The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
chapter-408

Before Davey could even identify the source of the voice, he became nervous. He squinted slightly, trying to pinpoint its owner.

The overwhelming power of the voice made it clear that the speaker was not a typical entity. It wasn't just the strength of a powerful being; rather, it emitted the sensation of a top-tier entity from a superior race. This feeling reminded Davey of something familiar – the Dragon Tongue, a racial privilege used by dragons, and revelations delivered by gods.

The voice had been observing Davey like a voyeuristic patient since the beginning—It was neither Perserque nor the World Tree—and now it whispered to him in a hushed manner.

[Do you need help, great Savior?]

"First of all, reveal yourself."

[Hmm…. You are unafraid.]

Just when Davey was about to reply to that calm voice…

[It seems oblivion has affected the remaining humans at the edge of the world.]

Davey remained silent at those words.

[What will you do? If you do me a small favor, I can help the little girl.]

"Why should I trust you?" Davey asked.

[It’s your choice to trust me or not.]

The whispering tone was filled with an unfathomable feeling. From the first conversation, it became evident that it was a transcendent being. However, there were still too few clues to identify the entity.

The power of the title given to Davey by the God Freyja required an equivalent exchange. For instance, it demanded a certain compensation to manifest a miracle.

Aeria had already paid the price of having her memories erased to save her own life. This implied that everything that had happened since then was not against the will of God. The deal had reached a rightful conclusion. Beyond this point, everything was up to Davey.

"Explain in detail."

As Davey eased the pressure he had exerted on Perserque, her guards seized the opportunity to escape with her. Nevertheless, Davey did not give chase; there was no reason to attempt anything against an untouchable opponent.

* * *

Once the demons left, the ruined sanctuary of the Divine Tree was once again filled with silence. Davey did not feel sorry for the demons, as he was too preoccupied with the voice.

"How about showing yourself first?" Davey asked.

[I don’t have a form. Ha…ha…The entire world is my eyes and ears, so there’s no problem with hearing or seeing. Well then, would you please call me Observer?]

‘Observer? It’s a title I've never heard before.’

While thinking so, Davey continued to look around for the origin of the voice. But, as the voice had said, he could not find anything useful.

[Look. Even I can't find myself, so how could someone else find me?]

"Observer…"

[For now, just call me by that title. So, will you consider doing me the favor?]

"I can’t trust you."

‘I can only hear the voice. Hastily making a decision in a conversation with an inscrutable entity often invites trouble.’

[Are you really so cautious?]

"Isn't it even more strange to trust blindly? Moreover, nothing's free."

[As I've mentioned earlier, I don't have a physical form. I have eyes and ears, but there are things I can't do with those alone. So, I wish you could find something on my behalf.]

Davey was silent at the Observer's words. After a brief contemplation, he called out to Megalodria and climbed onto its back.

"Let's go back. We've finished what we had to do here."

At Davey’s words, Megalodria, with no apparent reason to refuse, slowly fluttered its four pairs of wings and then soared at a high speed toward the open sky.

[Before that, it would be best if I told you what you need to remember about this place.]

The voice was considerably friendly.

[You are an outsider here. Moreover, an uninvited guest, not someone who had come with great determination. From that standpoint, the influence you can exert here is clearly limited.]

Davey simply listened to the voice quietly.

[Because of the things you have done with the Divine Tree, your influence is already at its limit. Meddling with the Dark Lord could complicate things even more.]

"So, I can't go back?"

[Most likely, yes.]

"Not entirely sure, though," Davey mumbled, but he knew it himself.

After all, he had seen what happened to Reina.

She had come from another world to Davey’s world, not by her own intention, but by the will of Goddess Freyja. Nevertheless, her ability to exert influence was limited, and her very existence seemed to fade away.

"Don't get involved..."

The world was not in perfect shape to begin with, so it was not impossible for things to take a turn for the worse.

"How will you help Princess Aeria regain her memory?" Davey questioned.

Flying at an incredible speed through the sky, they had already reached the southern part of the Eastern Continent. They had traversed a large continent diagonally, and Megalodria, known as the Azure Sky’s Storm Dragon King, showed no signs of fatigue despite its high speed.

Upon landing in the maritime city of Valkass, where Davey first encountered the demons and the black dragon, he returned Megalodria to its card and crossed over the rift.

[Won’t you swear beforehand? If I help you, you’ll help me in return.]

