Reborn As Noble

"And since we're touching the topic about soil,"

Javier added lazily, swirling the empty glass in his hand, "you also know Pekko are the kind of creatures that can tell which land is good for farming, right?"

The fairy tilted her head, thinking.

"Hmm… probably. And since those big birds only exist here in the Armand region… maybe that is the reason. Pekko are kind of choosy. They love clean air, fertile ground, and good water."

She floated down a little, her wings fluttering lightly.

"They can roam anywhere if they want. But when it comes to settling down… they'll only stay in the best land."

Javier smirked faintly, leaning his head back against the tree. "Exactly."

"And the reason why wild Pekko are everywhere in Armand," Javier went on, smirking lazily, "is because no one bothers to capture them. You know why?"

The fairy tilted her head. "Why?"

"Because they also… you know…" Javier chuckled under his breath, "…dump their shit on the ground. Makes the soil even better."

He gave a small laugh, stretching his legs. "So in a way, even wild Pekko are helping Armand stay fertile."

The fairy blinked at him, then covered her mouth with her tiny hands, giggling despite herself.

"You're so rude, saying it like that~ But… you're not wrong."

"So if you excuse me, Miss Fairy… let me lay down here for a bit. Couple of minutes, hours… I don't know. Since I noticed they'll soon come looking for me." Javier stretched, already shifting his posture to get comfortable.

"Eeeee!!! Don't call me Miss Fairy! I have a name, you know!"

Javier cracked one eye open and smirked.

"Ah? You didn't even introduce yourself. You just came flying over and tried to scare me… which failed, by the way."

Her cheeks puffed. "C-Calla…!" she said, her voice small at first.

"Hm? Dolla?" Javier tilted his head lazily.

"Calla!!!" she squeaked, stomping her tiny foot mid-air. "My name is Calla!!"

"Nice to meet you, Calla." Javier chuckled, leaning his head back against the tree again. "Javier here. Alright, if you excuse me… I'm going to sleep."

"Wha—! You can't just—!" Calla flapped in circles, glaring down at him as his eyes slid shut.

Calla suddenly swooped down and grabbed at Javier's eyelid, tugging his skin with her tiny hands.

"O–oi!" Javier winced, his voice low but annoyed.

"I just said I want to rest here…"

"Get off this tree!" Calla puffed, glaring at him. "This isn't a place for you to lean on!"

Javier let out a long yawn and sat up slowly, rubbing the corner of his eye.

"Why? What is it then… a cursed tree?"

"W–wha!?" Calla's wings fluttered furiously, her face turning red. "It's not cursed! It's blessed!"

"Yeah, yeah… blessed or whatever." Javier waved her off lazily. He stood, then plopped himself down onto the grass beneath the tree, folding his arms behind his head.

"Oh~" he sighed, eyes closing. "This is even comfier than my mattress. It's true...nature is always better than man-made stuff… mmm~"

Calla stared at him, dumbfounded.

How can he be so relaxed… here of all places!?

"So, Calla?" Javier asked, cracking one eye open.

"What?" she responded flatly, arms crossed, wings beating slow.

"Your kin, fairies never travel alone. Oh, maybe sometimes, but usually at least two or three together. Or is it just you? Are you and your kin in trouble?"

Calla's eyes went wide. She hesitated, fluttering back a step.

"N-no… they're around," she said quickly. "But it's my duty today to maintain this place. That's all. But you're not wrong about… umm… nothing…"

Javier smirked faintly. "Oh? You mention maintaining this place? For who? And really… your kin in trouble? By what?"

Her expression softened, her small voice lowering.

"My kin were indeed in trouble once… back when the previous Lord Armand was still alive. But thanks to Garius, they rescued us. We still remember how he came riding a golden Pekko before."

Javier sat up slightly, raising a brow.

"Oh? A story from when my father was still a child, huh?"

Calla nodded, her wings flickering faintly. "Yes… for us, that day never faded."

"During that time," Calla said, her voice quieter now,

"There was a cult… they used fairies and other races for dark rituals. We never knew exactly what they were trying to achieve, but they were powerful. They were a huge threat during the previous Lord's time."

Her wings drooped slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, he was only a baron back then. But still… that cult moved in secret, taking lives through sacrifices to grow their power. They called themselves the Twelve Seats… or something like that."

Javier leaned his head back against the tree again, eyes narrowing at the name. Twelve Seats…

He sifted through his memories, flipping through everything he had read in the manor's libraries and the old records. Never heard of them in any book here.

His lips curved into a faint smirk.

"Hmph. Sounds like a group that should've been erased long ago."

Calla nodded firmly.

"They were. Because of Lord Garius's intervention… and because of that golden Pekko. That's why we remain in Armand. It is… safe here."

"So… how did my father save you?" Javier asked, tilting his head back, half-curious, half-lazy.

"Mmm… if I'm not mistaken," Calla said softly, "Our queen told us the story. She said Lord Garius came with his golden Pekko… and three others. One wore a butler's outfit, one a maid's uniform, and one was in full armor. All of them wore masks."

Her wings fluttered gently, eyes distant as if recalling a tale passed down often. "Our queen herself had been captured then… along with many of our brothers and sisters. And she said… he charged in with a cool stance."

Calla's lips curled faintly, almost in awe. "He was smiling when he cut down those cultists… cutting them apart one by one with ease. Our queen remembered it clearly. That smile."

"After all the fighting was done and the cult's highest seat was finished, he came to our queen," Calla said, floating higher as if acting it out, her voice taking on a dramatic tone. "And with a flashy smile, he said—"

Her eyes sparkled as she threw her arms wide, imitating the moment.

"Come to Armand, and you'll be safe there."

"Kyaaa!!!" Calla squealed, spinning mid-air in delight.

"How cool is Lord Garius!! Our queen said he flashed that pure smile and ohhh~ it was so dazzling!!"

Javier stared at her, deadpan.

He smirked lazily.

"Yeah, that does sound like him."

( End Of Chapter )