Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1431: One Hand, One Shot, One Smirk ( 1431 )

Garius crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on Javier. ”You speak with confidence, bordering on arrogance. Are you certain that our enemies, even with their current limitations, cannot find a way to adapt or counter our technology?”

”Pardon me, Father, but I am not being arrogant. I am being realistic.” Javier’s expression turned serious.

”Even with the recent incident involving the two Divinity Royal Guards who were escorting Celine , we saw that they were already equipped with cap-and-ball revolvers. Their technology is still in its infancy. The bullets they used were rough, unrefined, and lacked the precision of modern ammunition. They are still using loose powder, paper cartridges, and percussion caps.”

He picked up one of his own brass cartridges, holding it up to the light.

”Compare those to this ammunition. Each round is precisely machined, with a solid brass casing, a precisely measured propellant, a modern primer, and a perfectly shaped projectile. Their revolvers are slow to reload, prone to misfires, and lack range and accuracy.”

Javier set the cartridge down and picked up the Glock. In one fluid motion, he ejected the magazine, reloaded it with practiced speed, and aimed at the dummy. He fired a rapid, accurate burst, each shot hitting its mark with precision, before setting the gun back on the table.

”The gap between their technology and ours is not a matter of decades, Father. It is centuries. And that is only in conventional weaponry.”

Javier walked over to the Gatling gun, lifting it with practiced ease. He aimed it toward the dummy and pulled the trigger. A deafening roar filled the air as a barrage of bullets streamed toward the target, each round hammering against the mana barrier surrounding the dummy. The barrier flickered and held, absorbing the relentless assault without breaking. The Gatling gun’s barrels glowed red-hot by the time the last round fired, smoke curling from the muzzles.

Javier set the smoking weapon down, his voice steady.

”The standard tactical gear our soldiers wear now is already able to withstand this kind of firepower, not to mention it can withstand even our own advanced weapons’ firepower, such as assault mana rifles, mana cannons, and even attacks from the GAASAD and Sky Eyes weapon systems. If our barrier runes can hold against compressed magic bullets and magic explosions, which are far more powerful than any conventional weapon, then flintlock muskets, enchanted bullets, or explosive arrows mean nothing. Our enemies cannot harm our soldiers, no matter what they bring to the battlefield.”

Garius smirked, his hands clasped behind his back. He walked past Javier and his brothers with a regal, commanding presence, his steps calm and deliberate. Alf and Erinette followed respectfully behind him, with Hesbeirn bringing up the rear. He stopped beside the long table and glanced down at the line of conventional weapons, his right eye glowing with a faint golden light.

”Hmm~”

He ran his hand along the weapons as he slowly walked, his touch light and deliberate. Javier respectfully sidestepped, giving him space, and stood at attention.

”So... Javier.” Garius smirked as he lifted the sawed-off shotgun, inspecting it with one hand. ”What do you call this one?”

Javier nodded, stepping forward slightly.

”That’s a sawed-off shotgun, Father. It’s a smoothbore firearm designed for close-quarters combat. It fires multiple projectiles, called pellets or buckshot, in a wide spread. The short barrel reduces accuracy at range but increases its effectiveness in tight spaces. The main advantages are its stopping power and ease of use. The disadvantages are its limited range and the need for frequent reloading after each shot.”

Garius nodded, a faint smile on his lips. He channeled his mana, a swirl of golden energy wrapping around his hand as his right eye continued to glow.

With a quick motion, he cracked the action open, reached for two shells from the table with three fingers, and enchanted them in an instant, causing them to glow with intense golden light. He snapped the shotgun shut with a sharp click and aimed it one-handed, tilting his head slightly with a confident smirk.

”Ah, Father! Don’t...”

But before Javier could finish, Garius pulled the trigger.

A deafening roar erupted. Both barrels fired simultaneously, the enchanted shells unleashing a blast of golden energy that instantly overwhelmed the weapon’s structure. The barrels exploded outward, shattering into twisted metal fragments, leaving only the wooden grip and the action intact in Garius’s hand, completely unharmed.

Garius tossed the broken weapon casually onto the table. It landed smoothly, settling into place as if it had been placed there deliberately.

”Good. This means this weapon could not be used effectively if enhanced with a powerful buff like mine. If the Human Nation or any enemy were to reach this level of weaponry, they would still face the same limitation. Their own enhancements would destroy their tools before they could harm us.”

Garius turned and gazed at all his sons, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

”So... tell me, Javier.”

”Yes, Father?”

Garius pretended to rub his chin, tilting his head up as if gazing at the sky in thought. ”Marcellus mentioned earlier about... best ways of fighting, techniques, skills, and combat styles.”

Javier averted his eyes, rubbing the back of his head with a nervous chuckle.

Crap.

I know Father is going to suggest a practice duel.

Ugh! I don’t want that. It’s always the same. He pins me down, lectures me mid-fight, and acts like it’s a teaching moment. I still remember the last time we spar, he sent me flying with one finger. And he barely broke a sweat. It’s not even fun. It’s just annoying.

Garius narrowed his eyes with a confident smirk. ”How about you all show me those ’cool techniques’ of yours? Perhaps we could... measure those powers and magics in a little sparring session? What do you say?”

”Ah!” Javier suddenly pointed toward the sky, making everyone instinctively look up. In that split second, Javier bolted toward his pekko.

”Buddy!!!”

”Cuquawked!?”

Marcellus, realizing what Javier had done, didn’t hesitate. He bolted toward his own pekko, followed closely by Cedric. Even Aelius, usually calm and collected, rushed after them and leaped onto his pekko, who had been relaxing nearby.

”We’re going to handle the monsters in the forest nearby, Father!!! See you!!!”

( End Of Chapter )