The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
chapter-549

The height of the clouds surpassed human imagination. Unlike before, a massive slash of sword energy, intense and impactful, soared up like a tower. In the tranquil silence, Davey took a short breath. The clouds in the sky parted.

Ordinary folks might not realize, but those with even a slight education could understand the immense height of those clouds. Such clouds were completely at odds with the afterimage of the single strike Davey had just unleashed.

A colossal storm of power tore through continuously, almost as if refusing to allow the clouds to move, creating a startling spectacle in the sky—a gigantic scar had seemingly formed.

‘Is this an attack possible for Davey now?’ Perserque pondered, but concluded that it was not.

He had undoubtedly regained more than half of his strength through metamorphosis. Yet, even that was insufficient to create such an aftermath.

‘Then what made this possible was... Super Ribbon.’

The mingling blue and red light in the long sword Davey held was indeed the primary contributor. A sword nearing perfection, forged by fusing the Red Ribbon that cut the living and the Blue Ribbon that cut the dead. Davey was clearly uncertain whether he could successfully execute the recent strike. Hence, he heavily relied on the power of Super Shorty. The result was a distinct impact.

"Cough! Damn it, I'm going to die. Really," Davey grumbled, frowning as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Was the enemy so dangerous that Davey had to unleash such an attack? Indeed, the creature presumed to be a clone of the Deathlord had completely vanished along with a black hole.

"Davey, why did you go to such extremes?"

"I couldn't leave it alive for even a moment."

Unable to comprehend his excuse, she gazed at the completely vanished trace of the clone.

"Was that semi-black hole that dangerous a magic?"

It was her first time witnessing such magic.

"About an 8th Circle-level transcendental magic."

‘8th Circle? That level should be manageable for Davey, right?’

She knew that many transcendental magics were immune to dispelling. But that didn't mean Davey had to go to such lengths.

"If left alone, this area would have disappeared."

"That's none of my business." She pinched Davey's cheek hard, smiling sweetly. "You know, you're too relentless. Always moving forward. You have no idea how annoying that is to me, do you?"

"What… What?"

"Will you do this again? Or not?"

"…"

"Will you? Or won't you?" Her beaming smile cut through each word, making Davey feel an inexplicable chill.

‘This isn't like her. She's not usually like this,’ his expression revealed such emotions.

"How significant this incident is…"

"Do you think I don't know that you wouldn't leave the Deathlord's flesh because it's too dangerous? I'm asking why you chose to take such a reckless step."

It was just a clone, but Davey's handling seemed a bit too extreme.

"The Deathlord's flesh must never be left behind."

The flesh of the Deathlord, soulless as it was, carried an enormous impact on its own. That such power ended up in the hands of a mad psychopath meant two things.

"Those damned fools are meddling with my master's flesh. And the other is, if they mishandle it and it begins to revert…." Davey trailed off, looking up at Perserque. Despite often being playful, his expression now was seriously grave. "A distortion in the boundary between the living and the dead might occur."

The potential disaster was not a simple matter. Davey calmly spoke and then slowly retrieved a healing elixir from the pocket plane, drinking it before gradually getting up. He then picked up a small orb from where the completely disintegrated clone's flesh had been.

"Davey," Perserque quietly called out to Davey, who was silently observing the orb. "Then, isn't Rinne in a bad situation too?"

At her question, Rinne, who had been watching the two with a naive face, tilted her head in confusion.

"I don't think Rinne can handle the power of that flesh."

"That's right."

"If something goes wrong... Rinne will..." She did not finish her sentence, but everyone understood.

In such a situation, should it truly arise, Rinne, who possessed the power, could not be allowed to live. Rinne was not oblivious either.

"Master Davey. If Rinne cannot control it, request my destruction."

"Be quiet. I did not ask you to die needlessly. And if it really comes to that..." Davey sighed and muttered with a stern face, "I'll handle it myself."

"You never rely on me until the very end, do you?"

‘A little reliance would be nice...’ Perserque felt something aching deep inside her heart, bittersweet.

[Per, love is a losing game. So, don't bother with men and just live with your dad.]

It was an old, playful tone. Despite his annoying demeanor, he never put off anything related to her. A trace of someone precious, now unseen. What Perserque felt when she saw the trace of him in Davey’s memory was relief and gratitude.

"If you keep enduring alone, you'll eventually fall ill."

"The house collapses the moment the pillar leans on something else."

* * *

Rinne's detection had a limited range. The primary detection revealed only two locations. Due to the Illuminati's meticulous erasure of records, little was gleaned from the laboratory beneath the iceberg. Even before the semi-black hole magic manifested, the fate of any survivors was inconsequential as the entire laboratory had collapsed.

If it were merely a collapse, the earth spirits or White Tiger could have been used, but it appeared a magical explosion had been prepared, leaving it cleanly obliterated.

"It doesn't matter. I can pretty much guess their research results anyway," Davey dismissed Perserque's worries as he returned to the Heins Territory.

