The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
chapter-209

“Illyna,” Prince Sullivan called out to Illyna, who was looking at Prince Davey with a blank expression.

They were a part of the purification unit that had been sent to clean up the mess left in the completely burnt down forest. Prince Sullivan was in charge of most of the priests and soldiers who had joined them.

“What’s the matter, brother?” Illyna answered curtly with a displeased expression.

With a bitter smile, Sullivan asked, “Are you alright?”

“Yes. I did not sustain any injuries, and my exhaustion and fatigue have already been taken care of.”

“That’s a relief. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t have the face to look at our older brother.” Sullivan smiled and patted Illyna on the head. He continued, “After all, our older brother treasured you dearly when he was still alive.”

“…Even if you say that, I can’t trust you, brother.”

“Illyna.”

“Brother Sullivan, you’re the one who went against everything that brother said and did,” Illyna said sharply.

Prince Sullivan could only smile bitterly at Illyna’s harsh words.

“That’s right. I have always been against our older brother’s political standpoint. In fact, the two of us had fought quite a lot of times.” Sullivan fixed his glasses up the bridge of his nose to hide the exhaustion in his eyes. He then muttered, “However, I never wanted our older brother to die or get hurt. And the same is true with you.”

“I’m having a hard time because of the marriage that you’ve been pushing for.” Illyna turned her face away.

“Ah, by the way, it seems like Prince Davey is more sincere and upright than I thought.” Sullivan smiled brightly at Illyna, who only looked over with a dumbfounded expression. He then asked, “What about him?”

“Yes?”

“What about Prince Davey?”

Illyna immediately understood what Sullivan was implying. Widening her eyes in surprise, she asked, “What are you on about again?”

“I have looked into Prince Davey. The things that he did in that short amount of time are very amazing. If I’m being honest with you, I wouldn’t have anything to ask for if we can bring such a person into our Imperial Family.”

Illyna tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. She recalled just how she had made a proposal that she and the bad man Davey should get betrothed, then remembered how she had thought of the future where that actually happened.

“…”

“Ho.” Sullivan chuckled when he saw Illyna, now red-faced, suddenly shake her head. He found the situation to be both funny and interesting. He then added, “I already know your answer. Very well, I will go over it once our brother’s state funeral is over. Besides, you’re already old enough to get married. From what I heard, the Lyndis Empire already has their eyes on him, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give them a hard time.”

“Ah, by the way. Did they find Brother’s body?”

“…About that, everyone’s searching all over the place but we don’t have any particular leads as of yet. However, I believe that we can find Brother’s body soon.”

“…”

After murmuring softly, Sullivan hugged Illyna gently and patted her on the head. He said, “It’s going to be fine… What happened to our brother is truly a pity. However, I know that both Brother and I wouldn’t want to see you all depressed like this.”

***

The purification itself was not that difficult. Since the pollution had spread across a very wide area over a short period of time, there were only a few places that gave the purification unit a hard time. In fact, the only place that would have given them the hardest time was the ancient ruins where the Undead had come from. However, there was no point in digging through the place especially after Rinne had already buried it deep underground.

Public opinion about Davey was steadily improving. This was especially true after people found out that Davey was still overworking his exhausted and spent body to lead the purification and clean up.

Jack had already informed Davey that rumors about him had spread so quickly because people just couldn’t keep their mouths shut. His simple act had brought about great impact, since public opinion regarding him began improving in an instant.

However, this act had meaning and purpose.

Purifying the lands and the forest was not a hard job for Davey. However, as the purification unit continued to roam around and purify these places, people gradually started to look at Davey in a different way.

Davey did not think much about it. He just moved along, honoring the deal that he had made with Goddess Freyja. Although his good deeds did not carry much value in the end, it seemed like Freyja was not stingy with him and had considered what Davey was doing as a good deed.

The titles of “true Saint” and “a holy person” made Davey feel embarrassed. However, with those titles being associated with him, the Pallan Empire’s debt to him only grew even further.

After the Undead subjugation ended, most of the power that had maintained the Undead was quick to vanish.

And since they did not have any further purpose, the allied forces decided to disband after a brief meeting. The issue regarding compensation did not concern those who had fought in the battles but the nobles of the Pallan Empire. Therefore, there was no reason for the allied forces to remain in this place. Their trip back home was simple and uneventful.

Even when most of the allied forces had returned home, Davey chose to remain to purify the Pallan Empire’s land and continue cleaning up the souls. He went on doing this meaningless job.

‘You don’t have to do that.’

Despite the people dissuading Davey from doing this and asking him to not overwork himself, Davey still continued to work. The task wasn’t tedious, since he just had to deal with some death energy. Besides, Davey was not doing this for the people of the Pallan Empire but to fulfill his end of the deal with Goddess Freyja.

