Chapter 523

After Davey's statement, he remained silent. Instinctively, he grasped that this situation differed significantly from the norm. There existed a marked disparity between monsters and humans, and this discrepancy extended beyond the battlefield.

"They excel at gathering information. Throughout the turmoil across the continent, I've only encountered them once or twice."

This implied their proficiency in maintaining information secrecy and their stealthiness, akin to serpents. It could be inferred that they had already assimilated into society, with the possibility of some nobles from various nations aiding them.

"Do you believe that merely accumulating information and identifying them would suffice in defeating them? That's overly optimistic," Davey remarked.

"Which leads me to believe you had a compelling motive for such a conspicuous presence."

"Utilizing His Majesty, the Emperor, was a straightforward choice—a mercenary with connections to the Emperor. Beyond rank, this alone could grant us a significant advantage in terms of information."

"The crucial factor is legitimacy—a rationale for various entities, including the lords of these territories, to support you and the knights with information. Now, the knights can proudly bear the Emperor's name and access information otherwise inaccessible to ordinary citizens. There are many tales in the west of commoners who gained favor with the king and ascended in rank. It also raises questions about whether the demon world's tendency to venerate power has inadvertently been transmitted to the western continent."

Silence followed Davey's words.

"The primary reason for accompanying His Majesty was precisely that. His Majesty must have had his own motives for being here, but our primary objective is to trail the dark magicians and gather intelligence about them." Upon hearing this, Illyna nodded in quiet agreement.

"This is our expertise," Davey continued. "Have you ever wondered why the knights were initially divided into Anchor Knights, who remained stationed, and Roaming Knights, who ventured out? Ponder this, Teacher."

Boris took a sip from his glass. "I comprehend... The knights have been deeply immersed in battles against monsters for an extended period... Considering the perspective of the Grandmaster Knight, this explanation holds merit. However, they might exploit this opportunity to launch an attack. You realize that, at present, I am the only one unaffected, even though you consumed that potent poison."

Davey refilled his empty glass and drank. "Isn't that even better?"

Boris looked at Davey in surprise.

"Well, let's test each other's abilities first," Davey said, judging them to be numerous and wicked.

"What if they decide to flee now that they know we're here?"

"That's highly unlikely," Davey remarked with a sly smile, retrieving a crimson gem from his pocket.

Boris's eyes widened in recognition.

"Even if they attempt to escape, they will undoubtedly return."

Despite Davey's confidence, he recognized the need to conduct further research to identify those who remained elusive. This was precisely why he had orchestrated this situation. It was likely that they intended to perform some sort of ritual involving the Red Dragon Eye in Davey's possession.

Those who merely observed and retreated displayed cunning, while those who ventured closer to investigate demonstrated a level of thoughtfulness.

Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass reverberated as approximately 20 figures burst into the room. Ranging from experts to a few masters, they all moved faster than expected. Some of them headed toward the emperor, who had succumbed to unconsciousness due to excessive drinking. Their decision to disturb the already incapacitated emperor hinted at a clear purpose.

The astute emperor, quickly grasping the situation, had planned to use Davey as bait to draw them out. In this mutually beneficial arrangement, there were no complaints on either side.

A few of the intruders surrounded Davey, Illyna, and Boris, while the rest approached the knights who were now inebriated.

As formidable as the emperor was, even the Information Guild could not openly target this location. That made it an ideal setting for assailants to strike. In reality, it was as though bait had been intentionally laid out, assuming they possessed the intelligence to recognize it.

"That's the typical behavior of the most foolhardy," Davey observed. "Those who perceive this situation as an opportunity."

He shifted uncomfortably, his face flushed. While he boasted exceptional resilience, the potent liquor was undeniably affecting him. Specifically, he struggled to handle such a strong spirit. As the intoxication began to take hold, he paused, refraining from drawing his sword to avoid any mishaps. In his inebriated state, a single misstep with the blade could result in severe injuries.

"In circumstances like this," Davey muttered, "I should simply resort to hand-to-hand combat."

Indeed, there was a way to engage in combat while intoxicated. As a man in black attire lunged toward Davey, he evaded the incoming blade with a swaying movement, deliberately choosing not to draw his own sword.

With remarkable agility, Davey deflected another attack and, with a casual punch, left the assailant's face unrecognizably bruised.

[Heavenly Horse Defensive Stance]

[Drunk Fist Technique 1]

[Powerful Blow]

Whoosh!!! Thud!!!

With a tremendous crash, one attacker's face was smashed against the wall. Following this, Davey staggered around, expertly subduing each assailant one by one, rendering them incapacitated. The notion that being drunk hindered one's ability to fight was nothing but a misconception. There was truth in achieving a state of "no-mindedness," especially in combat. While it might not always apply to magic, it certainly wasn't limited to it.

Suddenly, a door from the second floor shattered. A man, clad in freshly minted dark attire, stumbled out, coughing up blood, pleading, "Save me..."

