Reborn As Noble

”Young master, finish up quickly!” Liana called out, her tone firm yet patient as she stood by the door with Javier’s neatly pressed uniform in her hands.

”Yeah, yeah! Stop rushing me,” Javier grumbled, reluctantly pulling himself out of bed. His hair was a mess, and his expression screamed annoyance. ”It’s not like the school will explode if I’m a minute late.”

Liana let out a soft sigh, placing the uniform on the nearby chair. ”Young master, punctuality is a virtue. Besides, we don’t want to leave a bad impression on your first day.”

Javier picked up the white shirt and blazer, muttering under his breath as he got dressed. When it came time to put on the necktie, however, he froze. ”Blergh! I hate neckties.”

Liana turned, noticing his struggle as he fiddled with the tie like it was some alien contraption. She chuckled softly, shaking her head. ”Come here, young master. I’ll adjust it for you.”

With a defeated sigh, Javier stepped forward, letting Liana work . Her slender fingers moved with practiced precision, adjusting the tie and smoothing out the fabric. ”You know,” Javier said, smirking slightly, ”you’re way too good at this. You’d make the perfect wife.”

Liana paused for a moment, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink, but she quickly regained her composure. ”And you’d make the perfect young master... if only you’d stop being so stubborn.”

Javier grinned. ”hehe.”

Once the tie was properly adjusted, Liana stepped back to admire her handiwork. ”There. You look presentable now, young master.”

”Presentable? I look like I’m about to deliver a political speech.” Javier tugged at the tie, clearly still annoyed, but Liana shot him a warning glance.

”Don’t even think about loosening it,” she said firmly, crossing her arms.

Javier groaned. ”Fine....”

Liana smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. ”Don’t worry, young master. Now, let’s go. Buddy and Pikko are already waiting outside.” Continue your journey on freewebnovel

As they headed out, Javier couldn’t help but mutter under his breath. ”First school, now neckties.ughh.”

”Young master! Your bag!” Liana’s voice called out just as Javier reached the door.

Javier froze mid-step, his shoulders slumping in exaggerated frustration. ”Ughhh... again with the school bag. First in Japan, now here, even after I’ve been reborn... seriously, what’s the deal with these things?” he thought, turning back to see Liana holding out the neatly packed satchel.

”Fine... ugh,” Javier grumbled, snatching the bag like it was a punishment rather than a necessity.

Liana raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her calm demeanor unwavering. As they stepped outside, they were greeted by the sight of Buddy and Pikko, waiting eagerly. Buddy let out an excited squawk, flapping his stubby wings as if to say, ”Hurry up!”

Javier sighed, patting Buddy’s beak. ”Haaa... good morning, Buddy. Well, not that my morning is particularly good or anything.”

Liana smiled softly. ”Now, now, young master, let’s get going. You wouldn’t want to be late on your first day, would you?”

Javier smirked, swinging himself onto Buddy’s back with practiced ease. ”Heh... school, school, smchool. What’s the worst that could happen?”

As Liana gracefully mounted Pikko, she glanced over at her young master. ”Young master, you might find something you enjoy at the academy. Who knows?”

”Doubt it,” Javier replied, slouching slightly. ”The only thing I’ll probably enjoy is coming back home.”

With a shared laugh, they urged their Pekkos forward, the vibrant creatures trotting down the road toward the academy.

As Javier and Liana approached the academy gates, they found themselves stuck in a line. The road was bustling with activity as carriages adorned with noble family crests rolled up, flanked by armed escorts and personal maids. Compared to the pomp and grandeur around them, Javier and Liana’s arrival on their Pekkos was... unique.

Heads began to turn, curious whispers rippling through the crowd.

”Is that a noble?” one student muttered, their eyes darting toward Javier, who lounged lazily atop Buddy.

”He doesn’t even have a carriage like us,” another pointed out, their tone dripping with condescension.

”Maybe he’s a poor noble?” someone speculated, loud enough to draw chuckles from a few others.

Javier’s eyebrow twitched, but his smirk widened as he lazily glanced toward the source of the comment. ”Oi!” he called out, his voice cutting through the murmurs. ”If I’m poor, then what does that make you? This Pekko costs 20 gold coins, you know. Meanwhile, your scrawny little horse probably didn’t even cost a whole silver!”

