Chapter 495: Sacrifice the Flesh to Cut the Enemy Bones
"Davey, did you happen to be aware of our recent loss of contact with them?" Shayir Renda, one of the twins, inquired cautiously.
Davey had no reason to obscure the truth in such matters. Deception was unnecessary, and there was no justification for withholding crucial information about how to reach the Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Range.
In stark contrast to other knight orders, Davey's connection with the Alpha Reinforcement Knight Order was peculiar and discreet. Their unorthodox approach held the promise of unparalleled power.
"I was not aware of the situation. I have heard rumors about the existence of other Last Wisp Knight Orders. However, let's be candid - would they readily disclose the names and locations of those orders to an apprentice knight?"
Davey had already been promoted and was now an official knight.
"So, what is the reason for your desire to journey to the Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Range?" Shayir Renda asked.
"I have a specific destination beyond the Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Ranges that I must reach," Davey replied.
A hushed silence fell over Davey's colleagues as they absorbed his words.
Lucia Shelman was the one to break the silence. She said, "May the blessings and protection of the First Saintess Daphne accompany you. That's reassuring. If you had claimed knowledge of their secrets, the Knight Commander would have been understandably wary of you."
‘Knight Commander?’
Hegg smiled awkwardly when he noticed Davey's gaze.
"It's like this, you know. When the traitor, Gaor, died, there were significant changes in the knight order's personnel. There are no issues for low-ranking knights like us, but it's an entirely different story for the high-ranking members. Since then, several high-ranking personnel have been replaced. Currently, Clomaentro is leading the Alpha Reinforcement Knight Order."
From what Davey had learned, Clomaentro was a member of the knight order who had been actively working in the outside world, and he was known for his strong-willed nature.
"If it's that guy, he will definitely take action if he learns that you know the order's secrets. He might even be willing to eliminate all the knights and members of the order," Lucia Shelman's partner, Paladin Fildyr, jokingly remarked, earning an awkward chuckle from the others.
Davey replied confidently, "Hmm. No matter how stubborn I am, I will not be wary or cautious of our benefactors."
At that moment, a voice softly whispered into everyone's ears, causing them to freeze in place. Fildyr, who had not noticed when the man arrived, turned toward him with a cold sweat dripping down his back.
"Knight Chancellor! You've arrived!"
The Knight Chancellor acknowledged, "That's right, Member Fildyr. Thank you for the timely introduction."
Fildyr stammered, "It's... It's nothing!"
The other members of the knight order quickly made their exit, fear etched on their faces.
"Knight Davey O'Rowane, I believe we haven't met in person before," the man, who appeared quite young, greeted Davey with a smile.
Though the man looked young, he was already a Sword Master. Sword Masters were beings that had undergone a transformation and no longer aged, making it difficult for Davey to determine his exact age. However, one thing was clear: the man's strength must be extraordinary to achieve Sword Master status at such a young age.
"I'm Davey O'Rowane. You must be the Knight Chancellor."
"I'm a bit embarrassed to say this, but Alpha Reinforcement still needs a lot of assistance from you. I am Clomaentro, from the Last Wisp's Headquarters. Please, feel free to call me Clomaen."
"Nice to meet you," Davey said, extending his hand with a broad smile. As their hands met, he felt a strange energy flow through his fingertips.
‘This guy is playing a joke from the very beginning.’
"Did you come here because you have something to tell me?"
Clomaen looked at Davey in surprise when he saw him broach the subject calmly, then nodded in agreement. "To be honest, I didn't believe it when I heard it from Instructor Boris, but... this is truly astonishing."
His hands were covered with sweat as he withdrew from Davey.
‘This uncle has hyperhidrosis[1].’
"I've actually been pondering what to do about your presence."
"So, you're considering getting rid of me?"
"Absolutely not. We're facing a severe shortage of members in the Knight Order, and we've been through and are still going through many challenges. On top of that, we're actively searching for a group of black mages lurking on the continent."
