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



Without delay, he turned his gaze toward her, a soft smile playing on his lips as he responded lightly.

"Exactly, that level—the Elemental Supreme."

Noah's assertion left the maid visibly taken aback, her eyes widening in utter disbelief.

"Lord Duke... Can what you're suggesting truly be possible?!" Her voice quivered, and her face was a mix of astonishment and apprehension.

Indeed, this marked the first instance she had encountered where someone supposedly achieved the unthinkable—the attainment of the Elemental Supreme level.

The Elemental Supreme stood as the pinnacle of power within this world, a status that defied rationality with its unparalleled might.

(Note: The Elemental Lord, a concept relegated to the realm of fairy tales, remains unproven and unknown to the world at large.)

Noah's proclamation regarding David's alleged attainment of such heights left the maid's mind engulfed in sheer terror.

Observing the maid's blend of fear and incredulity, Noah's smile remained composed as he delicately sipped his tea.

"Would there be a reason for me to deceive you in this matter?" His chuckle resonated gently as his head swayed in negation.

In an instant, the maid inhaled sharply, concluding that a figure of Duke Wilhem's stature would have no cause to fabricate a tale for a young individual bereft of power like herself.

"Then, when measured against Duke David, how formidable are you and Emperor Alex?" The maid's gaze bore the gravity of her question as she regarded Noah intently, awaiting his response.

Leaning back slightly in his chair, Noah allowed his eyelids to shut for a brief moment.

"In comparison to me, you say?" He murmured softly, lost in thought.

The maid maintained her patient and inquisitive stance, eager to receive Noah's response.

Truly, Duke Noah held a special place in her heart, evoking admiration and fondness despite the public perception of him as an austere and domineering figure.

Privately, Noah was far removed from that persona, embodying a benevolent spirit.

After a brief lapse, Duke Noah's eyes fluttered open, his gaze settling on the maid with a tender smile.

"If pitted against him, I suppose I might still find myself on equal footing." His attention drifted upward to the expanse of the clear sky, a trace of wistfulness gracing his expression.

Returning his gaze to the maid, Noah's gentle smile persisted as he resumed speaking.

"It's just that when it comes to Alex, I'm uncertain," Duke Wilhem sighed, his head shaking ever so slightly.

The maid's eyes widened, taken aback by this unexpected admission.

She couldn't fathom the context.

"How do you mean, Duke? How can you doubt yourself, and why would Emperor Alex have doubts?" The maid's words carried a bold curiosity, though she quickly realized her audacity and lowered her head.

"My apologies, Duke, for my lack of manners!" Her voice quivered, her eyes welling up with tears as she regarded Noah with trepidation.

Amused by her endearing reaction, Noah let out a soft chuckle and tenderly stroked her head.

"Why be so formal with me? Haven't I always encouraged you to be candid?" Noah's smile remained gentle, exuding a serene presence.

The young maid pressed her lips together, a sense of guilt weighing on her.

"However, your kindness often leaves me feeling uneasy. I can't help but sense that I'm undeserving of your attention," she murmured, head bowed, her fingers weaving together in a gesture of dejection.

Duke Noah, hearing her words, found himself momentarily at a loss, contemplating the identity of the girl before him.

This very maid had crossed paths with Noah purely by chance in a modest village nestled within his domain.

It was during his return from a journey that he stumbled upon this village, ravaged by marauders.

Amidst the ruins, a crying infant's wail had drawn his attention—a baby girl, the sole survivor of the village's devastation.

Witnessing this, he couldn't bear to leave her fate to chance, promptly delivering her into the care of the mansion's attendants.

As days turned into months, the infant's presence grew dear to him—her origins distinct from the memory of his late wife.

Over time, he came to view her as a daughter.

"It's alright, as it's my heartfelt desire," Noah responded with casual ease, settling back into his seat.

Unlike David, whose ambitions often brimmed with cruelty and power lust, Noah's motivations differed.

Though his methods occasionally bore ruthlessness, they were rooted in the need to establish control within the tumultuous North at that time.

His severity was reserved for maintaining the region's stability amidst rampant lawlessness, rather than being wielded wantonly.

On ordinary days, he dispensed with cruel authoritarianism unless necessity dictated otherwise.

Upon absorbing Noah's nonchalant words, the maid girl lifted her gaze, realizing the sincerity beneath them.

This realization brought her a newfound sense of comfort.

"Thank you, Duke!" The girl's charming smile radiated happiness, her laughter ringing in the air.

Noah observed her demeanor and found his own heart inexplicably lightening in response to her joy.