‘I think he won’t stab me in the back after telling me how to save her.’

At his suggestion, Davey remained silent for a moment before ascending to the deck of the gigantic ship where Aeria was likely sleeping. From there, he could see Aeria sleeping peacefully, while some guards were busy doing something around her.

"Stop what you're doing," Davey commanded.

The guards immediately halted their actions. Slowly and stiffly, like broken machines, they turned their heads toward Davey.

"I told you to keep quiet and guard her," Davey reproached them.

Startled, two of the guards stepped back, but one of them continued to try and shield Aeria from Davey's sight.

‘What had they done while I was gone? Even if they were slaves to their desires, they should have some discernment,’ Davey thought as he approached the guard who was desperately hiding Aeria's face.

"Please move aside," Davey asked calmly.

"He... hehehehe!" One of them attempted to defuse the situation with a strange laugh.

But Davey’s hand had already gripped the guard's shoulder. His synchronization faded as he crossed the boundary again. However, even with his power returned to its original strength, he was not so weak that he could be pushed around by these guys.

Bang!

After roughly shaking them off, he frowned at Aeria's face.

[These are some really amusing spirits.]

The Observer, who had followed Davey here, burst into laughter, finding the situation very amusing. Despite being a transcendent being, a god-tier entity, the Observer seemed to have a sense of humor, which was unexpected.

Regardless, Davey pressed his hand against his throbbing head and muttered, "Get down on your knees."

Upon closer examination, Davey noticed bizarre scribbles on Aeria's face, made with some sort of charcoal, the source of which was unknown. Circles were drawn around her eyes, and her previously pale nose was now pitch black. On her cheeks, there were markings that made it hard to discern whether they were supposed to be facial hair or something else.

* * *

"Advance 20 meters," Davey commanded in a stern voice.

As he wiped Aeria's face with a wet cloth, trying to wake her up from her deep slumber, he continued giving orders. The guards, still on their knees, tried to move forward slowly while grunting.

"The slowest one will do an additional 40 meters," Davey added, and one of the guards on the far right with a bastard sword squirmed before shoving the others next to him.

Thump!!

With an unpleasant sound, the betrayed guards looked on in disbelief as the guy with the bastard sword took the opportunity to move quickly ahead. They were all cursed by Davey anyway and were balding as a result – a group of fools.

The other two guards, realizing they had been tricked, attempted to catch up, but it was not an easy task to close the distance. As Davey carefully wiped Aeria's face, keeping an eye on the men's competition, the voice spoke again.

[Is that girl important to you?]

“...”

‘We were merely doctor and patient. In fact, we hadn't had many conversations. But it's true that I keep thinking about her. It felt like I had a child that I couldn't leave alone.’

[Tsk tsk, your mind is full of distractions. Where did all the endless power, emptiness, and madness you showed before crossing the boundary go?]

“There's a price to power."

At Davey’s words, the Observer laughed out loud.

“So, I'd like you to tell me how to regain her memory.”

[Shouldn't we make a promise first?]

“Don't you know that a verbal promise can be broken anytime? It's human nature."

[I believe you're different.]

The Observer was quick on the uptake.

“As long as it doesn't harm me."

[I guarantee it's not that.]

At his words, Davey agreed. “Okay. Let's try to find it. We have about two days left.”

At Davey’s words, the Observer fell silent.

[Good. That's enough. It doesn't matter if you start searching now or later. You'll be forced out of here in about 48 hours, but since you've caught my eye, there will be a way back.]

He postponed his demand without hesitation.

[The girl's soul must have settled back in exchange for her memories.]

It was the moment the Observer was about to explain quietly.

"Hmph…"

At the short groan from Aeria, the Observer chose to remain silent instead of explaining, and as she opened her eyes, Davey slowly embraced her. He asked, "Are you conscious?"

“Kyaa!!"

Her reaction was different than usual. Startled, Aeria slipped out of Davey’s arms and retreated with a frightened face. "W-Who are you?!"

Her memory had been gradually disappearing. After fainting, she had paid the price with the memory she treasured the most. She had forgotten everything about Davey. She screamed that she did not want to face this reality. Knowing that fact, it was even more bitter to witness it happen.

Just as Davey was about to say something, a clear tear fell from Aeria’s eyes as she looked at Davey.

“Huh?”

An unfamiliar voice of surprise flowed from Aeria’s mouth, as if she herself did not understand what was happening.