Reborn As Noble

Lord Garius walked through the barracks, his sharp gaze inspecting the neatly lined-up soldiers. Alf, Erinnete, and Hesbeirn followed closely behind, their expressions serious. Behind them, Rasdingen trailed along, gnawing on a thick slab of meat with one hand while clutching a bottle of strong liquor in the other.

Garius glanced over his shoulder. ”Rasdingen.”

The dwarven blacksmith took a swig from his bottle before responding. ”Aye, m’lord?”

Garius nodded approvingly. ”Good job upgrading our army’s armor and weapons.”

Rasdingen grinned, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ”Heh! ’Course, m’lord! With our own mines producin’ the ore, we’re gettin’ nothin’ but high-quality stuff! I’ve reinforced the armor usin’ a mix o’ mithril and iron—light ’nough fer speed, strong ’nough to take a good bash! Weapons too—sharper ’n tougher than before!”

Garius smirked. ”That’s what I like to hear.”

He turned to Hesbeirn. ”Looks like our military is expanding well. We have magic bow squads, crossbowmen, knights, and swordsmen all properly trained.”

Hesbeirn gave a firm nod. ”Yes, my lord. All of them are recruited from our own region—no outsiders. Only locals, trained to be the best.”

Garius folded his arms. ”Good. And what about talent for Cedric’s personal Paladin unit?”

Hesbeirn paused before replying. ”We’ve found some promising recruits, my lord. But… if I may ask, why build a new Paladin unit? Master Cedric’s current squad already has a hundred members.”

Garius sighed, his gaze sharp. ”Because those men were trained in the royal academy. They’re skilled, but they’re not from Armand. We don’t know their backgrounds or true loyalties. I want Cedric to have his own unit—one that he personally trains, just like Marcellus with his battle mage unit.”

Hesbeirn grunted in understanding. ”A personal force made up of our own people… I see your point, my lord. I’ll begin selecting the best candidates immediately.”

Garius nodded. ”Do it.”

He glanced back at Rasdingen, who was already taking another swig of his liquor. ”And you—keep the forges burning. I expect nothing but the best for our soldiers.”

Rasdingen grinned, showing off his ale-stained teeth. ”Heh! Aye, m’lord! Ye got yerself the best damn blacksmith this side o’ the continent! I’ll make sure our boys got the finest gear there is!”

Garius smirked, satisfied.

Turning his gaze to Alf, Garius’s expression was unreadable. ”Alf. Status on your Assassin Household?”

Alf stepped forward, his voice calm yet firm. ”We’ve upgraded all equipment, armor, and tools, my lord. Our units have grown stronger—incorporating new stealth tactics and strategic combat methods. We’ve also expanded our numbers, strengthening both our scout and intelligence divisions. Everything is progressing according to your strategy and plan.”

Garius nodded, pleased. ”Good. Maintain the pace. I want our intelligence network to be second to none.”

He then turned to Erinnete. ”And the maids?”

Erinnete gave a small smile, her stance composed as ever. ”The two children that Young Master Javier took in from the capital city—Iria and Iziya—have shown promising talent, just as you predicted, my lord. They are undergoing training now, and I believe they will grow into capable assets.”

She paused briefly before continuing. ”As for our maid recruitment, both the standard household maids and battle maids are currently being selected and trained. We are ensuring that every candidate meets our high standards, my lord.”

Garius leaned back slightly, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered officers. ”Good. Continue the recruitment and training. I want only the best serving this household.”

Both Alf and Erinnete bowed. ”As you command, my lord.”

With each passing day, the Armand Household grew stronger—its forces expanding, its influence solidifying. Garius knew one thing for certain: when the time came, they would be ready.

Erinnete stepped forward, her expression calm yet sharp. ”My lord, I believe the recent incident at the border gate will not go unnoticed. The Marquis and other nobles will likely make their move soon. According to our intelligence unit, they have already started seeking favor from the summoned heroes.”

Garius leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the hilt of his sword. ”Hmm… The current heroes won’t be able to do much. They already know how strong Marcellus and Cedric are. If they were to make a move, it wouldn’t be so soon. At least… not yet.”

Alf crossed his arms, his gaze cold. ”Even if all of the summoned heroes decided to challenge them, they know they can’t win—not against the strongest magician and paladin in the kingdom.”

Rasdingen let out a low chuckle, taking a swig of his liquor. ”Hah! Let ’em try. Ain’t no hero or noble brat who can match those two lads in a fair fight. ’Specially not with that fancy academy trainin’ they rely on.”

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Hesbeirn remained silent for a moment before speaking. ”If they know they can’t win directly, then they will scheme. They will look for weaknesses—use political pressure, underhanded tactics, or try to force a confrontation in an unfair setting.”

Garius grinned slightly, his expression unreadable. ”Let them come.”

He turned to Alf and Erinnete. ”Strengthen our intelligence network further. Watch their movements closely. If they seek to move against us, I want to know before they even take their first step.”

”As you command, my lord,” they replied in unison.

Meanwhile,inside the manor.

Marcellus and Cedric sat comfortably in the main dining room, enjoying their noble breakfast in peace.

Munch. Munch.

Marcellus sliced into his steak, savoring the rich, perfectly cooked meat. ”This steak is good.”

Cedric nodded, swirling the wine in his glass before taking a sip. ”Yeah… and this wine… ummph! Delicious.”

Then—suddenly, as if struck by instinct—both brothers froze. Their hands paused mid-air, their chewing slowed, and their eyes darted around the room. Their relaxed expressions quickly turned into mild panic.

Marcellus whispered, ”Wait… where’s Father?”

Cedric swallowed hard. ”You don’t think—”

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then, Marcellus exhaled in relief, leaning back in his chair. ”Phew… False alarm. He’s not here.”

Cedric slumped back as well, taking another sip of wine. ”Damn, I nearly choked.”

They both relaxed again, resuming their meal—but the paranoia lingered. Garius was terrifying when it came to discipline. Getting caught drinking wine so early in the morning? That was just asking for trouble.

Just then, Javier strolled into the dining room, spotting his older brothers indulging in their luxurious breakfast. As expected, Marcellus and Cedric were seated comfortably, enjoying their meal—each accompanied by their personal maids, Lithia and Meira.

Javier’s eyes gleamed mischievously. ”Oho~”

Marcellus glanced at him lazily, cutting into his steak without pause. ”Ugh… don’t just stand there, boy. Sit if you want to eat.”

Cedric sighed, sipping his wine. ”Yeah, yeah. Just don’t cause trouble this early.”

Javier grinned and plopped into his seat. ”Liana?” He turned toward his maid, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Liana sighed knowingly, already expecting his request. ”Yes, yes, Young Master. I’ll get your meat.”

Javier beamed. ”Ehehehe… meat~”

( End of Chapter )