Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

He instantly switched to a kind and gentle mode, lowering his voice to a whisper.

“This old friend… Sebastian must have respected him greatly.”

Sebastian's breath hitched for a moment, probably as he recalled the face of this old friend.

The wrinkles around her eyes, deepened by disappointment, gradually smoothed out, and the corners of her mouth were no longer droopy.

Sebastian seemed to be bathed in some kind of invisible light at that moment.

“Yes.” His voice was firm, filled with power surging from the depths of his chest. “He is the strongest warrior in the world, far surpassing me in strength.”

Sebastian's light gray eyes reflected an image that did not exist in this time and space.

"Therefore, I firmly believe that even if something unexpected happens to this person, he absolutely meets the 'strong' standard required for reincarnation in legend."

His tone was without the slightest hesitation, as if it were a certainty etched into his very soul.

“Is that so?” Rune’s voice was gentle. “It seems that this sir, like Tapimy, is a very kind type.”

Sebastian refocused his gaze, and then nodded decisively.

"That's right. He is also the most righteous and kindest person in the world."

After saying this, Sebastian's gaze lingered on Rune's face for a moment, and then he added, "Of course, Mr. Rune's character is also second only to the Forty-Ones in excellence."

Rune was taken aback by Sebastian's sudden praise, revealing a smile that even he himself couldn't quite tell if it was a smile hidden behind a mask.

"Sebastian, is that a compliment you're giving me?"

Sebastian looked at him, a faint smile appearing on his wrinkled face.

"Of course."

Sebastian's previous frustrations evaporated silently, like morning mist meeting the rising sun, thanks to Rune's few flattering words.

The tent was quiet for a moment.

This silence was different from the heavy, dejected, and struggling silence that had preceded it.

It's a relaxed feeling, like a brief respite that naturally comes when two friends finish their business.

Rune looked at Sebastian again. "Actually, I'm not as noble as Sebastian thinks. It's Touchi who's truly kind."

“However, Sebastian, I regret to inform you,” Rune changed the subject, “that guy Touchmy may resemble the lord you know, but he may still disappoint you.”

Chapter 31 Touchimi's First Time

Rune looked directly into Sebastian's eyes and said those words again.

"The core of the legends about the reincarnation of the strong is still [innate superpowers], but Tapimi does not possess [innate superpowers]."

On the surface, Rune denied the possibility that Touchi was the reincarnation of a powerful being, but in reality, he subtly deepened Sebastian's understanding that [innate superpowers] were the key to reincarnation.

Sebastian did not answer. The last glimmer of light in his eyes went out, sinking into a quiet darkness.

"So Sebastian, you shouldn't have such illusions. Touchimi is just himself."

Rune lowered his voice as much as possible, as if he were carefully unwrapping a damaged package, afraid of breaking the fragile contents inside.

Sebastian remained silent for a long time.

He stood up, his movements a beat slower than usual.

"Thank you for informing me, Lord Rune."

Sebastian's voice was exactly the same as his usual tone.

But this stability is barely maintained, like a wall that has already developed cracks, struggling to stay upright.

Sebastian turned around and walked out of the tent.

The curtain fell gently behind him, obscuring his upright yet inexplicably somewhat hunched back.

The tent fell silent.

Rune sat in his original spot, looking at the tent curtain that was still swaying slightly. The morning light peeked in through the gaps in the curtain and fell on Rune's face, creating a momentary interplay of light and shadow.

He picked up the cup of black tea on the table and took a small sip.

'Sebastian, the more disappointed you are now, the happier you'll be when you discover the so-called "truth."'

Rune leaned back in his chair.

His thoughts drifted back to a long time ago.

When Tapchimi was two years old, Rune found him through the power of the Theocracy.

But Rune did nothing more than quietly change his name.

Rune continued to let him wander in the capital, witnessing the darkness.

Tatchimi's childhood was spent amidst the contempt of the nobility and the bullying of his peers.

He was trampled underfoot, made a joke, and regarded as something less than trash.

