Reborn As Noble

Javier's eyes were still on the field, the once blood-soaked ground now cleared of the carnage. The air felt strangely hollow, as if even the wind dared not disturb the silence.

Before he could turn away, a voice cut through the stillness.

"Javier."

He froze for a heartbeat, the familiarity of that voice tugging him back to reality. Turning slightly, his surprise was plain, his father stood there, expression unreadable, flanked by Alf, Erinnette, and Hesbeirn.

But it wasn't just them.

Standing just a step behind was a figure that made his chest tighten. His mother...Francesca.

Inside Javier's mind.

Damn!

I didn't even sense their mana before they got this close.

But this father of mine…

Even now, standing right in front of me, I can't feel a shred of his power.

No aura, no mana, nothing. As if he's just… empty.

Ugh… even after growing this strong, I still can't measure his true power.

And it's not just him.

These five, every one of them, could easily slip past my best special operation units, weaving through the security net I'd set. Even with the standing order to keep anyone from getting near the battlefield, they still came through without leaving a trace.

The other four, I can at least feel. Their mana is strong, tangible, like the pressure before a storm. But Father… Father is different. Completely invisible.

Damn… what is his real power?

Garius stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the silent field.

No blood.

No torn flesh.

Only bodies lying still, their wounds erased, faces restored to a state that could be recognized by the loved ones who would claim them.

So… he used that skill,

And in this state… it must have been the original version.

He shifted his focus to Javier, who stood a short distance away, his shoulders low, the faint tremor in his stance betraying the mana drain. The boy's breathing was steady enough, but his core told another story.

Without a word, Garius' right eye glinted faintly.

Eyes of Truth.

The threads of Javier's mana unraveled before him, the lingering strain clinging to him like smoke.

Good… he hadn't forced himself to collapse this time.

Garius' jaw tightened as he recalled the last incident, when Javier's mana overflowed, twisting into that blank, berserk state. A state that would have killed him if it hadn't been stopped.

He allowed his gaze to linger a moment longer, measuring not just power but resolve.

You're growing, my son…

Garius's calm expression didn't waver as he studied his youngest.

"So… did you complete your mission?" His tone was even, but the weight behind it pressed into Javier like stone.

"Y–yes, esteemed father. I have completed the mission."

Garius' eyes lingered on him.

Inside, he could see it.

An edge in Javier's mind that hadn't been there before. Not just caution, but an understanding forged in the filth of reality. A maturity born from facing greed, death, and the ugliness of power.

On the surface, Garius remained impassive. But deep within, he was smiling.

The son standing before him was no longer the reckless boy who treated life as a game. This was a man who understood the weight of his strength, a man who would not waste it on selfishness or cruelty.

You're growing into someone who will never let war, greed, or corruption drag him into their shadows.

Garius watched Javier fidget where he stood.

"Now let me ask you one thing."

"Y-yes, e-estimated father?"

"Why didn't you bring Liana and Gloria? Surely you know they're strong."

"Ah…" Javier glanced to the side. "Err… I didn't want to risk their live… and… this mission was a solo mission."

"Hm. Good thinking… but I'm sure Liana and Gloria aren't the type to care about what you say or what you command them to do."

"Ah… ermm… err… well… I… have my own way…" Javier looked away again, neck stiff, clearly nervous.

Garius's eyes narrowed a fraction. "Your own way?"

Javier scratched his cheek.

"I… flagged them as high-priority on Sky Eye and issued an escort lock. Special Operation Units picked them up and are bringing them to the Armand wall. Pikko and Peanut are with them. I recalled the battlefield units, but the convoy stays active until they're safe." He coughed lightly, avoiding his father's gaze.

"So… they can't get close to the fight… even if they want to."

Francesca's lips curved, amused. Alf folded his arms with a small snort. Erinnette hid a smile. Hesbeirn bit back a chuckle.

Garius stayed calm. "So you forced them to stay away."

Javier nodded once. "If I told them 'don't come,' they'd come faster. This way, they can scold me later… while still breathing."

A faint breath left Garius.

"You understand them well."

Garius held his son's gaze for a long moment, then gave a small approving nod.

"Fine. You chose safety over pride. That's correct." He tilted his head.

"But I wonder… what are you using? Surely Liana and Gloria could easily handle your special units."

"Ah… well…" Javier's grin turned nervous, eyes darting away. "You'll see…"

Meanwhile, at the Armand Border.

The main gate crew spotted the incoming convoy: twenty-one enclosed mana-driven transport wagons, flanked on all sides by Javier's special units. Armored knights rode alongside, visors down, every movement sharp and disciplined.

The lead knight rode up to the gate captain.

"Convoy for secure entry. Priority clearance."

The captain gave a sharp nod, but then.

mmpHH! Mmmpph!!

A muffled cry came from the first wagon.

The captain frowned.

"What in the—?" He moved forward, disengaged the locking rune, and swung the door open.

His eyes widened.

Inside, Liana and Gloria sat side-by-side, both bound with thick enchanted cuffs at their wrists and knees. A strip of cloth covered their mouths. Even with the restraints, their eyes burned with enough fury to make a lesser man take a step back.

"Ah!! Miss Liana, Miss Gloria!" The captain stiffened and gave an immediate salute.

"MmMPH! MMMMPH!!" (Remove this right now!)

The captain froze mid-motion, blinking. "Er… what are they saying…?" He glanced over his shoulder at the nearest knight for help, already sweating under their combined glare.

The lead knight stepped forward without a word, his armored boots ringing on the stone floor. From a small pouch at his hip, he pulled out a palm-sized device: a smooth black crystal with faint glowing runes. Its surface was etched with delicate lines that pulsed with hidden magic.

Without explanation, the knight placed it in the captain's hand. "Key for the maidservants." His voice was firm and flat.

Before the captain could ask how it worked, the knight's body blurred into shimmering motes of light and vanished—drawn back into the magic storage dimension.

"Eh!?"

The captain's jaw dropped as he stared at the empty space where the knight had been. He looked down at the mysterious device in his palm, then back at Liana and Gloria, who were bound but growing more impatient by the moment, their glare pressing on him.

( End Of Chapter )