"Has the issue with the Boltis Kingdom been resolved?"

"Word has come from the capital. For the time being, it seems they've decided to receive material support from the Rowane Kingdom."

The Rowane Kingdom didn't aim to crush the Boltis Kingdom. Davey had planned to render the royal family utterly incapacitated, but the aftermath was left entirely to Baris. Baris was the first to stabilize the agitated and shaken public spirit of the Boltis Kingdom, borrowing a large amount of food and goods from the Heins Territory to invest in the Boltis Kingdom.

Whether to assimilate an entire nation or not, the most important thing was the public spirit. This was evident from cases in Korea and Japan in his previous life on Earth. Only catastrophe remained where there was oppression. Baris chose a conciliatory policy, which Davey found somewhat interesting.

"By the way, is there no concept of a honeymoon on this continent?"

At his murmur, Perserque startled and stepped back, while Royal Attendant Bernile showed a puzzled expression. "If you command preparations for a honeymoon, it can be arranged anywhere. But it's not common here."

"I thought so."

It was a different world, after all. Typically on this continent, whether noble, royal, or commoner, the marriage process was straightforward. They would visit a temple of the Freyja Order, swear in front of the god's statue, recite vows, exchange rings, and seal it with a kiss in front of numerous guests. That was the end of the ceremony.

What followed? Usually, a banquet extended into the evening and then the wedding night. Marriage fundamentally represented binding, owning, caring for, and cherishing each other. Two people met, bore children, and vowed to protect each other. Thus, things like honeymoons or funds needed for marriage were considered luxuries and vanities in this culture.

'Was this most evident in China?' With that sudden thought, Davey recalled the two foreign siblings he had brought to the Heins Territory.

"Let's leave the Boltis Kingdom to Baris for now. Where is the one we rescued from the first cave?"

"He should be having a meal in the guest room."

"Let's go," Davey said calmly as he handed the playful Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon into Rinne's arms.

Rinne, accustomed to handling the two, sighed almost imperceptibly.

‘Childcare stress. It's said to be no small thing.’

"I'll get you the Great Scorpion skewer, a delicacy from the Contas Empire, later."

"Master Davey, Rinne highly values the taste data provided!" Rinne, eyes sparkling, quickly left with the two children.

Perserque comfortably nestled on Davey's shoulder.

"When did you get that earring?" Davey asked.

"Oh my, you knew about it?"

"How could I not know?"

The earring, old yet radiating a sublime light, was none other than an item used by Davey's mother.

‘So it has ended up here...’

"Did His Majesty give it to you?"

"How about saying 'Father' instead?"

"Don't joke."

The relationship between King Krianes and Davey, even now settled, was like a river too wide to cross.

Thud… Thud… Clank!!

The sturdy, antique wooden door swung open. Inside, a bandaged boy was frantically devouring food.

"Please... eat slowly..."

Beside him stood a bewildered Rabbitfolk girl, awkwardly smiling and holding a tray. A cute girl, rescued from a slave auction and now employed here.

"Ah... have you arrived, Your Highness?" Noticing Davey, the adorable Rabbitfolk girl smiled brightly.

Davey silently approached and looked at her. Then, without a word, he reached out and playfully tugged at the girl's ear.

"Kyaa?!"

"What are you doing?!"

Smack!!

Perserque, on his shoulder, suddenly stood up and kicked Davey's cheek with her small foot.

"Ah, sorry. It's just an urge I get when I see beastkin."

It was strange how some races just invoked the desire to tease. Despite Davey's presence, the boy continued to focus solely on his meal. He looked young at a glance, but by the standards of this continent, where maturation was quicker than on Earth, he appeared to be of similar age to Baris or Winley.

"Munch... munch... smack smack..."

The Rabbitfolk girl seemed to want to address the boy, but Davey shook his head. "He's had a tough time. Let him eat in peace."

At Davey's words, the girl blushed and nodded. "Yes... Yes, Your Highness."

It took about 20 more minutes for the boy to finish his meal. He was crying, a piece of bread in his mouth, as if possessed by a hungry ghost.

"Are you ready to talk now?"

At Davey's question, the boy looked up with tear-stained eyes. "Are you…?"

"Davey O'Rowane. As you might know, a man called the saint of this land."

Suspicion flickered across the boy's face. Perserque had been appalled upon probing the boy's psyche. It was rare to find a creature with such weakened mental defenses. Even the smallest ant would have stronger mental fortifications. This allowed a rough understanding of what the boy had experienced.

"You've heard the rough story from the maid, right?"

"Are you... human?"

Davey understood the intent behind the question. "Well, what do I seem like to you?"

Silence followed Davey's question.

"Where I was, humans only spoke in fragments. They did not think and change their words like you."

"You're observant. Let's skip the unnecessary and get to the point." Davey spoke calmly, looking directly at the boy. "You can't go back."

"..."

"Don't understand? Would you mind moving aside?"