"That's not something the knight order should be concerned about."
"Didn't the knights suffer and almost falter once because we were too inflexible and stubborn?"
Davey fell into silence at his words. Afterward, Clomaen led him and Illyna to his office, being quite transparent with his thoughts.
"The most important thing in the world is information. This secret knight order, the Last Wisp, followed their values wholeheartedly and cut ties with the public. However, that complacency has cost us dearly. I believe it's not the right path."
Davey had to concur with him on that point. "I share the same perspective. Of course, there may be some pushback."
"Indeed. That's why I have no other choice but to be cautious. I'm in a position where I must protect the Last Wisp. I believe you would be the perfect partner for this role."
Clomaen stood out from the other knight commanders who excelled in information gathering but were vulnerable in unexpected areas.
"It's essential not to be too forthright. A bit of flexibility might be able to safeguard this knight order."
"As long as you don't overdo it, I think it's a wise choice."
Clomaen was quite skilled with words.
"So, why did you come to see me?"
"Didn't you already know? Oh, by the way, you can't deceive me," Clomaen said, chuckling quietly. "We lost contact with the Knight Order stationed to protect and monitor the Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Ranges. I believe you must have heard this story from Knight Fildyr, haven't you?"
"Yes."
Upon hearing Davey's reply, Clomaen took a sip of his wine and chuckled bitterly.
"They didn't encounter any of the first-class dangerous demonic beasts known to lurk in the Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Ranges. In fact, the ones they encountered weren't the demons or vampires causing a commotion on the continent these days."
"I assume you already know who they encountered, right?"
"I've received similar reports before," Clomaen said. The following words took Davey by surprise. "Do you know about those foreigners?"
‘Foreigners.’
A small number of foreigners were wandering the continent, hailing from another dimension that viewed this world as a mere game. Currently, only one foreigner was staying in the Tionis Continent.
"Quest..." Davey mumbled, a brief frown crossing his face.
A glint of excitement sparkled in Clomaen's eyes as he observed Davey's reaction. "Boy, do you know something?"
"No, I'm completely clueless," Davey replied calmly.
Clomaen grinned at Davey's composed response. "Their magic resembles ordinary magic but operates on a different system, almost like an illusion. The same applies to their swordsmanship; it seems as though they're not utilizing their full powers."
"Are there any witnesses?"
"That's a secret."
The fact that Clomaen was willing to share this story with Davey indicated that he had high expectations for him.
‘Earth... Davey, there's a high chance that they're from there.’
‘That's right. I had hoped they wouldn't overstep boundaries. But how can someone who views this land as a game understand the profound significance of life?’
According to the periodic reports sent by Aina, the foreigners appeared to be undergoing significant adjustments and calibrations in the midst of their battles. What did this imply? It meant that even though they had taken others' lives, the blood that would flow from their victims' bodies would not be red but of another color. In other words, these humans were marked by elements that went beyond mere combat, affecting their sanity and mental well-being.
‘To be honest, does any of this even make sense? Davey, what's your perspective?’
‘Perserque, that god Neltarid. Has he truly taken root on Earth?’
There was something that Davey couldn't comprehend, no matter how hard he pondered.
‘As long as we catch one more person and investigate, I'm sure the answers will surface.’
So far, approximately fifty people had crossed over from Earth. While their numbers weren't large, if each of them stirred trouble in this world under the instigation of the deity Neltarid, it would pose a significant issue.
Why would it be a problem? Not because of their strength, which could be managed. The real issue was that they were human beings. Sharing the same features - eyes, noses, and mouths - meant that any mishap involving them could lead to divisions among the local population.
‘If what this man, Clomaen, says is true, then…’
If that were the case, Davey had no alternative but to impose sanctions and restrictions on these newcomers. In fact, Davey considered it necessary to banish them from these lands.
For those individuals who saw this world as a mere gaming realm, their visits were a form of amusement and joy. However, from the perspective of the local population, it posed a genuine threat and harm.