However, the people who were unaware of Davey’s true intention had been hoodwinked. They seemed to think that he had given up on his profits and interests, and was solely doing this to appease the souls of those who had died.

“Prince Davey, do make sure to come visit our kingdom. I will make sure to be a hospitable host and give you the best treatment.”

“Please visit our kingdom too. Disregarding the fight of interests and profits, you are someone who truly deserves praise. It would be an honor if you can come visit us.”

Unlike the people who loved getting involved in headache-inducing politics, most of the people who had come for battle had a favorable impression of Davey. All of them had told him the same thing before they left the headquarters and headed for their own homes. All of them had asked him to visit them at least once. These words were mostly said out of courtesy, but some of these people had truly meant it.

“Prince Davey?”

“Ah, yes? General Collin?”

“Haha. It seems like this is the first time we’re sharing a conversation like this, huh?” The old man with a gray beard chuckled as he held his hand out for a handshake.

“That seems to be the case. Are you on your way home now?”

“Yes. Even though I want to stay and help you more, I can’t leave my hometown empty forever.” The old man laughed as he turned to look somewhere else. Then, he pulled the arm of a young girl wearing armor and said, “You brat, what are you doing? Why are you not even greeting the benefactor who saved your life?!”

With a smile, the old man pressed down on the girl’s brown hair and continued to say, “This girl is called Hulla.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Davey O’Rowane.”

“My… My… n-name… is H-Hulla Mendez. Th… Tha… Thank you!” The girl named Hulla yelled and suddenly bowed her head.

When Davey looked at Hulla in confusion, the old man explained, “She was the one commanding the soldiers at the west gate during the battle at the headquarters. You, Prince Davey, saved her from being killed by the Undead.”

“Aaaah…”

“I’m really very grateful to you. This brat is my one and only granddaughter. She’s the only family I have left. I can’t give you too much since I am an old man with no power, but…” The old man grabbed Davey’s hand and continued, “…I will never forget the grace that you have bestowed upon us by saving my precious granddaughter. If you ever come to our Ferdicia Kingdom, I will make sure to give you the best treatment so you won’t leave disappointed.”

“It’s only natural to save our own troops during a war. Don’t feel indebted to me like that.” Davey smiled.

The old man chuckled and said, “Hoho. I can now understand why you’ve received the stigmata…”

—A scammer…

Davey heard Perserque murmuring by his ear but he promptly ignored her.

“I really want to show you my gratitude, so do visit us. Well then, I wish you good health. Let’s go, Hulla.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

It was not just General Mendez who left after saying words like that. Davey had a hard time getting the soldiers to stand up as they continued to bow their heads and thank him for saving their brothers. Some even thanked him for saving them when they had been at the brink of death from the Frost Wyrm Wyvern’s sudden attack.

Perhaps it was because Davey had unknowingly helped them that the impact of his actions was so great. People were even thanking Davey, who set aside his personal interests and that of his kingdom to do good deeds, for encouraging them to do the same.

‘This simple act of kindness and warm atmosphere…’

—Hmm?

‘It doesn’t feel too bad.’

Since these people were grateful to him, it was only polite for Davey to accept their pure kindness and goodwill, right?

After completing most of the purification work, Davey had plenty of time to relax. He was deep in thought while relaxing at his quiet lodgings, holding a mutated ember in his hands. He murmured, “This is a bigger bomb than I initially thought.”

—How far would you be sent flying if this thing exploded?

“Who knows? I don’t really know. In theory, this is considered to be a very huge bomb. However, I don’t know the scope and radius that it could cover.”

—Even a rough estimate?

“With the weakest power, I think I’ll be sent flying dozens of kilometers back.”

—Then, are you going to use that in the fight against the World Tree?

When asked if he was going to use the same method that he had used when fighting against the transcendental being from before, Davey shook his head and said, “No.”

It could be said that this item was very useful for undergoing metamorphosis, but Davey knew that he could not use it in such a simple manner anymore.

“I’ll keep this. It’s better to have an extra life.”

Perserque nodded in sympathy when she heard Davey’s reply.

—That’s true. You’ll definitely need the extra life with the way you’re behaving.

Davey could be considered to be very strong, so he hadn’t been leveling up. However, there was no guarantee that the same would be true in the future. The level of force and power in this continent was significantly lower than in the past. If hostile forces from the past began to awaken in this situation… Davey could not say for sure that there would be no existence on the same level as the King of the Dead, Deian.

“My top priority right now is to call for the four divine beasts,” Davey said. He stood up from his seat and abruptly opened the tightly closed doors of his quarters.

