The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

This presented the ideal opportunity to tarnish Heins Academy's reputation by accusing the institution of engaging in reverse discrimination against nobles, and indeed, that was the situation at hand.

Naturally, many noble families enrolled their offspring here with the intention of forging connections with Davey, the academy's dean, and the distinguished faculty, which included Saintess Candidate Archbishop Alice, the young Sword Master Sir Olman from the Pallan Empire, and several other influential figures from various realms.

However, a firm decision had been made right from the outset. During the academy's early admissions process, nobles were not accepted. Davey fully understood that this choice would incite substantial backlash. Davey had already engaged in numerous discussions with others on this matter, but the problem lay with those who had come to meet him, as they were making quite a fuss.

"Please inform us! Regardless of your fame as the continent's Saint, this treatment is undeniably unfair!"

"That's correct! This constitutes reverse discrimination against nobles!"

Davey nodded in agreement with their protests. "You can certainly label this as reverse discrimination."

Davey conducted himself with respect. "Very well. Yes, I'll concede that point. However, you see?" Davey held up a document before them and maintained a composed smile as he said, "There would be no issue if you were to endorse this."

The document Davey held was their protocol. Nonetheless, for nobles accustomed to elitism, there were several contentious clauses. First, they would be prohibited from using their status, whether deliberately or unintentionally, while within the academy, and any violation of this rule would result in expulsion. Just this aspect alone presented a considerable challenge for those who took pride in their lineage and standing. It would not be surprising if mutiny were to arise.

However, the most crucial point was this: whether they were nobles or commoners, all students were to be treated equally. If they refused to attend classes alongside commoners and treat them as equals, then leaving the academy would be their only alternative.

Some appeared to be swayed by the protocols, while others displayed evident dissatisfaction. "This is unacceptable! We are nobles! Among us are even members of royalty! Yet you expect us to interact on equal terms with those commoners—those individuals who lack any noble lineage or parentage…"

Boom!!!

The boy, who had taken it upon himself to represent others, found himself suspended in mid-air before he could complete his sentence.

"Keheok?!" he exclaimed, attempting to rise, his face marked with a frown.

However, Davey's foot firmly held him down as he uttered, "Hey."

With just one word, Davey's voice lost its warmth, prompting the boy to gaze at him in surprise.

"Who do you think is responsible for your comfortable existence here, huh?" Davey inquired.

"That... That..."

"Who do you think emerged victorious in the war and safeguarded your lives, even at the risk of their own?" Davey persisted.

The boy clenched his teeth in response to Davey's words. Even if they were aware of this fact, they would likely deny it. Some might not express their sentiments as openly as the boy, but undoubtedly, there were others who shared his feelings.

"Alright, let's shift the narrative, shall we? Are you a noble?"

"T-That's correct!"

"That's rather informal."

Stomp!!!

"Kghkk!"

"State your rank."

"Count Solom's... Godos..."

"I asked you clearly. State your rank."

The boy's eyes widened as he comprehended Davey's intent.

"You are nothing more than the son of a noble, lacking rank or title. Yet you approach me in this manner, pretending to be pretentious?" Davey remarked.

The more discerning individuals had already begun to step back, while those who remained unaware of the situation continued to snarl and growl at Davey, accusing him of reverse discrimination.

Reverse discrimination... That perspective had its merits. However, the academy was not yet prepared to admit members of the nobility. At the very least, they needed to foster a sense of cohesion, acclimate everyone, and cultivate a stable atmosphere within the academy before considering such a change.

"All of you should return. It hasn't even been half a year since the academy's completion. I've already corresponded with your families to address any questions they might have. It will take at least half a semester to establish the admission standards for nobles. These are my conditions."

Davey expected them to comprehend his intentions, and indeed, the quick-witted ones nodded in understanding when they met Davey's gaze.

"If that is your sincere intent, we will willingly comply. We'll see you again in half a semester."

However, the less perceptive individuals continued to shout and curse at him.

"This... This is reverse discrimination!"

"Reverse discrimination?"

Frowns creased their faces upon seeing the smile on Davey's lips. Then, he firmly emphasized his point.

Of course, Davey would never falter in his commitment to laying the foundation for the commoner children who had finally grasped this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To Davey, these individuals weren't even worthy of consideration.

"If you're dissatisfied, then aspire to become the dean, you wretched scoundrel! I'm the one in charge here, not you!"

As for his reputation as a prince, Davey paid it no heed.

***

If Davey were in a position to receive substantial funding, he would need to tread cautiously. However, he was not receiving any funding; he had been covering all the expenses himself. This was why he considered these individuals unworthy of his attention.

Admittedly, he had consumed a significant portion of their finances, but everything had been resolved when Aeonitia introduced her second invention. In Davey's eyes, she was the epitome of an outstanding worker. After all, Aeonitia consistently devised new inventions whenever she had the time.

Of course, she was the one putting in the effort, while Davey was the one reaping the financial rewards.

