The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

"Chief, this is our opportunity."

"How is he doing?"

"It wasn't hard to gather rumors. He's apparently planning a wedding."

"Hmm..."

A man dressed in black bowed his head.

The mature man with a thick beard was not someone who would usually bow to another. He was the king of a small eastern country, the kingdom of Boltis. That was his true identity. The fact that the king of a country would bow his head was proof enough that the man seated at the desk was no ordinary individual.

"I heard that you hold... a significant grudge against Prince Davey."

The mature man remained silent at this question. "A grudge... Yes, I harbor a tremendous grudge."

He spoke calmly, but there was a glint in his eyes.

"It's unfortunate how things have turned out. I understand your anger, Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Chief."

"There's no need for formality. I'm merely elected. Your presence is invaluable and of high importance to us."

"How can it be so?" The modest tone of King Boltis amused the Chief, who smiled lightly. "But, Chief, about that matter..."

"Oh, that?" The Chief's voice trailed off as he grinned.

"Now's the time. He underestimates our organization. Right after waking from his coma, he's been smoothly pushing through everything his way. Who knows what kind of providence he received."

King Boltis nodded in agreement. "Indeed. He's someone who's never faced failure in his life."

"And now he's becoming complacent, thinking we can't touch him..."

Knock, knock.

"Your Majesty, may I?"

At that moment, an elderly man in a black suit slowly walked into the previously silent office. He had been serving the king for the longest time, the Chief Steward of Boltis. The Chief Steward bowed slightly, and when he looked up, his eyes widened in shock. Instead of the king seated at his rightful place, a young man he didn't recognize was there, and the king he served was standing before the young man, as if he were a mere servant.

"I explicitly told you to let no one in."

"My, My King..."

"Leave, Chief Steward. I will severely reprimand you for this."

"But, Your Majesty! There's an urgent matter..."

However, the stern gaze of the king made the Chief Steward retreat. "I understand. I'll excuse myself now."

"Tsk." King Boltis clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I'll handle it."

"No need. There's no need for you to soil your hands. Besides, we were discussing something more important."

The king's eyes lit up at this. "Yes. My suggestion is to use this opportunity to assassinate him at the organization's assembly."

"If you think that way, then we must proceed."

"Of course, not everyone might agree. But I can't bear to see him breathe on this land any longer." The king's hand trembled.

"I still hear it. The tormented cries of my son, who died at his hands. 'Father, it's hot. Father, it hurts. Save me. My ears and head hurt so much.'"

"Don't worry. He will surely die by our hands, as he is our greatest obstacle. The method to kill him is almost complete."

A means to kill the saint. Its implications were vast. What could it be? King Boltis was curious but held his tongue, listening to the Chief's next words.

"However... it might be good to reconsider before suggesting this at the organization's assembly." His tone was soothing, as if trying to calm and persuade.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Do you think he's belittling us and suddenly acting this way?"

"You mean..."

"As you are aware, we are a clandestine organization. We cannot afford to let information slip through carelessly. In this instance, he won't be able to easily eliminate our members."

At these words, the king's eyes widened. "So, you're implying... Davey..."

"He's attempting to undermine us. Ha. Truly a formidable man. He's used himself as bait and has already set multiple layers of traps."

"I see. Currently, we have no grounds to deal with our members. But if we expose ourselves..."

He could announce this fact to the entire continent, turning everyone into his allies.

"He is malevolent. Not only is his strength overwhelming, but the strategies in his mind are truly astonishing."

"You mentioned multiple layers of traps..."

"If we act solely based on his provocations... there's a high likelihood he intends to bring down our entire organization. By that point, we might not be able to resolve it with our power alone."

The king's expression darkened.

"So you're suggesting that no matter what we do, it will be difficult to eliminate him?"

"If we take a realistic approach... yes. He's extremely dangerous. Over time, our organization has designated many as top-tier threats. But even among those, the danger he presents is profound."

"We underestimated him."

"Don't worry. Time is on our side. In the past, he had nothing to lose, allowing him to act recklessly. But now, it's different. He has much more at stake." The king nodded in agreement with the Chief's words. "He doesn't have any other ways to provoke us. But we do. We'll strategize one by one, tightening our grip around him. Victory will eventually be in our hands."

A chilling smile appeared on the Chief's lips. "The look on his face when he's lost everything and hits rock bottom..." He shivered with excitement and grinned. "We'll witness the pure essence of humanity we've always desired."

"I hope you achieve that goal."

The king's words made the Chief close his eyes. That was right, Davey did not have the means to provoke them. Or so he thought.

While Davey was mysterious, he was still a human living on this continent. Against the might of an organization that harnessed inter-dimensional power through the legacy of the Deathlord, he would not stand a chance.

That was what he believed. The Chief played with a small brooch in his hand and said, "With this brooch, all justification and the fruits of victory will be ours."

He did not know what Davey was hiding and what he was about to reveal. The Chief prided himself on understanding Davey. But in reality, he knew very little about him.

* * *

[Davey, a machine's work is precise and perfect. But there's value in human-made things.]

When identifying artwork, there was a method to distinguish between an original and a forgery. More intricate, cleaner, and more realistic is often the forgery. An original did not need to hide anything, so it did not care about the small details. In contrast, a forgery tried to look genuine, making it appear even more detailed than the original.

[Remember, you have your way, which machines can't replicate. So, don't be scared, no matter where you go.]

Even during hours of silent work, Perserque remained still.

"It's done."

As Davey rose from my seat after meticulously crafting the piece, she yawned cutely and stood up, then, seeming lightheaded, she leaned into my embrace.

