Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

"grown ups……"

"This is not your battlefield."

Rune's tone was calm, but there was no room for negotiation.

Tapchimi pursed his lips. He didn't move or speak again, just sat there on his horse, stubbornly staring at Rune.

Just then, a flippant voice rang out from the queue.

"Kid, this is an adult game."

It was Gehrman who spoke. He was on horseback, tilting his head to look at Tapchimi, with that mischievous smile typical of an old soldier teasing a new recruit.

"Come back when your hair has fully grown, hahaha..."

“German”.

Rune's voice wasn't loud, but it brought the burly man's laughter to an abrupt halt.

Gehrman glanced at Rune instinctively. In the moonlight, the young lord's face remained expressionless.

But those eyes sent a chill down Gehrman's spine.

He immediately shut his mouth and obediently lowered his head.

Rune withdrew his gaze and looked back at Tapimy.

The boy's eyes were a little red, but his lips were pressed even tighter.

Rune was silent for a moment.

Then he dismounted.

He walked up to Tapimy and looked up at the boy on horseback. Moonlight streamed down from above, casting their shadows on the ground, where they merged together.

"Tachimi".

"exist."

The boy's voice was a little hoarse, but still loud.

Rune tapped Tapchimi's head with his hand.

"Next time."

Tapchimi's lips trembled.

Something glittered in those azure eyes under the moonlight.

"Understood."

He dismounted and stood ramrod straight.

"Lord Rune"

His voice became more steady.

Please make sure you return safely.

Rune looked at him and nodded.

Then he remounted his horse.

"Set off."

The sound of horses' hooves rang out again.

This time, Tapimi did not catch up.

Chapter 38 Suo Liuxiang

"What kind of dish is this?!"

A hysterical, high-pitched scream rang out, followed by the clattering of cutlery. Several diners in the restaurant turned their attention to the noisy woman.

The woman's beauty was so striking that even "pretty" seemed insufficient; her beauty rivaled that of the kingdom's most beautiful princess, known as "Golden Princess," and her anger only enhanced her charm. Moreover, despite her boisterousness, every movement she made was remarkably elegant, even exuding grace.

She was definitely a noblewoman from some country, and a high-ranking noblewoman at that. She impatiently tossed her long, curly hair and glared at the dish in front of her with dissatisfaction.

The table was almost completely filled with dishes. Baskets held several pieces of freshly baked, soft white bread, steaming slightly. Plates were filled with thick slices of lightly roasted, juicy red meat, accompanied by sweet corn and mashed potatoes with plenty of cream as side dishes.

The salad, made with fresh vegetables, retains its crispness and tenderness, and you can smell the refreshing citrus aroma from the dressing.

The dishes served at "Golden Glow Pavilion," the most luxurious inn in the fortified city of Yelantier, are all prepared using ingredients kept fresh by "preservation" magic. Of course, the chefs are all top-notch and exclusive.

However, the woman showed obvious dissatisfaction with the artistic dishes in front of her.

"It doesn't taste good at all!"

The woman's next complaint, which was the least appropriate thing to say in this situation, left everyone present speechless.

However, among all of this, only the old butler who was serving behind the woman remained motionless and expressionless. Even when the woman turned around and glared at him with a stern look, the old butler remained unmoved.

"I really can't stay in this run-down town any longer, I need to get ready to leave immediately!"

"But Miss, it's already evening."

"Shut up! I said we're leaving, and that means we're leaving, do you understand?"

Faced with the woman's childish tantrums, the butler finally changed his posture and lowered his head: "Yes, Miss. I will make preparations for departure immediately."

"Hmph! If you know that, then hurry up and get ready, Sebastian!"

The woman tossed her fork aside with a clatter. She then stood up and strode out of the main restaurant, her anger barely contained.

After the storm, a dignified voice rang out in the relieved and relaxed atmosphere: "I'm very sorry to have disturbed everyone."

The butler gently placed the chair, which the woman had nearly fallen over when she stood up, back in its place and slowly bowed his head in apology to the restaurant guests. Faced with the elegant old man's perfect apology, many looked at him with pity.

"Shopkeeper."

"Yes."

The man who had been waiting quietly walked toward the butler.

"I'm so sorry to have disturbed everyone. Although it's not really an apology, I'll pay for all the meals for the guests present."

Upon hearing this, several people couldn't help but show delight. A meal at this top-class hotel would certainly not be cheap. If the other party was willing to help pay the bill, that should be enough to forgive the commotion the woman had caused.