The group of nobles stiffened, their faces a mix of surprise and indignation. A few of them glanced at their own steeds, suddenly self-conscious about their mounts’ worth.

Javier smirked, leaning forward on Buddy’s back. ”Oh yeah? Can your fancy carriage or overpriced horse do this?”

Buddy, as if on cue, puffed up his chest, flaring his feathers with pride. He began to shuffle sideways like a crab, his strong legs stomping rhythmically on the ground. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, he started bobbing his head up and down, performing what could only be described as a bird-like dance.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or gape in amazement. Then a few stifled chuckles broke the silence.

”W-What is that?!” one boy exclaimed, his face torn between disbelief and envy.

”Is it... dancing?” a girl whispered, her eyes wide.

Javier grinned ear to ear, throwing his hands in the air as if presenting Buddy’s grand performance. ”Behold! The majestic Pekko in all its glory! Your horses could never!”

”Buddy! Show them how it’s done!”

Buddy let out a smug squawk, puffing up his chest as if to say, Watch and learn, peasants. He began bobbing his head rhythmically while strutting forward with exaggerated movements.

Pikko, not wanting to be outdone, mimicked Buddy’s movements with equal flair, her silver-and-orange feathers shimmering in the sunlight. The two Pekkos moved in perfect sync, creating an impromptu performance that left the onlookers even more dumbfounded.

Javier couldn’t resist the opportunity to amp up the spectacle. He leaned forward with a cheeky grin, then started bobbing his head rhythmically, perfectly matching Buddy’s movement, as if the two were performing a synchronized routine.

”Oh, don’t be jealous, I know, I know,

Your region ain’t got Pekkos that glow!

It’s okay to dream, don’t feel low,

Just watch my ’Buddy’ steal the show!”

He waved his hand dramatically at the crowd, rapping with a playful cadence that turned every word into a challenge. His mischievous grin widened as the crowd gawked at his antics, some unable to suppress laughter, while others looked utterly confused by the odd yet captivating performance.

Buddy squawked proudly, puffing his chest in time with Javier’s head bobs, while Pikko added flair by flapping her wings lightly, as if keeping the imaginary beat.

Liana, sitting elegantly on Pikko, pressed a hand to her forehead with an exasperated sigh, though the corner of her lips twitched with amusement. ”Young master, must you turn everything into a performance?”

Javier turned to her without breaking his rhythm, pointing dramatically in her direction.

”Liana, Liana, my partner in crime,

Let’s make this moment truly sublime!”

Buddy squawked again as if echoing the final line, drawing even more attention.

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, with some nobles chuckling nervously.

”What in the world is he doing?”

”Is he rapping... about his bird?”

”I don’t know whether to be impressed or embarrassed.”

A younger noble, stifling laughter, whispered, ”Honestly, I kinda want a Pekko now...”

Meanwhile, in the academy’s towering office, the headmaster stood by the large window, arms crossed as he observed the commotion below. His sharp eyes locked onto the orange Pekko and its smug display, accompanied by a boy bobbing his head as if he were a performer in a traveling minstrel troupe.

The headmaster let out a long, weary sigh. ”This kid... he’s just like Garius. I still remember the way that man would mock me endlessly during our academy days.”

He squinted at the boy’s antics, watching the synchronized movement between the Pekko and its owner, and then spotted the elf maid, who seemed to be quietly enduring the scene with a resigned elegance.

”And really, Garius?” The headmaster rubbed his temples. ”Even this boy has a Pekko, just like you did. You, Alf, Errinette, and Hesbeirn strutting around with your flashy mounts, causing chaos wherever you went. You sent another troublemaker just like yourself, straight to my academy.”

The headmaster chuckled softly to himself, shaking his head as he turned away from the window for a moment. ”Hahaha... Garius, your other children all have such refined manners, so different from you. But this one... really?”

He glanced back at the scene below, where Javier was now dramatically mimicking his Pekko’s bobbing movements, drawing laughter and astonishment from the gathering nobles.

”No wonder you sent me that letter, you sly bastard.” He sighed, but the amused smile never left his face.

( End of Chapter )