"That's precisely why I've sought you out. We haven't fully ascertained the extent of their forces and abilities yet. But based on the evidence I've observed, I believe our knight order can manage them. However, the fact that they were able to annihilate an entire knight order in a matter of days is a risk I can't afford to overlook."
‘Go and investigate it.’ That was the request Clomaen was making to Davey.
“Well, that’s fine with me. However, you have to promise me one thing.”
“What is it?”
"I need to journey to the Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Ranges. The knight order responsible for overseeing that area has been eradicated, but I'm confident that the Last Wisp's Headquarters would possess a map of the region, correct?"
‘Let’s make a deal.’
The Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Ranges was a labyrinth formed by the intricacies of natural terrain and scenery.
‘In the words of the First Saintess Daphne, many have become lost within its depths. Even the resident demonic beasts would perish from starvation while aimlessly wandering, unable to find their way.’
There was little more Davey could say about the perils of the place. The knowledge of the paths through this complex maze was crucial.
Clomaen looked at Davey as if struggling to grasp his intentions. "You're planning to traverse the subterranean mountain ranges? That's highly dangerous..."
"The information you've gathered about the place, it's quite extensive, isn't it?"
"That's correct."
Everyone was aware of the impact Davey O'Rowane's presence could have, and it extended beyond his wielding of power.
"May I ask the reason for your journey?"
"It's a hobby of mine."
Whatever it was, Davey's hobby held great importance.
At that moment, Illyna spoke up. "I'm coming too. Knight Chancellor, if you brought me here, it must mean you need my assistance, right?"
Clomaen hesitated, saying, "I'm uncomfortable receiving such courtesy and respect from an imperial princess."
"No. I'm a member of the knight order. In this place, I'm nothing but one of its members."
"Very well. We have determined that we also require the abilities of Lady Illyna, who has recently attained the rank of Sword Master."
Illyna glanced at Davey when she heard Clomaen's words.
Davey nodded, and in response to her unspoken question, he said, "The choice is yours to make."
"Why? In the past, you would have already rejected my proposal and prevented me from going."
"Why would I do that when I'm going there for my hobby?"
Illyna already understood the position Davey held among the demons, so it didn't matter to him whether she joined the expedition or not.
After receiving more information about the Tartaros Subterranean Mountain Ranges, Davey planned to depart for the southwestern region of the continent immediately. He met with five more members of the knight order who would participate in the expedition.
The party included Boris, the instructor who had trained the 268 batch of apprentices, the Renda twins, the priest Lucia Shelman, and her paladin, Fildyr. With Illyna and Davey, the party was complete.
Their primary goal was to explore the area, a task typically carried out by the knight order, but Davey believed that he could benefit from it as well by gaining more information.
"Now then, we will depart. Remember, maintain discipline. We must never forget that the knight order we lost might have been overwhelmed," Clomaen instructed.
The knights' expressions turned serious. Davey didn't find Clomaen excessively strict, but perhaps it was his previous actions that had led them to view him in this manner.
Ping…
Then, at that moment, a ping rang in Davey’s head. Both he and Perserque looked at each other with wide eyes.
“These m*th*rf*ck*rs.”
Davey's battle aura erupted from his body the instant his killing intent surfaced. The other members of the knight order turned to Davey, their eyes widened in shock at the sudden transformation in his demeanor.
"D-Davey?!"
‘Davey, calm down! Your battle energy is flowing out!’ Perserque, who quickly regained her composure, rushed to restrain Davey and the surging battle energy.
However, Davey's nerves were on edge as he focused on the alarm that rang and transmitted to his senses.
A trap had been triggered in the Heins Territory's underground prison. Several prisoners were currently incarcerated there, with most detained for minor offenses and not heavily guarded. However, the inmate in the lowest cell was different, the ruthless murderer who had brutally slaughtered Heins Territory's residents. He was the psychopath from another dimension possessed by the God of Death, and Grim Reaper was trapped in that cell.
