Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights Chapter 356: Was He Mad

Two days after finalizing what he considered pressing matters, Godfrey made his arrival in Queens City, stepping out of a taxi. He was dressed in a plain gray hoodie, blue jeans, and white sneakers, with a backpack on his shoulder, packed with essentials in case the purple gate dungeon presented a time dilation phenomenon.

Clutching his backpack strap with one hand, he proceeded towards the heavily secured bridge.

Johan and the remainder of his crew were stationed on the bridge, their trucks adorned with the guild's emblem of a shield. Falco, occupying the driver's seat with the door ajar, turned his head to observe the approaching hooded figure.

"Is that him?" he inquired.

Charles and Johan pivoted, while Lotus, who had been sitting cross-legged atop a truck, swiftly stood. Upon spotting him, she enthusiastically waved both hands.

'Is she signaling me?' Godfrey mused internally before raising one hand and then lowering it. At the very least, this would signal to the agents that he was part of the team. He could already feel their hostile gazes.

The other twenty members of the team turned towards Godfrey upon witnessing Lotus's reaction. One of them, positioned near another vehicle, crossed his arms. "Is that really Lotus? I've never seen her behave like that before."

Hearing this, Philip, who had been acting casually, also glanced over and raised an eyebrow. He had numerous questions regarding this raid, but after the guild master informed them of a summoner who could ensure their triumph, he resolved to wait and see who this individual was.

Afterward, he would make his decision.

A gentle nudge on his shoulder interrupted Philip's reflections. "Look at the person she's waving at. She hasn't even spared you a glance, despite you being one of the guild's strongest, yet observe her reaction to that guy. She clearly doesn't like you," Philip's companion remarked.

Philip responded with a dismissive scoff.

"That guy? Do you not know who he is? I'd be careful with my words if I were you," another team member nearby advised.

Philip and his friend exchanged glances, raising their eyebrows. They watched as their guild master, Charles, Falco, and Lotus approached Godfrey at the barricade.

"Who is he?" Philip asked.

"You're unaware of him? At the age of sixteen, that man annihilated three hundred police officers. It's said they were obliterated by a sudden force, and remnants of hoof prints were found on the road and their vehicles. We know it was one of his summons, the one known as the Death Rider, and he possessed that at sixteen!" the man, who appeared to be nearing his late twenties, whispered to them.

Philip frowned. "Sounds like he should be incarcerated."

"That's precisely why you should be cautious with your words. He's the Golden Knight summoner, the one whose knights gave that dragon a thorough beating," the man added, causing Philip's eyes to widen.

"Him?! That's the Golden Knight summoner! The very individual with enough summons to rival a guild as large as ours?" Philip's friend exclaimed in astonishment.

Philip blinked, then let out a chuckle. 'What nonsense.' He scoffed inwardly, observing Godfrey approaching them with the guild master and the others, before turning back to the pair beside him.

"You expect me to believe that he, that man in my sight, commands over ten thousand summons? Are you listening to yourselves?!" Philip demanded, scowling, but a realization dawned on him in the subsequent second as he noticed the expressions on his friend's and the other guy's faces as they stared at him. It was as if they were gazing at someone who had just emerged from the wilderness.

"He has more," his friend stated.

"W– What?!" Philip stammered. Before his current circumstances, he had been a construction worker lacking formal certification. He only bothered with a phone to contact his mother; they didn't even own a television, and he paid no mind to anything that didn't contribute to his sustenance.

However, putting that aside, even without extensive knowledge, individuals possessing four or five summons were considered legends, so rare that perhaps fewer than a thousand existed globally. Even if only ten million people remained on Earth, a thousand Quad summoners or higher would still be exceedingly rare. Compared to the reality of billions on Earth, the scarcity of such summoners was astronomical. In actuality, to many, they were purely mythical.

So how—how could one man, a single summoner, command over ten thousand summons?!

It simply defied logic. No matter how he contemplated it, such a claim could not be true.

It was simply impossible!

"His strength doesn't automatically make him an ally. He's powerful, but his intentions are dubious. The authorities have presented justifications for his ostensibly helpful actions, which primarily serve his own interests, and their reasons hold considerable weight for me. He hasn't refuted any of them," Philip's friend stated with a somber expression and a grave tone.

