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



With great effort, he extended his trembling hand and gently brushed his palm against the girl's cheek, his voice quivering as he spoke, "Are you named Lyra?"

Observing Rian's melancholic yet hopeful gaze, the young girl nodded, her own confusion evident.

"Yes, my name is Lyra. How do you know?" Lyra inquired, her perplexity clearly present in her voice.

She couldn't recall having shared her name with Rian, so his question left her feeling uneasy and anxious.

Upon hearing Lyra's confirmation, the hand cupping her cheek began to tremble uncontrollably, tears welling up at the corners of his eyes.

"I... I see... so you've grown," he uttered, his voice choked with emotion as he lowered his head and wept.

Even during the betrayal inflicted upon him by his own subordinates, he had never shed as many tears as he did now, overwhelmed by a profound mixture of joy and sorrow.

Guilt, happiness, and worry intertwined within Rian's tumultuous mind, leaving him at a loss for what to do next, despite his prior mental preparation.

As Lyra grew increasingly flustered and overwhelmed, she instinctively reached out and held onto Rian's shoulder, her concern evident in her touch.

"You! Why are you crying?" She exclaimed with concern, perplexed by Rian's sudden outpouring of emotions after simply asking for her name.

Feeling the touch of her hand on his shoulder, Rian slowly lifted his head and gazed at the girl, his eyes filled with sadness.

"Lyra, I... can I ask you for one favor?" Rian's voice quivered, sounding hoarse and filled with emotion.

After hearing Rian's request, Lyra, although still perplexed, nodded eagerly and replied, "Of course!"

"Please don't move any further. Your wound might reopen," she added without hesitation, driven by her concern for his well-being.

Lyra couldn't fathom why she felt such care and worry for Rian, a person she had only just met.

Nevertheless, her instinctive empathy pushed her to offer him her support.

In her heart, a voice whispered that the person standing before her held great significance in her life.

Upon hearing Lyra's words, Rian could only offer a self-deprecating smile.

With tenderness in his eyes, he extended his hand, gently caressing Lyra's head in a comforting gesture.

"Lyra, if I were to apologize to you, would you be willing to forgive me?" Rian's voice trembled with a sense of shame and burden, as if weighed down by the weight of his request.

"Apologize? Apologize for what?" Lyra gazed at Rian, perplexed by his words, and noticed the sadness reflected in his eyes—a sight she had never witnessed before.

Rian lowered his head, taking a deep breath, before lifting his gaze to meet Lyra's once more, his expression filled with gentle sincerity.

"Apologize because I have made a tremendous mistake that has deeply affected you, Lyra," Rian whispered weakly, his words causing Lyra's heart to skip a beat.

Taken aback, Lyra took a step back, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The way their interaction started and the sudden tears from her mother hinted at something dreadful.

Witnessing her reaction, Rian let out a frail chuckle, his gaze filled with sorrow as he looked at Lyra.

"Yes, Lyra, I am your father."

*Boom!

Lyra felt as if her mind had been struck with an overwhelming force, leaving her completely stunned.

"You... my father?" She whispered, covering her mouth in utter disbelief.

A whirlwind of emotions swept through her, leaving Lyra uncertain about how to feel.

Should she be happy? Of course, she couldn't deny the joy of discovering her father's presence. Should she be angry?

Absolutely, she felt a deep anger towards the man who had been absent from her life, depriving her of a father's love during her childhood.

Every day, as she witnessed other children in the village with their fathers, jealousy gnawed at her heart, yet she remained powerless to change her own situation.

Caught in the midst of this maelstrom of emotions, Lyra found herself engulfed in confusion.

Observing Lyra's struggle and understanding the immense difficulty she faced in accepting him as her father, Rian clenched his teeth and bowed his head with determination.

"I don't expect you to easily forgive or not hate me. I am prepared to accept any consequences," he expressed, his voice trembling with sincerity.

"Even if you want to take my life as punishment, I will not resist. But I implore you, please find it in your heart to forgive me at least a little for the mistakes I've made," Rian pleaded, tears streaming down his face, feeling helpless and uncertain about what more he could do.

The weight of his accumulated guilt finally erupted within him, and Rian vowed to do everything in his power to earn his daughter's forgiveness.

He was prepared to go to great lengths, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

He understood that the pain he had caused his daughter couldn't be erased easily, especially considering her young age.

Yet he remained resolute in his determination to mend their relationship and make amends for his past mistakes.

Overwhelmed by Rian's helplessness and genuine remorse, Lyra could no longer suppress her own tears.

Without hesitation, she embraced him tightly, refusing to let go.

"No! Please, I implore you, don't speak of such things!" Lyra managed to utter it, her voice filled with both difficulty and determination.

She didn't want Rian to bear the weight of guilt to the point of considering self-harm.

She had yearned for her father's return, and now that she had this precious opportunity, she couldn't fathom letting him go.

Lyra's forgiveness stemmed from the depths of her heart, fueled by a profound longing to rebuild their shattered relationship.

Despite the undeniable sins Rian had committed against her, her enduring love for her father triumphed over any hatred that could have consumed her.

Witnessing her forgiveness, Rian mustered his strength and embraced the girl, his beloved daughter, whom he had missed dearly.

