Reborn As Noble

Armand Nation.

Gaze City.

Main Military Headquarters.

Garius sat in the command center, his eyes fixed on the massive holographic display that dominated the room. Around him, Armand officers worked at sleek consoles, their fingers gliding over glowing runes and holographic interfaces, coordinating communications, monitoring troop movements, and relaying intelligence across the nation.

Alf and Erinette sat nearby, their expressions calm and composed, watching the same feed with quiet attention.

Garius let out a long, weary exhale as he watched his youngest son lounging on top of Buddy, casually eating a packed meal while explosive cannonballs detonated harmlessly against an invisible barrier.

”Javier... Javier...”

He shook his head, a mixture of amusement and frustration in his voice before he reached forward, pressed a rune on the console, shifting the main screen to focus on the Vurghen battlement.

The feed showed the enemy commander, Kurashan, barking orders at his soldiers, his voice crackling through the audio system as he gestured wildly toward the empty plain where his forces were unleashing their full arsenal on nothing.

Alf adjusted his cuff, his voice calm and measured as he observed the screen. ”Your Majesty, Prince Javier seems... rather relaxed for someone on a battlefield. He’s eating a meal while the enemy is firing everything they have at an empty field. One might think he’s not taking this seriously.”

Garius smirked, shaking his head. ”No. He’s thought of everything. That boy has always been like that. He’s not careless, he’s calculated. He’s the kind of person who fears losing his soldiers more than anything else, even though he knows the gear he invented, the mana rifles, the barrier runes, and the tactical armor, would protect them from almost any harm.”

He pointed toward the screen, his finger tracing the area where Javier had launched the small, glittering orb earlier. The shimmering barrier that had just absorbed another volley of cannon fire.

”That skill he launched before the enemy’s Grand Mage even began his attack. The mage thought he dispelled it with his Instant Dispel, but he didn’t. That was the first layer, a counter-spell ward designed to neutralize any dispel magic or harmful skill before it could take effect. The second layer was the barrier he cast over the troops, the one the mage thought he removed. And the third layer...”

Garius’s smirk widened. ”That was the advanced illusion skill, projecting an exact replica of his forces into that location. To the enemy, it looks like they’re attacking real soldiers. To us, and to Javier, it’s just a light show.”

Alf and Erinette exchanged a knowing glance, their smirks subtle but present.

Garius leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. He mumbled softly, ”And that... that is his greatest weakness.”

He clasped his hands, resting them on his stomach, and glanced at Alf. ”Alf?”

”Yes, Your Majesty?”

”What is the problem with this kind of overprotective approach? What is the flaw in ensuring no soldier ever faces real danger?”

Alf paused, his voice calm and measured. ”Your Majesty, the problem lies in the fact that Prince Javier’s overprotectiveness, while noble in intention, creates a dependency on his presence. His soldiers trust him absolutely, and they know that as long as he is on the battlefield, they are safe. But what happens when he is not there? What happens when he is injured, or when he is forced to fight on a different front, or when he is no longer able to shield them with his power?”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

”A soldier who relies too heavily on their commander’s protection will hesitate when that protection is gone. They will second-guess their own abilities, their own judgment, their own strength. The greatest gift a leader can give their soldiers is not just protection, but the confidence to stand on their own. Prince Javier must learn that sometimes, letting his soldiers face danger is the only way to ensure they survive when he is not there to save them.”

Garius’s expression turned serious, his gaze fixed on the screen as he continued.

”That’s the problem, and also the reason why I insisted he not use his puppet knights at all. Not because I fear the enemy knowing about our advantage, nor do I care if they discover it. It’s because our soldiers need to remember what it means to fight.”

He glanced at the screen, his expression thoughtful.

”That’s why I forbade him from using any of his advanced inventions for this mission. It’s good to have a huge advantage over the enemy, especially when it comes to magic technology, air superiority, instant communication, and live surveillance. But if our soldiers never experience hardship, never feel the pressure of a real fight, they become soft.”

He turned to Alf, his voice carrying a weight of concern.

”Have you noticed our soldiers lately? The ones who were sharper, more alert, more willing to trust their instincts. Now? They’re too chill, too relaxed. They know the gear will protect them, the barriers will hold, and the drones will watch over them. They’ve become comfortable. Complacent.”

He shook his head slowly.

”Comfort is the enemy of growth. If we keep fighting with overwhelming advantages, our soldiers will never develop the resilience, the adaptability, and the courage that comes from facing real danger. They will become reliant on their equipment, and if that equipment ever fails, they will not know how to survive.”

He leaned forward, his voice firm.

”This mission is not just about securing Vurghen. It’s about reminding our soldiers what it means to be warriors. To trust their training, their instincts, and their brothers beside them. Not just their gear.”

Garius reached for the communication console, his expression resolute. He glanced at Alf and Erinette, who both nodded in silent understanding.

”It’s time to fix this, before it’s too late.”

He pressed a rune on the console, his voice calm but firm as it crackled over the channel.

”Javier?”

Javier, who was finishing the last piece of meat from his meal, flinched slightly before tapping his mana talkie.

”Y... yes, Father?”

”Remove all your skills now.”

Javier blinked, his relaxed expression shifting to confusion. ”Eh? Why?”

Garius’s voice was steady, carrying the weight of a king and a father. ”Tell me, Javier. What is the purpose of sending soldiers to war if you never let them face the danger? Are they warriors, or are they just spectators?”

( End Of Chapter )