The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 1280

They say even monkeys fall from trees sometimes.

Yuria quietly watched Elder Goulda, who was sitting across from her, downing barley beer like water.

“Ahhh. That’s the stuff.”

He firmly believed that any of life’s problems could be handled as long as there was alcohol.

He shook his head. “Tsk, tsk. I knew you’d screw up eventually.”

“I don’t have an excuse.”

“What’s surprising is... the head of the Moon Forest, the icon of betrayal, taking all the blame on her own.” Goulda clicked his tongue and gave a sly laugh, but Yuria only shook her head at the annoying dwarf.

“It wasn’t for anything that noble,” she said with a rare gloomy expression. “At first, I just wanted to pay off my debt.”

At the same time, her eyes began to redden. “But when I saw Gracious Savior’s face...”

“Stop. I know,” he said, pretending not to know, even though he knew everything.

Tears began to spill from her eyes. “When I saw his face, my mind went blank. This wasn’t what I meant to do. It was like something I’d buried suddenly came rushing back. Hic.”

Elder Goulda and Yuria had been with Davey since the very beginning. Their attachments to him ran deeper than most.

Goulda sat in silence, watching her struggle to hold back her sobs, then sighed. “Just think of it as a bitter lesson.”

On the surface, Perserque had stepped in to make sure no one else could scold Yuria anymore. But there was no way that kind of decision was something that could be made so easily.

Even if they were subordinates, if they dug into the reverse scale of the person they loved, it was normal to lose their mind on the spot.

Davey had ignored it, pretending not to notice. It was not only because he cared deeply for Yuria, but also because, deep down, he believed the fault lay with him. Perserque, knowing how much pain Davey would go through, had taken care of the whole incident with only the lightest punishment for his sake.

So, any official justification to discipline Yuria had disappeared. Alas, the guilt and shame she carried didn’t vanish so easily.

“H-How could I.” Yuria, who rarely let her composure break, now cried so bitterly one might’ve assumed she was just upset over a slap. Yet to Goulda, who had stood by her as a comrade for years, her emotions were clearly steeped in relentless self-blame.

Considering the lifespan of an elf, their time together hadn’t been long. However, Davey had become someone she could never afford to lose. He was her precious Gracious Savior.

One could immediately tell how she felt by the way she left the Moon Forest to stay in the Heins Territory, using her Gourmet Research Society as an excuse just to be near him.

“Sometimes, we get more attached to someone we haven’t known that long. It happens. Just don’t let it happen again. Come on, let it all out today.”

In the quiet tavern, only the soft sobs of a high elf and the gruff voice of a dwarf offering clumsy comfort echoed.

* * *

The Holy Empire took charge of convening the International Federation assembly.

It made sense to call the meeting, as the crimson sky lingering over Haetan’s ruined royal castle was disturbing even to the Holy Empire’s priests.

As a result, the Holy Empire requested full involvement in the investigation, and the Three Empires, concerned that the situation might escalate, stepped back to observe.

Now, the prime suspect of the disaster, Davey, was currently visiting the Holy Empire.

“You cause trouble like it’s your job, Headmaster. You’ve got no right to complain about the Gourmet Research Society or the Development Society.” Archbishop Alice, professor at Heins Academy, didn’t bother hiding her irritation as she shot a sharp jab at Davey.

“Sorry, but I’m a victim in this too, you know.”

“Yeah, sure. I know you didn’t do it on purpose. Still, now that things have gotten to this point, you’ll need to explain yourself. You better be careful. The Holy Empire is full of crusty old bastards stuck in their ways.”

‘Crusty old bastards...’

His face twisted at the crude choice of words. “You were an Archbishop before, and you’re a professor now. Don’t you think your wording is a little vulgar?”

“Ha! Please. You’re one to talk.” Alice glared at him with a completely unfiltered expression of annoyance.

She and Davey had clashed many times since the first time they met. There was a time she had turned her back on the light, and he had tried to kill her for it.

Yet, for some reason, the goddess had spared her back then.

To this day, Davey still didn’t know if that act had been for his sake or if the goddess simply favored Alice more than him, who merely piqued her interest. It didn't help that her particular fixation with him went back over ten thousand years, yet she hadn’t openly expressed her emotions until more recently.

Understanding the will of a god as a mere creation was a challenge in itself.

