Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

The High Priest's voice abruptly stopped.

Then came a rapid, almost piercing shout—

"Stop! Death! Death!"

The air in the sanctuary seemed to freeze for a moment.

That shout seemed to tear open some invisible barrier.

Rune had never heard the High Priest speak in such an urgent voice before. Even when facing Rune, who had revealed his identity, the old man was filled with piety and excitement.

But now, the voice carried genuine panic, as if it had been torn apart by something.

The sickle was not put down.

But no further action was taken.

It rested on Rune's neck like a silver arc frozen in the air. Rune could feel the person behind him breathing, very gently.

Then, that voice rang out.

"High Priest."

Lazy, with a touch of coolness. Like the first snowflake falling on a lake in winter.

"Even if this child is your illegitimate son, you cannot bring him into the Sanctuary. This is a sacred place where the relics of the six great gods are kept, and even the Supreme High Priest cannot make an exception."

Rune's lips twitched.

He couldn't see the person behind him, but he could sense the nonchalance in their tone, as if they were discussing the weather or what to have for dinner.

This casual attitude formed an eerie contrast with the cold, sharp scythe held to his neck.

The High Priest's expression changed, and he was about to speak when he saw the scythe slowly lowered.

"However..."

The voice behind him trailed off, carrying a hint of languid compromise, "Since you brought it yourself, there must be some reason."

Rune felt the pressure on his neck disappear and instinctively turned his head.

Standing behind him was a girl who looked to be no more than fifteen years old.

Her hair was a striking contrast of black and white. From left to right, pure black and pure white were separated at the top of her head, like two distinct rivers flowing down her back. The hair fell smoothly, with a few strands deliberately hanging by her ears, as if trying to conceal something.

Heterochromia. The left eye is pure white, and the right eye is deep black. The colors are exactly opposite to the hair color, as if it were a deliberate symmetry.

That face was so exquisite it seemed unreal. The features were like a work of art meticulously sculpted by a god, possessing a beauty that seemed otherworldly. Yet the expression was indifferent, almost aloof. Despite the youthful appearance, it possessed a composure completely out of place for its age.

"This child looks..."

Jue Shi Jue Ming tilted his head, his heterochromatic eyes scrutinizing Rune with a hint of curiosity.

"Quite cute."

She reached out and naturally patted Rune's head.

Rune froze.

The hand was very gentle, as if afraid of breaking something fragile. The fingertips were soft and slightly cool.

"stop!"

The High Priest's voice rang out again, this time tinged with obvious panic, "Death and Death! This is a grave offense against the God of Judgment!"

"The God of Judgment?"

Her desperate movements froze, but her hand remained on Rune's head. She looked down at Rune, a hint of confusion flashing in her heterochromatic eyes.

"High Priest," her voice was still languid, but with a hint of seriousness, "you mean...?"

The High Priest took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply.

"This is the seventh god of the theocracy." His voice was solemn and clear, "and also the lord of all gods, as spoken of by the God of Death—the God of Judgment."

The hand of absolute death stopped above Rune's head.

She blinked.

Then those heterochromatic eyes curved into a smile, revealing a half-smile.

"But..." she gently patted Rune's head, "this child doesn't seem very strong."

The hand was still on his head, gently patting him repeatedly, like soothing a small, ruffled animal. Zetsuki's expression remained indifferent, but the movement carried a strange...tenderness?

Rune blushed slightly. After all, in his previous life, he could only talk about it online, but in reality, who wouldn't like to have their head patted by a 100-year-old legal little girl with a mask on?

There's a reason for that...

The High Priest was about to speak again to stop him, but suddenly stopped.

He keenly noticed the fleeting blush on Rune's face.

It only lasted for a moment.

But that does exist.

The High Priest's expression subtly changed.

"Cough cough."

He cleared his throat, and the urgent posture he had just displayed to stop Jue Si Jue suddenly vanished. In its place was a respectful attitude that was almost deliberate.

"Lord God of Judgment."

He bowed deeply. "Please allow me to apologize. I suddenly remembered that I have an urgent matter to attend to—"

Rune paused for a moment.

"As for the next matters," the High Priest straightened up, a perfectly measured apology on his face, "I'll have Antilin introduce you. Her understanding of the Sanctuary is no less than mine, and she'll surely satisfy you."

"Huh?" Rune blurted out instinctively, "But wasn't it just like that a moment ago..."

"This is an urgent matter that must be addressed immediately."

The High Priest's tone was sincere, but he had already begun to back away.

Rune felt that something was off.

Just now, this old man was leisurely "lecturing" him, from the descent of the six great gods to the establishment of the theocracy, and then to the fall of the six great gods, his tone so relaxed as if he had a whole day to teach him.

Why is there suddenly an emergency?

But Rune nodded anyway: "...Then go ahead."

"Thank you for your understanding, God of Judgment."

The High Priest bowed again and then turned around.

He walked very fast.

He's moving faster than an old man.

Rune even saw his figure flash between the pillars of the Sanctuary, creating a slight breeze; the speed was so fast that Rune could barely see it.

Did he use martial arts techniques?

Rune's lips twitched. What kind of government affairs could be this urgent?

But Rune was also a little happy.

Since the Supreme High Priest had been slowly explaining things to me until now, and only left when someone could take my place, it seems that I, as a "god who is temporarily unable to use his power," have a pretty high priority.

Rune quickly snapped out of his thoughts, because that hand patted his head again.

"Lord God of Judgment?"

The voice of absolute death came from above, still with that cold tone, but for some reason, Rune felt there was a hint of... playfulness in it?

Why are you blushing?

Rune: "…………"

He looked up and met those heterochromatic eyes.

Her left eye was pure white, and her right eye was pitch black. Her youthful face remained expressionless, but Rune inexplicably felt that she was smiling.

And that hand was still on his head.

It seems that Zesshi Zesshi doesn't respect himself as the God of Judgment very much. Is it because he is too weak, or because he looks too small right now?

"Um," Rune cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound more authoritative, "you can take your hand away now."