Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Sebastian turned slightly and nodded to Rune: "Excuse me."

He lowered the reins, pushed open the car door, and slipped into the carriage. The door closed softly behind him with a slight click.

The carriage continued its journey, its wheels still crunching rhythmically over the gravel. A morning breeze blew through the woods, carrying the scents of earth and vegetation.

Everything seems to be the same as before.

But Rune knew things were different now.

The carriage was too quiet.

It was just a thin wooden door, so the soundproofing couldn't be very good. Just now, Suo Liuxiang's voice could still be clearly heard from inside, but now, even with his ears straining, Rune couldn't hear anything.

There wasn't even a sound of footsteps.

Once Sebastian entered, the carriage was like a sealed iron can, swallowing up all the sounds without letting out a single one.

Rune's breathing was very even.

'Soundproofing magic,' he murmured to himself.

There's only one possibility that could make Sebastian and Solius so serious, even going so far as to use magic to block out sound.

Ainz Ooal Gown has sent a message.

Chapter 43 Nail Clippers

As the morning light grew brighter, it completely dispelled the mist in the forest, and the distant fields gradually became clear in the light.

About fifteen minutes later, the car door finally opened.

Sebastian came out.

His movements were exactly the same as when he went in, steady and methodical. But Rune noticed that Sebastian's lips were pursed even more tightly than before.

It was a very subtle change, almost imperceptible.

Sebastian sat back down on the driver's seat, gripping the reins with both hands. His movements remained fluid, without a single unnecessary pause.

"I apologize for keeping Mr. Rune waiting." His voice remained steady, without any discernible emotional fluctuation.

But Rune could sense that beneath that calm surface lay a certain deliberately suppressed emotion.

The hands gripping the reins tightened even more than before, making the reins even taut.

'Success!'

Rune breathed a sigh of relief, but his face remained unchanged.

“It’s alright.” Rune withdrew his gaze and looked back at the road ahead, his tone casual. “It’s good that Mr. Sebastian has finished dealing with it.”

Sebastian did not respond.

Sebastian's gaze remained fixed ahead, on the road stretching forward in the morning light.

Rune noticed that Sebastian did not speak again, nor did he ask any more questions about the capital.

Everything is going according to plan.

The Church has succeeded.

Everything was perfect.

Rune's lips curved slightly, revealing a smile that appeared particularly gentle in the morning light.

"Mr. Sebastian."

"Ok?"

“We’re getting close to the capital soon.” Rune raised his hand and pointed into the distance. “This place is quite safe now, and it’s not convenient for my cavalry to go in.”

Rune stepped off the carriage, his boots rustling softly on the dew-covered grass.

"Wait a moment, I'll go and give some instructions."

He turned and walked toward the back of the group. After a few steps, he heard Sebastian's voice behind him.

"Mr. Rune."

Rune stopped and turned around.

“I am truly ashamed that I failed to draw away those bandits for Mr. Rune along the way,” Sebastian’s voice was not loud, but carried a certain steadiness characteristic of the elderly.

Rune smiled, a smile that shone brightly in the morning light. He waved his hand, his tone light as if he were talking about something trivial.

“Mr. Sebastian need not worry about it.”

He took two steps back, looked up at the old man on the dashboard, and smiled sincerely and calmly.

“I happen to be going to the capital for a while. During this time, I can also properly entertain Mr. Sebastian and Miss Soliuxiang.”

After finishing speaking, Rune nodded to Sebastian, then turned and strode towards the cavalry.

Shalltear stood in the cave, several mercenary corpses at her feet. She glanced at her vampire follower beside her, then looked towards the passage leading deeper into the cave.

"Is anyone else coming?"

She toyed with a strand of hair between her fingers. The sphere of congealed blood continued to spin slowly above her head, and the lantern light in the cave cast a long shadow of her.

As the attendants stepped aside, footsteps echoed from the depths of the passage.

