Reborn As Noble Chapter 1188: The Vanishing Swarm ( 1188 )

Francesca offered a faint smile. “Don't you think you should feel pride for your son? Especially since you rarely offer him any recognition or praise.”

Garius shook his head with a gentle smile. “Let us depart.” He turned his gaze toward Alf, Erinette, the battle maids, and the elite special guards of Armand.

Alf returned the smile with a nod before shifting his focus to the lead guard of the Armand unit.

The commander signaled to his men; moving with precision, they equipped their mana rifles and surged ahead to secure a clear path for the monarch and his queen.

As soon as Shironii and the puppet knights created by Javier moved into their designated spots, Garius began to walk steadily.

Alf and Erinette accompanied the royal couple closely, keeping their senses sharp and their eyes darting across the terrain to detect any potential menaces.

Garius chuckled under his breath as he observed each of Francesca’s elegant steps; with every move, a soft, radiant luminescence shimmered around her feet, cleansing the terrain and atmosphere below her.

“My love, there is no need for you to exhaust yourself with that technique, you know.”

Francesca cast a sweet glance at him. “I simply despise filth. You realize that, don't you~”

Garius let out a soft laugh. “But if you continue, both the dimensional rift and the creatures surrounding the estate will be wiped out immediately.”

“That is precisely my intent. I wouldn't want my Honey Bun to grow weary when he has far more significant matters to handle. And…” Francesca’s expression hardened. “I truly loathe filthy creatures~”

Meanwhile, within the confines of Gracelle’s chamber.

Garak, Marcor, the battle maids, and Myra stood their ground, observing as the onslaught of creatures refused to cease. They anchored themselves around Gracelle’s bed, forming a defensive line directly in front of the protective barrier.

“More keep pouring in! Hold the line, everyone!” Garak bellowed.

They continued to unleash volleys from their mana guns. Simultaneously, the battle maids utilized secondary sidearms concealed near their thighs beneath their skirts.

Without warning, another span of the wall near the window collapsed inward, and a fresh wave of monsters swarmed into the room.

“Ugh! Keep firing!” Garak yelled.

A handful of creatures bypassed their barrage and lunged toward the defenders.

“Damn it! Defend your positions!” Marcor reached for his weapon, only for a surge of mana rounds to disintegrate the incoming monsters in a blinding flash.

Six puppet knights materialized to surround them, moving toward the windows with their mana rifles and releasing a sustained storm of mana bullets to clear the perimeter.

Garak, Marcor, the battle maids, and Myra collectively sighed in relief.

“Finally. What took them so long?” Marcor grumbled.

Myra offered a delicate laugh, her grip still steady on her mana gun.

Marcor moved forward, noticing the knights ceased fire as the monsters simply vanished into thin air. He peered around, visibly confused.

“Garak?”

“Hm? What is it?” Garak stepped up to look over the ruined wall. While Javier’s knights maintained their defensive posture, the surrounding area was strangely pristine, as if no battle had even transpired.

“What just happened?” Marcor muttered, staring out into the void where the wall once stood.

Garak remained alert, his mana gun held tight, as he joined Marcor to inspect the scene outside. Everything seemed entirely ordinary.

“How strange.” Garak scratched his head. “Those beasts vanished as if they had never existed.”

Marcor shrugged. “No clue. It’s not the first time we’ve seen something like this. Remember the Celestial Filth event? The people of Armand only felt the disturbance for a few hours before it evaporated. Meanwhile, outsiders complained they were trapped until the King made a statement. Back then, our prince was away on some covert mission… who can say where.”

“Right… only a chosen few were in the know, but they kept it tight.” Garak exhaled and turned toward Myra. “How is the patient holding up?”

Myra, having tucked her mana gun back into its thigh holster, looked at Garak, then at the diagnostic equipment. “She remains stable as far as I can tell. Prince Javier instructed us to alert him only if the machines sound an alarm.”

Garak looked toward Marcor. “It would be best to check on the guards outside and the maids from earlier.”

“Agreed.” Marcor nodded, signaling the battle maids to maintain their readiness.

With weapons at the ready, Garak and Marcor moved toward the double doors.

“Are you ready?” Garak whispered to Marcor, who had his hand resting on the handle.

A few minutes prior.

Javier paced comfortably down the Mathrias hallway, his hands clasped behind him.

Every guard within the estate had been driven into a frenzy, but they were now pinned down by his own puppet knights.

He observed a squad of his knights subduing Rolland and Sylvia, hoisting them toward the exterior while muffling their cries.

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

The knights halted before Javier, standing at attention, though the ones holding Rolland and Sylvia kept their hands firmly pressed over their mouths.

Javier flicked a glance toward his puppet knight.

“Proceed with the task.”

[Affirmative.]

As the knights moved to escort Rolland and Sylvia to safety, Javier scanned the surroundings, his eyes fixed on the red glow emanating from the Mathrias guards' eyes.

Someone is employing manipulation.

He rubbed his chin in thought.

Hmm… looking at how widespread this effect is, it’s not mere skill. Typical manipulation techniques are capped by the caster’s mana pool and vitality, usually limiting them to a handful of targets.

This has to be a cursed relic or an artifact. I recall something similar during the royal council session Father attended, just around the time Kliatana was stripped of her title.

His expression turned icy.

If I don't neutralize this immediately, moving Gracelle to the portable ward will be a challenge.

His aura surged outward.

“Expansion.”

He thrust his hands into his pockets, and his skill spread, engulfing the entire estate in an instant.

“Skill activation: Three Times Gravity.”

A crushing wave of force hammered down, pinning every enemy to the floor, leaving them entirely immobilized.

Hmm?

Javier smirked, his hands remaining in his pockets.

They bolted the second they felt the expansion, did they?

Run while you can.

Javier chuckled softly and kept walking.

This is the final time you will ever get to flee for your lives.

Soon… I will hunt you down.

He tapped his mana-talkie to reach the command center.

“Command center. This is Prince Javier.”

Static crackled before the operator responded. “Command center here. How can we be of service, Your Highness?”

“Mm… begin tracking the signatures I have marked.” He tapped his mana glasses, monitoring the live feed from the Sky Eyes and the orbital mana satellite as the marked targets scattered.

“Confirmed, Your Highness. We have locked onto the markers. The tracking is underway.”

“Excellent. Stay on them.”

“As you command, Your Highness.”

Javier smirked, continuing his stroll.

There is nowhere to hide from the satellite and Sky Eyes surveillance. I will have every piece of intelligence I need shortly.

Once I have absolute confirmation, pray that you possess the strength to survive for a few more weeks.

Because once time is up, there will be no chance for anyone involved…

To witness another sunrise.