Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1354: Toss, Gulp, Squawk ( 1354 )

Armand Eastern Border Town.

”Alright, Buddy, don’t go wild. We’ll both be in big trouble with Father if we cause trouble for our own people.”

”Cuquawked!!”

Buddy slowed his pace to a normal, relaxed stride as they neared the town, the three wild pekko following closely behind him. The Armand patrol stationed at the border noticed them immediately. Their eyes flickered to Buddy’s distinct orange feathers, and they snapped to attention, saluting with fists over their left chests.

Javier grinned, rubbing the back of his head before raising his palm in a calming gesture, keeping his voice low. ”At ease, everyone. I’m in disguise right now, so just pretend I’m not here.”

The patrol leader gave a subtle nod, lowering his hand. ”As you command, Your Highness.”

While Buddy walked with his usual smug stride, the Armand townsfolk nearby smiled and nodded politely as they passed, recognizing the orange pekko even if they didn’t recognize his rider. Javier waved back casually before glancing up at the darkening sky.

”It’s going to be dark soon.” He looked at Buddy, who tilted his head back, meeting his gaze. ”Buddy? Can we make it to the Beastkin border before nightfall? The monsters will be more active, and while I know we can handle them, I’d rather not waste time.”

”Cuquawked!!” Buddy let out a confident squawk, puffing his chest.

”Okay, then. We’ll stop at the Armand border gate first, let the guards process the documents, and have them contact the Beastkin and Elven nations about our arrival. I’m sure the command center already relayed the message, but following protocol never hurts.”

”Cuquawked!”

Javier glanced over his shoulder at the three wild pekko, who were strutting with the same smug attitude as Buddy, mirroring his every move.

”Better feed you and the others first, huh?”

”Cuquawked!”

”Alright, then. We’ll stop by the stall near the gates. But don’t go nuts, okay? I didn’t bring much gold with me.”

Buddy kept walking, but tilted his head, narrowing his eyes at Javier before letting out a skeptical squawk.

”What? I’m telling the truth!” Javier pulled two silver coins from his pocket, showing them to Buddy with a sheepish grin.

”Cuquawked!” Buddy let out an indignant squawk, clearly not buying it.

Javier wiggled his eyebrows, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. ”The money you’re thinking about is inside my dimensional storage. And I don’t know how to open it~”

Buddy suddenly wiggled his body, nearly throwing Javier off balance. Javier quickly gripped his feathers, shouting, ”Alright, alright! I’ll pay! I’ll pay! Sheesh!”

After they reached the border gates, Javier climbed down from Buddy, placing both hands on his hips and puffing out his chest.

”Alright, Buddy. Grab something you want to eat, but as usual, make sure to let the owner count it first. Don’t just grab and gulp it down before they can count it.”

”Cuquawked!” Buddy let out a commanding squawk toward the three wild pekko, who squawked back in unison before puffing out their chests and strutting toward the nearby stalls.

The first wild pekko approached a fruit stall, snapping a huge fruit with its beak, tossing it into the air, and gulping it down in one go. The other two followed suit, each grabbing their own fruit and devouring it before moving to the bread stall. They picked the largest loaves, repeated the same toss-and-gulp motion, then turned toward the meat stall.

The lead wild pekko squawked at the shop owner, who smiled, shook his head, and began roasting a few slabs of meat before tossing them toward the three pekko. They snatched them mid-air and gulped them down before settling down on the open road, satisfied.

Javier blinked in surprise. ”Huh... they’re already full?”

He glanced at Buddy, who was still going strong, gulping down most of the fruits from the fruit stall, then snatching everything from the bread stall before moving on to the meat stall with a smug, gluttonous stride.

”O... oi... is this for real?”

”Cuquawked?” Buddy turned his head, a slab of meat hanging from his beak, tilting his head innocently before squawking and continuing his feast.

Javier exhaled, shaking his head as he glanced at the three wild pekko, who were already resting. ”No wonder the Armand budget for wild pekko food isn’t that huge... only my pekko is this gluttonous, huh?”

Javier watched Buddy move to another stall, gulping down another round of food, before facepalming.

I didn’t even notice after all these years with Buddy.

I thought all pekko ate as much as Buddy does.

But now I remember... Father Pekko, Giddie, the king of all pekko and Buddy’s father, doesn’t eat nearly as much. Well, yeah, I know he eats those expensive glowing fruits imported specially from the Elven Nation just for him, but still... even that’s a small portion compared to Buddy’s appetite.

He glanced at the three wild pekko, who were already dozing off, completely full.

Even my fiancées’ pekko, Piko, Peanut, Jito, Karu, and Blitz only eat normal portions.

Damn... I didn’t even realize after all this time.

He exhaled, shaking his head before a fond smile spread across his face as he watched Buddy gulp down another round of food from a different stall. The shop owners were already rubbing their hands together, eagerly waiting for payment.

Javier just shrugged, his smile widening.

Well... whatever. At least I’ve got the best pekko of all pekko.

Javier walked toward each stall, paying for all the food Buddy and the wild pekko had devoured, one by one. Finally, he reached the last stall, where Buddy was still going at it, gulping down another slab of roasted meat.

”Oi, Buddy.”

Buddy paused, glancing down at him, a piece of meat still hanging from his beak.

Javier narrowed his eyes, pointing at him. ”Stop eating already. Look at your stomach, it’s already bulging like it’s about to explode. If you get too full, you won’t be able to run at full speed toward our destination.”

”Cuquawked!” Buddy puffed out his chest, a smug smirk spreading across his beak.

”Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Stop eating and go rest. We’ve got five minutes before we continue our journey. Don’t forget, Father doesn’t want us to waste time.”

”Cuquawked!!” Buddy let out a final squawk before reluctantly stepping away from the stall, settling down on the ground with a satisfied sigh.

( End Of Chapter )