Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Against an opponent like Sebastian, holding back would be somewhat unnecessary. Rune also needed this strike to probe Nazarick's interest in [Martial Arts].

The moment the sword blade fell.

Sebastian moved.

But he moved very little, merely meeting the falling sword blade with his fist.

"clang!"

The sound of metal clashing echoed in the courtyard, crisp and short, like the tolling of an invisible bell.

Rune felt a sharp, intense pain in his hand, from the base of his thumb to his palm, as he gripped the sword.

It didn't feel like I was chopping a fist into flesh and blood; it felt more like I was chopping a piece of steel... no, harder than steel.

The sword was still trembling slightly, emitting a low buzzing sound.

The fact that it didn't shatter might be because Sebastian showed mercy.

Sebastian's glove wasn't even torn on his fist.

Rune stared at the fist, which was covered by an intact white glove, and remained silent for a second.

Then he sheathed his sword and took a step back.

Let's stop here.

Rune's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

These were the rules established before the battle began.

Stop immediately with a single strike.

When Rune said this to Sebastian, his reason was that he was "afraid that Mr. Sebastian would get hurt."

After all, in terms of their outward identities...

Sebastian is a "merchant steward from the Empire," while Rune is "the foremost expert among the kingdom's nobles."

If a noble expert were to accidentally injure an old steward during a sparring match, it would sound bad if word got out.

Sebastian accepted this reason at the time.

But Rune knew why he brought up the rule.

He was afraid he would be beaten to death.

Rune sheathed his longsword and looked up at Sebastian.

'It seems there was no harm done.'

Sebastian was looking down at his fist.

The fist remained in the same stance as before, the white glove spotless, without a single scratch or speck of dust. Sebastian's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with confusion.

'Is this all the [martial arts] Lord Ainz specifically instructed me to learn? No, Lord Ainz can't be wrong.'

Sebastian looked at it for a few seconds, then looked up, his expression somewhat subtle.

The situation became a little awkward for a moment.

The moonlight quietly spilled between the two of them, and the night wind rustled through the hedges, its sound exceptionally clear, as if reminding them of the casualness of the attack just now.

Rune could feel his breathing was still slightly rapid, while Sebastian opposite him didn't even flinch, as if he had just caught a falling leaf.

Rune stood there, waiting for Sebastian to speak.

"Mr. Rune."

Sebastian's voice remained steady, but there was a hint of seriousness in his tone.

"I know you're worried about me getting hurt, but please don't worry."

He paused, then reached into the inside pocket of his tuxedo and took out a scroll.

“I carry a healing scroll with me.”

Sebastian waved the scroll in front of Rune, then put it away again.

"So please don't worry."

His gaze fell on Rune, gentle and sincere.

"Please use your [Martial Skill] to attack with all your might."

Rune stood still, looking at Sebastian's serious face.

He was serious.

Rune opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But the words stuck in his throat.

say what?

To say, "Mr. Sebastian, I have already used [Martial Arts]"?

That would be so embarrassing.

After all, the excuse that Sebastian just made for Rune has already been used against him.

Rune's lips twitched slightly.

This kind of unconscious humiliation is the most damaging.

Rune's fingers gently rubbed the hilt of the sword, feeling the cool touch of the metal on his fingertips.

However, judging from Sebastian's performance just now, Ainz probably only misjudged the strength of the [Martial Arts], and did not suspect him. This is good news.

Chapter 60 Handsome Old Man

The clear moonlight spread a layer of silver frost across the stone slabs in the courtyard.

Rune looked at Sebastian's serious face and quickly made a decision in his mind.

Since it was just Ainz's simple misjudgment, he might as well keep up the act.

After all, it would be highly suspicious if a "kingdom's top martial arts expert" were to admit defeat without even being able to injure the "imperial merchant's old steward."

Even if there is a huge gap in strength, they should at least show that they are giving it their all.

Rune took a deep breath.

"In that case..."

He lowered his waist, shifted his weight slightly forward, gripped the sword hilt tightly with his right hand, and his gaze returned to Sebastian.

“Mr. Sebastian, I am about to unleash my strongest martial skill.”

"I can't ask for it."

Sebastian raised his hands, returning to his fighting stance. The hem of his tuxedo swayed gently with his movement, tracing a clean arc in the moonlight.

Rune did not make a move immediately.

He looked into Sebastian's calm eyes and added another sentence.

"Mr. Sebastian, let's settle this with one decisive move."

Rune's voice carried a hint of seriousness.

"If this move can't win over Mr. Sebastian, then I've already lost."

These words sound grand and dignified, like a martial artist's clear understanding of their own strength.

But Rune's true thoughts were very simple.

He was afraid that Sebastian would instinctively unleash a series of punches, turning him into a bloody mess.

A single move can decide the outcome, or at least it's controllable.

Sebastian nodded slightly in agreement.

Rune lowered his waist, gripped the hilt of the sword with both hands, and pointed the tip of the sword slightly towards the ground.

He silently recited it in his heart.

[Ability to buckle feet]

The moment the martial arts technique is activated, a surge of heat flows, and the muscle fibers seem to be stretched and tightened by something, enhancing physical abilities.

[Exceptional Abilities]

An even more intense heat surged in, and the bones emitted a faint cracking sound, like a tightly wound spring.

[Perceptual Enhancement]

The third martial skill followed immediately. The world became more concrete in Rune's eyes; even the folds on Sebastian's gloves were exceptionally distinct.

The moonlight's trajectory became clearer, and every ray of silvery-white light could be seen with the naked eye.

Rune's breathing became steady and long, and his heartbeat pounded in his ears like the beating of war drums.

Then, Rune strode forward.

[Four Lights Combo]

The four high-speed slashes tore through the air almost simultaneously.

The first strike comes from the upper right to the lower left.

The second strike is a slash from the upper left to the lower right.

The third strike was a horizontal sweep, aimed directly at Sebastian's wrist.

The fourth strike is a reverse upward slash, still targeting the same fist.

Four silver-white sword lights intertwined into a fine net under the moonlight, each carrying the power to cleave through iron armor.

Sebastian stared at the four sword lights.

He still threw a simple punch.

The fist met the intersection of the four slashes with such precision that it looked as if it had been measured with a ruler.

"collapse!"