"Perhaps she's the one who unknowingly filled the void left by my wife," Noah mused quietly, a deep sense of gratitude welling within him.

Subsequently, he focused on the girl's earlier query, responding with a hint of levity.

"Regarding your earlier question, it's primarily speculative on my part; I lack concrete knowledge. However, what I can affirm is that Emperor Alex is likely more potent than David." Noah's tone grew more solemn as he delivered this assertion.

Beside him, the maid girl's astonishment was palpable as she tuned in attentively.

"Are you familiar with Emperor Alex's elemental core?" Noah inquired, casting a quizzical glance at the girl.

In response, the maid girl nodded briskly.

"Indeed, I'm aware. Emperor Alex possesses the renowned Light Elemental Core," the girl affirmed with gravity.

Noah acknowledged her response before proceeding with his explanation.

"Given this understanding, we can already glean a fair amount about Emperor Alex's formidable strength, wouldn't you agree?" Noah posed the question casually.

The maid girl swiftly grasped the implications and aligned herself with the evident reality.

Yet a fresh query sprouted within her mind.

"Nonetheless, in your estimation, how does Emperor Alex's strength compare to that of Duke David, my Lord?" The lingering uncertainty was swiftly addressed.

Noah's lips curled faintly as he released a gentle sigh, a sense of tranquility pervading his expression.

"Holders of unique elemental abilities are both reviled by the world and anomalies that transcend its laws. They're individuals destined to ascend to the pinnacle of the world, their talents defying all rationality," Noah expounded with a profound tone.

The maid girl was struck with awe, her thoughts recalling the volumes she had perused on elemental lore.

"Emperor Alex, as the chosen bearer, rose to become the preeminent force in the Balka Empire. His power may very well have surpassed even my own, David's, and that of all other leaders across the three empires." Noah's assured response once more rendered the maid girl momentarily speechless.

The girl's throat tightened, a bead of cold sweat forming on her forehead as she ventured to ask, "So... his power..."

A brief pause ensued, with the girl surmising that Noah likely comprehended the implications behind her inquiry.

Noah nodded slightly, his eyelids lowering gently.

Eventually, he opened his eyes once more.

"Indeed, he had reached the Elemental Supreme level long ago...

...

Meanwhile, within Duke Asvold's mansion, a stunning girl adorned with lustrous purple hair fixed her gaze upon the document clutched in her hand, painstakingly transcribing its contents into her note.

"I never imagined Duke David's prowess to be so remarkable that it compelled even the young master to alter his meticulously crafted long-term strategies," the girl reflected, and she was none other than Runa herself.

Since the reawakening of her memories as Mira, she had been meticulously assimilating her past experiences, although certain recollections remained fragmented and enshrouded in haze.

One certainty remained steadfast within her understanding: her present young master, Arthur, embodied the reincarnation of her former young master, Zayn Welston.

Following Zayn's tragic suicide, Mira's recollections had only recently surged back into consciousness.

The memory of Charlotte plunging a blade into her young master's heart stirred a tempest of anger within her, igniting an insatiable desire to rend Charlotte to pieces.

Regrettably, fortune had not favored her vengeance; Charlotte had taken her own life, rendering Mira bereft of the opportunity to avenge Zayn Welston, her once beloved young master.

"Accursed woman! Had I known that your reincarnation was a possibility in this world as well, I would have inflicted upon you the utmost torment!" Runa's fists clenched, an unexpectedly intense aura of malevolence emanating from her being.

Indeed, her loathing for Charlotte had perhaps exceeded the bounds of endurance, with a singular imperative etched into her mind concerning that woman: "Eliminate!"

Swiftly, she exhaled, striving to regain her composure and restore clarity to her thoughts.

"Very well, it's in my best interest to channel all my focus into this undertaking." Fixing her gaze on the document in her grasp, Runa plunged into contemplation.

The annihilation of half a million barbarian troops was no trifling matter; it stood as stark testimony to David's seemingly boundless might.

"I'm concerned about how the young master will confront such a formidable adversary..." A slight, rueful sigh escaped Runa's lips, underscoring her feelings of helplessness.

In his prior life, her young master had led a life of comfort, devoid of any significant challenges.

Yet, within this enigmatic realm, where a phenomenon called "Elemental Arts" was the norm, her young master required the capacity not just to endure but to combat for his very survival.

The mere thought of this reality lanced through her heart like a blade, compelling her to spare her young master any undue distress.

"I must aid him in securing governance and alleviate the weight he bears," Runa sighed, poised to rise from her seat.

However, an unwelcome sensation in her lower half gave her pause.