Reborn As Noble

Chapter 344: Shattered Illusions ( 344 )

Zaniaʼs eyes fluttered open.

Her body ached, and her pride burned. But worst of all—

She was bound.

Thick vines coiled tightly around her, restricting her movement. She gritted her teeth.

This man. This Armand noble. He had defeated her with ease, and she didnʼt even know his name. One thing was painfully clear—

She hated him.

She didnʼt care if he killed her; she was an Amazarak warrior. Death? She accepted it.

But—

Torture? Her stomach twisted at the thought.

She recalled Kenjirouʼs words: ”The Armand nobles enjoy torturing their prisoners. They take pleasure in watching people suffer.”

A shiver coursed through her despite her resolve.

Are they bringing me to Garius… to torture me?

Her breath quickened. She wouldnʼt beg. She wouldnʼt plead. But deep inside—

She loathed this feeling of helplessness.

And the worst part? She still had no idea what this man planned to do with her.

Zania swayed slightly, tied up like cargo, slung over this boyʼs back like a mere sack of supplies. It was humiliating. It was infuriating.

But—

What caught her attention were the two women riding behind him.

Their strange, bird-like mounts carried them effortlessly, their movements graceful and practiced.

Zania narrowed her eyes.

She had never seen these creatures before. She had traveled across the vast lands of Amazarak, familiar with the warbeasts of her homeland, the armored steeds of the dwarves, and the hunting wolves of the Beastkin…

But these large bird creatures? They didnʼt exist anywhere else.

Were they exclusive to Armandʼs territory? A creature unique to them? How many secrets did these people possess?

The women were even more unsettling—one was a beautiful elf with long silver hair, and the other was a beautiful human girl with glasses.

Why were an elf and a human girl, both delicate and graceful, following a brutish family like the Armands?

She had heard nothing but horrors about this household. They were tyrants, murderers, butchers.

So why… why did these two serve them?

She couldnʼt understand it.

Yet—

Something was even more disturbing. Zania expected mockery, cruel laughter, taunts, and insults. Instead—

They simply stared. Not a word. Just a gaze devoid of warmth. A look she couldnʼt interpret.

What is that expression…?

A slow chill crept up her spine. This wasnʼt the look of warriors sizing up an opponent; it was the look of someone eager to do something.

For the first time—

She truly felt uneasy.

Because in her mind—

She wasnʼt captured by warriors.

She was captured by devils.

”Liana! Letʼs visit those villages!”

Javierʼs voice rang out cheerfully, filled with excitement.

Lianaʼs expression twitched.

”Young Master! We have something important to do right now!”

Javier waved a hand dismissively.

”Nope!”

He patted Buddyʼs neck, grinning broadly.

”Buddy! Letʼs go! Meat!!”

”Cuquawked!!”

Buddy flapped his wings enthusiastically, and Liana and Gloria sighed in unison.

Meanwhile—

Zania, still tightly bound, could only listen as her thoughts spiraled into pure horror.

This devil…! Heʼs not satisfied with just one village?!

Her heart pounded in response to the rising dread.

Now he moves toward another? Another village to burn? More innocent people to slaughter?!

Her body tensed, adrenaline surging as fury and fear battled within her.

If only I had the power to stop him…!!

Zaniaʼs hatred deepened, and she gritted her teeth, cursing her own weakness. Her heart raced as they approached the village.

And then—

She saw it.

The villagersʼ faces twisted with fear. Some rushed into their homes, while others frantically gathered their belongings, whispering in panic.

Then—

A loud, terrified shout echoed through the air.

”AHHHH!! THE BANDIT KING IS HERE!!”

Zania froze.

Bandit… King?

Her suspicions were confirmed. This devil—this brute—this noble of Armand—

He was even worse than she had thought. A noble warlord who personally raided villages?!

Her blood boiled. Her hatred burned.

And yet—

She was powerless. She could only watch.

Zaniaʼs breath hitched.

How many times has he done this?!

An old merchant, his usual playful grin replaced by feigned panic, dramatically clutched his chest.