"What a stern older brother you are. You're particularly hard on that child, Aeonitia."

"Every person has their unique path to growth. The more challenges Aeonitia faces, the faster she will develop."

More importantly, she would only learn to voice her grievances independently if she could express her complaints on her own. And the anger that would follow? Well, as her older brother, Davey could make that sacrifice for her.

Of course, even after unveiling her new invention, Aeonitia's moniker as the Watch Princess remained unchanged.

With those issues resolved, the classes proceeded without a hitch. The academy offered a wide range of subjects, including etiquette, reading and writing, and various essential life skills. They also fearlessly included basic mathematics and general societal knowledge in the curriculum.

Although they might currently be mere commoner children, Davey was confident that they would grow up to become influential figures in their respective nations.

Were there children who seemed to lack talent and potential? Davey dismissed such notions. He believed he could turn any underachieving child into a prodigy, but doing so personally would be far too time-consuming.

The academy's issues had been addressed, and even the problem concerning the senior soldiers of Prugrepf was gradually being resolved. The only remaining issue was... meeting with Aeria, who had finally awakened.

"Your, Your Highness! It's... It's Imperial Princess Aeria!"

Davey frowned upon hearing the cries of the beastfolk maid rushing toward him.

"What's the matter?"

"She... She's returning with the people of the Lyndis Empire..."

"What?"

***

"Your Imperial Highness... Are you truly feeling better now?"

"Yes, I'm feeling better."

Grand Duchess Kathryn, hearing the girl's much brighter reply, muttered to herself, "This is strange... What on earth happened...?"

Aeria had remained unchanged since the very beginning. She couldn't even conceal her affection for the boy she liked, like a cute, pure, and innocent child.

Davey had been monitoring Aeria's condition whenever he had the time in the past week. He said that she was simply mentally exhausted. Nevertheless, Kathryn still felt worried. Fortunately, her concerns were alleviated when she saw that Aeria was fine upon waking up.

However, that was it. Aeria had told her that they should return home. Considering her personality, she should have wanted to stay here longer. That's why Kathryn was wondering what the problem was.

"That... Imperial Princess Aeria El Lyndis."

"Oh my! I must have forgotten. Here, please take this," Aeria said, smiling purely as she placed a small purse in the hands of the beastfolk maid. "It's a simple treat that I hope the prince will like. It's sweet, so it will definitely taste good."

"Ah... I'll make sure to tell him!"

Then, Aeria turned around. "He's busy. If we stay here and insist on seeing him, we'll just be a nuisance."

"Why? Why are you just giving in like this?" Kathryn asked in frustration.

However, Aeria simply shook her head. "That's not it. That's not it, Kathryn."

Aeria flashed a bright and pure smile, rendering Kathryn speechless.

"I already know how much he cares about me through this incident. Also, I have already received something precious."

"Something... precious?"

"Yes, it's a secret." Aeria smiled and slowly and carefully stroked her belly.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Aeria's ears twitched as she moved to cover her body with her elegant and classic robe without any hesitation or regret.

"Urk..."

But then... Although she tried to contain it, she ended up vomiting helplessly.

"Are, are you alright, Your Highness?!" Kathryn, who had almost lost Aeria once, immediately rushed to her in a panic.

However, Aeria raised her hands and stopped her. "I'm fine. I just feel a bit sick."

Aeria's eyes crinkled with delight, and the smile on her face grew brighter and wider.

"What in the...world happened to you?"

"I've seen a lot of things, Kathryn. I wanted him to return my love, but in the end, I was left with unrequited love."

However, that was enough for Aeria. Even though there was some distance between them, it was sufficient for her to gain a glimpse into that person's thoughts and feelings. She felt content with what she had.

Then, she said, "Now, all I need to do is wait. I'll wait for the day when the prince finds me again."

"Are you... truly okay with that?" Kathryn inquired.

"I'm already receiving plenty of love. Is there any reason for me not to be okay with it?" Aeria responded, a serene smile on her face.

Kathryn could only offer a helpless smile in response. "If that's how Your Highness feels..."

As they prepared to leave the territory, Aeria spotted the black-haired boy. It appeared he had come out upon hearing the news of their departure. Aeria's heart longed to run to him and embrace him, but she restrained her emotions and closed her eyes.

"You're leaving already? I haven't even had a chance to check if your condition has improved."

"It's fine. I'm already much better," Aeria replied, her cheeks flushing with shyness. "I'm truly grateful to you, Prince, for everything you've done for me and for the precious memories we've created."

"You're welcome to visit us anytime."

"Thank you." Aeria beamed at Davey, then boldly approached the boy, gently placing her hand on his cheek. She couldn't help but smile as she noticed Davey's flustered expression.

"I'll be eagerly awaiting the day you come to find me again," Aeria said softly as she stood on her tiptoes. "I'll always cherish the warm and comforting scent of cornelian cherries. Until we meet again."

‘I love you, Prince.’

With those words echoing in her mind, she carried out a very brief and fleeting action. Aeria, standing on her tiptoes, planted a kiss on Davey's lips.

