Reborn As Noble

When Javier and Liana arrived at his personal workshop, Liana couldn't help but smile. Her young master eyes sparkled with excitement as he surveyed the crates of ore.

"I'll leave you to it," Liana said softly, her lips curling into a gentle smile. She turned to head out, leaving him to his work.

As she walked toward the Pekko pen to feed the birds, Liana wondered what he could possibly need all that ore for. After all, he lacked the tools to melt, hammer, or shape it…

Inside the workshop, Javier stood before the pile of ore, grinning like a mischievous spirit.

"Ehehehe…" he chuckled, rubbing his hands together.

Selecting a chunk of ore, he placed it on the table. The metallic surface glinted under the workshop light, and Javier stretched his hands over it, feeling its energy.

"Let's see if this works," he murmured.

Javier activated his unique magic crafting ability, a skill he discovered after his reincarnation. Threads of mana coiled around the ore like glowing vines, reshaping it with precision. Sparks filled the air as the raw material transformed.

In moments, a sleek, polished longsword materialized on the table, its blade gleaming with a silver sheen and faint, intricate runes glowing along the edges—a testament to the magic infused within.

Javier inspected the sword with a proud smirk. "Perfect. Even better than I imagined," he said, twirling the blade with practiced ease.

His smirk widened as he envisioned his next creation—a full set of plate armor bearing the crest of the Viscount Armand family.

"This has to be perfect," he muttered, cracking his knuckles and extending his hands over the ore.

With a deep breath, he channeled his magic crafting, filling the room with an ethereal glow. One by one, the armor pieces took shape. The chest plate was the first, embossed with the intricate crest of the Armand family—a majestic bird on a shield, surrounded by flowing vines. Javier ensured every curve and line, from the regal crest to the rivets, was precise.

Next came the leg armor, greaves, and boots, each crafted for both functionality and elegance, the polished iron gleaming like a mirror. Finally, the helm took shape, its sharp, angular design conveying both intimidation and sophistication, fitting snugly while maximizing protection.

"Looks good," he said, stepping back to admire the completed set standing on the prepared mannequin.

Not stopping there, Javier moved on to crafting a heavy iron shield, broad and sturdy for deflecting powerful strikes. The Armand crest was etched boldly onto its surface, and he ensured every detail was perfect. With a final burst of magic, he enhanced the shield's durability and shine.

"Now, the real fun begins," he said with a mischievous grin.

Gathering another batch of ore, he began crafting a puppet. This creation required immense focus and attention to detail. He shaped the iron into humanoid forms, articulating the joints to mimic human movements.

To reinforce the puppet's frame, he layered the iron with subtle magical enhancements, making it both durable and flexible. Its core, hidden within its chest, glowed faintly—a magic-powered core infused with his mana.

The puppet stood completed, taller than Javier by a head, adorned with sleek, functional armor.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Javier admired his masterpiece. "Perfect. Strong, durable, and ready for anything."

He couldn't resist a triumphant laugh. "Ehehehe… Soon, my plans will all come together."

"A masterpiece isn't complete without a failsafe," he murmured, reaching for a handful of mana stones he had selected earlier.

Each stone pulsed faintly with energy, their hues ranging from deep violet to brilliant blue. Javier ran his fingers over them, choosing the finest for his next step.

He embedded the mana stones into the puppet's core, arranging them in a circular formation around the primary core. With each stone, he infused a unique magical signature linked to his own mana.

"No one else will be able to touch this," he muttered, weaving intricate magic seals over the stones. The seals shimmered faintly, locking the stones in place and ensuring they would only respond to him.

Next, he activated the backup power system, channeling his magic to synchronize the mana stones with the puppet's main core. The stones glowed brighter, their energy flowing smoothly into the puppet's systems.

"This should do it," Javier said, stepping back. The mana stones pulsed in unison, creating a steady, rhythmic hum.

He extended his hand, muttering an incantation under his breath. The puppet responded, its joints clicking and whirring as it raised an arm in acknowledgment. Satisfied, he placed his palm against its chest and activated the override spell, ensuring only his mana signature could issue commands.

