Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

So, it seems I can only rely on my innate special abilities after all?

Rune's innate ability is very unique. It's called "Grace," but Rune prefers another name he gave himself: "Another World Special Edition: Wishing Upon a Star."

Although this innate ability does not enhance Rune himself in the slightest, Rune can grant any innate ability to people who do not have one.

Theoretically, runes could grant the High Priest the innate ability to summon nuclear missiles, capable of annihilating Nazarick with a single warm missile if this ability did not require experience points.

Unfortunately, like the super-tier magic [Wishing Upon a Star], [Grace] also consumes experience points to activate.

Rune once conducted a test, granting a servant the minor ability to "wake up early every day without feeling sleepy," consuming negligible amounts of experience points, almost imperceptible.

But when he tried to grant Silk the innate ability to break through the limits of the natives, the intense palpitation made Rune stop moving instantly.

It felt like my heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and life seemed to be being pulled out of my body in that instant.

At that moment, Rune clearly realized that even if he exhausted all his life force, he would not succeed.

The stronger the innate ability bestowed, the more experience points it requires.

This world is not a game; once the experience points are exhausted, the rune dies.

Moreover, they are completely dead, because the fifth-tier faith-based magic [Resurrection of the Dead] cannot revive people with too low experience points.

While the consumption of experience points can be reduced by adding restrictions, the runes, whose future upper limit is only "heroic level," cannot be given an ability strong enough to defeat Nazarick, no matter how many restrictions are added.

But this does not mean that the "Gift" is useless.

Like chess pieces on a chessboard.

What may seem like a haphazard layout can actually be achieved in just a few insignificant steps.

That's enough to make the opponent lose everything.

The existence of [Gift] is the "key" in Rune's eyes.

The hall was softly lit, with dappled light filtering through several stained-glass windows, casting colorful patches on the floor.

The light fell on the ancient stone slabs like shards of gemstones scattered by the gods. A faint natural scent filled the air, mixed with the cool, serene aroma of stone and time, making one unconsciously hold their breath.

The High Priest continued his explanation, stopping every few steps to point to a mural on the wall with his withered finger and begin recounting the related myths and legends.

Rune had read those stories countless times in the documents.

But the High Priest seemed to have a unique passion for these ancient stories.

His face held a pilgrimage-like expression, and his words carried a subtle, barely suppressed excitement.

It seems that telling the stories of the other gods is a very happy thing for him, the God of Judgment and King of Gods.

Rune didn't want to interrupt the old man's enjoyment, as that would be too cruel for him.

The six gods on the mural have solemn faces and sacred postures, and every line tells of their inviolable majesty.

Those companions who once laughed and joked in the game have been polished into perfect god-like figures by time and legends, and even Rune, who once fought alongside them, feels unfamiliar to them.

As a substitute for whiling away his attention during "lectures," Rune could only turn his firepower to complaining about the "six great gods."

These friends of mine are so narcissistic, adding so many myths and legends.

If Rune hadn't known their specific words and actions within YGGDRASIL, he too would have been fooled into believing in their divinity.

Rune's rant was getting to the climax when suddenly...

A chill ran down my neck.

A cold, sharp chill that clings to the skin.

Rune's body froze instantly.

That was the blade of a sickle.

The enormous scythe, its blade gleaming with a cold, eerie light, was held precisely to his neck.

There is almost no gap between the blade and the skin; with just a gentle pull, Rune can get the same outfit as Louis XVI.

Seriously? Is the education system in that country really that strict?

The punishment is too severe for just daydreaming in class. Or does this person have some kind of mind-reading ability and think I'm blaspheming the "Six Great Gods"?

"Allah, when have there been children in the Sanctuary?"

The voice came from behind, lazy, with a hint of curiosity, like someone who had just woken up from a nap and wasn't fully awake yet.

The voice was very close, so close that Rune could feel the breath brushing against the back of his neck as the speaker spoke.

The High Priest's voice abruptly stopped.

