Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1434: A Constellation of Wealth and Power ( 1434 )

Marcellus, Cedric, and Javier exchanged mischievous glances before breaking into a synchronized whistle, a playful, teasing tune that echoed through the forest.

”Feewit! Our brother is finally going to show his skills!”

”Go, go, Aelius! Left, right, Aelius!”

”Crush them! Kill them! Grill them!”

Aelius rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he let out another long, weary exhale. He pinched the bridge of his nose, mumbling under his breath. ”These three... I swear, they’re more childish than the kids back at the estate. How did I end up with such annoying siblings?”

The ground began to shake, heavy footsteps echoing through the forest as the monsters approached. The pekko stood casually in front of Aelius, their heads held high, completely unbothered by the approaching threat.

Javier, still mounted on Buddy, suddenly broke into a playful rap, bobbing his head to an imaginary beat. Buddy joined in, his head bobbing in sync with the rhythm.

”Yo yo~ Pekko yo~ Don’t go kill-stealing Aelius yo~ Let the man do his thing, let the monsters feel his sting~ He’s been hiding all his skills, time to pay those monster bills~ Yo~!”

Marcellus and Cedric smirked, clapping their hands and stomping their feet to the beat. Aelius just stood there, his eye twitching, pinching the bridge of his nose even harder.

”I’m surrounded by idiots,” he muttered under his breath.

A group of monsters appeared in the distance. They were massive, towering figures, far larger than an orc general. Their bodies were bulky and muscular, covered in dark, jagged armor-like scales. Each one carried a massive club wreathed in dark miasma, the air around them thick with a suffocating, malevolent energy.

Marcellus crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes with a confident smirk. ”Woo... A group of Zarinba. Congratulations, Cedric. Your wish has been answered.”

Javier, still on top of Buddy, twirled his white ore mana gun while rubbing his chin with his other hand. ”Wait, didn’t you detect them with your magic, Marcellus?”

”No~ I did know they were high-rank monsters. My detection skill did sense them as strong, but it never tells me the exact type or race of the monster. Just their general threat level.”

Cedric grinned, his hand twitching with excitement. ”A+ rank monster. Woo~ Love it. Leave some for me~”

Marcellus raised both palms upward, his left hand flaring with blue fire while his right hand glowed with a cold, frosty aura, ice crystals forming in the air around his fingertips.

Javier smirked, glancing down at Buddy. ”Well... Buddy?”

”Cuquawked?”

”You and the other pekko stay there. Don’t disturb the show.” Javier jumped off Buddy’s back, landing perfectly on the ground. He raised his right hand, and another white ore mana gun materialized in his palm.

”Cuquawked~” (If you say so, masterrrr~)

Buddy squawked, followed by the other pekko squawking in excitement before they walked away with smug strides and settled nearby, sitting on the ground like contented guardians.

Aelius smirked, adjusting his glove as he stepped forward. His movements were calm, charming, and regal, carrying an air of quiet confidence. He glanced at his brothers over his shoulder, his voice smooth and assured.

”There’s no need for you to interrupt. I can handle this alone.”

Marcellus raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. ”You sure? It’s rare for us to encounter high-rank monsters like Zarinba.”

”Aw~ Come on, leave me one,” Cedric added, tapping his waist where his sword rested, his eyes fixed on Aelius.

Javier narrowed his eyes at Aelius, his voice curious. ”And where does this confidence come from, Brother Aelius?”

Aelius smirked, turning to face the monsters, who had now noticed them and were letting out guttural roars. He casually slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a single gold coin, flipping it between his fingers before catching it.

”Since you all insist on knowing how I fight...” He glanced over his shoulder, a calm, confident smile on his lips. ”I guess it’s not too bad to give you all a little entertainment~.”

The monsters charged at Aelius with thunderous roars, their massive bodies shaking the ground with every step. Aelius remained calm, one hand still slipped into his pocket. A confident smirk spread across his lips as he flicked a single gold coin into the air.

The coin began to glow, a radiant golden aura swirling around it. More coins materialized from his pocket, floating upward and joining the first, forming a swirling storm of golden projectiles that orbited around him like a constellation of wealth and power.

”This is my first level of magic,” Aelius said, his voice smooth and confident. ”I call it... The Merchant’s Gambit~”

In an instant, Aelius vanished from his position and reappeared above the lead monster, his form flickering like a golden afterimage. He turned his palm upward and flicked one of the floating coins with his thumb.

The coin shot forward at blinding speed, streaking through the air like a golden bullet. It struck the monster directly in the head, piercing through its skull before exploding in a burst of golden light. The massive creature crashed to the ground, lifeless, its body sending a tremor through the forest floor.

Aelius landed gracefully, his coat billowing as he straightened. He glanced over his shoulder at his stunned brothers, a calm smile on his lips.

”And that... is what I call a ’High-Interest Payment’~”

One of the monsters swung its massive, miasma-wreathed club toward Aelius with devastating force. Aelius casually raised one arm, blocking the blow with ease. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, cracking the ground beneath his feet, but Aelius remained completely still, his expression calm and unbothered.

He smiled, raising his other palm upward. A glass of golden wine materialized in his hand, and he took a slow, deliberate sip, savoring the taste before lowering the glass.

”That hit my coat,” he said, his voice light but carrying a hint of amusement. ”The one Athine washed, folded, and cares for deeply. That’s going to cost you a lot of gold coins.”

He flicked a gold coin toward the monster. The coin glowed as it flew, briefly scanning the target’s strengths, weaknesses, and magical affinities before the information transmitted directly into Aelius’s mind. He smirked, his eyes gleaming with confidence.

”Fair Trade~”

The gold coin transformed mid-air, shifting into a flowing, high-speed blade that sliced through the monster in an instant, carving it into fine pieces that scattered across the forest floor.

( End Of Chapter )