Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Sebastian's thoughts stopped on this matter; he dared not think further, for the greater the hope, the heavier the final disappointment would be.

Sebastian's silence lasted so long that the boy began to feel uneasy.

"Lord Sebastian?" Touchmy asked tentatively, his expression shifting from firmness to confusion, and finally to a hint of apprehension. "Um... is there a problem with my name?"

"……Do not."

Sebastian opened his mouth.

“It’s a good name,” Sebastian said.

Tapimy's eyes lit up. Being praised by a powerful figure like Lord Sebastian was a tremendous encouragement for a young man eager to become stronger.

“So,” Sebastian’s tone returned to its usual composure, but the hoarseness in his voice revealed that he wasn’t as calm as he appeared, “about the method to become stronger…”

He paused.

"Before that, I need to understand your current level. Tomorrow at sunrise, come to the open space on the east side of the camp and bring your sword."

Tapchimi's eyes lit up instantly.

"Yes, Lord Sebastian!"

His voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, and even his bowing motion was more forceful than usual.

"Now, go and get some rest. You won't get anything out of training when you're exhausted."

"Yes!" Tapimy replied loudly, then turned and walked out of the tent.

He lifted the tent flap with swift and decisive movements, letting in the night and causing his short, golden hair to sway slightly in the breeze.

He stepped out of the tent, his back looking particularly tall and straight in the moonlight.

"Tachimi".

Sebastian's voice came from behind.

The boy stopped and turned around. The moonlight shone on his face, and his azure eyes held a bright question mark.

The dim yellow light of the oil lamp shone from behind Sebastian, casting a hazy glow on his gray hair, making the wrinkles on his face appear deeper than usual in the interplay of light and shadow.

His voice was so flat that it had almost no inflection.

"...Wipe the mud off your face before you go to sleep."

Tachimi paused for a moment, then touched his cheek, where mud stains from pushing the cart during the day still remained, dried into light brown patches.

His face turned red instantly.

"Yes, yes!" he replied quickly, then turned and ran.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded into the night, swallowed up by the night wind and the chirping of insects.

Chapter 29 Awakening

Before the morning light had penetrated the entire town, the open space on the east side of the camp was still shrouded in a gray hue.

Sebastian stood in the center of the open space, his hands behind his back, the shoulders of his black tuxedo damp with fine dew, glistening faintly in the thin morning light.

He had been standing here all night.

Footsteps came from the camp, sounding slightly hurried.

Tapchimi practically ran over, stopping a few steps behind Sebastian, his breathing slightly rapid.

"Lord Sebastian! I'm sorry I'm late!"

The boy bent down to apologize, his voice full of remorse.

Sebastian turned around, his wrinkled face showing no displeasure.

"No. I'm early, according to the agreed time."

Sebastian naturally blamed himself for the problem.

Tajimi straightened up, a trace of lingering self-reproach still in his eyes.

Sebastian's gaze fell on the sword at his waist.

Is that your sword?

"Ah, yes, yes."

Tajimi quickly unfastened the sword from his waist and presented it to Tajimi with both hands.

Sebastian took the sword, his fingers lightly tracing the blade, his sharp gaze sweeping over every inch of the edge.

"This must be a backup weapon."

How did you know?

Tapchimi's eyes widened, his expression showing surprise.

Sebastian flipped the sword over, pointing to a tiny wear mark on the blade.

“I knew it. Look, there’s a dent here. If it were your main weapon, you would probably take much better care of it.” He raised his eyes and looked directly at the boy.

Sebastian himself was unaware that he had automatically projected the personality of his creator onto the boy in front of him.

Tajimi lowered his head slightly, feeling ashamed that the elder had seen right through him.

"...Yes. The main sword was a gift from Lord Rune, so..."

Tapchimi didn't finish his sentence, but Sebastian understood—he couldn't bear to damage the main weapon during training.

For a soldier, a weapon is a mirror reflecting his character, and he admired the young man even more.

"Lord Rune," Sebastian began slowly, "is he someone you care about deeply?"

Sebastian's words fell lightly.

Tachimi, however, seemed to be transported back to a very distant place by this question.

"Yes."

Once he came to his senses, Tapimi's voice was exceptionally firm.

“When I was a child, I was an orphan who couldn’t even get enough to eat. I wandered the streets of the capital every day, picking up food that others had thrown away and sleeping in the dirtiest and darkest corners of the alleys.”

He spoke these words in a calm tone, like someone who had turned the darkest page and could no longer make out the words when looking back.

"Back then, I was just living to survive. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and I didn't care. Even if I died on the side of the road one day, probably no one would notice."

He paused.

"Until Lord Rune took me in."

The boy's voice was tinged with warmth, like the cozy warmth of a fireplace in winter, seeping into his features little by little.

"Lord Rune gave me a place to live, food, and clothes to wear. Not only that, he also sent me to school, taught me swordsmanship, and made me realize that there are more important things in this world than just surviving."

Tapchimi took a deep breath, raised his head, and met Sebastian's gaze.

“I have seen the darkness of the capital. Those nobles don’t care about the lives of commoners. The weak are toys to them, trash that can be discarded at will.”

His voice trembled slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

"But I have also witnessed the light of the Aindora Territory. There, children have enough to eat and can study in schools. The elderly are cared for and the sick are treated. Lord Rune said that everyone has the right to live like a human being."

The boy's right hand clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"Therefore, my goal in life is to help more people who are as weak and helpless as I am, so that they can also see the true light."

Tachimi clenched his right fist and pounded it on his left chest.

"For justice."

He spoke softly, yet his words carried more weight than any shout.

Sebastian stared at the boy in front of him for a long time before finally speaking.

"After hearing your answer, I've already decided how to train you."

“However, if I may be frank,” Sebastian changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, “I don’t see any talent in you. If I were to really train you in martial arts, it would take a considerable amount of time.”

Touchmy's body stiffened slightly; he knew Sebastian was telling the truth. He himself knew that in terms of talent, he was far inferior to those geniuses.

All the power he possesses is built up little by little through sweat and time.

“If you want to do a workout that shows results in a short time,” Sebastian’s voice was slow, with a hint of struggle in it, “the conditions… are quite demanding.”

Tapchimi made a sound in his throat.

It was an instinctive reaction because Sebastian's eyes had changed.

The gentle colors faded away, replaced by a sharp edge that could almost cut.

It was like a sword without a physical form, hanging over Tapchimi's head, making him feel a pressure that went beyond words.

"I'll be frank, it might cost me my life."

Sebastian's tone carried a resolute determination.

He wasn't joking.

Tapchimi's intuition was screaming at him; a chill ran down his spine, he could feel his heart racing, and his palms were sweating.

He is not afraid of death.

Tapchimi had long been prepared to sacrifice his life for the path he had chosen. It was the price he paid for justice, and he was willing to pay it.

But things are different now.

This is not a battlefield, nor is he facing an enemy. Yet, he must make a choice: whether to willingly put his life in danger in order to become stronger.

Swallowing hard, Tajimi hesitated.

He's not a coward. No, maybe he actually is.

Silence spread between the two, and the eastern horizon began to glow with a faint golden hue.

Sebastian didn't urge him; he was waiting for the boy to give him the answer himself.

Whether you lose your life depends on your awareness.

Sebastian stared straight at Tapimi and added softly.