Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

Chapter 121 Setting the Scene

"Your Majesty," Chancellor Bergman interrupted Rune's rhythm.

The old man took two steps forward, a sorrowful expression on his wrinkled face.

"It's all my fault for being incompetent and failing to share His Majesty's burdens. If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely have personally taken to the battlefield and fought those orcs to the death—"

He paused, wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve, and tears flowed down his face, befitting his reputation as a veteran actor.

"But now, with my old bones, I'm afraid I'd only cause trouble if I went to the battlefield."

Rune watched the prime minister's dramatic performance, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"They're here."

He was all too familiar with this tactic: the Queen would first play the victim, and then the Prime Minister would come out and put on a show.

Sure enough, the prime minister changed the subject.

"Therefore, this old minister dares to humbly request Your Excellency Aindora," he turned to Rune, bowing deeply, his silver-white hair cascading forward with the movement, "that this time, you be appointed to lead the decapitation operation?"

Rune frowned.

"A decapitation strike?"

"Indeed." The prime minister straightened up, meeting Rune's gaze with a resolute determination. "The orcs' invasion this time is completely different from previous years. According to intelligence from the front lines, the orc king is likely to be personally in command."

He paused for a moment, as if making a final calculation.

"If we can kill him, the orc army will be thrown into chaos. Even if we can't completely repel the enemy, we can at least buy the Dragon Kingdom some breathing room."

Rune remained silent for a moment.

He glanced at Derodile.

The Queen was looking up at him, her eyes, still wet with tears, now filled with expectation and pleading, a sight that evoked pity in me.

"Lord Lu Enqing—" She seemed to float on air, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind. "I know this request is excessive. But—I really have no other choice."

"Mr. Serabreu of Crystal Tears is indeed strong, but he alone is probably no match for the Orc King. Therefore—"

Rune looked at the pitiful little face, and then glanced at the prime minister next to him who looked like he "only regretted his own incompetence".

Is it true or not?

He silently complained to himself.

Do I really look that stupid? Would I go and do something so dangerous just because a little girl begged me? Seriously, someone like that doesn't even exist, right?

But then I thought—

This gave him a reason to carry out his follow-up plan.

He needed a pretext to go to the front lines and take huge risks.

Now, the Queen and the Prime Minister have personally presented him with this opportunity.

Rune took a deep breath, his face showing an expression that said, "It's difficult, but I'm willing to do it to protect someone."

"His Majesty."

He spoke in a resolute tone.

"I understand. I will do my best to protect the people of the Dragon Kingdom."

Derodile's eyes lit up instantly.

But soon the Queen realized something was wrong and quickly withdrew the light from her eyes.

It happened so fast it was as if it had never happened. If Rune hadn't been observing her the whole time, he probably would have thought it was just his imagination.

Next, Derodile put on that tearful expression again.

"Lord Lu Enqing," she said in a pitiful tone, "be careful. When you return in triumph, I will personally cook the celebratory banquet for you."

Rune looked at the little face that was trying so hard to maintain an endearing expression.

That's outrageous!

He silently complained to himself.

It's one thing to have bad acting skills, but to set such a flag for me is just asking for trouble. Do you think I'm too lucky?

In the movies and TV shows of my past life, the characters who said things like "I'll get married when I get back" or "I'll go home to see my wife and kids after this war" basically never came back alive.

Rune suddenly remembered that when he said goodbye to Lajus, he seemed to have made a promise to bring his sister to the Dragon Kingdom next time.

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"Oh no! I was so focused on using it as a delaying tactic for my sister that I forgot it was also a flag." Rune started to panic.

He subtly tilted his head, glancing at the half-step behind him out of the corner of his eye.

Sebastian stood there.

The weight that had been hanging over Rune's heart finally settled.

"fine."

He thought to himself.

Sebastian is still alive.

Without Sebastian's help, Rune would never have accepted such a request full of flags.

But now—he really doesn’t believe that a dignified level 100 dragonman would be unable to withstand the mere double flags of himself and the Dragon Queen.