At Davey's words, the Rabbitfolk girl and Royal Attendant Bernille, who had followed, looked puzzled but soon nodded and quietly stepped back. The only ones left in the room were Davey, Perserque, and the boy.

"My sister is..."

"Your sister?"

"What happened to her body?"

At the boy's question, Davey tilted his head slightly. "Did she die? I took great pains to save her."

"She's not dead," Perserque responded calmly, and Davey nodded.

"She's not dead, so there's no body."

At Davey's words, the boy's eyes widened. "Then... Then!"

"But you can't see her right now." Perserque spoke slowly, standing in for Davey. "She's in a coma and showing no signs of waking up."

It seemed she was in the same state as just after Davey had treated her. To be precise, the boy's sister, whom Davey had saved, was in a state close to death. He had forcefully kept her alive, but she was not human; rather, she was an otherworldly being. Specifically, a game character overlaid with artificial flesh created by the god Neltarid, different from ordinary humans. A prime example of their extraordinary nature was that they breathed but could live without oxygen. Quite a formidable physique.

"The fact that I can't go back means..."

"To be exact, you're an exception. It's your sister who can't voluntarily go back."

At Davey's words, the boy fell silent.

"Your name?"

"Hydro Citrus Flavor Star..."

"Not that nonsense, your real name."

The boy remained silent at Davey's words.

"Under a ban?"

Neltarid wouldn't have brought humans to this continent without restrictions. "What kind of name is that?"

"My... What's wrong with my name!"

"Alright, should I call you Hydro? Or Hydra? Maybe Hydra Flavor?"

"Just... call me Hydro. And..." After a short pause, the boy began to sob. "Thank you... Thank you..."

Finally, the boy threw himself into Davey's arms and burst into tears.

In this world where human life was as cheap as a fly's, the PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) of an otherworldly being from Korea, a country with one of the highest public safety rates in the world, was bound to be overwhelming after experiencing such horrors. Davey did not specifically mention the otherworldly beings' origin, Earth. Already, this continent was filled with beings from various dimensions: the Illuminati of the Peslisa continent, the abyssal princesses of Verdandi and other abysses, and Neltarid from Earth. As the power of the main god, Priestess Freyja, weakened and dimensional rifts opened, such cases were now numerous.

"I'll explain the situation. You can go back. But your sister hasn't regained consciousness, so she can't leave on her own."

Davey's words were met with silence from the boy.

"Don't even think about forcing her out."

At Davey's words, Hydro's eyes widened. "How... how could you..."

"You must have heard, this isn't the game you think it is."

The boy trembled, already aware but still shocked. They had been killing monsters and hostile humans. Realizing that their actions constituted slaughter and murder only added to their turmoil.

"Does that mean everyone here is a person?!"

"Yes."

"Then I must spread this fact immediately..."

"That won’t be possible."

Given the ban, it was improbable Neltarid would allow the spreading of facts about this place to Earth. Fighting the abyss required Neltarid's assistance, but since the main goddess Freyja was in complete strike mode.

"You probably won't be able to mention these facts even in your homeland."

"You... How do you know all this? It's as if you're also...a game character.”

At this absurd remark, Davey chuckled and flicked the boy's forehead lightly.

"AAAGH!!!"

"Do you think you're the only other-dimensional human causing trouble on this continent?"

‘Should I consider the position of illegal residents too?’

"Ugh..."

"Let's cut the long story short and make a deal."

In response to Davey's words, the boy's eyes widened. The boy's inner self was pure. His love for his sister was clear to see.

[Sister, I told you not to bring these.]

[Ah, sorry Hyunsoo. But I thought you might be bored here, so wouldn't it be less boring if I brought something like this?]

Just a smiling face. Tired yet always smiling for him. But she was a sister who could not live her life properly. Unlike his quarrelsome younger brother, his sister's existence was a painfully sore spot.

‘It’s really rare to see such a case in a world where even families turn away if a little money is involved…’

Suppressing the bitterness, Davey quietly clapped his hands. With a sharp sound, the ambiance around him changed instantly. The forbidden art. The only power to strip away the power of the gods.

The boy in front of him, Hydro, along with all the otherworldly beings, faced many restrictions. They could not make any statements that might alter civilization for the people of this continent. They could not mention their homeland, nor could they be certain this place was reality.

There were various types, but Neltarid's purpose was simple: to use these otherworldly beings, game characters borrowing the power of gods, as cannon fodder in the fight against the abyss. For Neltarid, it was perfect since they would not die easily anyway. Their power might be negligible, but that was besides the point.

"Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. I'm the only one on this continent who can save your sister."

That was a lie.

"I'm also the only one who knows how your sister can return home."

That too was a lie.

"You can go back, right? Unfortunately, I'm not sure if you can cross over from there to here... but I need you to investigate two things."

In response to Davey's words, the boy, who had been sobbing, looked at him in surprise. But soon, he looked at Davey with determined eyes. "What do you need me to find out?"

"There are just two things I want to know about your homeland."

And those were...