'Why?'

Godfrey questioned himself internally. Though he wasn't close to the trio, he had clearly overheard that last sentence, which wasn't spoken in a whisper. Perhaps the man hadn't realized he was within earshot, which explained the simple nature of the question posed.

'Why? ... Why do they act like this? Are their motives questionable? Weren't they here because, ultimately, they would receive payment? Are they performing charitable work? No, that's absurd. Yet, when dealing with someone more powerful, someone superior, they demand what is not theirs. I am expected to be a saint, to enlighten everyone. How many have you enlightened? Typical. People invariably seek to undermine those above them and disparage those below. They yearn for equality, yet simultaneously desire superiority.'

Godfrey paused. 'Wait...' He blinked. All these thoughts swirling within him... something inside him was starting to break. His humanity, if he wasn't careful, might be lost forever. But did he truly wish to associate with these kinds of individuals?

'Godfrey, just take a breath. Avoid making broad generalizations. The orphanage was a different situation, and Paradise wasn't so bad either.'

"...So, this is the team." Johan's voice reached him.

Godfrey nodded and then interjected, "Actually, I wanted to ask if you could permit me to clear this dungeon alone?"

'We discussed this earlier. I just need to put on a performance here as well.'

'What?!'

Philip's eyes widened to their absolute limit upon hearing such a preposterous declaration. He wasn't alone in his reaction; everyone who heard it was stunned. They were discussing a Titled god Tier purple gate with an unknown terrain and time limit.

Was he out of his mind?!

"Absolutely not!" Charles retorted sharply.

"Do I need to remind you that you are Selyne Pendragon’s partner? We definitely do not wish to face the wrath of a dragon, especially one rumored to be the mother of all dragons," Falco added.

Lotus simply nodded, her gaze fixed on Godfrey with a look of concern.

"As long as we have the core," Johan stated calmly.

"Deal."

Before the others could erupt, Johan drew them, Philip included, towards a secluded corner. "He will not perish. Once the portal materializes today, he will enter, and when it reappears tomorrow, we will join him. If his knights prove insufficient for whatever lurks within, neither will we."

'Thank heavens. That arrogant fool has saved me. If he perishes, it's entirely on him. Though, I might feel a bit regretful since his knights aided me. Let's just hope he survives long enough to exit that—!' Philip's eyes flew open in shock at the last moment.

"Once an individual enters a purple gate, it will not manifest again until they are deceased or the dungeon has been successfully cleared!" Lotus voiced the thought that had just occurred to Philip.

Johan's eyes widened in realization. 'He should have considered this outcome. Well, he always delegated Falco for such matters. Falco excels at crafting plausible excuses. What could he possibly say now?'

Just at that moment, the formidable purple gate shimmered into existence on the opposite side of the bridge, near the Queens City.

'It's fine. There's no way he can...' Philip stared, as if on the verge of fainting, when Godfrey took a single step, vanished, and instantly reappeared directly before the gate.

With his second step, he was through.

Johan and the rest immediately rushed towards it. Upon reaching the vicinity, the gate snapped shut, preventing any of them from passing through.

Johan let out an internal sigh of relief, though his outward appearance remained one of profound shock.

Philip, who had not moved, offered a shrug. "You cannot help those who refuse assistance," he murmured.

"Want to place a bet on whether he survives?" his companion inquired. Philip's eyes suddenly gleamed. He might still be able to profit from this unforeseen turn of events. No significant risk, yet substantial potential returns. Now, this was something he truly appreciated.

***

While Lotus and the others believed Godfrey had merely plunged headfirst into a situation that would likely lead to his demise, he found himself in the midst of a desolate, red desert. The sun's heat was relentless, making the very sand feel like searing coals beneath his feet.

He was alone in this desolate place, the secret of the purple gate remaining concealed a little longer, granting him the opportunity for personal gain. This particular terrain was arguably the most challenging one could possibly encounter. But why had it taken him two days prior to arrive here?

Well... his destination had been to visit Jon’s family.

A cheerful home, filled with the warmth of his father and mother...