"Consider this a form of protest on my part," Aeria said with a curtsy before turning around happily, observing Davey touching his lips in a daze.

"That's odd. She seems more cheerful than usual," Davey muttered, audible to Aeria as she moved away.

However, she remained silent, simply boarding the carriage and departing from the territory.

***

Ironically, it was Davey who felt a tinge of disappointment as Aeria departed without hesitation. Perserque had retorted, questioning the oddity of Davey's words, yet he couldn't quite explain this peculiar sensation. More significantly, he found it somewhat embarrassing that the girl had boldly kissed him.

"Just as the saying goes, 'a fair face may hide a foul heart.'"

"That's an old saying from Earth."

"Anyway... Congratulations, Davey. You finally had that heart-pounding first kiss between a man and a woman, didn't you?"

"Shut up, Perserque. Don't talk as if it's none of your business."

"Anyway, you shouldn't be so obstinate and should consider having a wedding. It doesn't matter to me whether I'm the first or the second wife."

"Oh? You're not saying no anymore?" Davey asked Perserque with curiosity.

Perserque's smile faded at the question. "My head hurts too."

However, Davey wasn't even ready to marry Perserque yet, so he didn't find it amusing to hear her suggest that he might marry someone else.

He still needed to prepare for the impending battle against the Princesses of the Abyss through metamorphosis. So, Davey, accompanied by Rinne and Perserque, traversed through space and entered a very familiar forest.

The Hyeon Empire, a nation renowned for its archery and situated on the western side of the continent, had previously entered into an agreement with Davey. Part of the forest they used for their tests and trials had become Davey's territory in exchange for his protection of their guardian deity and nation. This land proved to be the ideal location for Davey to undergo metamorphosis.

—Kihyeeeeeeeeck!

The moment Davey set foot in the forest, a massive firebird, engulfed in flames, descended from the sky.

"Goodness, Fire Chicken," Davey remarked, grinning at the quick-witted bird.

Without delay, the bird extinguished the flames on its body as it landed in front of Davey, nuzzling into his hands.

The Vermillion Bird Fire Chicken was notorious for its temper in this area. No one could effectively manage or control Fire Chicken's anger management issues, not even the monstrous rock giant or Reina, who had been assigned to care for the two Divine Beasts.

However, as soon as Davey appeared, Fire Chicken immediately reined in its anger management issues and became docile. It was likely because the bird had been defeated by Davey before.

"What about the others?"

—Kihyeeeeeeeeck!

Davey looked up when he heard Fire Chicken shout and saw the bird flap its wings toward the sky. Since Reina and Rumble were nowhere in sight, it appeared that the two were still occupied with dealing with the remnants of vampires.

"Well, good work," Davey said calmly as he ventured deeper into the forest, where the monstrous rock giant resided.

The forest was a mysterious land where the power of the spirits had lingered for a very long time. Due to this, it could naturally enhance one's healing abilities as well as the efficiency of various forces.

[Human, you’re here.]

“How are you holding up?”

[I have gotten a lot better. For the time being, I believe I will be able to maintain my reason and sanity by myself.]

"I'm going to use this land."

Davey needed to undergo metamorphosis, and the problem was that he had only one chance. If he failed, he would lose his way to temporarily save Megalodria, who was sleeping in the card.

Currently, he had 120 metamorphosis stacks with him, and he believed it was well worth a try. After all, he didn't know when another opportunity for metamorphosis would present itself.

"Gnoass," Davey called out.

The Spirit of the Earth, Gnoass, rose from the ground, and his expression appeared less than pleased.

[Don’t keep calling me for useless things, Contractor.]

“So, you’re not going to do it?”

[…I will do it.]

Gnoass waved his hand in defeat at Davey’s sly and smooth words.

Thud!!!

At the same time, Gnoass created a massive psychic hole that would have reached around Davey's chest if he were sitting down. Davey then summoned the Spirit of Water, Ellaim.

"Now then, come forth, Slaimmy."

[Who's Slaimmy?! My name is Ellaim! It's the name given to me when I was born during the origin!]

For a moment, an intensely angry expression flashed across Ellaim's face. In fact, Davey could almost sense her grinding her teeth. Could spirits even do that?

"So, you're not going to do it?"

[I'll do it!!! I'll do it!]

Seeing Ellaim's irritation, Davey immediately retrieved the leather bags he had prepared in advance. After all, this was essential mana divine water.

Mana divine water acted as a catalyst, amplifying the efficiency and abilities of metamorphosis by enhancing the power of the forest-dwelling spirit, Shane Scrift's genetic information, and the metamorphosis stacks. If Davey failed this attempt, he'd be overwhelmed by embarrassment.

With a confident smile, Davey kicked the ground, releasing an immense surge of energy from his body, causing significant changes in his surroundings.

At that very moment, Davey experienced an odd sensation. It felt as if someone were watching him, a gaze that filled him with a subtle sense of déjà vu.