Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

The count sat down and leaned back in his chair.

"But you're quite smart," he said. "Considering you're only six, that's already very good."

Rune's lips twitched slightly.

Six years old.

Yes, he is six years old now.

He decided to temporarily retract his earlier comment about being "heartless" and instead call him a "heartless great Onmyoji".

To a time traveler, such praise is almost like sarcasm.

"If I hadn't already asked Lajus," the Count continued, "I would have been completely fooled by your act."

Rune's heart skipped a beat.

Did you ask Lajus?

What did that girl say?

Various possibilities flashed through his mind—could Lajus have recited all those lines from the chivalric novels to her father?

"Your sister said you stayed behind to 'purify the demon's soul.'" The count's tone carried an enigmatic quality.

Okay, he really said it himself.

Rune fell silent, his head bowed, and said nothing.

"The mere River family." The count suddenly changed his tone, a hint of disdain in his voice. "Such minor nobles are no big deal to kill."

Rune looked up at his father with some surprise.

"The heir of the prestigious Aindora family," the count's gaze fell upon him, his brow furrowing slightly, "and you've even stabbed yourself a few times? That's outrageous!"

Although these words were a rebuke, Rune clearly heard a hint of... relief in them?

wrong.

It seems like there's still a hint of disdain.

It's like that subtle feeling of "Why is my son so insecure?"

Rune blinked.

It seems my judgment of my father was a little off?

He thought his father would give him a severe scolding, then lock him in solitary confinement for three months, beat him, and make him write a 3,000-word self-criticism—probably on parchment, and if his handwriting wasn't good, he'd have to start over.

Is that all?

So what if he was killed?

"Father," Rune began tentatively, "aren't you angry?"

The count glanced at him.

"I'm leaving tomorrow to go back to the family territory for a while," he said. "I'll come back once this matter has completely calmed down."

Rune paused for a moment.

Return to the territory?

He had just been praising his father's open-mindedness in his heart.

really.

As expected, things don't come that easily.

"Father," Rune asked tentatively, "how long will you be staying?"

The count picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip.

"It depends."

What's with all that bragging about "killing him is no big deal"? In the end, they still had to send him away to avoid the limelight.

Rune sighed inwardly, but maintained a respectful expression on his face.

"Yes, Father."

"And—" the count changed the subject.

Rune's heart jumped again.

"The tail wasn't cleaned properly."

The count's tone returned to its usual calm, as if he were discussing what to eat that night.

"That commoner girl."

He paused.

"Kill them in a bit."

Rune paused for a moment.

What?

"What did you say?"

"That commoner girl," the count repeated, "she saw you, she saw Lacus, she saw the scene. Keeping her alive is a potential problem."

Rune opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.

He could tell his father was serious.

That tone, that look—it wasn't a joke, nor was it a test. It was stating a matter-of-fact, perfectly normal decision.

killed.

Two words, light and airy, like saying the weather is nice today.

Rune's mind flashed back to the small figure huddled against the wall—a dusty face, swollen red eyes, and that glance back as Lahoz led him out of the alley.

That was the life that Lahoz bravely saved.

Those were the "innocent" people that he personally ordered Lajus to protect.

Rune didn't want Lahoz's efforts to be in vain.

"Father."

Rune raised his head, his face showing an expression of serious thought.

"Could we spare that commoner girl?"

The count's brow twitched slightly, but he remained silent.

"I didn't mean to release her," Rune quickly added. "I meant—take her back."

"Take it back?"

"Take her back to the territory too." Rune's mind raced. "Killing her would certainly keep the secret. But if we bring her back and make her one of ours, that would also keep the secret."

He paused, observing his father's expression.

"Besides, killing a civilian only eliminates one potential threat, while keeping her provides another tool. Keep her—"

Rune didn't finish his sentence.

He waited for his father's reaction.

The count looked at him, something changing in his eyes.

It's not anger.

It's more like a... re-examination.

"You mean," the count said slowly, "that she become a suicide soldier?"

"More or less." Rune nodded. "Laqis saved her, and she naturally feels grateful to Laqis. This bond is stronger than anything else; killing her would be a waste."

The count remained silent for a moment.

The silence made Rune uneasy, but he forced himself to keep his expression calm.

Then, the count nodded slightly.

"That's interesting."

Rune breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, he spoke again.

"Then, Father—"

He cautiously probed.

"Can Lajus come back with us?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature in the room seemed to drop by ten degrees.

The count's expression changed.

That's something even more dangerous than when I said "kill".

The count didn't speak, he just looked at Rune.

It was as if they were saying, "You dare to make this request after causing such a big mess with Lahoz."

The gaze that fell upon him felt like a mountain pressing down on him.

"The butler will take you back to the territory tomorrow. Lajus will stay here."

His tone was flat and left no room for argument.

Rune lowered his head and obediently replied, "Yes."

In her mind, she was screaming: Just you wait. If you keep raising Lajus, she'll go astray sooner or later. When she starts acting like a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur), you'll be in for a world of hurt.

Wait, it seems that Lahagi's chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) is already showing signs of developing.

It's definitely better to leave the blame to Dad.

Rune stood up from the ground; his legs were a little numb.

He rubbed his knee and glanced at the count.

"Father, I'll go back to my room now."

The count ignored him.

Rune wisely withdrew.

The corridor was quiet, the magic crystals on the wall lamps still glowing, casting long shadows of his. As he walked, he mentally reviewed the conversation—his father's attitude was more relaxed than he had expected, returning to the territory was good, it would allow him to make some arrangements in advance.

As for this mess, well, we've done what we were supposed to do.

The rest is up to Dad to worry about.

Rune pushed open the door to his room.

Then he froze.

Lajus was sitting on the edge of his bed, her legs dangling in the air. Her eyes lit up immediately when she saw him come in, but she tried her best to keep a serious expression on her face.

"Onii-chan, you're back."