”Ahh, Bandit King! Please, donʼt take my food—take my life instead!”

Javier laughed heartily, playing along.

”Hah! Foolish merchant! I shall take this—BWAHAHAHA!”

With a dramatic flourish, he snatched a piece of fruit from a nearby stall and tossed it to Buddy, who caught it mid-air, crushing it effortlessly.

”Cuquawked!”

Then—

A blur of silver and brown feathers. Pikko and Peanut rushed toward other stalls. Peanut grabbed an entire basket of vegetables while Pikko snatched a loaf of bread and darted off.

The merchants screamed in mock horror.

”Oi! The Bandit Kingʼs birds are looting us too!”

Zaniaʼs entire world shattered.

This monster had trained his beasts to loot as well?! This was not just tyranny; this was a plague upon the land.

She clenched her fists, fury surging within her.

Meanwhile—

Liana merely sighed, while Gloria had already pulled out the payment pouch.

Zania expected screams. She anticipated begging, fear, and suffering. But instead—

She heard it.

Laughter. Loud. Genuine. Joyful.

The villagers laughed openly. Merchants chuckled as they watched Javierʼs Pekko pilfer their food. Some even played along, clutching their wares dramatically.

”Oh no! The Bandit King has struck again!”

An old woman beamed, holding out a basket of pastries.

”Here, Bandit King! At least take the best ones!”

Pikko and Peanut rushed over, eagerly snatching the treats. Even Buddy puffed out his chest, looking smug as a child offered a skewer of roasted meat.

Zaniaʼs mind reeled.

What… what is this?!

This wasnʼt fear. This wasnʼt oppression. She saw no chains. No suffering. Only smiling faces, pure and unrestrained joy.

Her breath quickened, and her chest tightened.

This wasnʼt what Kenjirou had told her. This wasnʼt the Armand she had imagined.

For the first time—

Zania hesitated.

”Old man! Give me more roast meat!”

Javierʼs voice rang out, clear and demanding.

The old merchant laughed heartily, already pulling fresh meat off the fire.

”Coming right up, Bandit King!”

Zania stared in disbelief.

(Heʼs… demanding food? And they just GIVE it to him?)

Meanwhile—

Buddy happily chomped down on another piece of fruit, completely oblivious to the situation unfolding around him.

Javierʼs eye twitched in irritation.

”Oi, Buddy! At least let Liana finish paying before you eat that!”

”Cuquawked!”

Pikko and Peanut casually strolled past another stall. Peanut snagged an entire bunch of carrots while Pikko munched on dried berries, indifferently enjoying their spoils.

”Peanut! Pikko! Donʼt just eat like that! Let the merchant count it first!”

The merchants? They were laughing even harder. Javier buried his face in his hands, frustration boiling over.

”ARRRGGHHH! Damned gluttonous birds!!”

Zaniaʼs mind shattered.

WHAT IS GOING ON?!

This wasnʼt tyranny. This was madness.

And worse—

It was normal to them.

For the first time, Zania wondered if she had been lied to—or if the entire Armand region was simply insane.

Frozen in place, her mind swirled in confusion. All of this—

The chaos, the looting, the insatiable gluttony of these monstrous birds—

Yet, the two women beside Javier…

They were paying for everything.

Liana calmly handed over coins to the merchants, her expression composed, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. Gloria adjusted her glasses and sighed softly as she counted out the precise amount owed. Not a single merchant looked upset. Not one begged for their goods to be returned.

Instead—

They smiled.

They laughed.

They welcomed this madness.

Zaniaʼs breath hitched.

(This… isnʼt oppression.)

She gritted her teeth.

(This isnʼt tyranny.)

Her chest tightened with unease.

Everything she had believed—

Everything Kenjirou had told her—

It wasnʼt adding up.

Her hands trembled, a dawning realization creeping in.

Because now—

For the first time—

She was terrified.

Not of Javier. Not of his birds.

But of the possibility that everything she had believed…

Might have been a lie.

( End of Chapter )