“Watch out for the young ones in particular. The new priests are pretty much all just talk, but the ones with some rank? You never know what they might try.”

People said you best not bother reasoning with zealots, not because they’re dangerous, but because you can’t talk to them.

Even Davey knew that much.

“They might not be completely out of control, so you'll have to pay attention, but don’t expect kind eyes. Don’t waste your energy trying to talk to every idiot or change their minds—just ignore them.”

When against people you couldn’t reason with, ignoring them was the best weapon.

Alice, being from the Holy Empire herself, understood how things worked in the Valchas Empire.

Davey reassured her, “Oh, come on. I’m a Saint, after all.”

He was the only publicly acknowledged Saint on the continent. Counting those marked with stigmatas, there were only two known in existence.

One would think a nation wouldn’t be foolish enough to mess with someone like that. Yet, there was no telling how long that logic would hold.

Still, one thing was certain. The moment Davey stepped into the papal residence of the Valchas Empire, the shift in atmosphere was undeniable.

First, there were those who quietly greeted him with respect as they passed. They were mostly seasoned clergymen, veterans who understood politics and the bigger picture.

The second group was those who harbored resentment or jealousy. They were mostly young priests who were clearly trying to hide their feelings, their efforts clumsy at best.

Just like Alice had said, most of them were young priests or low-ranking clergy who had grown accustomed to their spots and became jealous of Davey without knowing the full story.

Not that age was the only dividing factor, but the pattern was clear.

“I’m surprised. This is more extreme than I expected,” Davey admitted.

“Remember how you told me that civilized people become ruder and more savage since they don’t have to worry about their heads being blown away by axes?”

“Hmph.”

“Do you think priests are any different? No one dares disrespect a priest on the Tioinis Continent. These young ones, especially born and raised by the elites of the Holy Empire, have no idea that the world doesn’t revolve around them.”

Low-ranking clergy—priests, deacons, pastors—made up the younger generation.

As Alice had said, no one in the Holy Empire dared to harm them. They were treated with utmost reverence, and naturally, that kind of pampering inflated their egos.

“Being a priest doesn’t mean you’re free from abstinence. Youth is still youth. I was no exception, I just took a different path.”

As a former Saintess candidate, Alice had once pushed herself far beyond her limits in pursuit of that goal.

She’d once harbored a deep sense of inferiority toward Saintess Lena. To her, Lena seemed like someone who had done nothing, showing little talent, and yet became a candidate simply by flashing a gentle smile.

Having such a past, it wasn’t surprising that Alice empathized with the younger priests and their petty jealousies.

She said to Davey, “Though to you, they’re probably all just kids.”

“As long as they don’t cross a line, I won’t touch them. The Holy Empire’s never been a comfortable place for me.”

Following Alice to the central main hall of the Valchas Empire, Davey arrived at the council chamber where high and low-ranking clergy and state representatives were gathered for discussion.

Stepping into the hall, where a towering statue of Goddess Freyja stood beside a grand circular table of white marble, he spotted numerous figures already in attendance. Some were present via holographic communication from across the continent. Others had come in person.

“My apologies for being late. Am I the last one here?”

“Please take your seat, Saint Davey O’Rowane.” An elderly man gestured to an open chair on the far side of the round table. He seemed to be the acting representative of the Elder Council, speaking in place of the pope.

Among those present were representatives from various prominent nations, as well as an unexpected face.

“Yulis?” Davey was surprised to see him there.

“It’s been a while. I’ve come in my master’s stead.”

Yulis was a friend of his; his brother-in-law through Winley; and a 6th Class central elder.

Most of the individuals in the room greeted Davey with politeness or goodwill. But not all. One person radiated unmistakable hostility. They were none other than a member of Haetan’s royal family.

Considering how their kingdom had been shattered overnight, it was no surprise they held a grudge against the person suspected of causing it.

Alice took the empty seat beside Davey.

“My name is Alice, and I will be representing the defense of Saint Davey O’Rowane,” she spoke plainly, not revealing her former titles and positions.

Besides her, Abel and Aeria had come as well. However, Aeria wanted to greet those who had cared for her during her stay there, so Davey had sent Abel along with her.

Though he wasn’t in his best state, he was still an 8th Circle mage. With Abel by her side, Davey knew Aeria was in safe hands.

“Then let us begin the emergency continental summit.”

