Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

The moonlight, like water, spilled into the courtyard behind the mansion.

The courtyard was small, but it was kept extremely tidy. The stone-paved ground shimmered with a faint silvery-white light under the moonlight, the low hedges around it were neatly trimmed, and several rose bushes climbed along the base of the wall, their delicate fragrance carried on the night breeze.

This place, which was originally where Rune occasionally practiced his swordsmanship, has now become the arena where he confronts Sebastian.

Rune stood in the center of the courtyard, a longsword in his right hand, its blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight. He wore light leather armor for training, and his golden hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze.

Sebastian stood ten steps away on the opposite side.

Sebastian, dressed in a black tuxedo, stood with his hands hanging naturally at his sides and his back straight, like an old pine tree rooted in a crack in a stone slab.

"Mr. Sebastian."

Rune's voice broke the silence of the courtyard.

"Don't you need a weapon?"

When Rune said those words, he himself felt they were somewhat superfluous.

He knew, of course, that Sebastian didn't need weapons. A level 100 dragonman could probably deal with a warrior like him, a so-called "hero," without even needing to use a single finger.

But in order to maintain this persona, these kinds of things still have to be said.

A gentleman's demeanor should not be lost.

Sebastian shook his head slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his wrinkled face.

"I'm not good at using weapons."

His voice was steady, as if he were stating a very simple fact.

"It's alright, Mr. Rune, please come at me."

Rune's lips twitched slightly.

...not skilled in using weapons.

Sebastian's professional levels are: Monk Lv10, Martial King Lv10, Forward Lv5, Inner Qi Monk Lv15, Outer Qi Monk Lv5, and others.

The total combat power is Lv100.

He is the number one fighter in Nazarick in terms of pure melee combat ability.

It's true that I'm not good at using weapons.

Rune took a deep breath and suppressed those distracting thoughts.

"Then I'm going up."

Even if you know you can't win, you still have to give the necessary reminders.

Try to build up your goodwill, lest you actually get punched in the head by Rune.

Sebastian nodded slightly, raised his hands to his chest, and assumed a fighting stance.

Rune lowered his waist, shifted his weight slightly forward, and gripped the sword hilt tightly with his right hand.

He silently recited it in his heart.

[Accelerated water flow]

The moment the martial skill was activated, a cool sensation spread from the top of my head, as if something had gently stirred my mind.

My nerves were on high alert.

Everything around slowed down: the path of moonlight, the rustling of the night wind through the hedges, even the occasional sound of horses' hooves from the distant street were all drawn out into slow, drawn-out tones.

This martial skill temporarily accelerates the user's nerves, increasing attack speed. The cost is the accumulation of fatigue in the brain; the more it is used, the more exhausted the user becomes afterward.

But Rune only needs one sword strike now.

[Super Slash]

The longsword slashed down from above.

It moved so fast that it left only a silvery-white afterimage in the moonlight.

The blade tore through the air with a sharp whistling sound, heading straight for Sebastian's shoulder.

Rune showed no mercy with this sword strike.

Against an opponent like Sebastian, holding back would be somewhat unnecessary. Rune also needed this strike to probe Nazarick's interest in [Martial Arts].

The moment the sword blade fell.

Sebastian moved.

But he moved very little, merely meeting the falling sword blade with his fist.

"clang--!"

The sound of metal clashing echoed in the courtyard, crisp and short, like the tolling of an invisible bell.

Rune felt a sharp, intense pain in his hand, from the base of his thumb to his palm, as he gripped the sword.

It didn't feel like I was chopping a fist into flesh and blood; it felt more like I was chopping a piece of steel... no, harder than steel.

The sword was still trembling slightly, emitting a low buzzing sound.

The fact that it didn't shatter might be because Sebastian showed mercy.

Sebastian's glove wasn't even torn on his fist.

Rune stared at the fist, which was covered by an intact white glove, and remained silent for a second.

Then he sheathed his sword and took a step back.

Let's stop here.

Rune's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

These were the rules established before the battle began.

Stop immediately with a single strike.

When Rune said this to Sebastian, his reason was that he was "afraid that Mr. Sebastian would get hurt."

After all, in terms of their outward identities...

Sebastian is a "merchant steward from the Empire," while Rune is "the foremost expert among the kingdom's nobles."

If a noble expert were to accidentally injure an old steward during a sparring match, it would sound bad if word got out.

Sebastian accepted this reason at the time.

But Rune knew why he brought up the rule.

He was afraid he would be beaten to death.

Rune sheathed his longsword and looked up at Sebastian.

"It seems there was no harm done."

Sebastian was looking down at his fist.

The fist remained in the same stance as before, the white glove spotless, without a single scratch or speck of dust. Sebastian's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Is this all the [martial arts] Lord Ainz specifically instructed me to learn? No, Lord Ainz can't be wrong."

Sebastian looked at it for a few seconds, then looked up, his expression somewhat subtle.

The situation became a little awkward for a moment.

The moonlight quietly spilled between the two of them, and the night wind rustled through the hedges, its sound exceptionally clear, as if reminding them of the casualness of the attack just now.

Rune could feel his breathing was still slightly rapid, while Sebastian opposite him didn't even flinch, as if he had just caught a falling leaf.

Rune stood there, waiting for Sebastian to speak.

"Mr. Rune."

Sebastian's voice remained steady, but there was a hint of seriousness in his tone.

"I know you're worried about me getting hurt, but please don't worry."

He paused, then reached into the inside pocket of his tuxedo and took out a scroll.

"I carry a healing scroll with me."

Sebastian waved the scroll in front of Rune, then put it away again.

"So please don't worry."

His gaze fell on Rune, gentle and sincere.

"Please use your [Martial Skill] to attack with all your might."

Rune stood still, looking at Sebastian's serious face.

He was serious.

Rune opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But the words stuck in his throat.

What did you say?

To say, "Mr. Sebastian, I have already used [Martial Arts]"?

That would be so embarrassing.

After all, the excuse that Sebastian had just given Rune had already been used against him.

Rune's lips twitched slightly.

This kind of unconscious humiliation is the most damaging.

Rune's fingers gently rubbed the hilt of the sword, feeling the cool touch of the metal on his fingertips.

However, judging from Sebastian's performance just now, Ainz probably only misjudged the strength of the [Martial Arts], and did not suspect him. This is good news.