Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

"I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the door.

The pace was steady.

'? ? ? '

Rune's pupils contracted slightly.

No. Why did you leave so soon?

He watched Sebastian's straight back as he walked away, his boots making a rhythmic thud on the wooden floor.

Don't go.

If you leave, the next NPC who comes won't be so easy to talk to.

Demiurge stood before him, his jeweled eyes peering through his spectral lenses, a wicked smile spreading across his face…

Just thinking about that scene sends chills down Lu En's spine.

"but"

Rune's voice came out.

Sebastian stopped in his tracks.

He turned around, his light gray eyes questioning as he quietly looked at Rune.

The rain outside the window had subsided at some point, turning into a fine mist that enveloped the entire courtyard in a hazy fog.

Rune composed himself.

He looked at Sebastian with a calm gaze.

“Mr. Sebastian,” Rune’s voice was calm yet carried weight, “if you could do me a favor…”

He paused for a moment.

"Then I can tell you this hidden information."

Sebastian's eyes flickered slightly.

Rune didn't wait for his response and continued speaking.

"No, it should be said that Mr. Sebastian would naturally be able to learn these things through this incident."

There was a moment of silence in the reception room.

The rain and mist silently spread outside the window, and the light in the reception room was dimmer than before, like a thin layer of gray gauze covering all the objects.

Sebastian stood still, looking at Rune.

"Mr. Rune."

Sebastian's voice was steady, but his tone carried a gentle, sincere seriousness.

"I have always been grateful for Mr. Lu En's care, but I have never been able to do anything for you."

He paused, his light gray eyes fixed intently on Rune.

"Mr. Rune, please feel free to speak. Even if I cannot obtain information about the 'dragon,' I will do my best to help."

The words were spoken very plainly, as if stating something that should be taken for granted.

Rune was somewhat dazed.

He felt something gently squeeze his heart.

This feeling was unfamiliar to him; he hadn't experienced it in a long time.

Every word he said, every expression he made, and every emotion he revealed was meticulously calculated.

Goodwill toward Sebastian was also a calculated product, a falsehood.

Rune lowered his eyes and clicked his tongue inwardly.

This feeling of being treated with such sincerity made him somewhat uncomfortable. It was as if a mirror had suddenly been polished, revealing things he didn't want to see.

Rune gently pushed that tender feeling aside in his heart.

We cannot allow it to affect his ability to continue implementing the plan.

Rune raised his head and put on that false mask of gentleness again.

“Mr. Sebastian,” Rune said earnestly, “the Dragon Kingdom… are you familiar with it?”

Chapter 69 Dragon Kingdom

The light in the reception room was dimmer than before.

The rain and mist silently spread outside the window, covering the hedges in the courtyard with a layer of gray dampness.

Occasionally, a breeze would slip in through the cracks in the window, carrying the fresh scent of earth and grass after the rain, gently rustling the edges of the curtains.

Rune remained seated, watching Sebastian return to his chair opposite him.

He didn't rush to speak, but instead picked up the cup of completely cooled black tea and took a small sip. The cooled tea melted on his tongue, leaving a slightly astringent aftertaste.

"Mr. Sebastian."

Rune put down his teacup. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet reception room.

How much do you know about the Dragon Kingdom?

Sebastian shook his head slightly, his wrinkled face devoid of any extra expression, simply waiting quietly for Rune to continue.

Rune's gaze fell on the gray, misty rain outside the window, as if he were recalling something distant.

"The Dragon Kingdom is located in the southeast of the kingdom."

His voice was slow, as if he were telling a story.

“To the north, it faces the Bahars Empire across mountains and the Kaz Plains; to the southwest, it borders a large lake and the Slane Theocracy. To the east…” Rune frowned slightly, “it borders a small orc nation.”

Rune continued speaking.

"The Dragon Kingdom has a population of only a few million, the smallest among the surrounding countries. Its ruler is Queen Drodelon Oriclus, who has dragon blood."

He paused, a subtle meaning creeping into his voice.

"Although she possesses dragon blood, this queen's personal strength is no different from that of an ordinary person. The Dragon Kingdom's only trump card is a team of adamantite-level adventurers called 'Crystal Tears'."

The rain and fog outside the window grew thicker, blurring the view in the courtyard as if it were seen through a semi-transparent curtain of water.

"Due to the continuous attacks from that orcish nation, the Dragon Kingdom has lost nearly half of its territory."

Rune's voice trailed off.

"That orcish nation attacked the Dragon Kingdom not only to plunder its land, but also for another purpose..."

Rune paused for a beat.

"Plundering people and treating the humans of the Dragon Kingdom as food."

The moment those words were spoken, the air in the reception room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Rune didn't look at Sebastian's face.

He only lowered his eyes slightly, but Rune could sense it.

Those subtle changes.

Something new has appeared in the air.

Rune's eyelashes twitched slightly.

He picked up his teacup and took another sip of the now-cold black tea.

When he looked up again, his gaze inadvertently swept across Sebastian's face.

Sebastian's expression remained calm, his wrinkled face showing no change whatsoever.

But in those light gray eyes, anger was being suppressed.

In an instant, Sebastian lowered his eyes and suppressed his emotions.

"In fact."

Rune's voice broke the brief silence, his tone tinged with bitterness.

"I have been leading the cavalry in my territory to support the Dragon Kingdom for several years now."

Sebastian raised his eyes and looked at him.

Rune twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a somewhat forced smile.

"The incident Mr. Sebas mentioned earlier, where I used [Martial Arts] to kill the orc powerhouse, also occurred during this period."

He spoke softly, as if recounting a trivial matter. But in his light green eyes, there was something akin to helplessness and self-reproach.

"but."

Rune's voice lowered.

"The orcs have far more powerful warriors than the Dragon Kingdom. I alone... simply cannot save more of the Dragon Kingdom's citizens."

The reception room fell silent for a moment.

The rain and mist outside the window continued to spread silently, and the whole world seemed to be soaked in a layer of gray dampness.

Sebastian's voice rang out.

"Mr. Rune."

His voice remained steady, with a hint of reassurance.

"You don't need to blame yourself."

Sebastian looked at him, his eyes shining with a gentle and sincere light.

"Helping the weak is itself a commendable act. Your kindness is already deeply touching."

“Mr. Sebastian is right.”

Rune took a deep breath, as if suppressing all the surging emotions. Then he raised his head again, his expression returning to its usual composure.