A young man, one of Haetan’s surviving royals, rose to his feet. “Something happened just a few days ago. Our Haetan Kingdom is a small state located in the southern part of the Western Continent. Our royal castle, though humble, was a symbol of history and pride.”

He trembled with barely contained rage as he stared at Davey. “Had someone not annihilated our royal castle overnight, that symbol might’ve stood for centuries more.”

Objectively, as a small kingdom, Haetan didn’t hold immense value. Still, there was no reason for the prince to expose his weaknesses.

“I had been inspecting the outer territories under royal orders. Then, by the time I returned after hearing the news... everything was gone.”

He placed a small artifact on the table and activated it.

It was a video-saving artifact that enhanced the resolution of video stones by boosting the footage with spirit memory. Ironically enough, it was a product recently developed and exported by Heins Territory. Though it wasn’t cheap, royalty could certainly afford it.

The projection showed the capital of Haetan in complete ruins. The ominous crimson sky was still lingering above the rumbles.

Though that red sky no longer existed outside the capital’s perimeter, it continued to hang over the ruins.

Murmurs spread throughout the chamber.

What they’d only heard about was now shown in front of their eyes.

The pope slowly clapped his hands to gather attention. “Our priest investigation team has submitted their report. They described it as the descent of something utterly unnatural.”

The person most closely linked to that unnatural occurrence was Davey.

Haetan’s surviving royalty now looked to him. “If you are not the cause of this, then we request a clear explanation.”

It was clear that he’d already made up his mind. In his mind, Davey was absolutely the culprit.

“It seems, Prince, that you've already decided I’m responsible for this.”

“This is a natural disaster of extraordinary scale. Tell me, aside from you, who else on this continent could cause something like this?”

“Because no one else could, it must be me? That’s your reasoning? Fine, then let’s hear it. If I am the culprit, what do you want?”

“What do I want? If it turns out you really destroyed the Haetan royal castle and killed our king along with countless others, I’ll never forgive you. I demand you be punished to the fullest extent!”

Hearing the prince’s resolute demand, Emperor Sullivan of Pallan turned to Davey. “Did you really do this?”

“To be exact, I’m a victim too.”

“Don’t give me that! If it wasn’t you, then who caused such an explosion?! And even if it wasn’t you, why were you in the kingdom in the first place? Why were you at the royal castle meeting with the king at that exact moment?”

It was clear that the prince of Haetan lacked experience. He had probably walked the elite path all his life. What he didn’t understand was that the reason Davey respected and cooperated with the International Federation’s laws wasn’t that he lacked power.

After all, the power struggle between the two had already been decided long ago. Davey still played by their rules not because he had to, but because he chose to respect them.

“Your eyes tell me you want my head.”

“If you’re truly the culprit, then yes,” he said without flinching one bit.

Davey smiled coldly.

The eyes of Archbishop Alice, organizing information by his side, instantly widened before she reached out to stop him.

However, it was already too late.

Boom!!!

A tremendous wave of pressure exploded outwards. The continent-wide communication artifacts crackled with static, and everyone turned pale.

Just the aftermath of his aura pressure alone was enough to cause such an impact. There was no chance the young royal from Haetan would be in a better state.

He was a member of the younger generation, raised on the elite path without a single obstacle in life. The prince choked, unable to breathe in the face of a killing intent he had never experienced in his life.

“Davey!” Yulis shouted, quickly casting a barrier to shield the attendees from the pressure. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to protect the prince.

“Stop! What are you doing?! Do you want to go to war with the entire continent or something? Whether we win or lose isn’t the issue!! You said you didn’t want that!!” Even Alice was grabbing his arm, trying to stop him. Nonetheless, Davey simply stared down the prince in silence.

The boy couldn’t breathe. His whole body trembled under the crushing weight of fear, and he was on the verge of losing his mind.

Despite the protests, Davey crossed his legs and leaned back arrogantly. “Hah. The bastard who caused the problem is the one getting angry? How shameless.”

Crack!! Boom!!

The massive marble table was split down the middle.

While Yulis's shield protected the delegates, the surrounding buildings were not so lucky.

Boom!!

The ones who noticed the danger swiftly responded. Younger paladins and priests of the Holy Empire burst in.

“Your Holiness!!”

However, the moment they entered, they too crumbled under the oppressive force.

“Urgh!!”

“Gah!!”

The tension escalated.

