Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

The next morning, Rune was awakened by a slight noise.

He opened his eyes and found the bed beside him empty. A trace of warmth remained on the pillow, indicating that Lajus had only recently left.

Rune sat up and rubbed his eyes.

The sky outside the window was just beginning to brighten, and the morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, drawing a pale golden line on the floor. In the distance, the faint chirping of birds and the subtle sounds of servants beginning their work could be heard.

"You're awake so early?" Rune muttered, turning over and getting out of bed.

After he finished washing up and changing his clothes, he came out of the room and saw Lahas was already standing at the end of the corridor waiting for him. Today she was wearing a light blue dress with a white bow at the neckline, and her golden hair was braided into two loose braids that hung down in front of her chest, making her look like a delicate doll.

"Onii-chan!" Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Rune. "Hurry, hurry, the sun's already up!"

Rune glanced at the rising sun outside the window and remained silent for a second.

"What time is it...?"

"It's getting late!" Lahas ran over, grabbed his sleeve, and pulled him outside. "The market is busiest in the morning, Butler Aldred said so!"

Rune was dragged along by her, and sighed helplessly.

Two small figures walked along the streets of the capital towards the market.

"Look, Onii-chan!" Lagis exclaimed excitedly, pointing into the distance, "What's that pointed roof over there?"

"It's probably a temple," Rune glanced at it.

"A temple? Which god is it dedicated to?"

"I don't know," Rune replied lazily. "It could be the water god, or it could be the earth god. There are many temples in the capital, and they all look pretty much the same."

Lahoz nodded thoughtfully, then turned her gaze back to the market entrance.

Although it's called an entrance, it's actually a street that's not very wide, with all sorts of stalls crammed on both sides. They sell cloth, iron, grain, medicine—you can find almost anything you can think of here.

The air was filled with a mixture of smells: the aroma of baked bread, the salty smell of cured meat, the fresh scent of fruits and vegetables, and the dusty smell stirred up by the crowd.

"Wow—" Lajus stood at the street corner, her eyes wide open, "It's so lively..."

"Let's go." Rune took her hand. "Stay close to me, don't get lost."

The two squeezed into the crowd.

Lacus was curious about everything. She stopped in front of a fabric stall and stared at the colorful fabrics for a long time; then she stopped in front of the blacksmith's stall and stared blankly at the shiny knives and farm tools; finally, she was attracted by a stall selling candied fruit and looked at Rune longingly.

Rune took out his money, bought a small packet, and stuffed it into her hand.

Lahoz held the bag of fruit, took a small bite, and her eyes immediately curved into crescent moons.

"It's delicious!" she mumbled. "Onii-chan, you should eat some too!"

She held the fruit to Rune's lips.

Rune lowered his head and took a bite.

It is indeed quite sweet.

The two continued walking. Lahoz ate fruit while looking around and asking questions.

"Onii-chan, what's that smoking thing?"

"It's probably a barbecue stall."

"What about that? That place where there's a long queue?"

"They sell bread, right?"

The market was getting more and more crowded, with people jostling shoulder to shoulder. Rune held Lajus's hand tightly, afraid that she would be separated from him in the jostling. Lajus, on the other hand, was not afraid. Instead, she found it novel and would occasionally stand on tiptoe to peek into the crowd.

As the sun rose higher, the market grew increasingly lively. Lahoz had long since finished her fruit and her eyes were now fixed on the honey cake stall.

Just as Rune was about to take out his money, he suddenly heard a faint sound.

It sounded like crying.

It was very soft and oppressive, almost inaudible amidst the cacophony of voices.

Rune stopped and frowned.

"Onii-chan?" Lagis noticed his unusual behavior. "What's wrong?"

Rune listened intently; the sound seemed to be coming from a nearby alley. He didn't want to get involved, but there was something in the crying that couldn't be ignored—despair.

"It's Baron Rivian! Another little girl has fallen victim to this," the stall owner suddenly said. "Poor child, may the gods protect her."

Baron Rivière, an honorary baron residing in the capital, is in cahoots with Eight Fingers. He is likely one of Eight Fingers' direct "suppliers."

Rune's mind raced through information about the Baron.

This type of noble is among the lowest ranks of nobles in a country like the Kingdom of Ri Yestege.

Although the nobles also feed on the blood of commoners, the fact that they personally participate in such activities is still looked down upon by other nobles.

Even so, Baron Rivion was still a member of the aristocracy, and interfering with the "hunting" activities of other nobles would cause unnecessary trouble.

This "meddling" behavior might even offend his father, who might then think Rune is useless and create a new account.

So, relying on Ainz Ooal Gown would turn his career from one of bringing his own investment to one of being a disfavored heir forced to seek help from the Great Tomb of Nazarick, causing his status to plummet.

"...The risks are too great, and the benefits are disproportionate."

Rune mentally brought this matter to a close. It was the most beneficial and rational decision he could make.

But when that cry, that faint, desperate cry belonging to a child, entered his ears again, his loosened fist clenched uncontrollably.

"It cannot be repaired."

He cursed inwardly. Not for others, but for himself.

She cursed herself, saying that even though she was a time traveler, had read the original work, and knew about the evil deeds of the nobles in this kingdom, why did she still feel a dull ache in her heart when she heard the crying of a little girl she didn't know?

The pain was mild and unfamiliar, yet it created a crack in all the mental preparation he had just made.

He took a deep breath and suppressed that pointless emotion.

"Let's go."

He took Lahoz's hand and stepped forward.

This wasn't his business, nor was it his responsibility. He could simply take Lajus and leave, continue strolling through the market, buying honey cakes, and everything would be as if nothing had happened. He would still be the noble heir to the Eindora family, that…

But suddenly my hand felt empty.

"...that qualified transmigrator who, in order to survive, can coldly observe from the sidelines."

Rune's thoughts came to an abrupt halt.

He turned around abruptly.

Lahoz had already rushed into that alley.

Her figure was small, her light blue skirt billowing as she ran, her golden braids swaying behind her. Sunlight streamed down from above, falling on her hair and making the golden hue almost blinding.

"So handsome..." Rune murmured unconsciously.