Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

"Step back, Gehrman."

The sound came from behind the cavalry ranks; it wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Gehrman's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, and he froze for a moment upon hearing this. He glanced back, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just mumbled "Yes," released the hilt, took three steps back, and stood beside Rune's horse.

His scarred face was filled with reluctance, like a large dog being forcibly dragged away from its prey.

Rune remained outwardly calm, but his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

That guy, Gehrman...

Rune cursed inwardly.

I asked you to be the bad guy who stopped the car, not to actually fight. You dared to draw your sword against a level 100 dragonman? Good grief, you almost wiped out the whole party.

Rune took a deep breath, suppressing the surging fear.

He dismounted.

His movements were unhurried, his boots making soft, muffled thuds on the ground. Moonlight streamed down from above, illuminating his mithril armor with a cold, silvery sheen.

He walked up to Sebastian and stopped three steps away. This distance was neither offensive nor deliberately distancing.

Then Rune raised his right hand, placed it in front of his chest, and bowed slightly.

The movements were neither hurried nor slow, and every detail was precise and accurate—this was a common etiquette among nobles, which maintained decorum while expressing sufficient respect.

"I am Rune Albein Drew Eindora." He straightened up, meeting Sebastian's gaze, his voice carrying just the right amount of apology. "I have failed to properly manage my subordinates and have offended Your Excellency. Please forgive me."

Sebastian sat on the driver's seat, looking down at the young man.

The face under the moonlight looked young, around twenty years old, with golden hair gently swaying in the night breeze.

When the young man dismounted, Sebastian immediately noticed that his movements were steady, lacking the impetuousness often seen in young people, as well as the arrogance typical of noble children.

Sebastian also noticed some other details.

When the burly man named Gehrman was dismissed, what flashed in his eyes was not just obedience, but also a deeper, almost instinctive trust.

This is not something that can be forced out by the authority of nobles, but something that can only be cultivated through years of fighting side by side.

And those eyes.

Under the moonlight, it was clear that the light green eyes were clean and were looking at him calmly, neither dodging nor being aggressive.

"Sebastian".

The old man gave his name in a low, steady voice, without returning the greeting.

Rune didn't seem to care, nodded, and got straight to the point.

"Has Mr. Sebastian noticed a so-called 'mercenary group' in this area that makes a living by plundering?"

Rune's tone became serious, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Sebastian was silent for a moment.

Mercenary group.

Those bandits that Shalltear dealt with were indeed better equipped than ordinary thieves, and their actions were more organized; it must be them.

At the same time, Sebastian also thought of the fate of those bandits, their corpses drained of blood by the vampire bride, and the unlucky guy whose head was severed with a casual wave of Shalltear's hand.

Those scenes are not suitable to be associated with me, who is carrying out a mission.

"No." Sebastian's voice remained as steady as ever. "We haven't encountered any suspicious people along the way."

As he said this, he calmly met Rune's gaze, his face devoid of any extraneous expression.

Rune didn't seem to care about the answer. He simply nodded, as if he had expected such a response.

"That's good," he said, then paused, his gaze lingering on Sebastian for a moment before sweeping over the seemingly ordinary carriage.

"However—" Rune's voice held a hint of hesitation, "this road is still not safe. Although those bandits have temporarily disappeared, they may still reappear. You didn't bring any guards..."

His gaze darted back and forth between Sebastian and the carriage.

"Should we send troops to protect him?"

These words were spoken very sincerely, even carrying a touch of the enthusiasm unique to young people.

Sebastian looked at him but did not answer immediately.

The moonlight fell on the young man's face, illuminating his expression clearly. His eyes were serious, and his lips were slightly pursed, as if he were waiting for an answer.

He was indeed worried.

Sebastian made his judgment in his mind.

A young lord, leading his cavalry regiment to suppress bandits, encountered a lone traveler on the road and offered to divide his troops to protect him. In Sebastian's view, this was an act that conformed to the category of "goodwill" in human society.

"No need," Sebastian refused decisively, though his tone wasn't harsh. "We're going in different directions, so there's no need to trouble Mr. Eindora."

Rune paused for a moment.

Under the moonlight, a thoughtful expression appeared on that young face.

"Your Excellency," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of probing, "I have a request that I cannot make."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow slightly.

"I have led my cavalry regiment in several attempts to wipe out this band of robbers," Rune said, his tone becoming somewhat troubled, "but each time we have come up empty-handed. It seems they always manage to get wind of our arrival and retreat in advance."

He paused, his gaze falling on Sebastian, whose light green eyes seemed to hold a kind of unskilled calculation unique to young people.

"So I was thinking, if Your Excellency walks in front, and the cavalry follows behind, maintaining a certain distance..."

Rune didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already quite clear.

Use this carriage as bait.

Gehrman's voice came from behind: "Sir, this—"

The voice carried a clear disapproval. The burly man took a step forward, as if to say something, but Rune had already raised his hand and waved it gently.

Gehrman shut his mouth, but his brow furrowed into a knot on his scarred face.

Under the moonlight, the old man's expression remained unchanged.

But Sebastian's gaze lingered on Rune for a long time.

He was observing.

The flaws in the proposal are too obvious.

If the goal is simply to suppress bandits, one could simply follow them quietly without their knowledge, which would likely make them more effective as bait.

A night breeze blew through the forest, ruffling Rune's golden hair.

Sebastian looked at Rune.

There was no trace of calculation on that young face. His eyes were clean and clear, revealing only a frank and almost innocent honesty.

So, Mr. Aindora was actually worried about us being attacked by bandits.

This indirect act of kindness warmed Sebastian's heart.

"It is because there are such people, people who want to help the weak, that I cannot hate humanity."

Sebastian smiled inwardly.