"Try taking control of this, I dare you," Javier said with a confident smirk.

He performed a final diagnostic test, deliberately overloading the puppet's primary core to simulate a failure. The main core dimmed, but the backup power kicked in seamlessly, drawing energy from the mana stones.

"Perfect." Javier grinned, stepping back as the puppet stood tall, fully powered.

"Even if the core breaks, you'll keep running. And no one—absolutely no one—can control you but me."

Javier examined the fully assembled puppet, now clad in meticulously crafted full plate armor, sword, and shield. The armor gleamed, the Viscount Armand family crest prominently displayed on the chestplate. Its imposing figure radiated strength, but something was missing.

"Hmm…" Javier tapped his chin, pacing around the puppet. "It's functional, sure, but it needs a touch of flair. Something to make it look... legendary."

He rummaged through a chest filled with fabric set aside for experiments and pulled out a roll of dark crimson cloth, trimmed with gold embroidery. Thick yet smooth, it was perfect for the puppet's regal look.

Using his magic, Javier swiftly tailored the fabric to the right length, enchanting the edges to prevent fraying and adding a subtle glow to the gold trim for an otherworldly effect.

He carefully attached the cape to the puppet's shoulders, ensuring it wouldn't hinder movement. As it settled, the cape flowed elegantly, giving the puppet an air of authority.

"Now, that's what I'm talking about," Javier said, stepping back to admire his work. But he wasn't finished.

He leaned closer to the helm and, using his finger to channel magic, etched a glowing insignia of the family crest onto the forehead. It radiated a faint blue light, beautifully contrasting with the silver helm.

"Much better. Now you're not just a weapon; you're a symbol," Javier said with a satisfied grin.

He circled the puppet one last time, inspecting every detail. The full plate armor gleamed with strength and precision, the sword rested in its grip as if it belonged there, and the shield exuded unyielding defense. The crimson cape and glowing insignia added a final touch of majesty.

"Cool and powerful," Javier muttered, nodding approvingly. "You're ready to make an impression."

"Alright, time for the finishing touch—a proper sword sheath. Can't have my knight running around with a bare blade, can we?"

He grabbed a chunk of reinforced leather from his storage magic and laid it on the workbench. With precise movements, he measured and cut the material to fit the sword perfectly, adding a layer of lightweight iron plating inside for durability.

Next, he embossed the Viscount Armand family crest onto the sheath, matching the knight's design. The crest glowed faintly, a sign of the enchantment Javier embedded to prevent the sword from dulling or rusting while sheathed.

"Now, for the straps…" he muttered, attaching a secure belt mechanism to the sheath for a snug fit at the puppet's waist. Once complete, he stepped back to examine his work.

Satisfied, Javier slid the sword into the sheath, the metallic click echoing in the room.

"Tadaaa!" he declared, throwing his arms out. "Complete personal knight! Ehehhehehehehe!"

He admired the finished product: a towering figure clad in gleaming full plate armor, wielding a long sword and shield, with a majestic crimson cape flowing behind it. The sword sheath at its waist added the final touch, making it look like a true knight from legend.

Javier couldn't help but grin proudly at his creation. "Now, let's see what you can do."

Javier crossed his arms, tilting his head as he studied the puppet knight. A mischievous glint sparkled in his amber eyes. "Hmm… I wonder how strong this bad boy would be with better ore… Maybe mithril? Or adamantite?"

He stroked his chin, his grin widening. "Ekekeke… The possibilities! Just imagine it cutting through monsters like butter or tanking blows from overconfident knights. It'd be unstoppable!"

His imagination soared as he pictured the puppet knight battling hordes of beasts, standing firm against armies, or even taking on a dragon. "I'd be the coolest adventurer ever. The puppet knight would be my loyal guardian… and it might even scare off Father if he gets too naggy. Hehe…"

He tapped the puppet's chest plate thoughtfully. "But for now, this will do. Still, stronger ore means stronger output. I should connect with merchants or adventurers to get my hands on rare materials. Hmm…"

( End of Chapter )