Roland's reincarnation initially thrust him into the unloved role of the fourth, illegitimate son of Baron Wentworth Arden, relegated to a shabby room and largely ignored by his noble family. His perceived weakness and lack of martial talent, starkly contrasting his physically robust siblings, cemented his low social standing. However, a fortuitous "mana sickness" incident, born from the original boy's attempt to absorb ambient mana, inadvertently triggered a dramatic reversal of his fortunes. Upon recovery, Roland's newly merged status screen revealed an exceptionally high Intelligence, Willpower, and Dexterity, coupled with the rare "Mana Sense" skill. This discovery, relayed to the Baron, ignited a surprising interest from his distant father. Suddenly, the neglected child was accepted into the family's inner circle, granted tutors, books, and basic training, all aimed at nurturing his perceived magical talent for the upcoming Ascension Ritual at age ten. This swift elevation from outcast to potential mage within the family, though based on a superficial understanding of his true abilities, provided Roland with a temporary shield and invaluable resources, setting the stage for his strategic manipulation of this new world's game-like system. The irony was palpable: his hidden Earth-based analytical skills were already subtly shaping his destiny, even as the world saw only a nascent mage.

Roland's carefully constructed path towards becoming a powerful mage was abruptly shattered on the day of his Ascension Ritual. Despite his prodigious Mana Sense, towering Intelligence, and diligent study, the elemental affinity test delivered a devastating blow: a shocking 0% across all basic elements. This unprecedented result, a one-in-a-million occurrence, effectively rendered him inept for any advanced mage class, trapping him in a Tier 1 Mage class with no future progression. His family's newfound interest immediately waned, and the prospect of being shunted into the military loomed large. However, Roland's pragmatic nature and gamer's adaptability kicked in. During his class change ritual, transported to a surreal, pixelated recreation of his old apartment, he discovered a hidden class path: "Runic Mana Scribe," unlocked by his "Runic Scholar" title—a direct consequence of his Debugger skill's ability to 'understand' runes as circuits. This pivotal moment allowed him to pivot strategically, embracing a crafting profession that leveraged his unique Earth-bound skills, transforming a crushing setback into an unforeseen opportunity for a lucrative and independent future, far from the battlefield.

Roland's new life as a Runic Mana Scribe in Edelgard, under contract with Exeor's Magic Emporium, quickly proved more perilous than anticipated. His initial struggles to find work and the exploitative contracts offered by the merchant council highlighted the cutthroat nature of this world. Yet, his perseverance paid off, establishing him as a prodigy in crafting "highest grade" runic spell scrolls. This success, however, attracted unwanted attention. A targeted assassination attempt by a Tier 2 rogue, orchestrated by unknown forces, plunged Roland into a desperate fight for survival. Miraculously, his former adventurer party—Rebecca, Sahildr, and Reyna—arrived in the nick of time, turning the tide against the superior foe. This harrowing experience, coupled with the gnome manager's subsequent revelation that his "Debugger" skill allowed him to instantly understand and perfect rune schematics, solidified his unique advantage. He realized his Earth skills were not just passive bonuses but active, cheat-like abilities that could rapidly accelerate his crafting proficiency and generate immense wealth, promising a path to independence far beyond his initial expectations.

The Manstos Grotto expedition, intended as a brief monster-hunting stint to level his combat skills, quickly devolved into a desperate fight for survival. Trapped deep within a collapsed mine alongside his new party—Dalrak, Selanar, Orson, and Helci—Roland faced a relentless onslaught of Myrmeke ants, culminating in a terrifying confrontation with a Tier 3 Myrmeke Queen. His conventional spells proved inadequate, forcing him to unleash his experimental "supersized" runic fire arrow pelt, a jerry-rigged weapon of immense, yet dangerous, power. The resulting blast crippled the Queen, allowing their escape, but left Roland with a mangled, charred arm, a stark reminder of his mortality. This crucible of combat, however, forged him anew. He gained the "Manslayer" title, maxed out his "Runic Mastery" skill, and dramatically leveled his "Runic Blacksmith" class. The experience underscored the limitations of relying solely on crafting and the necessity of personal power, driving him to integrate mana stones into his creations and to develop innovative runic tools. Roland returned to Edelgard not just as a crafter, but as a seasoned survivor, ready to leverage his unique blend of Earth intellect and newfound magical prowess to conquer the challenges of this dangerous world.