intense as before.

"I see, so this is its purpose."

"It truly is remarkable," he murmured, gradually comprehending its functionality.

He sensed that with such a capability at his disposal, accomplishing tasks would become significantly easier.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged the importance of exercising caution, as these possibilities were subject to uncertainty, and he would not rely solely on them for every endeavor.

Without delay, Arthur proceeded to examine all the scrolls and utilized the possibility rating function.

To his delight, he discovered that every result displayed a probability rating of 100%, leaving him thoroughly satisfied with the outcomes.

"Musing over my talent, which I found rather daunting," Arthur thought to himself as he effortlessly absorbed the knowledge contained within the fire element scrolls.

After a mere half hour of dedicated study, Arthur stretched his waist, prompting Arthasia, who had been dozing on his shoulder, to awaken.

"Have you finished, master?" she inquired softly, her eyes rubbing against the remnants of sleep.

Observing Arthasia's endearing behavior, Arthur gently caressed her cheek and spoke softly, "Apologies for rousing you from your slumber, Arthasia."

"I have comprehended the theoretical aspects, and now I simply need to put them into practice," Arthur explained.

Upon hearing his explanation, Arthasia nodded drowsily, unable to suppress her weariness.

A gentle smile formed on Arthur's lips as he suggested, "Alright, you can return to the system room and rest."

He continued to stroke Arthasia's petite head.

With a light nod, Arthasia swiftly vanished from Arthur's sight.

Left in solitude, Arthur sported a gentle smile as he rose from his chair.

"It is time for me to put into practice the elemental arts I have mastered, and I am also eager to explore the possibilities of combining sword arts with the fire elemental arts I have acquired," Arthur contemplated, a sense of anticipation in his thoughts.

With a light-hearted notion, he tidied up the elemental art scrolls on his desk before making his way out of the room, heading towards the specialized training yard.

...

Simultaneously, at the southern and northern borders of the Balka Empire, a middle-aged man of robust stature gazed out of the window, his attention fixed on the sprawling expanse of land before him.

He turned to the elderly servant standing behind him, dressed in servant's attire, and inquired, "Have we detected any signs of the enemy's movements?"

"Deliver the report, my Lord!"

"It appears that the Savaran Empire's troops have commenced their movements, displaying early signs of activity!" The old man responded with deep respect.

Upon hearing his answer, the man nodded in acknowledgment.

"Very well, make the necessary preparations and mobilize our troops!"

"We must prepare ourselves for the imminent possibility of war!" he declared with a resounding voice, his eyes fixed on the old man.

"Yes, my Lord!" The old servant, in his humble attire, responded with unwavering determination before promptly vanishing from sight.

The valiant middle-aged man redirected his gaze back to the window.

"Just a little longer, and the time will come," he murmured softly.