Reborn As Noble

While walking toward the horses.

The captain walked in front while the assistant followed eagerly at his side.

”I will give my final standing order when I mount my horse. Once I leave, you will be in command and lead our army to victory, understand?”

”Y... yes, Captain! I won’t let you down.”

”Remember, I will give one last command before I depart. After that, all decisions are yours.”

”Mm... I understand, Captain!” The assistant nodded eagerly, pumping his fist in excitement.

The captain just smirked inwardly.

They arrived at the cleared area inside the crumbled Tybalt border wall gate. The captain’s horse was ready, along with six mounted guards waiting to escort him.

The captain slowly climbed into the saddle and glanced over the assembled soldiers and officers nearby.

”I am going to our nearby base to personally request reinforcements from the general! While I’m gone, my assistant here will be in command! All of you will obey his orders!”

”Understood, Captain!” all the surrounding soldiers and officers stood straight and saluted.

”This is my final standing order before I depart: Do not attack the Armand soldiers unless we are attacked first!” he declared loudly, making sure his voice carried.

He met his assistant’s eyes one last time, a faint, knowing smirk hidden beneath his stern expression, then turned his horse and spurred it into motion, his six guards falling in behind him.

Once he was far from the border, the captain smirked.

Ah~ I’m sure that dumb assistant is too eager to prove himself.

I know he’s been hungry for command, and from the look in his eyes, he wants to win this attack and gain glory, recognition, and favor directly from Lord Turka.

I know that look. He wants to rank up and take my position~

Well, well, well... don’t think I’m dumb. I know what he’s after. Always hovering around, offering ”suggestions,” questioning my tactics in that polite, slippery way. He’s been sharpening his knife behind my back for months.

Heh! That idiot might not know what’s coming for him.

He always looks down on others, thinks numbers are everything.

So when he saw Armand’s troops are less than 500, he probably thinks victory is guaranteed.

Ah~ poor guy. Just married that beautiful wife three months ago.

Don’t worry, if you lose, I’ll take good care of her~ for you~

The captain’s smile turned cold, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement.

I’ve seen his wife once at a garrison feast, young, delicate, with soft eyes and a shy smile. The kind of woman who’d weep prettily at her husband’s funeral...

She’ll be so... grateful for protection after her husband’s... unfortunate demise. And who better to comfort a grieving widow than her husband’s former commander? I’ll make her scream my name and forget all about her dead husband. I’ll shower her with money, gifts, attention... until the only man she thinks of is me.

A fitting reward for all the assistant’s behind-the-back ambition.

Meanwhile...

The assistant smirked once he saw the captain vanish from sight.

Heh! What a dumb captain.

Why do we need to be scared of 200 mere Armand soldiers when we have new weapons, 50 new musketeer units, 2000 magic archers, 50 cannons, thousands of magic swords and reinforced plate armor, plus enhanced cavalry?

He’s dumb. Not fit to be in command.

I’ll prove to Lord Turka with my leadership, I can win this easily.

Why the hell is he scared of those flying things? Our new magic archers have been proven to pierce full plate armor in one shot. One shot!

And we have two thousand of them here!!! Not one! Not to mention the bullets we use are magic-piercing rounds, tested and proven to punch straight through an inch-thick iron plate door like it was parchment!

What does he think those Armand soldiers are made of? Adamantite?

Not to mention the explosive cannonballs! And we also have explosive arrows that detonate on impact! There’s no way a mere handful of Armand soldiers, with their tiny numbers, can fight back!

We’ll fire continuously until there’s nothing left of those Armand soldiers but dust on the ground!

I bet with just one attack! Just one attack and it’ll all be over!

Dumb captain! Weakling! Coward! I’ll prove to him I’m better in command. I’ll lead these 10,000 troops forward and march to victory, so Lord Turka knows we’re the ones winning against the so-called ”invincible Armand”!

I’ll take the captain’s rank, meet Lord Turka, and if I can, I’ll get both the general and him removed.

I’m sure Lord Turka will recognize my leadership and be thrilled. He must be sick of hearing how the general and the captain tremble at the sight of a few hundred soldiers. It’s embarrassing! It makes our whole army look weak, timid, unfit to rule the lands we conquer.

They’ve grown soft, complacent, unworthy of their titles. They look down on true strength and boldness. But I’ll show them what real command looks like!

He clasped his hands behind his back and glanced at the officers gathered around him.

”Assemble all our forces. Make sure every cannon is reloaded. Call the musketeer unit and have them load the magic-piercing bullets. Position them at the front line, ready to fire on my command.”

”But, Chief...” one of the officers tried to interject. ”The captain’s last order was not to attack unless we’re attacked first.”

The assistant turned and glared, his face hardening into a mask of cold authority.

”And what was his last command about who is in charge!? I am the one in command now! All of you will listen to my orders!”

”But... we should wait for the captain to—”

The assistant slapped the officer hard across the face. The nearby soldiers stood frozen, eyes wide.

”Are you someone who also has no balls!? What are you scared of!? Didn’t you see the results of our magic archer tests!? Didn’t you see how easily we crumbled this border wall with our cannons!? Didn’t you see how fast we overran these weak Tybalt defenses!? Didn’t you see how those Tybalt soldiers fell like training dummies!? Hah! You dare question my order!?”

He glared around, his expression fierce and unyielding.

”Those Armand soldiers are merely 200! We are not fighting with swords and shields like in the old days! We are the new strongest army! We will show everyone who the real power in this region is!”

”I don’t want any more excuses! Now go and carry out my commands immediately! Anyone who hesitates will be treated as a traitor and dealt with accordingly!”

( End Of Chapter )