Reborn As Noble

That evening.

Armand Nation.

Armand Estate.

Javier just arrived on his pekko, Buddy, still on the road leading to the Armand estate. Buddy walked with his usual confident, bouncy stride, his head held high, occasionally letting out a soft, contented squawk as he enjoyed the evening breeze.

Javier let out a long, weary exhale, his shoulders slumping as he leaned forward.

”Buddy...”

”Cuquawked~?” (What is it now~?)

Javier casually lay back on Buddy’s broad back, staring up at the darkening sky as he let out another long, tired sigh.

”I was supposed to continue overseeing Vurghen’s last town, you know. I felt relieved after getting the message from the Armand estate that all my girls are already inside, especially Liana. But I wonder why I was suddenly called back... Luckily another Armand officer took charge of safeguarding the town in my place.”

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (Isn’t that good? You can enjoy your time, rest, and probably go ravish that elf witch tonight~)

Javier sat up sharply, narrowing his eyes at Buddy, who turned his head and smirked with his beak.

”Huh? Rest? You sure? You joking, right?”

He leaned back again, resting his head against Buddy’s soft feathers and crossing his arms behind his head.

”No way I get to rest. Especially after just finishing off those two. Speaking of which...” His eyes slid toward Buddy, his voice turning suspicious. ”Where were you at that time?”

Buddy let out an indignant squawk, his chest puffing even more as he turned his head to glare at Javier.

”Cuquawked? Cuquawked!” (What? I was running around helping you plant those weird glowing devices around the Armand border lands! Duh! You’re supposed to reward me for my hard work, Master! Not question where I was at that time!)

”Ah... right... ehehe... sorry, Buddy~”

”Cuquawked~” (Sorry won’t cut it~)

Buddy squawked, turning his head and wiggling his eyebrows with a smug smirk on his beak.

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (I want a reward. A huge reward. Premium wyvern meat, grilled to perfection. A huge pile of rare monster meat. And of course... the rainbow fruit~)

”Yeah, yeah... I know.” Javier smiled softly, reaching forward to pat Buddy’s neck. ”But thanks, Buddy~ For helping me. None of them will be able to reappear or open their portals around Armand now. I already asked the other officers to plant those devices in the Mathrias region, the Tybalt region, and I’ve made sure to arrange it for all our allies too.”

Buddy rolled his eyes, continuing his confident strut with his chest puffed out even more, letting out a bored, dismissive squawk.

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (Yeah, yeah~ Save your boring work talk for someone who cares. I’m a pekko~ As far as I know, those things are not our concern. Besides, those creatures you fought before are hated by all pekko.)

Javier blinked, tilting his head. ”Hmm? What do you mean?”

Buddy let out a low, knowing squawk, his beak curling into a smug smirk.

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (All the pekkos in Armand could feel it the moment they appeared. The moment those dark, twisted things set foot on our land, every pekko in the territory felt their presence. And most of us would fight back without hesitation. We don’t need orders. We don’t need commands. We just know they’re our enemies~)

Javier snapped his head up, his eyes narrowing with sudden interest. ”Eh? You mean pekkos can fight them?”

Buddy let out a smug, confident squawk, puffing his chest even more.

”Cuquawked~? Cuquawked!” (Huh? Of course! According to Father, those entities are the pekkos’ natural enemies. They’ve been our enemies since ancient times. And that big guy you fought before? The one who’s always hungry and acts like a spoiled child? That thing hates us because it can’t eat any pekko. No matter how hard it tries, it can never catch us. We’re too fast, too smart, and too strong for it. That’s why he threw that tantrum when he saw the other pekko earlier. He knows he can’t touch us.)

”Eh?” Javier’s eyes widened in surprise before he leaned forward, turning his head to glance at Buddy with a suspicious side-eye. ”You mean you could’ve fought those things before?”

Buddy shrugged with one huge wing, the motion casual and exaggerated, before letting out a smug squawk.

”Cuquawked? Cuquawked~” (You didn’t notice? The pekkos were countering that creepy big guy’s charge with ease, you know. That wasn’t even their full power. But if you’re asking if I can fight that thing? Don’t know~ I never got the chance to try it~ Because ’someone’ gave me different work to do instead~)

Javier’s eye twitched, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he rubbed the back of his head. ”Ah... yeah... sorry about that...”

He paused, his grin turning mischievous as he tilted his head. ”Damn! I really want to see you fight it. It would’ve been way more interesting than giving that big guy a super laxative.”

Buddy let out a smug, warning squawk, his beak curling into a sly smirk.

”Cuquawked~” (Don’t even think about giving me those things, or I’ll make sure to poop all around the estate~ And you’ll be in huge trouble with your father~)

Javier narrowed his eyes, shooting Buddy a flat glare as he crossed his arms.

”That’s for enemies, you idiot! Not for my favorite pekko!”

Buddy let out an indignant squawk, his chest puffing as he strutted forward with extra bounce.

”Cuquawked~! Cuquawked~” (Yeah, yeah~ Now, when we arrive at the pekko pen later, make sure you’ve got those portable grills ready and the meat prepared~ Your beloved pekko is hungry~! Ahhh~ So tired, running around planting those devices with my wind magic. I had to carry hundreds of those things around Armand~)

Javier raised his palm in a calm, acknowledging wave toward the Armand guards who saluted him the moment they arrived at the gate. He passed through without slowing, his expression relaxed but tired.

”Yeah, I know. I’ll prepare everything for you later. Just get us to the manor first.”

Buddy paused just after passing the gate, his head turning toward the figures who were just emerging from the manor in the far distance. His eyes narrowed slightly, a sly glint forming as his beak curled into a knowing smirk.

”Buddy?”

Buddy turned his head back toward Javier, that same sly smirk still on his beak, before letting out a low, mischievous squawk. His body began to glow faintly as he channeled his wind magic, the air around them stirring.

Javier tilted his head, his brow furrowing in confusion. ”What are you doing?”

Buddy flapped his wing in one powerful, sudden motion. A burst of compressed wind slammed into Javier, launching him off Buddy’s back and sending him soaring through the air toward the manor.

”OI! BUDDY!!!!!”

Javier’s shout echoed across the estate as he flew, arms flailing, his coat whipping wildly around him. Buddy watched with immense satisfaction, letting out a smug, victorious squawk before strutting forward as if nothing had happened.

( End Of Chapter )