Reborn As Noble-Chapter 410: Hunting the Shadows ( )

Meanwhile, at the Armand Border Wall Town...

Liana glanced up at the darkening sky, walking a half-step behind Javier as he strolled casually through the town square with his hands behind his head.

"Young Master?" she asked softly.

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"Yes, Liana?" he replied, not even turning his head.

"The sky's nearly dark… shouldn't we start heading back to the estate now?"

Javier stopped for a moment and turned slightly with a lopsided grin. "Hmm? Ah... no. We'll be staying here." He glanced toward the guard tower above the border wall. "Two or three days, probably."

Liana blinked. "For what, Young Master?"

Javier stretched with a soft groan, turning toward the inn just beyond the marketplace. "Hmm? Oh... nothing important." He said casually. "Just make sure you and Gloria have your weapons ready. Keep them within arm's reach."

Liana narrowed her eyes, sensing the shift in his tone. "Why?"

Javier grinned—calm, confident, and just a little too quiet. "Because we're going hunting tonight."

"Hunting?" Gloria raised a brow, adjusting her gloves with a faint tilt of her head.

Javier nodded with his usual mischievous grin. "Yep. And it's the perfect time for something else too—" he glanced at both of them, "—you two are going to synchronize with Ari and Aria tonight."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek pair of mana-lens glasses—delicately inscribed with glowing runes.

He slid them onto his face. A faint hum echoed as the lenses lit up with subtle magical circuitry, syncing with his scout drones in the sky.

Through the lenses, Javier could see everything his drones detected—mana signatures, movement in the treeline, heat traces, stealth disruptions…

And something was moving.

"Because," he said with a slight smirk, eyes locked on the glowing feed only he could see, "we're going to have visitors tonight."

Liana and Gloria tensed immediately.

Javier adjusted his glasses, then calmly climbed onto Buddy, who gave a proud squawk and stomped its talons, ready for action.

He looked back over his shoulder. "Liana. Gloria."

"Yes, Young Master?" they answered in unison.

Javier's smile was calm... but sharp. "Get on Pikko and Peanut. We're heading into the forest outside the border wall."

Javier, atop Buddy, approached the tall steel-reinforced gate, flanked by Liana on Pikko and Gloria on Peanut.

The guards at the gate immediately straightened. "Young Master!" they saluted in unison, their voices firm.

The border captain stepped forward, armor polished and posture stiff with respect. Javier nodded once, his tone casual but commanding.

"Ensure all patrol units are organized in full squads—no wandering in pairs or threes. Minimum seven to nine per squad. I want mages, scouts, and even assassin-trained personnel mixed in. Understood?"

"Yes, Young Master!" the captain responded without hesitation.

Javier narrowed his eyes. "And every squad leader—" he reached into his coat and pulled out a small mana talkie "—should be wearing one of these."

He slipped the mana talkie into his ear, a faint pulse of light confirming activation. "Direct communication. Instant relay. No excuses."

Liana and Gloria, without needing instruction, each reached for their own mana talkies and slipped them in. A soft chime echoed in their ears as the three linked automatically.

"Testing. Liana, Gloria—can you hear me?" Javier said without moving his lips, his voice crystal clear in their ears.

"Clear."

"Loud and precise."

The guards watched with quiet awe. They were used to Armand's superior tech, but seeing it used directly by the Young Master always sent a ripple of respect through the ranks.

Javier gave a half-smile. "Good. Maintain full alert level until further notice."

He turned toward the forest beyond the wall. "We'll handle the shadows. You just keep the light strong."

The gate creaked open.

The three riders passed through without another word, their silhouettes fading into the darkening woods—Pekkos moving silently beneath the moonlight.

"Buddy!! It's showtime."

"Cuquawked!!" came the excited response, low and eager.

With a burst of movement, Buddy darted forward—nearly silent despite his size, his powerful legs carrying him swiftly over the forest floor. Pikko and Peanut followed seamlessly, their steps synchronized beneath their riders.

They moved like shadows beneath the trees, the night air cool and still—too still.

"Stick together," Javier said through the mana talkie, his voice calm but precise. "We hunt the hunter tonight. Prepare your weapons."

As they rode deeper into the forest, Liana reached behind her and smoothly drew her magic bow. Beside her, Gloria extended her hand.

In a pulse of mana, her standard-sized warhammer shimmered and expanded, towering over her in size.

"Ari. Aria," Javier said through the comms, eyes focused ahead. "Sync your power with them. Let them feel your flow. Let them fight at your level."

"Okay~!" came Aria's cheerful tone through Gloria, her mana blending seamlessly, the warhammer pulsing with increased power.

"Umm… okay…" Ari said nervously, syncing with Liana—mana threads weaving around her bow, enhancing her shots and improving vision even through magical concealment.

Javier's eyes narrowed behind his mana-lens glasses as glowing red outlines appeared in his vision—figures trying to blend into the forest, creeping low and moving in near-perfect silence.

"There you are…" he whispered to himself with a smile.

Javier's eyes locked onto the distant movement through the lens of his mana-glasses. Red silhouettes danced in the dark—over 300 assassins, cloaked in shadow magic, creeping into formation like wolves closing in on prey.

He smirked.

Raising his right hand high, the wind swirling around him, he declared, "Summon—Mithril Puppet Knights."

A ripple of dense mana burst from his body.

From thin air, hundreds of glowing magic circles appeared across the forest floor, and one hundred fully armored mithril puppet knights emerged in perfect synchronization. Gleaming armor, enchanted crests glowing, longswords drawn and shields raised.

Each one moved like a trained soldier—no delay, no confusion.

And without a word, they charged.

The forest floor shook as the mechanical warriors surged forward, iron feet trampling dead leaves and soil, closing in on the hidden assassins before they could even react.

Javier grinned.

Still astride Buddy, who bolted ahead with a speed that left warhorses in the dust, he raised his custom mana gun—runes along the barrel glowing as he channeled his energy through it.

"Let's begin."

BOOM!

A mana blast tore through the trees—explosive precision, slamming into the flank of the assassin squad attempting to flank the puppet knights.

Another shot. Then another.

Buddy weaved effortlessly between trees, turning Javier into a mobile artillery platform.

Behind him—

Liana stood tall on Pikko, her emerald eyes glowing as she pulled her bowstring, mana radiating from her fingertips. "Bow Technique—Whispering Gale Shot."

Five magic arrows shot forward in succession, each splitting into three mid-air. The volley rained down on the left flank of the assassin group, piercing through illusions, shattering mana shields, and pinning enemies to the ground like silver spears.

On the other side—

Gloria's warhammer thundered with energy. She whispered softly, "Heavy Faith—Crushing Judgement."

The hammer glowing with a deep golden hue. She jumped off mid-charge and slammed into a group of cloaked enemies, the impact releasing a shockwave that cracked the forest floor and sent bodies flying into the trees.

( End of Chapter )