Reborn As Noble

Javier continued eating, his sharp eyes casually scanning the cafeteria. It didn’t take long for him to notice the clear divide among the students.

The noble sons and daughters from the first and second classes—the so-called elites—mostly avoided mingling with others, sticking to their own groups. Their finely tailored uniforms and the airs they put on made it clear they were of high rank.

Javier smirked, his fork hovering over his plate. ”Well, that’s normal,” he muttered under his breath. ”Typical nobles and their cliques. Heh.”

Most of the higher-ranking nobles, sons of high Barons, Counts, and even a few from Marquis families, sat together near the front of the cafeteria. Their conversations were loud and boastful, each trying to outdo the other with stories of wealth, connections, or magical skills.

Further back, tables were occupied by lower-ranking nobles—Barons and Lower Barons—who were quieter. They talked in hushed tones, often glancing toward the front tables but never approaching.

”Haaa...” Javier sighed softly, shaking his head with a faint grin. ”Status really does run everything around here. No wonder I don’t fit in.”

Liana, standing beside him, noticed his expression and leaned slightly closer. ”Young Master?”

”Nothing, Liana,” he said, waving it off with a smirk. ”Just observing the food chain in action. It’s kind of entertaining.”

Liana looked around, her calm gaze taking in the same divide. ”It’s not surprising. This is how noble society has always been, even in schools.”

”Yeah, yeah,” Javier muttered, taking another bite. ”Still, it’s funny watching them try so hard. Makes me glad I’m at the back of the pile—less annoying people to deal with.”

Liana, ever observant, leaned slightly closer to Javier, her voice soft but straightforward. ”But you could easily befriend them if you wanted to, Young Master. You are the youngest son of Count Garius, after all.”

Javier raised an eyebrow, pausing mid-bite. ”Huh? Why would I want to?” he asked, tilting his head. ”I can’t stand their type anyway. Besides, you know I don’t like to stand out too much.”

Liana smiled faintly as she straightened up. ”Hmm? You already stand out, Young Master,” she said knowingly. ”With your Pekko and... well, your attitude.”

Javier chuckled, leaning back in his chair. ”Well, this is me. The real me.” He smirked, gesturing vaguely toward the cafeteria. ”If they can’t handle it, that’s their problem, not mine.”

”Of course, Young Master,” Liana replied, her tone slightly amused. ”But don’t forget—standing out might bring more attention on you than you’d like.”

”Haaa... let them watch,” Javier said with a shrug, casually popping another bite of food into his mouth. ”It’s not like I’m here to impress anyone.”

Liana stood silently beside Javier, her eyes observing the cafeteria dynamics. She noticed something her young master seemed unaware of—many of the lower-ranking noble sons kept stealing glances at him. They looked like they wanted to approach him, maybe even befriend him, but Javier’s ”delinquent noble” reputation and carefree attitude scared them off.

As Javier continued eating, he noticed a commotion near the back of the cafeteria. His sharp eyes locked onto a boy from a Marquis family picking on a smaller group of lower-ranking nobles. The Marquis’s son was laughing loudly, clearly enjoying his power as he mocked them.

Javier’s grin spread slowly across his face. He casually picked up a large vegetable from his plate, aiming it like a projectile. With an effortless flick of his wrist, he launched it across the room.

The vegetable hit the Marquis’s son square on the head, knocking his carefully styled hair askew.

The boy stumbled slightly, his face turning bright red as he shouted, ”How dare you?!” He spun around, his furious gaze locking onto Javier. ”I’m the son of Marquis Hazlarn!”

Javier didn’t even pause his meal, chewing casually as he leaned back in his chair. ”So?” he replied nonchalantly. ”I’m the youngest son of Count Garius de Armand. Only one rank below you.”

The Marquis’s son’s face twisted in anger. ”How dare you throw that trash at my head?! I’m from a higher-ranking noble family and in the first class too!”

Javier finally set down his fork, standing up with a wide grin. ”And?” he said, his tone mocking. ”You ride in a carriage that’s cheaper than my Pekko. Each of my Pekkos costs 20 gold, and they’re faster and more reliable than anything your family could afford.”

The Marquis’s son sputtered in disbelief, but Javier wasn’t finished.

”Not to mention,” Javier continued, crossing his arms, ”my family is far wealthier, more powerful, and commands a larger military than yours. Oh, and let’s not forget—our region is the one keeping peace with the demon kingdom. You know, the border your family doesn’t even bother to support.”

The cafeteria went silent, all eyes now on Javier and the Marquis’s son. The lower-ranking nobles watched in awe, while some higher-ranking ones exchanged nervous glances.

The Marquis’s son’s jaw moved as if trying to find a comeback, but nothing came out.

Javier smirked, his voice dropping to a low, mocking tone. ”So, tell me, Marquis’s son... still feeling important?”

The Marquis’s son glared at Javier, his face contorted with rage. ”You want to fight!? Me, a student from the first class!?”

Javier didn’t flinch. ”So? What do you want to use? Swords? Fists? Or something else?”

The boy clenched his fists, trembling with anger. ”Just you wait!! I will make sure to defeat you in the Battleground event!!”

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Javier grin growing wider as he loomed over the smaller Marquis’s son. ”Yeah, yeah, go ahead,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. ”Team up with the Klimbert household, the Jaist household, and the Amboast household. Heck, bring everyone if you want. I don’t care.”

The Marquis’s son stumbled back slightly under Javier’s imposing presence, his confidence visibly shaken.

”I’ll still be here,” Javier added, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he crossed his arms. ”Just don’t cry when it doesn’t go your way.”

The boy’s entourage hesitated, unsure whether to step in or stay back, but the Marquis’s son finally turned with a huff, storming off with an angry glare. ”You’ll regret this, Armand!!”

Javier watched him leave, still grinning as he dusted off his hands. ”What an asshole,” he muttered, sitting back down.

Liana let out a soft sigh, stepping closer. ”Young Master, was that really necessary?”

”Completely necessary,” Javier replied, picking up his fork again. ”That guy needed to be put in his place. Besides, it was fun.”

Liana shook her head, though her faint smile betrayed her amusement. ”One of these days, Young Master...” she murmured, watching him return to his meal without a care in the world.

As Javier resumed eating, a group of boys from lower Baron households approached him cautiously. Their faces showed a mix of gratitude and nervousness as they stood in front of him.

One of them stepped forward and bowed deeply. ”Thank you!”

Javier blinked, tilting his head in confusion. ”Huh?”

”Thank you for helping us,” the boy continued earnestly. ”The Marquis’s son and his friends always bully us. You stood up to him when we couldn’t.”

Javier leaned back, crossing his arms as he raised an eyebrow. ”So?” he said nonchalantly. ”I didn’t do it to help any of you. I just do as I please.”

The boys exchanged uncertain glances, unsure how to respond to his bluntness.

Javier waved them off lazily. ”Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have food to eat. Liana?”

”Yes, Young Master?” Liana replied, stepping closer.

Javier leaned in and whispered, ”I want to drink wine.”

Liana sighed softly, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and disapproval. ”Young Master, this is a school cafeteria. You’ll have to wait until dinner.”

”Tch,” Javier clicked his tongue, sitting back with a pout. ”Fine, fine. But make sure it’s ready when we get home.”

Liana chuckled quietly, nodding. ”Of course, Young Master.”

( End of Chapter )