Some of the nations directly involved with Davey calmed their guards, but those who weren’t let their guards draw swords and raise their defenses.

Sling!!!

The weight of confrontation grew heavy in the air until suddenly, Davey released all the pressure in an instant. “There’s a rumor in Haetan. That my wife, Perserque, is a demon.”

Murmurs erupted.

The prince, still shaking violently from the crushing presence, gasped for breath. His eyes darted wildly in panic.

“The rumor spread far—too far to ignore. Despite the risk of conflict between Haetan and Heins Territory, your royal family let it fester. So I went there personally, in order to prevent a pointless war.”

If left unchecked, Heins Territory and the Haetan Kingdom would’ve inevitably clashed. Even if war had mostly vanished from the continent under the International Federation’s charter, conflict could not be outright stopped.

Unlike Earth, there was no such thing as mutually assured destruction to keep things in check.

“I have also received information regarding that.” Alberth, Crown Prince of the Lyndis Empire, rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing. “It almost sounds like... someone wanted a war.”

However, the reality was that the Haetan’s mad king, obsessed with demons, had ignored the danger in order to gather more information.

He had foolishly believed that Davey, as a Saint, would never retaliate against a small kingdom for such things. He had failed to grasp the danger in letting that situation unfold.

“In the end, I went to Haetan myself and made a request to the king. I asked him to allow me to track that culprit behind the rumors.”

‘Before I continue, let me smack my lips and take a sip of water to build suspension. Hehe.’

“But that culprit apparently ran off to the royal castle, to a place only accessible by people with royal blood. The Haetan royals had tried to block me from it, but my patience had long run out.”

‘And you folks won’t be able to believe what I found there.’

He reached into his coat and threw a piece of meat onto the shattered marble table.

“For some reason, the king had been hiding a certain creature. Not long ago, that very thing nearly killed countless outlanders. I had crushed and killed it back then, yet to my surprise, it had resurrected, completely intact.”

Chances were, it still wasn’t dead. Even when destroyed physically, it had survived. Even when he had sliced it with Super Ribbon, it lived.

It was a creature beyond logic. There was no longer any guarantee that the First Lich, Nyx, was the only immortal out there. Of course, with Davey’s current strength, even Nyx would be nothing to take down.

“That creature remembered me killing it. It feared me so much that it abandoned its petrified, healing body and went berserk, detonating the castle. That’s why the capital exploded. Now do you understand what I’m saying?”

The pope, silent until then, raised a hand.

One of his advisors stepped forward and reached out to the piece of meat on the table. “This... What is this? What a horrifying energy.”

The prince abruptly shouted, “Lies! All lies! Anyone could fabricate a story like this!”

“You said I had no proof, Prince.”

The prince flinched.

“But now that I’ve brought evidence, what’s your excuse? Do you think blaming me based on circumstantial assumptions makes any sense? You must’ve taken me to be a fool.”

“T-That’s not...” the prince stammered.

“If that thing shows up again, then what? What will you do then?”

If the monster had survived, it’d show up again somewhere in some form. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Davey was certain, because the crimson sky over Haetan still hadn’t disappeared.

“A-Are you saying you released...”

“Hey, Prince,” Davey said in a cold voice. “I’m in a bad mood right now. Don’t try to play clever and put the blame on me. If you want to accuse me, you’d better bring solid proof.”

‘Before I stop caring about internal laws and erase Haetan from the map.’

The general consensus was that no one had clear evidence either way.

However, Davey still had ways to prove his innocence. Still, with certain people acting like they were possessed by something, there was no telling if they’d accept the truth even if he presented his proof.

So instead, he came to the conclusion to press them even further. He knew very well that instilling fear was sometimes the most effective way to take care of a nuisance.

However, that wasn’t why he had worked so hard to maintain balance. It wasn’t to bully weak nations with overwhelming power.

Then, suddenly, a strange scent wafted in through the doors at the back of the chamber.

“The scent of apostasy?”

“Huh?”

Davey furrowed his brow and rose from his seat.

“Saint Davey, what are you talking about?”

“I caught a whiff of apostasy. You didn’t feel it?”

The scent of apostasy. It was a rare, subtle presence that appeared when a devout follower turned their back on their god.

It was too subtle, so none of the others seemed to notice, but Davey was certain.

Then a group of paladins burst into the chamber, faces pale. “S-Something terrible has happened, Your Holiness!”