"I'll be right back," Davey said as he swiftly crossed through space without even glancing back at his colleagues.
Fortunately, the Alpha Reinforcement's location was quite close to the Rowane Kingdom.
As the scenery changed, Davey lifted Perserque into the air and said, "Get away, Perserque!"
"Davey!" Perserque exclaimed worriedly, but Davey paid her no attention. His gaze was fixed firmly on one spot.
Davey was observing a little girl who was running swiftly, accompanied by a disabled man suspended in a sphere of light just behind her. On the surface, the girl seemed like an ordinary child with a slightly unusual power, displaying no tension in her body. But beneath the surface, a thick and malevolent power of the Abyss swirled within her. She was undoubtedly a Princess of the Abyss.
When Davey had dealt with Sleesia, her overwhelming power was evident in her demeanor. However, the little girl wearing glasses and leading the way in front of him seemed to pose significantly lower risk, especially when compared to Sleesia.
Davey hadn't yet discerned why this Princess of the Abyss sought to take the serial killer Grim, but he had no intention of allowing her to do as she pleased.
"You're quite bold trying to venture into this place, aren't you?" Davey remarked.
Then, Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon, radiating their respective colors, materialized in Davey's hands as he lunged forward, aiming for the girl's neck.
“Urk?!”
Baaaaaaaaang!!!
Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon fell short of reaching the neck of the young Princess of the Abyss. Instead, a woman suddenly appeared, intercepting the blades with her body. This woman had flowing black hair and was none other than Urd, the first Princess of the Abyss that Davey had encountered, the force that had pushed him to his limits before his transformation.
Urd possessed a body impervious to the cutting power of Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon due to her gangster-like hardware. It was apparent that merely using the swords' cutting force made it quite difficult to penetrate her.
Enduring harm from her hands was a thing of the past. Urd had consumed and weakened three grandmaster-class mythical beasts of the Lux Continent. However, this feat was only possible because the Mythical Beast Kings no longer had any contractors.
A brief power struggle ensued between Davey and Urd. Urd was astonished and embarrassed to realize the drastic change in Davey's powers and force within such a short time. Her embarrassment led her to falter and make a mistake.
Davey seized Urd's head and forcefully brought it down, slamming her to the ground.
Crack, crack, crack!!!
Even after having her head slammed into the ground, Urd didn't remain dazed. Her expression stiffened briefly as she swiftly broke free from Davey's grip on her head and put some distance between them.
"I initially thought Sleesia's death was a mere coincidence, but..."
To be precise, Sleesia was not an adversary Davey could contend with under normal circumstances. Their encounter had only taken place when his body and soul were in complete synchronization. Now, however, Davey's body and soul were no longer perfectly aligned.
With his current body and strength, Davey was certain that the gap between him and Sleesia would be immense. Objectively speaking, even if Davey had undergone complete metamorphosis, he still wouldn't be able to guarantee his survival if he crossed paths with Sleesia again. However, this evaluation was based on Sleesia as the reference point.
"You're in a very precarious situation, aren't you?"
While Urd had been capable of annihilating an entire continent and challenging the three mightiest beings of that continent, the Mythical Beast King, it had resulted from the synergistic effects of her power and the absence of a Mythical Beast King's contractor.
In contrast, Davey had undergone a complete metamorphosis, acquiring an extraordinarily enhanced body. Additionally, Urd was now in a dire predicament since Davey had come close to killing her once, depleting her powers and strength significantly.
‘I am more than enough to fight against her.’ Davey's assessment after reuniting with Urd led him to a stark conclusion.
"Skuld, go back. Now!"
"That human is as dangerous as we anticipated! If we battle him like this, the last of the devil kind within this human will vanish!"
"I'll hold him off. Please, go."
With a resolute expression, Davey watched as Urd conversed with the dark-haired girl in glasses. He then crouched and launched himself toward them.
1. A condition where one sweats excessively. ☜
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