Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

As the saying goes, those who are talented are the best.

By taking advantage of the Slane Theocracy's plans against the kingdom, one can quickly establish contact with Ainz Ooal Gown. Then, by demonstrating some of his talents to "Adventurer Feifei," the entire Eindora family and the people within the territory can land safely.

If that still doesn't work, then appropriately reveal your innate special abilities.

Given the rarity of this ability and Ainz's collecting habits, preserving the Eindora family should be no problem at all.

The price is that the fate of other parts of the kingdom, and even the Slane Theocracy, will most likely remain unchanged or even worsen.

Rune put down his pen and looked out the window at the sky.

The sky was very blue, with a few wisps of thin clouds, like cotton wool being gently brushed aside with someone's fingers.

"Slian Theocracy...Sirshana..."

He paused, his lips moved, but no sound came out. After a few seconds, he said softly:

"I'm sorry, Sirshana. I'm sorry, Zhiye. It has nothing to do with me, Rune. If you want to scold someone, scold him."

Rune spoke softly, as if trying to distance himself from the situation.

This is the safest plan in Plan A, and also the one that Rune prefers the most.

The problem to be solved is that we need to return to our territory in advance to make deployments. However, returning abruptly might arouse Demiurge's suspicion.

Demiurge, the guardian of the seventh level of Nazarick, is a level 100 highest-ranking demon known as the "Creator of the Inferno," with a justice rating of -500 (extremely evil). While not skilled in combat, he is extremely cunning.

The Eindora family, as one of the kingdom's oldest noble families, has its own territory. However, successive heads of the family have chosen to reside in the capital, leaving the territory to be managed by stewards.

“This might be related to the weakness of the royal family,” Rune muttered to himself, a slight smirk playing on his lips as if mocking something. “If it were the Bahars Empire, Dad would probably stay far away.”

To break family tradition and return to the territory, one must find a plausible excuse.

He wrote the idea down on a piece of paper and then drew a question mark next to it.

Actually, Plan A also has a radical version of a friend who impersonates a member of the Ainz Ooal Gown Guild.

This is a path unique to Rune. If he succeeds, it will be a meteoric rise to the top.

He held the pen, his fingertips applying slight pressure.

Ainz Ooal Gown's obsession with finding friends in the early stages is key to maintaining his "human" persona. By simply depicting the characteristics of characters like Touch Me, Peroroncino, and Bubble Teapot, and successfully impersonating their friends, Rune's status will surpass that of many other NPCs.

Rune could even picture the scene: the guardians of Nazarick bowing respectfully, Albedo lowering her proud head, and Demiurge flashing his signature smile…

and then?

Rune looked at the names on the paper; the handwriting was still neat, but his hand holding the pen did not loosen.

Then, there is a fatal flaw.

[Memory Reading Magic].

Once Ainz discovers that Rune is toying with him, death will probably be the best outcome for Rune.

Based on his understanding of Ainz Ooal Gown's behavior in the original story, Ainz Ooal Gown is unlikely to take action against someone who is suspected to be a friend of a guild member. However, there is a high probability that Demiurge would act unless the rune is impersonating a friend of Demiurge's creator, "Ulbert".

Even without a direct attack, Demiurge's probing attacks will surely follow. Given Demiurge's intelligence, Rune might not be able to pass all of them.

After all, Rune didn't really know these people.

He had heard of the Ainz Ooal Gown Guild in YGGDRASIL and had even tried to contact them. However, this group of players from other species were very hostile towards human players. At the time, Rune never imagined he would end up in such a predicament.

Regret.

Only Touch Me is not hostile to humans. However, Demiurge's probing might be even more intense if he were to impersonate Touch Me's friend.

Moreover, there's the variable of Albedo.

Albedo is the chief guardian of the Great Tomb of Zarek, commanding all guardians and second only to Ainz Ooal Gown. However, in private, she has formed a "Supreme Hunting Team."

If Rune were to impersonate her, Albedo could easily take him down with a single basic attack.

The sunlight outside the window had shifted sometime earlier, and the patch of light on the desk had disappeared. The study had darkened, leaving only a beam of light slanting in from the window, falling on the floor like a dividing line.

He had to abandon the radical version of the plan.

Rune put down his pen and held the paper, covered in writing, up to the candlelight again.

Flames licked at the edges of the paper, the writing twisting in the firelight: Taciimi, Peroroncino, Bubble Teapot, Ulbert… one name after another curled and blackened in the flames, finally turning to ashes.

