Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

It's not a declaration of loyalty.

She really thought so.

This child...

Rune suddenly didn't know what to say.

"So"

He spoke, his voice flat.

“I command you, Hill.”

Hill straightened up slightly, like a soldier waiting for orders.

"Live well."

Rune turned his head and looked into her eyes.

"besides"

He paused.

"A true god would not send others to their deaths."

His tone was very flat, as flat as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.

"You'd better remember this."

Aldred's gaze lingered on Rune for a moment before he lowered his eyes again, resuming his indifferent demeanor.

"Aldred".

Rune suddenly spoke.

"exist."

The butler's voice remained as respectful as ever.

"Turn around."

Rune opened his eyes and looked out the window at the increasingly desolate wilderness.

"Go to the Slane Church."

The carriage was silent for a moment.

"But"

The butler paused.

He didn't finish his sentence.

“I command you in the name of Eindora.”

Rune's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly throughout the carriage.

"Go to the Slane Church."

He looked into Aldred's eyes.

Those cloudy yet still sharp eyes met his gaze for a second.

Then the butler lowered his head slightly.

"Yes."

The carriage slowly came to a stop.

The coachman's questioning voice came from outside, then was interrupted by Aldred's brief words.

The horses started moving again, their wheels grinding an arc on the dirt road as they turned around.

Sunlight streamed in through the other side of the car window, falling on Rune's face.

He looked out the window.

That original road is gradually receding into the distance. In its place lies another unfamiliar road, leading to an unknown direction.

Rune withdrew his gaze and leaned back against the carriage wall.

The carriage continued on its way.

Heading in a direction completely opposite to what was originally intended.

Rune closed his eyes, feeling the slight vibrations from the wheels rolling over the road.

His thoughts drifted far away, back to six hundred years ago.

Rune understood somewhat why someone like Sirsha would acknowledge the title of god.

Six hundred years ago, humans, who were kept in captivity and used as food, could only eke out a living under the rule of beastmen.

Selshana and his companions descended from the sky, saving these hopeless people and establishing a human nation.

Despite possessing immense power, Sirshah was able to uphold his principles for a hundred years, ultimately dying to protect humanity and the theocracy.

Perhaps Sirshah can indeed be called a god.

"Well done, Sirshana."

Rune opened his eyes and looked at the scenery flashing past the car window. The sun was shining brightly, the wind was gentle, and the distant mountains were faintly visible in the thin mist.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"I did not disgrace my team leader."

Chapter 20 The Silian Theocracy

As the carriage passed the border checkpoint, Rune peered out through a gap in the curtains.

The checkpoints of the Slane Theocracy were completely different from those of the Kingdom. The Kingdom's checkpoints were dilapidated wooden fences, guarded by ragged soldiers whose eyes held only numbness and greed. But the checkpoints here were neat stone buildings, with the symbols of the six great gods carved on their pristine white walls.

"Please undergo inspection."

A young priest approached the carriage, his tone respectful but not servile.

Inspection complete.

"Welcome to the Slane Theocracy, everyone." He bowed slightly. "May the blessings of the Six Great Gods be with you."

The carriage continued on its way.

The sound of the wheels rolling over the road changed; it went from a bumpy, creaking sound to a steady, rumbling sound.

Rune drew back the curtains again and saw the carriage traveling on the smooth stone road. The road surface was paved neatly, and the gaps between the stones were fine and even, as if they had been carefully calculated.

Neat fields lined both sides of the road, the crops growing vigorously, a golden expanse. Occasionally, farmers could be seen on the field ridges; their clothes were simple but clean and tidy, and their faces lacked the wooden expression of the Wang Guo farmer.

Rune stared at the scene, suddenly feeling somewhat dazed.

"Lord Luen."

A timid voice came from the corner of the carriage, and it seemed a little louder than before.

Rune turned his head.

Hill was looking at him, his brown eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and cautious probing.

"The people here...they seem very happy," she said softly.

Rune nodded: "Because they believe the future will be better."

The carriage stopped in front of a magnificent building.

The building is entirely white, with six massive stone pillars standing on its facade, each engraved with a different divine emblem. Between the pillars are tall archways, inlaid with stained glass, through which sunlight streams in, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Rune jumped off the carriage and stood in the stone-paved square. The sun was shining brightly, the wind was gentle, and the faint sound of hymns drifted from afar, mingled with a delicate fragrance of incense.

The main hall of the temple is spacious and bright. The dome soars high, painted with murals depicting the six great gods descending to earth. Sunlight pours down from the skylights in the dome, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime. Rows of empty benches line both sides of the hall, and directly in front stands a tall altar enshrining statues of the six great gods.

“Wait for me here.” Rune looked at the butler and Hill, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Aldred bowed slightly: "Yes, young master."

Hill nodded nervously, his brown eyes following Rune until he disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Aldred stood still, maintaining the standard butler's posture, with his hands folded in front of him, his back straight, and his eyes looking straight ahead.

after awhile.

Footsteps came from deep in the corridor.

Aldred glanced sideways, then his pupils suddenly contracted.

An old man, as thin as a withered branch, was walking towards them. His face was so aged that his age was impossible to discern, and his skin was an unhealthy earthy color, suggesting a precarious state of health. He wore a blue and white priest's robe trimmed with gold, and on his chest hung the insignia of the Water Priest of the Slane Church, a symbol shaped like ripples on water.

Schneider-Dran Gülff.

This name signifies that throughout the entire Slane Theocracy, his status is second only to the legendary High Priest, a position that even the Eindora family cannot reach.

And now, the water god chieftain is walking straight toward them.

And Aldred saw a smile on that face. Not a polite, distant smile, but a kind smile, even one tinged with respect.

"You two must be guests from the Eindora family."

Sinedin stopped in front of them, glanced at Hill, and gave a slight bow. The degree of that bow caused Aldred's mind to go blank for a moment.

This is a matter of etiquette between peers.

"Please follow me. The High Priest has instructed that you two rest and wait in the side hall."

Aldred's lips moved, but he found himself speechless for a moment. He glanced at Hill.

The little girl was looking up, her brown eyes filled with confusion, clearly not understanding what the kind old man in front of her meant.

"Thank you... thank you, sir." Aldred finally found his voice and bowed slightly in return.

Sinedin's smile deepened, and he turned to lead the way.

Aldred followed, her heart pounding.

Isn't this person supposed to be even more powerful and influential than the six noble families of the Kingdom of Riestie?

The steward asked himself this question. Could it be that the family's territory had grown so powerful that the master was still hiding it from him?