Reborn As Noble

Chapter 398: Tides of War ( 398 )

Meanwhile, in the Armand Region.

A soft knock echoed against the door of the private chamber.

”Come in,” Garius said without looking up.

Alf stepped inside with a file in hand and bowed respectfully.

”My lord.”

Garius glanced at him, then reached out.

”Is that the report from our intelligence unit?”

”Yes, my lord.”

Garius took the documents and began reading them in silence.

Moments passed before he finally spoke.

”Hmm... so the wicked hero has shown his true colors, huh?”

Alf kept his head low.

”It appears the celestial being he carries is influencing his state of mind.”

Garius slowly closed the report, tapping it lightly against the table. His voice was low and firm.

”No.”

He placed the file aside.

”The celestial beings are dangerous, yes, but not to this extent. What heʼs done—the cruelty, the abuse—itʼs not merely a result of the celestial.”

He looked up, his eyes sharp and cold.

”This wickedness... is entirely his own.”

”You also know, Alf,” Garius continued, his voice calm but weighted, ”celestials are dangerous—not just because of their power, but because, in the hands of the wrong people, they become weapons of absolute destruction.”

He paused, his gaze distant for a moment.

”Power like that, when wielded by someone twisted or selfish, doesnʼt just tip the balance of the world—it shatters it.”

Garius lowered the report, his eyes narrowing slightly.

”Thatʼs why we sealed them in the first place. If only I had been stronger back then, I wouldnʼt have stopped at sealing them.”

”I wouldʼve destroyed them completely. Wiped them from existence.”

Alf shook his head.

”You did what had to be done, my lord. You carried the burden when no one else could. Without you, the world wouldnʼt have made it this far.”

Garius let out a slow breath.

”Letʼs just hope this generation is ready... because next time, there wonʼt be a second chance.”

Knock knock.

”Come in,” Garius said without lifting his gaze from the map sprawled across the table.

The door opened smoothly. Errinette and Hesbeirn stepped inside, both bowing respectfully.

”My lord,” Hesbeirn said, his voice steady.

”Hesbeirn,” Garius acknowledged. ”Whatʼs the status on reinforcing our borders?”

”Complete, my lord,” Hesbeirn replied without hesitation. ”Weʼve doubled patrols, fortified every strategic point, and rotated fresh troops to keep morale high. If war breaks out, weʼll be ready.”

Garius nodded slowly. ”Good. And you, Errinette?”

Errinette stepped forward, her tone composed and sharp. ”All resource stockpiles are stable, my lord. Food, medical supplies, and transport reserves are at their peak. Every major town and outpost can hold out for at least three months without external support.”

Garius leaned back slightly. ”And communication?”

”Secured,” Hesbeirn replied. ”Relay points, messengers, and magic transmission lines have all been reinforced. Even if the roads are blocked, weʼll maintain full command.”

”By the way, my lord…” Errinette added.

”Hmm?” Garius looked up from the report.

”Young Master Javier and his two ʼfuture wivesʼ are currently heading toward the border town.”

”Haaa…” Garius let out a long sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ”That brat… always up to something.”

Hesbeirn chuckled softly. ”According to the guards who reported it through the mana talkie, heʼs with Liana and Gloria, each riding their own Pekko as usual.”

Garius shook his head with a weary smile. ”Even in times like this, he acts like everything is fine”

Alf, standing silently by, finally spoke with a faint smile. ”Perhaps thatʼs his charm, my lord. Staying calm amid chaos.”

”…That brat, even in a time like this, still acts as if the world isnʼt on the edge of war,” he muttered calmly, fingers steepled beneath his chin.

Alf stood beside him with his usual composure. ”That is precisely what makes Young Master Javier dangerous, my lord. He never panics. That calm is not ignorance—itʼs confidence.”

Errinette nodded, hands clasped together. ”He knows something is coming. I believe heʼs already preparing in his own way.”

Garius stayed silent for a moment, his gaze shifting toward the open map table beside him—border markers updated, lines drawn where Amazarak clashed with the Halfling Kingdom.

”No matter what…” he spoke with quiet firmness, ”we must prepare for the worst.”

Hesbeirn entered the room just as the air grew heavy.

”My lord,” he saluted briefly.

Garius turned to him. ”The current war is between Amazarak and the Halfling Kingdom. But we both know that wonʼt last.”

”Yes, my lord. Itʼs already too organized. Too deliberate. Queen Zephyra wouldnʼt move without confidence,” Hesbeirn replied, his eyes sharp.

Garius narrowed his gaze. ”And Edmund… sooner or later, heʼll make his move. When that happens, heʼll declare war—not just on Armand.”

He looked at each of them slowly.

”But on the world.”

”Anyway, ensure that our peopleʼs safety is prioritized,” Garius said, his tone calm yet commanding. ”Once the war breaks out, we must do everything necessary to ensure their safety and... comfort.”

”Yes, my lord,” Alf replied with a polite nod.

”My lord,” Errinette stepped forward, holding a small stack of sealed letters. ”The Beastkin King Lioness, Queen Mylezra of the Elves, and King Veldrac of the Demons have each sent official letters.”

”Let me see.” Garius took the documents and calmly opened them, reading with sharp, focused eyes.

After a few moments, he exhaled quietly, a rare chuckle escaping his lips.

”May we know what the letters contained?” Errinette asked.

”Theyʼre concerned about something unnecessary,” Garius replied. ”Theyʼre asking if trade routes between Armand, the Demon Kingdom, the Beastkin Kingdom, and the Elven Kingdom will remain open if the war breaks out.”

He looked up, his smile faint. ”Of course they will. Theyʼre the only allies who wonʼt betray Armand.”

Alf nodded. ”Theyʼve also promised to send reinforcements if the war reaches our lands.”

”Good,” Garius said. ”And weʼll do the same for them. If they are attacked, we move. No hesitation.”

He stood from his seat and walked to the window, gazing toward the distant hills.

”The Dwarven Kingdom…” he murmured. ”Gumarak wonʼt stay quiet much longer. Iʼm certain he has already become a vessel.”

Then Garius looked at the map of the world.

”The Dragonkin lands are across the sea... theyʼre safe for now. No land army can reach them without crossing that ocean.”

He tapped the map again.

”And the Demon Kingdom… theyʼre behind us. No one can reach them unless they go through Armand territory. If someone wants to attack Veldrac, theyʼll need to crush us first.”

Alf nodded silently.

”And the Beastkin Kingdom is between us and the Human Kingdom,” Garius continued. ”If Veldrac wants to send aid, heʼd likely reinforce the Beastkin first. Not that Lioness needs it... His military strength alone should already reach nearly a million soldiers, correct?”

”Yes, my lord,” Alf replied calmly. ”And the Elven Kingdom... their total forces, including archers, battle mages, and elite forest guards, likely number close to a million as well.”

Garius smiled faintly. ”And Armandʼs military strength?”

”Currently, we have 90,000 elite troops, my lord,” Errinette replied from the side. ”That doesnʼt include the battle maid corps, the personal elite guard, or the backup reserves. Nor does it include the young masterʼs puppet knight units, his magic weapons, or his cannon arrays.”

Garius narrowed his eyes at the map.

”Gumarak and Edmund...” he muttered. ”Both of them have become celestial vessels. That means... theyʼll never work together.”

Errinette finished the thought, ”Because a celestial vesselʼs instinct is to devour the others, not ally with them.”

”Exactly,” Garius said coldly.

( End of Chapter )