He stared at the ash, watching the last spark die out.

Chapter 5 Knight Game

There was a knock on the study door.

Three very light taps, carrying a certain cautious probing.

Before Rune could speak, the door opened a crack, and a golden head poked in.

"Onii-chan"

She drew out her words, her light golden eyes filled with anticipation. She had changed out of her formal class attire and was now wearing a light white training uniform, with a thin leather belt around her waist from which hung a wooden short sword.

"Play with me!"

Rune glanced at the ashes in the bronze plate, then at the small figure that had squeezed in through the doorway, and remained silent for a second.

"I'm busy."

“You’re busy every day.” Si walked in and stood confidently in front of him. “Professor Cecilia said that even nobles need proper rest and can’t just read all the time. And…”

She tilted her head, a hint of slyness in her eyes.

"And every time you say you're busy, the book is closed."

Rune choked for a moment.

When did this child learn to observe this?

"I'm just thinking."

"What are you thinking about?" Si leaned closer, looking curiously at the table. The table was clean, with only a few closed books and a quill pen that had just been put away.

She didn't see the papers that had turned to ashes.

Rune looked at her face so close to his own; her eyes were as clear as a lake in early spring, without a trace of impurity.

"I'm thinking about how to find you a better teacher," he said casually.

“Cecilia is great!” Si immediately retorted, then grabbed his sleeve. “Get up and practice swordsmanship with me. You said you would be my first opponent.”

Rune remembered that he had indeed said those words.

That was a few months ago, when Si first heard the "fairy tale". She excitedly ran to him and asked, "Onii-chan, do you want to be a knight with me someday?"

Rune understood; the little girl wanted to play house. He said, "Okay, then I'll be your first opponent."

The promise made by the six-year-old was remembered for several months.

Rune looked down at his sleeve that was being tugged at. The little hand was clenched tightly, the knuckles were even a little white, as if afraid that he would run away.

“Okay.” Rune stood up. “I’ll play with you.”

Si's eyes lit up instantly.

The sun was shining brightly on the lawn in the backyard.

The Eindora family's garden wasn't very large, but it was meticulously maintained. A neatly trimmed hedge enclosed a flat lawn, and several rose bushes climbed along the base of the wall, blooming beautifully. The faint sound of a fountain could be heard in the distance, and servants would occasionally walk around it.

Si stood in the middle of the lawn, holding the wooden sword in both hands, striking a proper starting stance.

“Come here!” she called out.

Rune also had a wooden sword in his hand, which Si had just given him. The blade was longer and heavier than Si's, probably made to fit his size.

He gripped his sword, looking at his younger sister across from him, her little face tense and trying hard to appear serious, and suddenly felt like laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Si looked at him warily.

“I wasn’t laughing.” Rune suppressed the corners of his mouth. “Come on.”

The silk rushed over.

Her movements were swift; though her steps were somewhat unsteady, her momentum was undeniable. The wooden sword whistled down, its target clearly Rune's shoulder.

Rune stepped aside, dodging the sword.

Unable to stop herself, Si stumbled forward two steps before regaining her balance. She turned back and glared at him, saying, "You're not allowed to dodge!"

"You can't even dodge a fight?"

"We are knights!" Si Zhencheng declared. "Knights must face the enemy head-on!"

Looking at her, Rune suddenly felt that what the girl said seemed to make some sense.

“Okay,” he said. “I won’t dodge.”

The silk rushed over again.

This time, Rune didn't dodge, but instead raised his wooden sword to parry. The two wooden swords collided with a muffled thud. Si was jolted, her hand trembling, and the sword almost slipped from her grasp, but she gritted her teeth and pressed forward with all her might.

Rune felt the force coming from the sword.

It was a bit bigger than he had imagined, but that was all.

With a flick of his wrist, he gently guided the silk sword, causing it to veer off course. She lost her balance, staggered forward two steps, and then landed heavily on the grass.

"oops."

Si sat on the ground, staring blankly at her empty hands. The wooden sword lay on the grass two steps away, a few blades of grass still clinging to its blade.

Rune walked over, picked up the sword, and handed it to her.

"Want to come again?"

Si took the sword, stood up, and patted the grass clippings off her clothes.

"Again!"

This time she persisted for five strikes.

Then came the Seven Swords.

Then came the four swords.