Chapter 25 Desperate Struggle

The High Priest's voice abruptly stopped.

Then came a rapid, almost piercing shout.

"Stop! Death! Death!"

The air in the sanctuary seemed to freeze for a moment.

That shout seemed to tear open some invisible barrier.

Rune had never heard the High Priest speak in such an urgent voice before. Even when facing Rune, who had revealed his identity, the old man was filled with piety and excitement.

But now, the voice carried genuine panic, as if it had been torn apart by something.

The sickle was not put down.

But no further action was taken.

It rested on Rune's neck like a silver arc frozen in the air. Rune could feel the person behind him breathing, very gently.

Then, that voice rang out.

"High Priest."

Lazy, with a touch of coolness. Like the first snowflake falling on a lake in winter.

"Even if this child is your illegitimate son, you can't bring him into the Holy Land. This is a sacred place where the relics of the six great gods are kept, and even the Supreme High Priest cannot make an exception."

Rune's lips twitched.

He couldn't see the person behind him, but he could sense the nonchalance in their tone, as if they were discussing the weather or what to have for dinner.

This casual attitude formed an eerie contrast with the cold, sharp scythe held to his neck.

The High Priest's expression changed, and he was about to speak when he saw the scythe slowly lowered.

"However..."

The voice behind him trailed off, carrying a hint of languid compromise, "Since you brought it yourself, there must be some reason."

Rune felt the pressure on his neck disappear and instinctively turned his head.

Standing behind him was a girl who looked to be no more than fifteen years old.

Her hair was a striking contrast of black and white. From left to right, pure black and pure white were separated at the top of her head, like two distinct rivers flowing down her back. The hair fell smoothly, with a few strands deliberately hanging by her ears, as if trying to conceal something.

Heterochromia. The left eye is pure white, and the right eye is deep black. The colors are exactly opposite to the hair color, as if it were a deliberate symmetry.

That face was so exquisite it seemed unreal. The features were like a work of art meticulously sculpted by a god, possessing a beauty that seemed otherworldly. Yet the expression was indifferent, bordering on aloof. Despite the youthful appearance, it possessed a composure completely out of place for its age.

"This child looks..."

Jue Shi Jue Ming tilted his head, his heterochromatic eyes scrutinizing Rune with a hint of curiosity.

"It's quite cute."

She reached out and naturally patted Rune's head.

Rune froze.

The hand was very light, as if afraid of breaking something fragile. The fingertips were soft and slightly cool.

"stop!"

The High Priest's voice rang out again, this time tinged with obvious panic, "Death and Death! This is a grave offense against the God of Judgment!"

"The God of Judgment?"

Her desperate movements froze, but her hand remained on Rune's head. She looked down at Rune, a hint of confusion flashing in her heterochromatic eyes.

“High Priestess,” her voice was still languid, but with a hint of seriousness, “you mean…”

The High Priest took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply.

"This is the seventh god of the theocracy." His voice was solemn and clear, "and also the Lord of the Gods, the God of Judgment, as spoken of by the God of Death."

The hand of absolute death stopped above Rune's head.

She blinked.

Then those heterochromatic eyes curved into a smile, revealing a half-smile.

“But…” she gently patted Rune’s head, “this child doesn’t seem very strong.”

The hand was still on his head, gently patting him repeatedly, like soothing a small, ruffled animal. Zetsuki's expression remained indifferent, but the movement carried a strange...tenderness?

Rune blushed slightly. After all, in his previous life, he could only talk about it online, but in reality, who wouldn't like to have their head patted by a 100-year-old legal little girl with a mask on?

There's a reason for that...

The High Priest was about to speak again to stop him, but suddenly stopped.

He keenly noticed the fleeting blush on Rune's face.

It only lasted for a moment.

But that does exist.

The High Priest's expression subtly changed.

"Cough cough."

He cleared his throat, and the urgent posture he had just displayed to stop Jue Si Jue suddenly vanished. In its place was a respectful attitude that was almost deliberate.

"Lord God of Judgment."