Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent

Sir Veldom arrived at the city gates with pompous strides, trailed by richly dressed attendants and two lines of armed guards.

His long cloak billowed behind him, and his chest was puffed out with the arrogance of a man who had ruled without consequence for too long.

He looked over at Kyle, who stood calmly beside his carriage, his hand resting lightly on the edge of the door.

Sir Veldom's gaze swept over the slender, pale noble with faint recognition—then promptly dismissed him.

"Hmph. You must be the cause of all this fuss. But I don't recall inviting you here, boy. Who are you, and what do you want from me?"

He muttered, raising an eyebrow as he strutted forward.

Bruce's brow twitched. Melissa's fingers hovered near her sword.

Neither liked the tone, and even less the fact that this bloated merchant dared look down on their young master.

Bruce took a single step forward, glaring at the guards surrounding Sir Veldom.

"You're standing in front of Kyle Armstrong. You should—"

Bruce growled.

A gentle wave of Kyle's hand stopped him mid-sentence.

"No need to make a scene. This is his domain, after all. Let him speak"

Kyle said calmly, his tone even, almost weary.

Sir Veldom scoffed at the display of passiveness.

"Hah! Sensible. But not nearly enough. Guards—seize him. I'll deal with him myself. These nobles who think their titles mean something here… it's time they learned otherwise."

His guards moved on command, stepping toward Kyle with shackles in hand.

Melissa's expression turned murderous.

"Young master—"

"Stand down."

Kyle said softly again, not even looking at the two beside him.

He turned his eyes toward Sir Veldom, the usual calm in his face slowly shifting into something colder, sharper.

"I gave you a chance to behave. But I suppose you've never learned how to listen unless your teeth are at stake."

Kyle said.

Sir Veldom let out a mocking laugh.

"Big words from a soft-spoken noble. Even the imperial family knows better than to interfere in my city without permission. You think you can scare me?"

Kyle sighed.

"Very well then."

He released the seal on his mana.

In an instant, the very air turned heavy and oppressive.

A thick wave of mana pressure flooded the area like an unseen tide crashing against every wall and stone.

The guards nearest to Kyle were the first to fall—dropping to their knees, clutching their chests and gasping for breath. Their weapons clattered uselessly to the ground.

Sir Veldom's laughter choked in his throat.

"W-What is this…?"

The few guards who still had enough strength to move rushed toward Kyle in desperation.

They never reached him.

Bruce and Melissa moved like shadows.

Bruce's axe crushed one man's chestplate with a single swing, sending him flying into a pillar.

Melissa drew her sword and moved with graceful lethality, cutting down two more with practiced ease. The scuffle barely lasted seconds.

Kyle didn't even draw his sword.

He simply walked forward, step by step, past the kneeling guards, over the bodies of the foolish, and through the open gates of Venuce like he owned them.

Sir Veldom stumbled back.

"H-How dare you?! Guards! Someone stop him!"

But there were no guards left to answer. Those still conscious wouldn't raise a finger.

They were too busy kneeling, trembling under Kyle's overwhelming aura.

Kyle looked back at him once, eyes cold.

"I told you I would stop holding back."

Sir Veldom's lip quivered, and he took another step back, nearly tripping over his own robe.

All the arrogance from earlier had drained from his face.

As Kyle disappeared past the gates, the streets of Venuce watched in stunned silence. A few merchants peered from windows.

A handful of commoners huddled near doorways, whispering in awe and fear.

The rumors would spread fast: a noble who brought Veldom's men to their knees. A boy who walked like death into the merchant king's domain and was not stopped.

And behind him, Bruce and Melissa followed without a word, stepping over fallen men and shaking dust from their cloaks.

Sir Veldom stood frozen, sweat pouring down his face as he realized—Venuce was no longer his city. Not entirely.

Not anymore.

Sir Veldom stood frozen, the crushing silence around him only broken by the shuffle of Kyle's boots as he stepped closer.

His face was pale but stiff with defiance, even as sweat glistened at his temples. Kyle's calm voice sliced through the tension.

"Kneel. And show the respect you owe to your better."

Kyle said.

The command, though not loud, carried a chilling weight that echoed across the empty square.

Melissa and Bruce stood behind their young master, swords sheathed but hands ready.

Every merchant and onlooker hidden behind closed doors held their breath.

Sir Veldom's lip curled.

"Why should I? I don't bow to nameless nobles who've done nothing but inherit their positions. Men like me built this city. Worked for every copper and stone. You nobles think a title earns you the world."

He spat on the ground.

"I'll never kneel to that."

Kyle's eyes darkened, the calm in his expression shifting into quiet fury.

"You insult me, you insult the nobility, and now you speak as if your greed justifies it?"

He turned slightly toward his two subordinates.

"Melissa. Bruce. Since he won't learn through mercy, see to it he learns through the law. He has insulted a noble—such an offense requires punishment."

Melissa and Bruce stepped forward without hesitation.

"With pleasure, young master."

Bruce said, grabbing Sir Veldom's arm with a grip that made the merchant yelp in pain.

"In the name of House Armstrong, we shall carry out proper punishment. The laws are clear."

Melissa added, twisting the other arm behind Sir Veldom's back.

Sir Veldom, now fully restrained, looked wildly between the two of them before his eyes landed back on Kyle.

His earlier arrogance crumbled, replaced by panic.

"W-Wait! Did you say Armstrong? Armstrong—as in the duke's house? T-The north's guardian family?!"

His voice cracked.

Bruce gave him a withering glare.

"So you've heard of us now, have you?"

"I—I didn't know! I swear, if I had known… I wouldn't have said anything! Please, Young Master, it was ignorance, not disrespect!"

Sir Veldom stammered, sweat dripping down his face.

Melissa's eyes were cold.

"Your ignorance is not the issue. Your crime wasn't merely insulting our house."

Bruce nodded.

"It was failing to recognize our young master's excellence. You thought him weak. You thought him unworthy. And for that, you made your judgment. That, Sir Veldom, is your true failing."

Kyle looked at the merchant as if he were beneath notice.

"You value your pride over reason. That's why men like you will always fall. Be thankful I am in a good mood today."

Sir Veldom gulped, tears beginning to form as he knelt with shaking legs.

"I beg your forgiveness, Young Master. I had no idea. I should've—"

But Kyle had already turned away, walking through the gates of Venuce as if they had always been his.

Queen, nestled inside the carriage on its special bed atop the egg, gave a snort as if amused by the chaos behind it.

Melissa and Bruce released Sir Veldom, letting him collapse on the ground in shame.

"Let this be a lesson. Next time, remember that arrogance without strength is suicide."

Bruce muttered.