Rune looked at the Queen's expectant yet reluctant face, and then glanced at Chancellor Bergman beside her, who looked as if he only regretted his old age and frailty.

"Your Majesty, rest assured," Rune's voice was firm. "I will do my utmost."

Derodile desperately tried to suppress the corners of her mouth that were about to turn up in uncontrollable laughter.

"Then—I'll leave it to you, Lu Enqing."

As she spoke, she loosened her grip on Rune's fingers.

The small hand that had been clenched for a long time was pulled back, the knuckles slightly red, probably from the considerable force used.

Rune took a step back, placed his right hand in front of his chest, and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now, as I need to return to my camp to prepare."

"Mmm," Derodion responded softly.

Rune straightened up and turned to walk towards the door of the reception room.

Sebastian followed behind him.

The two figures passed through the half-open door and disappeared into the depths of the corridor.

The reception room fell silent.

Derodile turned her head to look at Chancellor Bergman behind her.

"He agreed." The Queen's voice returned to its usual tone, no longer the soft, pitiful sound it had just given.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The prime minister bowed slightly. "Lady Aindora is indeed a loli—cough cough, as expected, she is willing to risk her life for the Dragon Kingdom."

Derodile's lips curved slightly, but she quickly closed them again.

"Does he really think I'm pathetic?"

Her tone was somewhat complicated when she asked that question.

The prime minister did not answer.

He actually couldn't quite figure out what the young man was thinking.

The moment Rune stepped out of the palace, he felt his breathing become easier.

He took a deep breath; playing the role of a lolicon was still too difficult.

"Lord Rune"

Sebastian's voice came from behind.

"What is it, Sebastian?"

"No." Sebastian shook his head. "I was just thinking that you agreed too readily."

Rune turned around and looked at Sebastian.

"Sebastian, don't worry." He smiled slightly, the sunlight falling perfectly on his profile, casting a soft golden halo. "I'm confident I can handle this risk."

"Besides, how can one obtain secret information about dragons by taking some risks?"

Sebastian stared at Rune's profile bathed in sunlight, feeling slightly dazed.

His golden hair was almost transparent in the light, and his light green eyes held a calm smile.

So, Lord Rune took such a great risk all for me.

From the Kingdom of Ri Yestize to the Dragon Kingdom, from annihilating the Eight Fingers to taking on the decapitation operation.

Rune did all these things to take care of him and Suo Liuxiang.

Sebastian silently made up his mind.

We absolutely cannot allow Rune to be harmed in this decapitation operation, even if it costs him his life.

"The Orc King, is it? Bring it on!" Sebastian would give it his all.

Sebastian firmly believes that if Lord Touch Me were here, he would make the same decision.

"Sebastian?" Rune's voice pulled him back to reality. "What's wrong?"

"No." Sebastian shook his head slightly, a smile appearing on his lips. "It's nothing, Lord Rune, let's return to camp."

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Rune nodded and turned to walk towards the outer city.

Sebastian followed behind him, but the light remained fixed on Rune, lingering there for a long time.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Rune!"

A voice came from behind, sounding somewhat urgent.

Rune stopped and turned around.

A young man is running this way.

He wore light leather armor, with a long sword hanging at his waist. He had a handsome face and short blond hair, but the tuft of hair sticking up on his head slightly ruined his appearance.

There was something very familiar to Rune burning in the man's eyes.

The will to fight.

That fighting spirit, that yearning to prove himself and to be recognized, leaped like flames in his eyes.

Cerabrae.

The leader of the only adamantite-grade adventurer party in the Dragon Kingdom, [Crystal Tears].

Rune recognized him. They had had a few brief exchanges when they visited the Dragon Kingdom in previous years.

But each time, this steel-class adventurer's attitude was anything but friendly.

It wasn't hostility, but more like a child whose beloved toy had been taken away, instinctively raising barbs in protest when facing the person who took it.

Serabreu ran up to Rune and stopped.