"Why does being the model relate to the intricate crafting process? And also..." With a peculiarly dissatisfied expression, she pointed to the corner of her mouth. "This, what's this?"

"Finding inspiration.”

Davey's answer was partially incorrect. A sound, as if the surrounding space were subtly warping, echoed through the air, followed by a sensation that the very atmosphere was shifting. The distinctive smell and warmth of the workshop seemed to evaporate in an instant, surprising Perserque. She looked up at Davey, an act of silent questioning.

"When you make this choice, there's no turning back. Are you certain you won't regret it?"

In response to his inquiry, she slowly extended her hand, tenderly stroking his head. "You're asking me that?" Her tone was even as she leaned in and gently pressed her lips to his forehead.

"If you choose to stay with me, you'll be in constant battle with the Abyss."

"Is that a concern?"

"You are quite carefree," she noted, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"At first, you were someone I had to be cautious of..."

Silently, Davey took a step closer, enveloping her in an embrace while she rested her head against his chest. It was an embrace that resembled a hug, yet she seemed unfazed by it.

"Why do I care about you so deeply?"

She looked down, allowing him to catch a glimpse of the necklace hanging around her neck—a necklace emitting a stunning silver glow. It was neither overly ornate nor too plain, its balanced beauty accentuating her own.

"For someone like you, excessive accessories could be a burden. I kept it simple, just for you."

Extravagant jewelry, like the ostentatious pieces worn by nobility, would be ill-suited for someone like Perserque. Upon hearing Davey's words, a smile curled at the corner of her lips, which were still pressed against his waist.

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, the atmosphere was disrupted by a knock from outside. Davey, caught off guard, turned toward the door, about to respond, "Who is it..."

Just as he was about to leave, Perserque suddenly gripped his collar and pulled him back with a sudden force, pushing him against the wall. She lifted herself onto her tiptoes.

"…"

Davey felt his face flush for a moment.

"This is my way of thanking you for accepting a sinner like me into your heart." She pecked his lips and grinned playfully.

"I highly appreciate the bold actions of Lord Perserque and Lord Davey," Rinne declared calmly as she walked barefoot. Behind Rinne, Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon covered their eyes with their hands, giggling.

"Daddy's so embarrassing!"

"So embarrassing!"

Somehow, they had learned to mockingly scold with their tiny fingers, looking up at Davey and Perserque with twinkling eyes.

"Davey."

"Hmm?"

"If you're with me, you might not have the opportunity to have a child."

"Do I look like I care?"

To Davey, having a child or not did not matter. Davey wished for the life he could have led, not the traces he had left behind.

"Living without regrets until the day I die is my goal."

"Promise me something." Perserque looked up at him. "If you care about me, do not discard the precious bonds you've formed."

His expression darkened at her words. "Do you know how my mother passed?"

The primary reason for his mother's death was quite simple: jealousy from a woman, unrelated to any political issues. That very same jealousy that shaped Davey's present and past.

"I can't give you a child. Hence, I don't intend to monopolize you alone," she murmured, clutching his collar and bringing her face close to his. "Main wives, secondary wives, concubines; they don't matter to me. I just wish someone else could provide what I can't for you."

A particular light glimmered in her red eyes as she said, "Now, all I desire is your happiness. The challenges you face along the way are for me to tackle, not for you to stress over."

"..."

"Can you promise?"

"Not right now, at least."

Regardless of Perserque’s determination, Davey did not immediately answer.

"Well, I'm not devoid of jealousy either. So, one or at most two. I'll allow that," she said, chuckling as she released him and walked past.

"Two?" he thought, "That's a pointed remark."

In another sense, it was a sharp retort: a warning not to indulge further in such dalliances.

"This is too much for you..." She gazed lovingly at a gold ring she wore, which had seemingly appeared from nowhere. The ring was small, but it bore intricate craftsmanship, resembling a smile.

"I've never seen such a lively ring in my life. What's its meaning?"

"Sacrifice, peace, and rest."

"Ensure the sacrifice isn't only by you."

She passed by him with a radiant smile, commenting, "It seems King Krianes is looking for you."

Upon her remark, he noticed a knight in full regalia bowing with a nervous expression.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm here to see you. His Majesty has... issued an order."

"An order?"

Considering he had just been observing until now, what could he want?

At Davey's question, the knight respectfully lowered his head and extended a written decree. The issue was that the decree was not meant for Davey.

"When I was at the Heins domain, I was told you'd be here..." The young knight, face reddened, averted his gaze.

"For her?"

"Yes... for Lady Perserque."

With trembling hands, the knight offered the decree, and Perserque cautiously unfolded it.

Its content was straightforward: In the name of the king, he acknowledged her status as the Holy Consort. She was invited to attend the upcoming birthday banquet of the number one concubine and grace them with her presence.

Perhaps the decision was made knowing that if sent directly to him, it would be refused without even reaching her.

Davey clicked his tongue in annoyance, his face contorted with irritation. "What a sly old fox."

"Davey, what do you mean by 'sly old fox' concerning your parents?"

"Don't go, Perserque. Do you know how wicked the nobles are?"

At his words, she giggled. "Wicked? Sorry to break it to you, but when it comes to understanding the nature of the nobles, I'm more knowledgeable than you."

Hearing her words, Davey exclaimed in realization. After all, she had indeed existed alongside them. "The naive ones will be seething with jealousy."

"Jealous? Hehe, considering these children know who you are, I doubt they'd be that naive."

Would such an incident really occur now, as she suggested? He thought not; surely it would not. But, behold, nothing's ever absolute.

BANG!!!

"How dare a commoner like you...!"