Reborn As Noble

As Javier enjoyed his roast meat with Buddy and Pikko, the delicious smell filled the air. Suddenly, he heard some noise nearby. Lifting his head mid-bite, he looked toward the growing commotion a short distance from their stall.

”Hmm?” Javier mumbled, curious. ”What’s happening over there?”

He turned to the vendor he was eating with. ”Hey, who’s causing all that noise?”

The vendor sighed and shook his head. ”Ah, it’s that brat from the Jaist household again.”

”Jaist household?” Javier raised an eyebrow.

The vendor leaned in closer, lowering his voice. ”Yeah, the youngest son of High Baron Grimian. Every time he visits, he causes trouble—taking things without paying and acting like he’s better than everyone else.”

Javier narrowed his eyes, a sly grin forming. ”Interesting…”

Buddy tilted his head, seeming curious about Javier’s change in mood, while Pikko nudged closer, trying to sneak another bite of his food.

At the commotion:

”Please pay for the goods,” an elderly vendor pleaded, her voice shaking but firm.

”Hah! Do you even know who I am?!” the boy snapped, puffing out his chest. ”I am the son of High Baron Grimian, of the Jaist household! How dare a commoner like you ask for payment from me?”

The vendor hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. ”But… it’s just a few coppers…”

The boy smirked arrogantly, leaning in closer. ”You should be honored that I even stopped by your dirty stall. That’s payment enough!”

Behind him, two guards from the Jaist household rested their hands on their swords, looking cold and threatening. One of them shouted, ”Oi, old lady, you better watch what you say. How dare you insult our young master by asking for payment?”

A murmur of anger spread through the crowd.

One person stepped forward, red with anger. ”Even our lord, Count Garius, never treats us like this! Who do you think you are, bullying an old lady in our town?”

Another added, gaining confidence, ”Yeah! If you’re so important, go back to where you came from!”

The guards exchanged glances, gripping their swords tighter.

From deeper in the crowd, a brave voice yelled, ”Yeah! Screw you and your Jaist arrogance!”

Javier grinned mischievously as he stood up, brushing crumbs from his clothes. He leaned down closer to Buddy and Pikko, speaking in a secretive tone.

”Hehe… Buddy, Pikko, ready for some fun?”

The two Pekkos squawked excitedly, their eyes shining with eagerness.

From the side, Liana noticed what Javier planned and stepped forward with concern on her face. ”Young master, wait—”

But Gloria gently but firmly placed her hand on Liana’s arm.

”Just wait, Liana,” Gloria said with a calm smile.

”But Miss Gloria—”

”Trust me. Lord Garius’s orders.”

Liana bit her lip, unsure but eventually stepped back, her eyes staying on Javier.

Javier walked toward the commotion, moving casually as the crowd parted for him. The noise faded as he got closer.

”Oh, look who we have here!” Javier called out, his voice full of mock pity. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at the Jaist brat, who stood proudly with his guards. ”You must be a poor boy.”

The crowd gasped, surprised by his words.

Javier tilted his head and gave the Jaist brat a sly grin before tossing a copper coin at his feet. ”Here, a little something for you. Don’t worry, I know it’s tough for families that can’t give their kids an allowance.”

The coin clinked on the cobblestones, making the Jaist brat’s face turn red with anger. ”H-How dare you treat me like a beggar!”

Javier leaned in closer, his grin growing wider as he lowered his voice so only the brat could hear. ”Hmm? Aren’t you?”

”You insolent commoner!” the Jaist brat yelled, his fists shaking.

”Commoner?” Javier blinked innocently and then gasped dramatically. ”Oh, no! You’re from the Jaist household? The oh-so-important Jaist household? Ohhhh, I’m so scared!”

He pretended to be scared, shuddering exaggeratedly and smirking playfully.

The guards from the Jaist household stepped forward, gripping their swords tightly. ”You dare mock the Jaist family?!”

Javier pretended to panic, raising his hands. ”A-ah! No, no, I wouldn’t dare!” Then he turned to his Pekkos. ”Buddy! Pikko!”

The two large Pekkos squawked together, their size and sharp beaks making the guards nervous. Experience exclusive tales on freewebnovel

The guards froze, their confidence fading.

”Oh my, how sad,” Javier said, giving Buddy a pat on the beak. ”Even a ’commoner’ like me has these impressive Pekkos. Meanwhile, the mighty Jaist household doesn’t even have one for their spoiled little boy?”

The crowd burst into laughter, cutting through the Jaist brat’s pride.

The brat’s face turned deep red, and his lips trembled as he shouted, ”I’ll make you regret this!”

Javier crossed his arms, his smirk staying strong. ”Oh? And how will you do that? Cry to Daddy about how a ’commoner’ showed you up in public?”

Laughter grew louder, with some people clapping and cheering for Javier’s cleverness.

Javier wiped a tear from his eye as he continued to laugh. Buddy and Pikko squawked along, their sounds almost like laughter as they flapped their wings excitedly. The crowd roared with laughter too, really enjoying the show.

”Now, now, poor ’noble,’” Javier said, waving his hand as if dismissing the boy. ”Why don’t you pay the nice old lady for her goods and be a good boy? You know, like a proper noble should.”

The Jaist brat’s face twisted in anger. ”You… you don’t know who you’re dealing with! Once I tell my father, you’ll regret this!”

Javier raised an eyebrow, his smirk still there. ”Huh? And what’s your family going to do about it? Send an army to attack this town?”

”Yes! A war!” the brat shouted, puffing out his chest, proud of his claim.

Javier stared for a moment, then burst out laughing again, his voice ringing out in the marketplace. Buddy and Pikko sensed his joy and squawked louder, stomping their feet as if teasing the Jaist brat.

”HAHAHAHA! Oh, this is too funny!” Javier said, clutching his stomach, tears forming in his eyes. ”A noble who can’t even pay for their goods… talking about war? Really? Do you even have that kind of money? Oh wait—” He snapped his fingers dramatically. ”You don’t! That’s why you’re stealing from an old lady!”

The crowd joined in, laughing and pointing as the Jaist brat’s face turned bright red.

”Y-You…!” the brat stammered, shaking with anger. ”Kill that commoner!”

The Jaist guards hesitated before drawing their swords, their hands shaking. They glanced nervously at the two Pekkos, whose beady eyes were fixed on them with an intense stare. Buddy stomped forward, letting out a deep, rumbling squawk. Pikko spread her wings, looking twice the size of the nearest guard.

Javier tilted his head mockingly, resting a hand on Buddy’s head. ”Ooooo… scary,” he said sarcastically, giving Buddy’s beak a playful pat. ”You know, if you’re scared of a couple of birds, maybe you’re in the wrong job.”

The guards flinched and stepped back, clearly not wanting to upset the large Pekkos.

The Jaist brat seethed, stamping his foot. ”What are you waiting for?! Attack him!”

One of the guards whispered urgently, ”Young master, these creatures are dangerous. We can’t—”

”Useless! All of you are useless!” the brat yelled, his face twisted in frustration.

Javier let out a big sigh, shaking his head. ”Honestly, this is embarrassing. For a ’noble,’ you really don’t act like one. If you don’t pay the nice old lady soon, I might have to teach you a lesson in manners.”

( End of Chapter )