He bent down, his movements so fast it was as if he was eager to complete the process.

"First of all, thank you for coming to support the Dragon Kingdom once again and for being willing to undertake such a difficult task as killing the Orc King."

He then straightened up at lightning speed.

The movements were fluid and graceful, and the speed was so fast that it even created a considerable gust of air.

Rune even felt that the time it took him to bow was shorter than the time it took an ordinary warrior to swing his sword.

"Did this guy use a [martial skill]?"

Serabreu stood up straight, his eyes burning with fighting spirit as he stared directly at Rune.

"Then," he raised his voice, "while Her Majesty the Queen has entrusted you with such a heavy responsibility, it does not mean that you have already won."

Rune blinked.

What is he saying?

His mind went blank for a moment; Rune was somewhat confused about Serabray's thought process.

Seeing Rune's confused expression, Serabreu's lips curled up even more.

In his view, Rune's silence at this moment was a sign of admitting defeat.

He puffed out his chest, raised his chin slightly, and said in an almost authoritative tone, "To tell you the truth, if you fail your mission, Her Majesty the Queen will assign it back to me!"

His voice was full of pride, like an athlete who had already secured a substitute spot, showing off his eligibility.

Rune looked at him.

There was not a trace of joking on that upright face.

Those eyes, burning with fighting spirit, seemed to say, "You were only chosen because of good luck."

Rune's lips twitched slightly.

"All right."

He thought to himself silently.

I take back what I just said.

There are still people in this world who would do dangerous things just because a little girl begs them.

"How about it!" CeraBre raised his chin even higher, exuding an aura of "Are you scared?"

Rune looked at the growing pride in his eyes.

"Isn't this the Queen's backup plan?"

Rune thought to himself silently.

To be able to feel superior while being a backup option is quite an achievement.

"Mr. Serabroil," Rune almost laughed, "I understand."

"You know that much," Serabrae snorted, turned, and strode away.

His back was straight, his steps were brisk, and even the tuft of hair sticking up on his head seemed to exude a sense of triumph after a victorious battle.

Rune watched the departing figure.

I suddenly felt a little envious; such a pure idiot must have no worries.

I'm probably one of the few things that bothers him.

On the way back to camp.

The sun had already sunk behind the city walls, and the entire city was shrouded in an orange-red twilight.

The houses on both sides of the street cast long shadows, and the lingering warmth of the afternoon still lingered in the cracks of the stone pavement.

Sebastian walked beside Rune, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Aren't you angry about what happened just now, Rune?"

"What's there to be angry about?" Rune replied casually. "I won't argue with a lolicon."

Sebastian's expression began to look strange.

His self-glow lingered on Rune's face for a moment, then he silently looked away.

That being said, doesn't Lord Rune also like the petite and cute type?

However, out of respect for Rune, Sebastian did not say it aloud.

By the time we returned to camp, it was completely dark.

The campfires were already lit, their orange flames leaping between the tents, casting long and short shadows of the night watchmen.

The air was filled with the stench of blood.

Rune was slightly taken aback, then saw more than twenty sheep piled up at the entrance of the camp.

Its fur was relatively clean, indicating that it had been slaughtered recently, as blood was still dripping from its body.

An adjutant stepped forward, his face beaming with joy.

"My lord, this was sent by the Prime Minister as a token of his appreciation to the soldiers on their expedition."

Rune looked at the sheep and felt a pang of emotion.

The Dragon Kingdom already had a shortage of food, and meat was even scarcer. Bergman, that old fox, was unusually generous at this time.

He nodded.

"I'll grill everything tonight, so the brothers can have a good meal."

"Yes, sir!" the adjutant replied loudly, then turned and ran off to relay the order.

The atmosphere in the camp suddenly became lively.

The soldiers gathered around the campfire, turning the mutton skewers on sticks, the fat dripping into the fire and sizzling.

Some people have already started boasting about their past achievements, while others are whispering about the upcoming battle.

Rune did not join them.

He turned and walked towards his tent, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

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