On the other hand, the innkeeper showed no sign of wavering, simply bowing politely in response to the steward's suggestion. This natural response proved that the scene had likely been repeated many times since the master and servant had lodged at the "Golden Pavilion."

Sebastian glanced towards a corner of the restaurant, where he saw a poor-looking man wolfing down his food. Noticing the man's gaze, the man quickly stood up and strode towards Sebastian.

The man stood out starkly from the other guests, his appearance utterly lacking in "charm" and "prestige," making him completely unable to blend into the atmosphere and radiating a strong sense of incongruity. Although his clothing was no less impressive than the other guests', it was as if the clothes were wearing him, like a clown in elaborate attire, even somewhat comical.

"Lord Sebastian."

"What is it, Mr. Zack?"

The other guests frowned at the affected, obsequious tone of the man named Zach. Given his fawning manner, it wouldn't be surprising if he were rubbing his hands together. Sebastian, however, remained unmoved.

"As an employee, I'm really not qualified to offer advice, but if we're going to set off now, perhaps we should reconsider?"

"You mean you have difficulty driving a carriage at night?"

"That's one of the reasons, and... I also have some miscellaneous things to prepare."

Zach kept scratching his head. Although his hair looked clean, the way he scratched it made it seem like dandruff was about to fly out.

“However, Miss is unlikely to accept my suggestion. No, given Miss's personality, it's impossible for her to change her mind.” Sebastian stated with an iron-willed expression, “Therefore, we have no choice but to set off.”

"But……"

Zach's eyes darted around, seemingly trying to find an excuse, but he seemed clueless, and his face scrunched up.

"Of course, we won't depart immediately. We'll need some time to load your luggage onto the carriage, Miss. In the meantime, please prepare for your departure."

Sebastian saw a cunning glint in the eyes of the shabby man who was still searching for an explanation, but he pretended to be nonchalant and ignored him. He was doing this to conceal the fact that everything he was doing was exactly what he wanted.

"So, when should we set off?"

"Well, how about we set off in two or three hours? Any later and the streets will be completely swallowed up by the night. That should be the bottom line, right?"

A pesky, calculating glint resurfaced in the man's eyes, but Sebastian tried to pretend he didn't see it. Zack licked his lips a few times and said, "Heh heh, maybe that won't be a problem."

"That's great. Then, may you please start preparing immediately?"

After watching Zack's departing figure, Sebastian waved his hand, as if trying to shake off the air clinging to him. Frankly, Sebastian simply couldn't stand such a despicable character. While Sebastian agreed with his creator's view that "one shouldn't call oneself strong if one doesn't rescue the weak," and although he questioned his companions' ideas, encountering someone as despicable as Zack made him realize that Nazarick's basic principles might not be wrong.

"Oh dear, humans should be such superior beings..."

After knocking on the door several times and saying sorry for disturbing him, Sebastian bowed and entered the room.

"My apologies for my rudeness, Lord Sebastian."

Chapter 39 An "Opportunistic" Encounter

Sebastian closed the door and entered the room, where he was greeted by a woman who bowed deeply. Those in the restaurant who witnessed this scene would have been utterly astonished. The person bowing in greeting was none other than the capricious young lady who had just been throwing a hysterical tantrum.

The expression on his face was quite calm, making it seem like his previous hysteria was all an act. He looked the same and wore the same clothes, but his inner self was like that of a completely different person.

Another strange thing was that she closed one eye, her left eye, even though she hadn't closed one eye while in the restaurant.

There's no need to bow your head and apologize; you're just doing your job.

Sebastian surveyed the spacious, luxuriously decorated room. A considerable amount of luggage was piled up in one corner. It was ready for departure.

"I'll take care of it."

"What are you saying? How can we continue to trouble Lord Sebastian?"

The woman who raised her head, one of the combat maids, Solukhan Apsron, shook her head in response.

"Really? But my current identity is your butler." Sebastian's slightly wrinkled face revealed a mischievous, childlike expression.

Sensing Sebastian's genuine smile, Soliuxiang's expression changed for the first time, revealing a troubled smile: "Indeed, Lord Sebastian is my butler, but I am also Lord Sebastian's subordinate."

“...That’s true. Well then, let me, as your superior, give this order to my subordinate: Your work is done. Now it’s my turn. You can rest here until we set off.”

"...Yes, thank you."

"Then I'll go and meet with Lady Shalltear, who is probably already waiting impatiently in the carriage, and inform her of the departure time."