"So, how can I get the reward soon?" Arthur, who strolled leisurely down the hallway, addressed Arthasia, perched above his head.
However, instead of responding, Arthasia pursed her lips and averted her gaze, completely ignoring Arthur.
Noticing Arthasia's lingering crankiness from the previous night, Arthur couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well, I'm sorry, okay?" Arthur spoke softly, attempting to persuade Arthasia.
Of course, Arthasia remained unaffected by his attempts and continued to ignore him.
Subconsciously, Arthur rubbed his chin and pondered, "How can I get her to forgive me, huh?"
He acknowledged that the punishment from the previous night had been somewhat excessive, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt towards Arthasia.
An idea immediately sprang to mind, and with a sly smile, he exclaimed helplessly, "Hey~ if you don't forgive me, I honestly don't know what else to do."
"You know, ever since you entered my life, I've become overly dependent on you for everything," he said with a hint of absurdity.
"And on top of that, I feel immense guilt for what occurred last night." The sorrow in his voice was so genuine that anyone would be easily deceived by his acting.
As expected, upon hearing Arthur's words, Arthasia, who had been sulking, instantly brightened up, and a victorious smile graced her face.
"Hmph! Just this once, I'll forgive you," she said in a tsundere tone that was undeniably adorable.
Arthur smiled faintly and muttered to himself, "This girl is so gullible."
Without wasting any time, Arthur pressed on, "So, Arthasia, can you grant me the reward now?"
Upon hearing this, Arthasia, perched atop Arthur's head, descended slowly onto his shoulder and spoke in a cocky tone, "Hmph! Since you've apologized like that, what more can I do?"
She then extended her tiny hand, and suddenly a radiant light materialized before Arthur.
Reacting swiftly, Arthur reached out and touched the light, which promptly transformed into a dazzling white scroll.
"What is this, Arthasia?" Arthur asked, his tone filled with hesitation, directing his attention towards Arthasia.
Wearing a faint smile, Arthasia responded, "Why don't you employ your appraisal skills, master?"
Surprised by the suggestion, Arthur swiftly employed his appraisal skills, wasting no time in examining the contents of the scroll.
[Space Elemental Art Scroll: Warp Space (One Star)]
[Explanation: A space elemental art that has the power to warp space around or wherever the user wants (maximum distance: 100 meters)]
[Power: Less powerful if used as an attack, but very useful in combat]
[Chance of Mastering: 100%]
[Scarcity Level of Scrolls: Rare]
As Arthur examined the statistical data, his eyes widened in astonishment.
"Damn! This is space elemental art!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his disbelief.
He delved into the scroll's contents, reading them meticulously to grasp all the details.
After comprehending the scroll's contents, Arthur turned to Arthasia and inquired, "Why is there a rarity rating mentioned at the bottom?"
"Didn't the fire elemental art scroll lack such a column?"
Hearing this, Arthasia rose from her position and hovered in front of Arthur, providing a detailed explanation: "The rarity rating appears because this particular elemental art scroll is exceptionally rare."
"Even though it's only a one-star level, it's incomparable to the more common elemental arts, you see?"
Having received a thorough explanation from Arthasia, Arthur finally grasped the distinction.
The one-star space elemental art simply couldn't be compared to the one-star elemental arts of the other four elements.
They resided in separate realms, existing on entirely different worlds.
Space elemental arts were exceedingly rare, with only a scant number of scrolls connected to the power of space believed to exist in this world.
Taking into account that he was the sole possessor of a space core, apart from a mysterious individual from centuries ago, this revelation made perfect sense.
Overwhelmed with joy, Arthur realized that the space elemental art scroll he held in his hands was a gift that would bring him eternal happiness.
"Damn! This is truly incredible!"
"I have genuine affection for you, Arthasia!" he exclaimed happily, his heart brimming with love for his endearing and amusing Arthasia.
However, a pang of guilt washed over him as he reflected on how he had treated Arthasia in the past.
"It's good that you acknowledge it!" Arthasia responded to Arthur's words while maintaining her tsundere demeanor, then settled back down on Arthur's head.
Observing her continued playful pretense, Arthur merely chuckled and chose not to take Arthasia's amusing behavior to heart.
"By the way, I'm really eager to learn the intricacies of this space power!" he expressed.
"However, I still have unfinished business with the remaining two individuals," he added casually.
The two individuals Arthur mentioned were the ones he had brought to the mansion, together with Rian.
They held the same level of importance as Rian, if not greater, due to their extraordinary abilities.
"Alright, it's time to conclude matters and unwind!" he exclaimed before resuming his stride toward the room they had designated.
...
Arthur opened the door and discovered the two individuals sitting comfortably inside the room.
One was a middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard and piercing eyes, while the other was a middle-aged woman who exuded elegance despite the passage of time.
