Broken and Alora stepped into the regal dining room. The place was designed with meticulous detail, featuring ornate chandeliers and fine decorations adorning the walls. The smell of freshly baked treats wafted through the air, and each table was set with a lavish spread of food.
Broken’s eyes widened in wonder as he took in the feast before him.
“Make yourself comfortable and enjoy anything on the table. You’re free to eat to your heart’s content,” Alora said with a soft smile. “Will you?”
“Is this a challenge, Princess?” Broken asked.
“Yes…” she replied casually. “To honor you, I won’t hold back either.”
Broken paused momentarily, imagining Princess Alora putting herself to such a test to honor a guest. “You don’t need to go that far, Princess.”
“Eating isn’t that difficult, and I’m accustomed to handling much tougher tasks. So please… don’t hold back,” she insisted.
They took their seats and began to dine, engaging in gentle conversation as they enjoyed their meal. Broken’s curiosity about the palace chefs compared to Ivana’s cooking was momentarily pushed aside by the warmth of the moment.
As they dined, Princess Alora spoke up. “There is a set of equipment and a new weapon that I require,” she said, glancing at Broken.
“But I’m not asking you to do this in a hurry. Take your time,” she added.
“I’ll do it,” Broken responded without hesitation.
Alora shook her head with a chuckle, “Don’t you know how to refuse? There’s no challenge if you easily agree with everything I say.”
“Not really. I do know how to refuse, but I genuinely want to help you so that I will do my best for you. If what I craft can help boost your power, then I’m all in,” he assured her.
Broken wholeheartedly sampled all the foods laid out on the table. He couldn’t help but notice that Alora was doing the same. He found it a bit surprising to see a princess eating such a large portion. She really didn’t need to go that far, though it amused him to see her enjoying the feast as much as he was.
Nevertheless, even though Alora ate a substantial amount, she maintained her elegance. She barely opened her mouth while chewing, despite doing so quickly. Each time she drank, she did so with such grace that not a drop was spilled. She truly embodied the quality of a noble.
The variety of foods Broken tasted was wide-ranging, making it difficult for him to compare them to Ivana’s cooking as he had initially intended. However, the assortment of flavors provided a random yet delightful experience as he tried different dishes almost
simultaneously. He thoroughly enjoyed everything.
Sometime later, as they transitioned to enjoying desserts like cake and sweets, they discussed new topics.
“Princess, I have a message for you,” Broken began cautiously.
Alora lifted her gaze. “Is this a message from Elincia?” she asked with a tone of curiosity but firmness. “You don’t have to worry. You can pass it on here.”
Broken glanced towards Knight Lionell and Mercy, considering the security of this information and whether it was appropriate to share it in their presence. He then proceeded, reassured by Alora’s confident demeanor, and continued with his story.
“Elincia said that the opposing side is trying to gather strength by killing local people and players in cold blood. It seems they are planning something big-something sinister. No one knows what will happen, but Maylock, a strategist from the Ass Guild, informed us that they might be attempting to summon one of the 72 Named Demons to the Dissidia Kingdom,” Broken explained gravely.
Alora was taken aback by his words. She hadn’t anticipated hearing about the ’72 Named Demons,’ a group of powerful and prestigious demons. Some believed their numbers were fewer than 72, but these demons were legendary for their strength and might. The higher their rank, the more formidable their power.
These Named Demons held immense status and power, often commanding their own armies and territories. Though they didn’t reside in Yunatea, they existed in an alternate world directly adjacent to it, known as Hell.
“The Named Demons.” All eyes turned toward Lionel as he spoke up.
He continued, “The King of Demons, King Bael, possesses the blessing of gluttony. Because of this blessing, he can create an alternate world we call Hell. This world has a territory size equivalent to Yunatea, and it is where demons live, grow strong, and rule their domains. Most demons can’t cross into Yunatea, especially the Named Demons, who are rumored to number 72. The Named Demons are bound by restrictions that prevent them from entering Yunatea unless certain conditions are met. No matter how powerful a Named Demon is, they cannot easily step out of Hell,” Lionel explained.
Alora’s expression turned serious as she absorbed the information. “This is troubling news. If they are indeed trying to summon one of the 72 Named Demons, the consequences could be disastrous.”
Broken then asked, “Is it possible to summon them through killing and dropping victims?”
Lionel replied, “That might be one of the necessary conditions. But considering we’re talking about players who are Gluttony Champions, it’s possible they have access and the means to summon the Named Demons.”
“If a Named Demon is summoned to Yunatea,” Mercy said thoughtfully, “King Alorik and the two Imperial Knights should still be able to handle them, at least for demons ranked in the 40s. Am I being too pessimistic?”
Broken swallowed hard. Even King Alorik and the two Imperial Knights, whom he considered immensely powerful, were only compared to Named Demons ranked in the 40s? The implications were staggering. Just how strong were the Named Demons ranked in the 30s, or even higher?
Lionel replied. “But if the ranking is in the 30s or higher, I’m not sure what will happen. Named Demons ranked in the 20s are said to be powerful enough to destroy a kingdom in an instant easily. As for those in the single-digit ranks, they’re even said to be able to hold their own against the Gods.”
Broken listened in stunned silence. The gravity of the situation was sinking in. Hearing Lionel speak of the Named Demons’ immense power and the catastrophic potential of their summoning brought a chill to his core.
Afterward, they discussed the potential for such an attack further and considered what measures could be taken if it were to happen in the near future.
“I think what we can do right now,” Princess Alora said, her face lined with worry, “is tighten the guard within the kingdom and reduce the killing of local residents as much as possible.”
After a lengthy discussion, Lionel suddenly brought up an intriguing suggestion. “Baron Broken, would you care to meet the Knights who have been assigned to work for you now?” Broken’s face remained composed as he looked into Lionel’s eyes for a moment. Then he slowly nodded and said with resolve, “I think that’s a good idea.”
Once they had finished their grand meal, six valiant knights marched into the room and gave respectful salutations. Broken, Princess Alora and the others stood up in unison to greet them. Broken’s gaze settled on the imposing figures of the five Knights and one Knight Commander. There were four male knights and two female knights.
As he glanced at each of them, information about their stats appeared in front of him. The detailed stats displayed their names, as well as individual strengths.