Shalltear tilted her head. A man emerged, wearing chainmail and a sword at his waist, his gait carrying a confidence she had seen many times before—the confidence of someone who believed themselves to be very strong.

You all seem to be having a lot of fun.

She shrugged and gave a casual reply. When the man asked if they were magic chanters, Shalltear gave the name of the god-ancestor Kain'abel, and seeing that he had no reaction, she didn't bother to explain.

The man struck a pose, and Shalltear raised her chin, signaling her attendant to go first.

As expected, the man slashed his follower in the shoulder, but the wound healed instantly. He recognized the vampire, muttering incantations about its abilities, and finally said, "Ignore them all."

That's interesting. At least it's a bit better than those useless wretches who could only scream.

His attendant's Mystic Eyes were ineffective against him, and his magic was evaded. Shalltear, watching the stalemate, grew increasingly impatient.

"Sigh, let's switch hands."

She snapped her fingers, and the attendants immediately stepped back.

The man gave his name: Brian Anglaus.

Shalltear paused for a moment, then realized that the other person was asking for her name. She lifted her skirt and curtsied, "My name is Shalltear Bradfren. Please allow me to enjoy this unilaterally."

Brian did not attack immediately, but instead sheathed his sword, lowered his waist, and his breathing became thin and long.

Shalltear waited for him to prepare. No matter how much he prepared, the result would be the same.

She strode forward, her steps as light as if she were taking a stroll. Three steps, two steps, one step.

A flash of white light.

The knife was already drawn and was aimed at her neck.

Shalltear extended two fingers and gently pinched the back of the knife.

Brian froze.

She held the knife up to her face to examine it, casually remarked that it was far inferior to Cocytus, then let go of it and jumped back to her original position.

"Do you understand now? You can't beat me without using your martial arts skills."

Brian cursed, "Monster."

Shalltear laughed. The insult, coming from her mouth, sounded more like a compliment.

She took another step. This time, Brian aimed for her ankle, swinging the knife even faster than before, but she stomped on the back of the blade, pinning it to the ground.

Brian's face was filled with disbelief.

Shalltear released her foot and jumped back.

Are you almost ready?

Brian was speechless.

When she asked the question for the third time, her tone held a hint of pity. Could it be that this person truly knew no martial arts? Or was what he just did at his full strength?

Brian picked up the knife and charged forward, roaring.

Shalltear yawned and flicked his slashes away with her little fingernail. Once, twice, three times, each strike was deflected by the same little finger. She even deliberately looked up at the ceiling, covered her mouth with her right hand, and dealt with the attacks with only her left.

Brian's knife never managed to touch her.

"Oh dear, are you already tired? But speaking of which, these nail clippers are really not sharp enough."

Brian stopped what he was doing and muttered something about how hard he was trying.

"Effort? That's a meaningless phrase. I was already very strong when I was born, so I never had to strive to become stronger."

Brian smiled, but tears streamed down his face.

Shalltear tilted her head and looked at him, not quite understanding why he was crying. They had only had a fight.

"...Are you satisfied? Then it's about time to wrap this up?"

She had just extended her little finger when Brian suddenly turned and ran away, his back view as frantic as a startled rabbit.

Shalltear paused for a moment, then laughed.

"Are we playing tag this time? You're willing to play all sorts of games with me, right? Then I'll enjoy it to the fullest, hahahahahaha."

Shalltear strode off and caught up with him at a leisurely pace.

Chapter 44 Shalltear

The icy air blew through the hall, and through the gaps in the barrier, it reached the mercenary group "Death-Spreading Sword Group" behind them, and all forty-two remaining mercenaries.

The cave is centered on a long, narrow hall at its deepest point, from which several smaller caves radiate outwards.

At this moment, this place has become a temporary fortress. The makeshift table has been overturned, and boxes have been piled up to form a barrier. Several ropes, reaching up to the waist, have been tied between the entrance and the barrier.

All personnel were dispersed behind the barrier, holding crossbows and waiting for orders, forming a formation known as the Crossfire.