Their attire had transformed from shabby to more presentable, reflecting a newfound sense of dignity.
Upon noticing Arthur's arrival, the two promptly turned their attention toward him and rose from their seats.
"Greetings, Young Master Arthur," the two individuals greeted with a salute, bowing their heads respectfully.
Wearing his customary smile, Arthur acknowledged their greeting and made his way toward the sofa across from them.
He settled into his seat, and the two followed suit, taking their places as well.
"Now, without further delay, the reason I've brought you here is for you to work under my command," he stated directly, fixing them with a sharp gaze.
Determined not to waste any more time, he set his objective right away.
With time slipping away, Arthur was eager to swiftly persuade the two individuals before him to work under his command.
Upon hearing his words, the expressions of the two underwent an immediate shift.
However, just as the bearded middle-aged man was about to speak, the middle-aged woman promptly interjected.
"I apologize, Young Master Arthur," she began, her voice laden with excuses.
"But I'm merely an ordinary elderly woman with no exceptional abilities to offer."
Without offering a response, Arthur simply glanced at the middle-aged woman before shifting his gaze to the bearded man, observing his reactions.
As anticipated, the bearded man shook his head, affirming the woman's earlier statement.
"She speaks the truth, young master," he admitted.
"I am nothing more than a destitute beggar, devoid of any useful abilities to aid you."
Hearing his self-deprecating remarks, echoing the sentiment of the middle-aged woman, Arthur reclined in his seat, crossed his legs, and pondered the situation.
With neither a response nor acknowledgment given to their self-deprecating remarks, an awkward tension filled the air.
After a brief moment, Arthur closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to compose himself.
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze rested on the middle-aged woman.
"Are you truly resolved to let go of your desire for revenge against the Savaran royal family, knowing that they annihilated your entire family, Natasya?" Arthur's words pierced the middle-aged woman's heart, causing her eyes to widen with shock.
But before she could respond, Arthur shifted his attention to the bearded, middle-aged man named Jack.
With a firm gaze, he questioned, "And what about you, Jack? Will you continue evading your past and surrender your pursuit?"
"Didn't you make a solemn vow to seek justice for your wife, who was unjustly executed by Emperor Savaran?"
Arthur's words landed like a bombshell on the middle-aged man, causing him to abruptly rise from his seat, his eyes widening in astonishment.
"What do you mean?" he demanded, his voice sharp and urgent.
Similarly, the middle-aged woman, Natasya, fixed her gaze on Arthur, her eyes filled with questioning intensity.
Arthur maintained a smile in response to their astonishment, his mind drifting to the backgrounds of these characters within the novel.
Jack, the bearded middle-aged man, hailed from the Barbarian region of the Savaran Empire.
He possessed exceptional skills as a master blacksmith, surpassing all others in the empire when it came to crafting weapons, despite his limited aptitude for elemental abilities.
Jack's exceptional skill and expertise as a blacksmith had earned him the respect and admiration of the Savaran Emperor, who appointed him as the Chief Blacksmith Master of the Savaran Empire.
This position held significant importance within the empire, as the predominantly barbarian society relied heavily on weapons rather than elemental arts.
However, Jack's life took a dark turn when he became the target of false accusations.
Someone who harbored deep animosity toward him accused him of being a spy for the rival Balka Empire.
Despite the lack of substantial evidence to support the accusations of treason, the Savaran Emperor hastily ordered Jack's execution.
In those volatile times, tensions between the two empires ran high, leaving little room for mercy or second chances.
Miraculously, Jack's wife devised a plan to help him escape the clutches of the empire's execution.
Tragically, in an act of sacrifice, she willingly took his place, paying the ultimate price with her own life to secure his survival.
Like Jack, Natasya, the Empire's esteemed strategist, also found herself accused of treason in the wake of the Savaran Empire's defeat to the Balka Empire.
The blame was unfairly placed on her shoulders, despite the fact that the devastating loss was primarily due to the exceptional teamwork and prowess displayed by David and Noah, who had decimated the Savaran Empire's forces.
Natasya was unjustly targeted as a scapegoat for the empire's failures.
As a result of the false accusations, Natasya was unjustly imprisoned in a grim and desolate dungeon, separated from her family, who tragically fell victim to the Savaran Emperor's wrath.
The Empire's ruthless purge left no trace of her loved ones.
However, Natasya's indomitable spirit and resourcefulness allowed her to eventually escape her captivity.
Seeking refuge and solace in the Balka Empire, she managed to conceal her identity and elude the Savaran Empire's relentless pursuit.
Coming back to his senses, Arthur fixed a penetrating gaze upon the two individuals before him and spoke with unwavering determination.
"The past may have been cruel to you both, but now I am offering you an opportunity to reclaim your power and seek the vengeance you desire."
"The question is simple: Do you have the will to seize this chance and rise above your past?"
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