Their reunion became an exchange of longing and a cathartic release of emotions as they embraced each other tightly, their tears mingling with cries of longing and relief.

After ten minutes had passed, the two reluctantly separated, and Rian beheld his daughter's worn but contented expression.

"Lyra, do you truly forgive me?" He asked, his head bowed, uncertain if he could truly be accepted and forgiven.

Lyra smiled tenderly and gently caressed Rian's cheek as she nodded, "Of course, Father."

The word "Father" that escaped her lips filled Rian with an indescribable happiness, surpassing any level of joy he had ever experienced.

Even during his tenure as the leader of the Black Swan organization, he had never felt a comparable sense of bliss.

"However, I have one condition." Lyra continued, looking at Rian with gentleness.

Upon hearing this, Rian nodded, determined to accept whatever condition she would present.

"What is it, my daughter?" he asked.

"Even if you ask for everything, I will give it to you," Rian replied firmly and without hesitation.

Lyra shook her head and spoke softly, "I don't want anything from you, Father."

"But I want you to promise me one thing," she continued, her voice filled with pleas and hope.

"Promise me that you'll never leave me and Mom again."

Her words struck a chord within Rian, and he nodded in immediate agreement, understanding the importance of her request.

"Of course! I will never leave you two again, not for a single moment in my life!" Rian declared with unwavering determination.

Even if Lyra hadn't asked, he had already resolved never to abandon them, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

For Rian, this was a chance at redemption, a divine opportunity bestowed upon him by God.

The two exchanged glances and erupted into laughter, their spirits uplifted by the joyous moment.

However, Lyra's expression suddenly turned pensive, and a look of worry appeared on her face as she gazed at Rian.

"Dad...what about Mom?" she asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Witnessing her mother in tears for the first time, Lyra felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to provide comfort.

Unable to contain her concern, she turned to Rian and posed the question.

Upon hearing her words, Rian precipitously positioned himself on the bed, disregarding any discomfort.

"Dad, please don't strain yourself!" Lyra was excited in surprise, rushing to support Rian's body with worry evident in her eyes.

However, Rian offered a gentle smile and shook his head, reassuring her.

"Don't worry, my daughter," Rian reassured her.

"Your father is an elemental, so this wound is nothing," he said in a soothing tone.

He could sense a faint trickle of mana coursing through his body, providing some relief despite its limited flow.

As a result, he was able to gingerly begin moving, despite the lingering discomfort.

With Lyra's assistance, he gradually rose to his feet, leaving Lyra astonished by his resilience.

"That's great!" Lyra praised him with sparkling eyes and seemed to see a miracle that made her amazed.

Rian chuckled and stroked her head gently. "Thank you for the compliment, my daughter!"

As he observed the lack of mana flow within his daughter's body, a realization struck Rian.

This might explain why she was encountering difficulties awakening her core.

"She truly takes after her mother," he sighed softly, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

However, this fact did not diminish his determination.

From now on, he will wholeheartedly care for both of them.

It was his promise as a man, and he was unwavering in his commitment.

After a moment of realization, Rian remembered something he had forgotten and turned to Lyra with concern in his voice.

"My daughter, I forgot something important," he said, his worry evident.

"Do you happen to know where your mother went?"

Hearing his question, Lyra pondered for a moment, placing a hand on her chin.

Eventually, a smile graced her face as she reassured Rian, saying, "Don't worry, Dad!"

"I know where Mom used to go when she felt down," she comforted him.

"A place to seek solace during times of sadness." Rian smiled sadly, feeling a pang of guilt.

Nevertheless, he gathered his resolve, looking at Lyra with determination.

"Good! Let's go visit her."

...

Meanwhile

"Wow, that girl is truly determined," Arthur murmured, shaking his head helplessly.

Although he had ultimately promised to marry her in the future, he couldn't help but admire her unwavering commitment to the idea.

"Nevertheless, today's harvest is exceptionally bountiful, as my plans have progressed remarkably well. It's only a matter of time," he mused, his gaze fixed on the carriage window.

Currently, he was making his way back to the Duke's mansion, traveling in a luxurious horse-drawn carriage that Lucas had thoughtfully arranged for him.

He was accompanied by a retinue of bodyguards, all of whom possessed elemental abilities ranging from levels five to nine circles, providing him with utmost security during the entire journey.

Lucas had indeed fulfilled his promise with utmost precision, leaving no room for accidents or mishaps along the way.

"Today's weather is truly delightful," he thought idly, but his casual thoughts were interrupted as the carriage abruptly came to a halt, causing him to flinch involuntarily.

"What's going on?" he muttered to himself, only to have his door immediately rapped on by one of the guards.

"Apologies, Your Highness; we are facing a minor disturbance," the bodyguard explained with remorse in his voice.

Without hesitation, Arthur opened the carriage door and directed his gaze towards the guard.

"What exactly occurred?" Arthur inquired with a mixture of curiosity and concern, his eyes fixed on the bodyguard.

The bodyguard respectfully bowed his head in greeting before explaining, "There is an unconscious white fox ahead."

Arthur's surprise was evident, and he responded with an odd reaction.

"A white fox?"