Reborn As Noble

Chapter 457: Towards the Capital ( 457 )

Morning sunlight gently filtered through the trees as Javier, feeling refreshed from a good nightʼs sleep, rode on Buddyʼs back. The big Pekkoʼs steady footsteps echoed along the quiet path.

He looked ahead, stretching his arms above his head with a yawn.

”Letʼs hope we find a town or village soon, Buddy!” he said, his voice light and hopeful.

Cuquawked!! Buddy squawked excitedly, his tail feathers lifting as he picked up the pace a little, sensing adventure—or maybe just hoping for breakfast.

Javier laughed and gave Buddy a small pat on the side.

”Last nightʼs sleep was great, huh?”

He smiled and leaned slightly forward against Buddyʼs strong back.

”Good food, good sleep... no crazy girls chasing us with marriage proposals. Thatʼs a win.”

The fresh morning air filled his lungs—it was crisp and cool, carrying the light scents of earth and mana.

For now, the road was peaceful. No monsters. No dark mana pulses. Just the open path ahead and the sky stretching wide above them.

A real adventure was starting—calm before the next storm.

Javier lightly tightened his grip on Buddyʼs reins, scanning the horizon.

”Alright, letʼs move, Buddy. Weʼve still got a long way to go!”

As they trotted along the dusty road, Javier and Buddy soon spotted a small group ahead—a beastkin patrol, riding sturdy horses and wearing the armor of the Beastkin Kingdomʼs border guards.

One of them raised a hand sharply.

”Halt!”

Buddy slowed down right away, snorting a little as Javier gently pulled the reins.

They stopped a few steps away from the patrol.

Javier smiled easily.

”Yes?”

The lead beastkin, a tall man with wolf-like ears, approached with caution but respect.

”May we see your paperwork or identity card?” he asked.

”Sure,” Javier replied casually.

He reached into his coat, pulled out the official border paperwork he received before leaving Armand, and handed it over.

The beastkin officer took it and started checking it, but then his sharp eyes caught something else.

The cloak Javier wore, loosely draped over his shoulders, had the emblem of House Armand—embroidered in silver and crimson thread.

The guardʼs ears perked up.

”Oh. From the Armand region.”

He turned to his companion and whispered, loud enough for Javier to hear:

”Hey, didnʼt we get a royal order about this? Some young Armand noble visiting the kingdom?”

His friend blinked, then snapped his fingers.

”Oh yeah! I forgot about that.”

The leader turned back to Javier with a somewhat more formal demeanor.

”Uh... Young noble?” he asked politely.

”Hmm?” Javier replied, tilting his head lazily.

”Just a reminder,” the guard said, ”keep that emblem showing. Itʼll make your travels easier. Our kingdomʼs citizens and garrisons were told about your arrival.”

Javier nodded casually.

”Ah, okay. Thanks.”

The officer smiled slightly.

”Stay safe on your journey.”

”Thanks. Oh, by the way—” Javier leaned forward a bit from his seat on Buddy.

”Yeah?”

”Is there a town nearby?”

The beastkin guard pointed down the road.

”Well, if you keep going straight, youʼll reach a junction up ahead. If you go straight through, it eventually leads to the Capital City—” he gestured vaguely toward the distant mountains, ”but thatʼs far.”

He then pointed left.

”Left at the junction will take you to Miria Town—itʼs the closest one from here. A good place to rest.”

Then he pointed to the right.

”Right leads to Kuro Town. Itʼs smaller and quieter, less busy.”

Javier nodded thoughtfully.

”Got it. Thanks for the info.”

”Safe travels, young noble!”

With that, the patrol tipped their heads respectfully and continued down the road.

Javier tapped Buddy lightly.

”Alright, Buddy. Letʼs go.”

Cuquawked!! Buddy responded eagerly, setting off toward the junction.

Cuquawked!!

Without warning, Buddy let out an excited squawk and dashed forward, his powerful legs pumping like pistons, kicking up clouds of dust behind him.

The junction appeared ahead—left to Miria Town, right to Kuro Town—but Buddy didnʼt slow down at all. He barreled straight ahead, charging toward the distant road to the capital city at full speed.

”Oi, Buddy!!” Javier shouted, gripping the reins tightly as his coat flapped wildly behind him. ”Donʼt crash into anyone, alright!?”

Cuquawked! ( ”No promises!!”) Buddy replied, his eyes sharp and focused like a knight charging into battle.

Javier sighed loudly, ducking lower against Buddyʼs back as the wind howled past them.

”Haaa... we couldʼve stopped at a nice, quiet town first...” he muttered. ”Why are you so eager to reach the capital?!”

Buddy didnʼt respond.

He was completely focused on the road, like a warhorse trained for speed—only with more feathers and a lot less caution.

They zoomed past groups of travelers, merchants, and beastkin riders on the road.

”WHAA—!?” a nearby beastkin gasped as a sudden blast of wind and dust nearly knocked him off his horse.

Another merchant stumbled back, trying to shield his cart.

”What was that?!”

”A ghost?!”

”No—it had feathers!!”

Buddy raced ahead, passing everyone like they were standing still, a proud Cuquawked! echoing through the morning air.

Javier could only laugh helplessly at the craziness of their speed.

”At this point, weʼre basically breaking the law...” he called out. ”Slow down, you crazy bird!!”

But Buddy just leaned harder into his sprint—determined to reach the capital with all the grace and subtlety of a cannonball.

Meanwhile, far from the Beastkin Kingdom, within the borders of the Human Kingdom—in the noble area known as Klimbert Region—

Lord Klimbert sat quietly at his large oak desk, with piles of documents neatly stacked around him. The heavy atmosphere of his private study was broken only by the faint crackling of a nearby fireplace.

Klimbert had been reviewing reports when—

A whisper slipped softly into his mind.

A voice. Familiar.

Calm, quiet, and ancient.

”Hey.”

Klimbert flinched slightly and frowned.

”What!?” he snapped in his mind.

The voice didnʼt waver. It remained calm and patient.

”I can feel another celestial nearby.”

Klimbert sat up straighter, the papers forgotten. His eyes narrowed sharply.

”Anem!!” he called out loudly.

He stood from his chair and quickly exited his private room.

Outside, two armored guards stood at attention.

Without hesitation, Klimbert barked his order.

”Call Anem here. Now.”

”Sir, yes sir!” the guards responded quickly.

One guard immediately turned on his heel and sprinted down the hall.

Klimbert crossed his arms, standing tall in the hallway, his mind racing.

Another celestial nearby? In his region?

This could change everything.

( End Of Chapter )