Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile in the Human Region

Inside Javier's camp.

Javier yawned again and stretched one arm while his other hand rubbed his messy hair.

Beside the stream, his Pekko mount Buddy splashed happily in the shallow water, dipping its beak in and letting out a satisfied trill. The huge bird's feathers glistened as it dunked itself again, sending ripples across the clear surface.

Farther down, the prisoners they had captured earlier were finishing their morning wash. None of them had tried to flee during the night. Maybe they were too afraid… or perhaps they had realized there was nowhere to run.

"Young master?"

Javier turned, blinking the sleep from his eyes. Liana was already up, wearing her maid dress even in the field. She was at the makeshift cooking area, carefully arranging plates as the aroma of breakfast drifted through the cool morning air.

"Oh… Liana, good morning," Javier said, yawning again.

He glanced to the side and spotted Gloria setting out cups.

"Gloria ~ good morning," he greeted with his usual lazy grin.

"Ara ~ young master seems energetic today," Gloria teased softly.

"Mm ~ maybe because my two lovely maids were sleeping beside me yesterday."

Liana shook her head with a faint smile. "It's not like you can sleep without us next to you. Not to mention… you kept asking for a kiss."

Javier smirked. "Well… it's our routine now. Since I was little, up to now. And I'm already fourteen."

Buddy let out a sharp chirp, shaking water from its feathers and startling one of the prisoners. Javier glanced over casually but didn't bother giving an order, the captured men knew better than to cause trouble under Liana and Gloria's watch.

He sat down on the camp chair Liana had unfolded for him, stretching again before lazily leaning back. "So… what's for breakfast?"

Liana glanced over her shoulder.

"As usual, young master—your favorites. Meat."

"Mmm… I love it."

"And vegetables," Liana teased.

"Blergh! I don't eat veggies. A man like me doesn't eat veggies."

"Yes, yes~" Liana replied, lips curling faintly as she went back to cooking.

"Ara~ don't be too picky, young master~," Gloria chimed in, her voice carrying that gentle teasing tone.

"It's not that I'm picky… I just don't like vegetables," Javier muttered, stretching his arms overhead with a lazy groan.

His eyes swept over the camp. The special operation units were stationed around the perimeter, their polished armor glinting faintly in the morning light. Each one stood perfectly still, yet their presence conveyed a silent pressure—ready to move at a single command.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, leaning back in his chair.

Liana noticed his shift in posture. "Something wrong?"

"Ah, nothing. Don't worry about that," Javier said with a grin.

While the captured soldiers were busy cooking their own meal over the fire, Javier strolled over and dropped himself onto the spot beside Liana.

"Liana~ chuuu!!!"

Liana let out a soft sigh, though the corners of her lips curved into a smile. She leaned in, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips.

"There~ satisfied?"

"Yep! Ehehehe… Gloria~ chuuu!!!"

Ara~… come here, my young master."

Gloria stepped closer, tilting her head just enough to meet his lips.

"Ehehehe… I can't wait to turn eighteen and marry you both," Javier said with a grin that was far too pleased with itself.

"Yes, yes~" Liana replied, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Don't forget your other harem too."

Gulp. Javier swallowed hard, a bead of sweat forming at his temple. "Uhh… ah… look at the sky! It's… blue!!"

Buddy, lounging near the stream, squawked loudly as if mocking his poor attempt at changing the subject.

Gloria covered her mouth with her hand, chuckling softly. Liana just shook her head, stirring the pot as if she hadn't heard him.

"So, young master?" Gloria asked, her tone casual but her eyes studying him.

"Hmm? Yes?"

"What are our plans after this?"

"Nothing. I'll just have my units hit from the rear after this," Javier replied, leaning back on his hands. "We don't need to do anything ourselves. I'm not risking you two anywhere near the battlefield. Besides… soon, the thing will be complete, and it'll reach the Armand border wall."

"What thing, young master?" Liana asked, glancing at him briefly before focusing back on the pot.

"Nothing… just an upgrade to my current knights who are defending the Armand wall," he said with a faint grin. "I don't want to risk my people for this useless war. That's why I'm sending my knights, my special operation units, my drones… and my mana missiles."

Gloria's brows arched slightly. "Ara… sounds like someone's preparing a surprise."

"Exactly," Javier said, a sly spark in his eyes. "And surprises are only fun when no one sees them coming."

Inside Javier's mind, the plan unfolded with cold precision.

When the upgrade transport reached the Armand Border Wall, every one of his older-model knights would integrate the new systems stored inside.

All of them.

Without exception—would shed their outdated frames, emerging as specialized units far beyond their current limits. Not just sword and shield, not just the old mana rifles… but fully enhanced weaponry and armor that could tear through even Edmund's celestial-powered golems.

And when that moment came, he would send everything.

Every special unit under his command, every Shironii—flanking hard and fast into the enemy's death legion. The very corpses Edmund had risen with his celestial power would be met head-on… and dismantled, piece by piece, until nothing was left but scattered dust.

I don't like this war. I hate killing.

But when you cross the line… when you dare to set your sights on the Armand Region…

When your mages rained those endless dark fireballs on my people, turning the skies black and forcing innocent families to flee for their lives… when your attacks threatened every farmer, every merchant, every child behind our walls…

Then, Edmund… I can no longer stay silent.

I don't care if you were once my father's old friend. That bond means nothing now. The moment you seized that Celestial, let its whispers seep into your soul, and surrendered yourself to its hunger, you became something else.

Something that cannot be reasoned with. And now, standing at the Fifth Stage, you are no longer a man—only a vessel for destruction.

No more sealing. No more mercy. My father entrusted me with a mission: deal with you before the world drowns in your madness. He left the method to me whether to kill or to seal.

But from the knowledge he passed directly into my mind, I know the truth. There is no sealing a Celestial like yours anymore. It's beyond chains, beyond wards, beyond the rituals of my father used to.

The only end for you is annihilation.

And when that time comes… I will show you why power borrowed from something like a Celestial is worthless.

You've lived thinking that strength comes from what you take, what you steal from others. I'll teach you the difference between that… and true strength. I'll carve it into the battlefield with my own hands.

( End Of Chapter )