Those bone-chilling nights, those ravenously hungry days, or those moments spent licking their wounds alone in a corner of an alley...

Rune did not intervene.

Therefore, what Rune said to Sebastian was the truth; he never considered himself a good person.

Clem is a child who will not rot in the darkness; the essence of his soul will not be stained even in the deepest mire.

Only by experiencing the same darkness as in the original work can one truly transform into the person Rune hopes to be—one who upholds justice and light.

This is also something Rune must do to ensure everything goes perfectly.

Rune's initial plan was to activate his "gift" of innate ability to grant Touchimi a special innate ability designed specifically for his encounter with Sebastian.

Justice has arrived.

When Touch Me activates his innate ability, four large square characters will appear behind him: "Justice Descends".

This innate ability doesn't consume much of Rune's experience points, yet it's highly recognizable as Touch Me in the game.

After Rune's meticulous planning and design, Sebastian will probably fall completely.

What kind of expression will the old steward have when he sees the young man raising his longsword high on the battlefield, with those four familiar words appearing behind him?

That was what Rune originally thought.

But after actually getting to know him, he still hesitated.

He watched Tapimi grow up day by day.

Watching this child swing the wooden sword again and again on the training field, his clothes soaked with sweat but refusing to rest.

He looked at me with those azure eyes and said, "I want to become like Lord Rune, and then bring light and justice to more people."

Rune has arbitrarily changed the life of this kind child, and now he has been transformed into a different person by Rune.

He imposed his belief in "upholding justice and helping the weak" on this child, making this belief the sole meaning of his life.

This is remarkably similar to what Lana did in the original story.

Isn't this just another form of manipulation?

Rune didn't want to simply give Touchimi a useless innate ability and then turn the boy into a toy manipulated by carefully designed "coincidences".

He planned to give the boy another, highly distinctive yet powerful superpower related to Tapchimi.

【Dimensional Slash】.

Grant Tapimi exclusive skills belonging to the YGGDRASIL [World Champion] class.

This is probably the maximum compensation Rune can offer.

However, when Rune tried to grant it, he discovered that this exclusive class skill, which was only available to the [World Champion] class in the game, was simply beyond the reach of his own experience points.

The mere attempt to explore the energy required for that ability caused him a near-suffocating feeling of palpitations.

So Rune tried to weaken it continuously.

Something like the magic [Severance] would be fine, as long as it can unleash an attack that cuts through space.

But it still can't be done.

The consumption of experience points was still far beyond his capacity to bear, and the premonition of impending death told him that if he were to be forcibly granted the experience, he would die.

Rune then decided to change his approach and add more restrictions.

As long as the restrictions are strict enough, they can definitely be granted; and if restrictions are used well, they are sometimes not a bad thing.

This is why Rune has always been unwilling to bring Tapimy into the war of the Dragon Kingdom.

He was waiting for the right opportunity.

He wanted to make Tapchimi discover the dormant ability within him at a critical moment, without his knowledge.

Just like the protagonist of a shonen manga.

This trip to the Dragon Kingdom is the perfect opportunity for Tapimy to discover and utilize his innate abilities.

Sebastian will be the first witness.

Let Sebastian have his "first time" with Tapimy and witness that moment like that of a protagonist in a shonen manga.

Such a shock will cause Sebastian's current disappointment to rebound instantly.

At the same time, letting Sebastian see firsthand that the boy possesses the ability to sever space is far more convincing than a mere verbal description.

Rune looked in the direction Sebastian had left.

He noticed that Sebastian paused slightly as he walked to the edge of the open space.

It was only for a very brief moment, and then they continued walking forward.

The direction in which they paused was directly facing Tapimy.

Rune withdrew his gaze and turned to the other side of the camp. He still had military affairs to attend to and much pre-battle preparation to make.

'Sebastian, I'm sure you'll like the gift I gave you.'

The wind blew from the valley, fluttering the Eindora family banner above the camp. The banner, embroidered with a black sword standing upright, fluttered in the wind, as if foreshadowing something that was about to happen.