Chapter 695: Stars of Reflection ( 695 )

Javier sat comfortably on a flat boulder nearby, his legs casually crossed as he pulled out a scroll from his magic storage.

His eyes scanned the contents slowly, brow raised slightly with interest.

“Hmmm… as expected of Father.”

“Young master?” Liana’s voice called gently from the fire.

“Hm? Yes, Liana?”

“The mission… from Lord Garius. Is it… dangerous?”

Javier chuckled, rolling the scroll back with a flick of his wrist. “Since when has a mission from Father not been dangerous?” he replied dryly. “Come on, you’ve seen his standards. He never bothers sending anyone out unless there’s at least a fifty-percent chance of a messy explosion.”

Gloria softly giggled. “Ara~ He’s not wrong.”

“But why not Master Cedric or Master Marcellus?” Liana asked with concern, flipping one of the meat skewers to sear the other side. “They’re stronger than us, right?”

Javier smirked. “Liana. You’ve been with me long enough to know exactly how my father operates.”

He stood and walked over to the fire, crouching beside them with one hand resting on his knee. “He doesn’t hand missions to people just because they’re strong. He calculates. He predicts. And he assigns them based on who’s best suited to the task, not who looks impressive.”

Liana glanced at him.

“That’s true. Lord Garius is a master strategist… always ten steps ahead.”

“Exactly,” Javier nodded, reaching to steal a grilled skewer, but Gloria gently smacked his hand away with a wooden spatula.

“Not yet, young master,” she said with a faint smile.

Javier winced and sigh “And I’m sure Cedric and Marcellus have their own missions,” he added, eyes turning toward the star-streaked sky. “Knowing my father, everything’s already in motion.”

Liana and Gloria stayed quiet for a moment, the sound of crackling fire and rushing water filling the air.

“Wanna guess what my mission is?”

“Nope,” Liana replied immediately.

“Not interested in stressing myself tonight,” Gloria chimed in, adjusting the skewers calmly.

“Heeey~ at least pretend to be curious!” Javier whined, dramatically falling backward into the grass.

While lying on the soft grass beside the stream, he look up at the sky.

So it has to be that way, huh?

The sky remained silent.

No other way other than that move, Father?

A deep breath left him.

The chance… and the risk… it’s mine to evaluate. My decision to bear.

Not like I can complain. That’s always been our family’s way.

A faint breeze passed, brushing across his face and rustling Liana’s and Gloria’s hair. The scent of grilled meat and fresh earth hung in the air.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

If it’s successful… it might actually shake the entire structure of the Human Kingdom.

But if it fails…

His brows furrowed slightly.

Not just me… but everyone I love might be dragged into hell.

His hand squeezed a clump of grass.

Marcellus, Cedric, Athine, Aelius… even Heres…

Not to mention Father, Mother, and the entire region.

Javier opened his eyes again, eyes cold now beneath the tranquil stars.

That’s why you gave me this mission.

Not because I’m the strongest.

But because I’m the one who doesn’t hesitate when the knife is already in hand.

He exhaled softly.

“Man… what a pain.”

“You say something, young master?” Liana’s gentle voice called from the fire.

“Nah,” Javier replied casually, shifting to lay on his side. “Just admiring how the stars look like holes poked in a giant ceiling.”

Gloria glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Ara… deep thoughts, young master?”

He grinned. “You know me. I’m always deep. Like a puddle.”

Liana chuckled. “Then don’t trip on yourself and drown.”

“Hey—rude!”

They laughed quietly under the night sky.

Javier casually raised his palm upward.

A series of faint, glowing magic circles appeared around them, quickly forming into existence. Twenty sleek, newly-designed puppet knights materialized, creating a protective circle. Their figures reflected softly under the starlight. Hovering silently above, a single battle drone kept watch, nearly invisible in the darkness.

Liana tilted her head slightly and immediately noticed something unusual.

“Young master? These puppet knights… they’re different, aren’t they?”

Javier smirked faintly, eyes fixated on his new creations. “Yeah. They don’t just fight with swords anymore. These ones use mana machine guns and sidearms.” His voice grew a little nostalgic. “They’re like special forces from… my old world.”

“Old world?” Gloria asked softly, her gentle gaze curious as she looked at Javier.

He paused for a moment, realizing he’d slipped up. He waved his hand dismissively. “Ah… nothing, Gloria. Just talking to myself again.”

Liana exchanged a glance with Gloria, a faint smile touching her lips. It was common for their young master to sometimes say strange things, and they’d learned not to press him further.

Javier took a slow breath, carefully examining the puppet knights. Their armor was lightweight but reinforced, sleek black plates infused with mana. They stood silently at attention, each armed with a compact mana-powered machine gun, a sidearm, and a single, carefully crafted magic blade secured at their sides.

“They’re built for quick response, close combat, and ranged support. Perfect for dangerous missions like the one we’re about to face.”

Liana’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Dangerous enough to need these?”

Javier chuckled softly, turning back to her with his usual carefree smirk. “Come on, you know how it is, when have I ever gone on a mission that wasn’t dangerous?”

Gloria lightly covered her mouth, saying, “Ara~ true enough.”

He smiled, but his eyes were serious. He understood the importance of this task. These puppet knights represented more than just weapons. They symbolized his commitment to completing the mission his father had entrusted to him.

“Young master… may I ask something?” Liana’s voice was soft, yet curious.

“Hmm? Yeah… go ahead.”

“You’re a master of magic crafting. No one else can do what you do, right?” She paused, then continued, “So… why haven’t you made a transportation system yet? Something fast, powered by mana. You could build one easily, couldn’t you?”

Javier blinked.

Then he slowly turned his head and smiled lazily.

“Before I answer… let me ask something back.”

He sat up slightly and pointed at Buddy, who was busy pecking the dirt like an overgrown chicken looking for treasure.

“If I made a vehicle powered by mana crystals… something fast, quiet, smooth, something even nobles and peasants could use…”

He looked between Liana and Gloria.

“…what do you think would happen to the horses? The mount beasts? Our loyal Pekkos?”

( End Of Chapter )

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