However, he was quickly restrained by a giant man with tanned skin—the Great Emperor of Contas. He leisurely walked out, grabbing the man, suggesting that his previous drunken state was nothing more than an act.

"Hmm... As expected, a dark magician. My predictions about associating with you were accurate. I wondered when they would appear," the Emperor remarked.

Davey replied, "We both used each other, so there's no need for further words."

"I feel the same way," the Emperor stated. Though the effects of the strong alcohol were still evident on his slightly reddened face, his desire for a fight with a worthy opponent appeared even more evident.

"Once this is over, can we have a match?" the Emperor asked.

"Not unless I gain something from it," Davey replied.

With a movement that appeared to mimic a drunkard, the Emperor swiftly grabbed the throat of a man in black and tore it apart. The tables turned in an instant, from the moment an ambusher had appeared. Moreover, the four knights on the floor seemed to be protected by Boris and Illyna.

"Were you pretending to be drunk?"

"Normally, even when drunk, we wouldn't succumb so easily," Davey commented.

"Shut up! We will kill the Emperor and the Saint, both of you! Execute the plan!" the apparent leader commanded. From the crowd, a bald man in a black robe, clearly of Eastern origin, stepped forward. He appeared distinct from the people of the Western continent.

"Damn, every time I use this, I lose skill points," he complained, and then began to create black sparks with his hands. "I will freeze all non-physical energy in a large area," he declared.

As he spoke, all mana seemed to come to a halt. Everyone felt powerless. Even Illyna, gripping her sword, appeared to waver. Boris gritted his teeth and braced himself.

"To freeze mana, interesting. A unique ability user, I presume?" the Emperor, who still held a man with one hand despite his own mana being frozen, asked. "Prince Davey, I too am vulnerable to unique abilities. Do you have a solution?" he inquired.

Davey clenched and then opened his hand. He too felt the effects of the frozen mana. The real issue was the overwhelming number of opponents. Even if Davey's physical body was in good condition, no matter how skilled he was, there would be limits.

"Let's employ strategies, not brute force."

Of course, there was a solution, but the consequences would be significant, causing him to hesitate. As he pondered deeply, Davey paused in his combat stance against the charging man and quickly reached out.

Zzzzang!

At the same time, a peculiar noise resonated, and the man staggered, then collapsed.

"Hey, Takoyaki! Are you certain you suppressed his mana?!"

"The skill's effect has definitely been applied."

"But he must possess monstrous physical abilities like us to still move."

"This darn... the duration is decreasing... Hurry! We can't hold out for long!"

"Ugh..."

Hearing the man in black clothes, Davey smirked and turned his gaze to the bald black magician who had cast a magical barrier.

'Takoyaki? It sounds like the name of a dish from Earth.'

Given that very few people from Earth had arrived with the power of Neltarid, it was not too surprising.

'But it's so weird. Why the name Takoyaki?'

"He doesn't even have a Katsuobushi on his head."

Davey was lost in thought, observing the enemies being pushed back by Illyna. She slowly began to tire, and Davey cracked his knuckles. Regardless of anything else, this kind of special ability was unique.

Typically, preparing such a magic circle would require a lot of advance preparation, but this seemed almost instantaneous. Although short-lived, it was a rather lethal power. In that case, Davey had to employ an even more forceful power.

Woong!

From within himself, he summoned the most alien power he possessed—the curse of Baersha, one of the princesses of the abyss. Her power was lethal, but she was merely a pitiful being, especially weak against Davey. Davey channeled Baersha's power over the bewildered bald foreigner, embedding a curse into him.

"Gah?! Wha... What?! My... My ID is being deleted?! Wait! Wa..."

Suddenly, the bald man's eyes bulged, and his body began to melt rapidly. At the same time, the strange barrier that had held the surroundings in place shattered, and mana began to flow again.

Woong!

A peculiar power started to flow within Davey, distinctly different from the divine messages of Goddess Freyja.

[In the name of the Goddess of Harmony, I bestow power upon you. Handpick the necessary individuals from the reckless foreigners. This too shall add to your strength.]

In essence, this meant he now had the power to eliminate those not selected, similar to what he had done moments ago. These were people who had entered through the game. Given their origin, it was impossible to completely banish them with mere death.

However, the fact that the man was erased with Baersha's power indicated that Davey now had the ability to break this vicious cycle. Neltarid might be the god who allowed these foreigners to appear, but for some reason, he had always shown favor toward Davey. Not that Davey would be easily fooled.

Woong!

Next, a strange noise echoed, followed by his status window activating on its own.

-Beep. Title [The Unfazed Summoner] 2nd unlock completed.

-Title [Saint] 2nd unlock completed.

-Title [Radical Experiment Enthusiast] ability has changed to constant activation upon its 2nd unlock.

-Title [One who Synchronized with the Soul] 2nd unlock completed.

...

"Let's build a good relationship," Davey said.