Reborn As Noble

Two Days Before the War

Garius stood at the grand entrance of the Armand estate, his sharp eyes fixed on the horizon. The air was thick with tension. Soldiers were already making preparations, and war banners lined the courtyard.

Behind him, Francesca, Eridith, and the rest of his wives stood with worried expressions.

Francesca stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Dear, I insist on accompanying you."

Garius exhaled through his nose, his expression unreadable.

Beside her, Eridith pouted. "I'm your wife now; why can't I follow you?"

Garius didn't look at them, keeping his gaze locked on the distance. "War is dangerous. You shouldn't be anywhere near the battlefield. It will be chaotic, and I can't protect you if you're there."

Francesca's usual gentle demeanor hardened. "I don't care. I'm following you."

Eridith grinned and threw a fist in the air. "Yeah! Me too!" Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

Garius finally turned to face them, his eyes narrowing. "No."

Francesca's eyes sharpened. "I don't care. I'm following you."

"Yeah! Me too!" Eridith chimed in immediately.

Garius clicked his tongue. "Tch… stubborn women."

Behind them, Garcinia and Phenelopie exchanged hesitant glances.

"I would love to follow, but I have my hands full taking care of our newborn," Phenelopie said, gently cradling her baby.

Garcinia sighed. "And someone has to watch over the estate while you're away."

Francesca and Eridith, however, stood their ground.

Garius pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine… but you two stay by my side at all times. No reckless moves."

Francesca smiled triumphantly. "Of course."

Eridith pumped her fist. "I will!"

Garius muttered under his breath, "Why do I feel like I'm bringing more trouble than reinforcement…"

Garius nodded in approval as he guided Giddie forward, his golden Pekko striding with confidence.

Francesca and Eridith rode behind him in an armored carriage, flanked by their personal battle maids and an escort of elite heavy-armored guards. Alf and Erinette rode alongside the carriage on their Pekko mounts, while Hesbeirn kept pace beside them, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Alf?" Garius called without looking back.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Where is Rasdingen?"

Alf smirked. "Already at the command center in the town of Gaze, with our high-ranking Veteran Units."

"Good." Garius's gaze sharpened. "Are the preparations complete?"

"Yes, my lord. Everything is in place." Alf's tone was confident. "Five thousand troops are stationed at the border wall. The Magic Bow Unit is positioned along the walls and towers, while our Battle Knight Unit is inside the fortifications, ready for engagement."

"What about the townspeople and the villages near the border?"

"They've already been evacuated to the farthest villages, well beyond the frontline. Only the troops and our volunteer healer teams remain in town."

Garius exhaled slightly, relieved that civilian casualties wouldn't be a concern. "And the healer teams?"

"Ready and prepared, my lord." Alf's voice was steady. "They've been trained by the best. The First and Second Healing Bases are operational, fully stocked, and reinforced with support units."

Garius smirked. "Hmph… as expected. We're not just preparing for war; we're preparing to win it."

Hesbeirn rode up beside them. "My lord, our scouts report no enemy movement yet, but the cult's forces have begun gathering outside the border."

Garius narrowed his eyes. "Expected. They won't make the first move until they're ready to pressure the court into justifying their attack."

Erinette, riding slightly ahead, glanced back. "Should we anticipate sabotage attempts, my lord?"

Alf answered before Garius could. "We've tightened security. No one enters or leaves without clearance. Our scouts are monitoring every route leading to our territory. Even if they try to infiltrate, they won't get far."

"And what of our magic user units?" Garius asked.

"All stationed and prepared at the second defensive line," Hesbeirn reported. "They are ordered to engage and assist at my command if the enemy breaches the first wall."

Garius smirked. "Then everything is in place. All that's left is for them to make the first move."

Francesca, peeking from the carriage, sighed. "I still don't understand why you let them reach this stage, dear."

Garius chuckled. "Because war isn't just about strength, my love. It's about strategy. The moment they strike first, we gain justification to crush them completely. Let them come."

Eridith grinned excitedly. "Hehe~ Then I can finally stretch my wings?"

"Not unless I say so," Garius warned. "We are not here to destroy—we are here to defend. But if they force my hand… then we will ensure they never rise again."

The heavy-armored elite units around them tightened their formation. The clanking of metal and the rhythmic march of soldiers filled the air as they neared the fortified town of Gaze.

As they reached the outskirts of the town, soldiers and officers stood in perfect formation, waiting. The banners of House Armand fluttered in the wind, and the distant clang of blacksmiths preparing weapons echoed through the streets. The gates of Gaze opened, and the guards saluted in unison.

"MY LORD!"

Thousands of trained soldiers stood at attention, their eyes filled with determination. These weren't just any soldiers—they were the best of the best, honed through rigorous training to rival even the elite knight orders of the kingdom.

Garius climbed down from Giddie, his eyes sweeping over the assembled forces. He nodded in satisfaction.

"Hesbeirn, is this our current force?"

Hesbeirn stepped forward and saluted. "Yes, my lord. We have 15,000 soldiers stationed here, fully armed and prepared. The remaining 5,000, under my assistant's command, are already at the border wall."

Garius patted Giddie's beak. "Giddie, patrol the town. Eliminate any enemies you find sneaking around."

"Cuquawked!" Giddie and the other Pekko's scattered, taking formation to scout the perimeter.

Garius strode toward the command center, his officers falling in step behind him. As he entered the war room, a massive map of the region was laid out on the table, marked with troop placements and defensive lines.

Hesbeirn stood beside him, along with Alf and Erinette. The veteran captains and high-ranking officers awaited his command in disciplined silence.

Garius tapped the map, pointing at the first defensive line—the border wall itself. "This wall must be held at all costs. Station 5,000 troops here. Heavy infantry at the front, reinforced with shield formations. Archer and magic bow units will take position along the battlements."

Hesbeirn nodded. "It shall be done, my lord. The walls have been reinforced, and the magic bow units are already in place."

Garius moved his finger to a secondary line of defense—a fortified position further behind the border town. "Here. Deploy 1,000 of our elite cavalry units, armored in mithril plating for speed and defense. They will act as the first counter-offensive force."

"The second defense line will serve as our rapid-response force. The Elite Heavy Cavalry will hold the front and engage enemy formations directly. Behind them, the Mounted Crossbowmen will fire volleys while maintaining mobility. The healers and battle mages will provide support, ensuring minimal casualties."

Hesbeirn cracked his knuckles. "I'll personally oversee this unit, my lord. With proper coordination, we can hold off any direct assault before they even reach the town."

Garius turned to the third defense line. "Reinforce this position with another 2,000 troops. We'll station additional mages and healers here. This will be our fallback point should the enemy break through the first and second lines."

Erinette tapped the map with a gloved finger. "And the Pekko Riders, my lord?"

Garius smirked. "Position them here, between the second and third lines. These new units will act as hit-and-run skirmishers, using their speed to harass enemy flanks. The magic crossbows they wield will pierce both armor and barriers. If the enemy is foolish enough to focus on them, it'll leave their main forces vulnerable."

Hesbeirn chuckled. "I can't believe your youngest son came up with that. Hit-and-evade tactics on Pekko mounts… damn clever."

Garius leaned back slightly, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Javier understands war well for his age. Adaptability and mobility win battles just as much as brute force. His idea will be tested here. If it works, we'll expand the Pekko Corps permanently."

( End of Chapter )