Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I'll Obtain Ultimate Power

“Hmm, in a way, that impression is correct. It’s understandable it looks that way from the outside.”

“So it’s different then?”

“Th-this is what’s commonly called a ‘ranch’ facility.”

“A ranch?”

Newf glanced back and forth between me and the “fort” before us, looking increasingly confused.

I understood her feelings. If someone pointed to a fortress-like building and called it a ranch, it was no wonder she was baffled.

“The nobles of the empire… ah, no, perhaps a different explanation suits you better.”

I smiled softly and rephrased.

“Are you aware that the empire manages monsters?”

“Uh… monsters…?”

“Hm? You don’t know what monsters are?”

“No…”

“I see. That is… truly one of the late emperor’s great achievements.”

Unexpectedly, I felt a deep admiration for the heroic deeds my Father had accomplished.

Young people these days don’t know monsters.

Newf was more knowledgeable than most civilians, yet she didn’t know about monsters. If even she didn’t know, it was highly possible that the majority of common folk had forgotten monsters existed.

Monsters, creatures that attack and harm people, had been suppressed to the point their existence was almost forgotten — a feat my Father had achieved.

Moved quietly by this realization, I began to organize an explanation simple enough for someone completely unfamiliar with the concept.

“Let me explain first. You know what a wild beast is, right?”

“Yes… a dangerous beast, right?”

“Exactly. But there are creatures even more dangerous than wild beasts. Not humans, but beings surpassing wild beasts in danger. Some of them can even use magic. These creatures are called monsters.”

“Such things really exist?”

“Yes. Until the late emperor’s youth, they were scattered everywhere. But he carried out large-scale eradication operations mainly within the empire, then controlled the lands where monsters could be born and strictly managed them.”

“Wow… Ah, so that’s what this is.”

“That’s right.”

Nodding, Newf and I looked up at the fort.

“You can’t tell just by looking from outside, but this place isn’t designed to keep enemies out so much as to prevent escapes. It’s more like an inner lock—or rather, a prison.”

“Wow… By the way, what did you mean earlier about the empire’s nobles? You were talking about this, right?”

I was glad she caught on to that point, so I continued explaining.

“The late emperor sealed away all monsters within the empire’s borders. Moreover, he established a custom that the empire’s nobles, especially the princes, must defeat a monster before stepping onto the battlefield. They had to prove themselves by overcoming monsters first. Since they essentially raised the monsters they were supposed to defeat, this place came to be known as a ‘ranch’.”

“I see.”

Newf’s expression brightened.

She looked as if she fully understood everything, including what I had started saying earlier.

“That is—”

“Grrrrrrrr!”

“Hya!”

Before I could finish my sentence, a ferocious roar echoed throughout the area.

The roar shook my clothes and pants so much that Newf instinctively covered her ears and crouched down.

Almost simultaneously, the two of us standing side by side were suddenly overshadowed by a silhouette above.

Looking up, I saw a massive, four-legged beast leaping out from inside the ranch, sprawled out like a giant “X” as it charged at us.

“Hold on tight.”

“Huh!? Wha—!?”

I crouched quickly and wrapped my arms around Newf’s waist, lifting her up.

Still panicking and unable to comprehend the situation, she clutched me as I leapt backward.

I made a large jump to dodge the giant beast’s pounce.

Its massive body crashed into the ground where we had been standing, causing a slight tremor and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Then, it roared again.

Usually, a roar is meant to intimidate, but this one blew away the dust in an instant.

From the clearing dust emerged a long-bodied giant.