“Ha?!”

There was a blonde girl standing in front of Davey’s door with her head bowed down. She was deep in her thoughts before Davey opened the doors and she looked up at him in surprise.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah… Th-That…”

When the girl spoke gibberish and talked nonsense in embarrassment, Davey realized that she hadn’t come here for anything important. After studying her for a while, he patted her head and turned around. He said, “There are some things that I need.”

The girl tilted her head in confusion. Then, finally coming back to her senses, she shouted firmly, “What do you need? Just tell me! I’ll make sure to get everything for you!”

Davey was quick to give a list of everything that he needed. “I need some fu paper[1] or some hanji[2].”

“Fu… Fu what?” Illyna asked, tilting her head in confusion. She did not know what Davey was talking about, which was unsurprising, since there was no such thing as a talisman in this world.

“Then, just bring me some empty unattributed scroll.”

An unattributed scroll was an empty sheet of paper that had not yet been enchanted with magic.

Illyna nodded swiftly at Davey’s request despite her confusion. She said, “I’ll talk to the supplies manager and see if there’s still some left. However, I can’t guarantee that there will be any left…”

Contrary to Illyna’s concerns, Davey was able to get the amount of empty unattributed scrolls that he needed.

The fu paper used to create talismans and amulets was usually made by soaking it in the juices of the fruit of a locust tree. It would then undergo several processes before being produced. And since the art of qi was not really developed in the Tionis Continent, it was practically impossible for Davey to get the best quality fu paper that he needed. There was a chance that he would be able to make one if he grew the tree itself, but it was impossible for him to secure the amount that he needed right away.

Of course, the most effective medium for what Davey intended to do was the fu paper. But all he had with him was the scroll used for magic. It was bound to be very inefficient.

However, wasn’t there a saying that those who did not have teeth could still live with their gums? Davey was a professional. He would not accept something that was bound to not work. He would make do with what he had, and the unattributed scroll that Illyna had brought was much more than what Davey expected.

“They gave me a lot when I told them that you’re the one who will be using it. I’m starting to doubt whether I’m truly a member of this empire’s Imperial Family and not you.”

“What a relief. They’re being friendly.”

“Friendly? Don’t mess with me. You haven’t forgotten what everyone at headquarters called you, huh?”

A true Saint.

A devoted holy man.

The titles were a bit cheesy and cringe-worthy, but it was still not bad.

“Everyone’s making a fuss because you’re disregarding your life to save those who have been hurt and killed. But if they knew what you’re really like, they'd definitely sigh in disappointment, no?”

“Leave if you’re just here to speak nonsense.”

“Why in the world did you ask me to get you so many empty unattributed scrolls?”

Davey silently grabbed a quill and began to draw strange patterns on an unfurled scroll. Then, he said, “It’s a good thing.”

His hands did not stop even for a moment. It seemed like his senses and memories had not yet failed him, since he was drawing the strange and unique patterns with practiced ease.

Meanwhile, Illyna looked at the scroll curiously and asked, “It’s different from the ordinary magic scrolls, huh?”

“It’s different. This is not magic.”

“Are you doing something strange again? How many hidden talents do you have?!”

“Curious?” Davey asked as Illyna’s expression turned cold. Then, he said, “Then, keep being curious.”

As if to show how well she knew Davey, Illyna said, “I knew it, you bad man!”

“You’re quick on the uptake.”

Davey was using a scroll because, to use this power, one had to have a pure and clean scroll. This was also to lessen whatever side effects would be placed upon the user.

Davey looked like a printing machine, making fifteen talismans in one go. And before the ink on the talisman could even dry, Davey grabbed all of them and threw them in the air.

There would only be a response if Goddess Freyja truly kept her promise with Davey and unlocked the four divine beasts.

“The scroll flew by itself.”

“It’s a summoning circle.”

There was no better way for Davey to check if the rules that made up the world had truly changed than to summon them himself.

“A bird, a lizard, a turtle, and a cat.”

Illyna tilted her head in curiosity. “A bird… What?”

“Which one do you like?”

“If I have to choose, then… I like birds. The birds flying in the skies look free and untethered, you know?”

“Then, we’re talking about the Fire Chicken,” Davey said as he waved his hand after hearing Illyna’s bitter response. He then commanded, “In my name, show thyself.”

The being that Davey was summoning did not have the right to reject his summons.

Thud!!!

Not long after, a huge fire burst out of Davey’s hand.

1. 괴황지 or fu paper, paper used in talisman making, the yellow paper ones. ☜

2. 창호지 - hanji or shoji paper, a traditional Korean paper that are used to paste on window. ☜