The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

They felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation. The wine they consumed gave no hint of tipsiness, as expected.

"I might lose my mind."

In the dimly lit room, the sole source of illumination was a magical stone emitting a soft glow. Following a silent and mutual gaze, and the continuous sipping of wine, Perserque and Davey eventually broke the silence with slow-spoken words.

"Davey."

"Shall I fetch something stronger?"

Stronger spirits were required; the usual ones wouldn't suffice.

‘Perhaps with Nirvana Spirit or Phoenix Ascension liquor... There might be a chance of feeling intoxicated!’

Just as he was about to access the Pocket Plane with that thought, Perserque grabbed Davey's arm to halt him, then withdrew her hand in shock. She muttered, "If you pass out, what's the point?"

"Right..." Davey calmly responded, his eyes widening.

How reassuring it was to find something familiar in such an awkward situation.

Davey removed the rings they both wore, placing them slowly on the table before speaking. "Josiah’s power has been sealed within. No matter the distance, we'll be able to sense each other."

"The Contract of Blood," said Perserque. Understanding Davey’s words quickly, she opened her eyes wide in surprise. "Don't tell me Josiah has already reached the power to use such capabilities?"

She seemed to share Davey's thoughts. It was somewhat comforting to find something familiar amid the awkwardness.

"Yes. I've already sealed my blood in it. Now you just need to add yours."

Upon hearing his words, Perserque touched the ring and then pulled out a delicate knife. She lightly cut her fingertip, causing a drop of blood to form, which she let fall into the ring.

Thwoong!

A strange sound echoed as her blood merged completely with the ring and disappeared into it.

"Give me your hand."

After taking Perserque’s hand, Davey summoned his holy power and healed her finger, then wrapped the fingertip with a bandage he had prepared earlier.

"It wasn't necessary to go this far."

"I'm just not at ease."

Silently putting the rings back on, a peculiar sensation began to take over their bodies, as if they were connected. They started to sense each other's life force.

"Never take off the ring, no matter what."

"Those are the words I should be saying."

Another heavy silence fell. Had there ever been such awkwardness between Perserque and Davey? Certainly not. So it was not an issue between him and her, but the situation that made Davey feel this way.

"Huff..."

Observing Davey in silence, Perserque asked with a complex expression, "Davey, I believe I understand."

"You do? How?"

"I've heard from Surtr. In such cases..." After a prolonged pause, she unexpectedly stood up, smugly crawling onto the bed. Choosing a spot, she patted it invitingly. "Come... Come here?"

It seemed as though their roles had reversed. While avoiding his gaze with a flushed face, she asked gingerly, "Ah... Is this not right?"

"It might be the right thing?"

A mixture of awkward laughter and bewilderment filled the silence as Davey hesitantly walked over and settled on the part of the bed Perserque had patted. Then he quietly said, "It doesn't feel real."

"I feel the same."

And once more, silence enveloped them.

"Davey, don't you desire to have a child?"

"Don't worry about it. Matters like that."

They weren't entering a marriage of convenience for the sake of a child. The existence of a child certainly offered many advantages—the gratification of raising one, and the peculiar feeling of seeing a child that resembled oneself. However, if it were impossible, there was not yet a reason to try to force its creation. The sense of being a father was not something for him to feel, after all.

"A solution will come someday."

"If you truly wish to have one, though." Perserque laughed. "Then I hope you won't be too fixated on me."

"Is that what your mouth is made for? To say such things even in this situation?"

Suddenly reaching out, Davey caught Perserque lips in his grasp, and she looked forlorn. And then, in the ensuing silence, Davey retrieved something he had carefully stored in the Pocket Plane.

"Ta-da."

"Do you really have to use that?"

"It was originally yours to begin with."

"Such artificially made horns."

Perserque’s face turned red as she took the horns. She silently stared at them for a moment before slowly reattaching them to her head. The term 'detachable technology' naturally came to Davey’s mind.

"Pfft..."

Was it the situation that amused her? Perserque chuckled to herself for a while and then slowly addressed Davey. "Davey."

"Yes."

"Will you protect me until the end?"

"Trust me."

"You won't leave my side?"

"There won't be such a thing. I'm not like your father, obsessed only with the sword."

If the impossible existed, then surely, with all the Hall of Heroes' techniques and knowledge, they would make it possible.

Satisfied with his answer, Perserque fell silent for a moment, then leaned into Davey's embrace. "Alright... That's all I need."

As he gently pushed her away from his chest and kissed her as if spellbound, Davey flicked his finger. Simultaneously, the mana illuminating the room from the magical stone lamp was cut off, plunging the room into darkness.

***

He took pride in asserting that he was not a heavy sleeper, and so did Perseque. However, when they woke up, the sun had already ascended high in the sky.

"Ugh..."

Slowly sitting up, Perserque winced at the intense pain that seemed to shatter her body and turned her head. There lay a young man with black hair, sound asleep.

Davey was deeply in slumber. Considering the numerous events that had unfolded up to this point, he had often struggled to get a proper night's sleep. Regardless of how transcendent a master's body might be, sleep was akin to a shackle that sentient beings couldn't endure without. Indeed, was it not written that even mighty dragons hibernate in fairy tales?

Perserque placed her pale hand on Davey's dreaming cheek, and suddenly it occurred to her how endearing he looked. The mere fact of being in love was satisfaction enough, a remarkable feeling. But he had to know.

"Davey, my love is like a small fire," she murmured faintly, stroking Davey's cheek, then covered herself with the blanket. Quietly, she added, "If, if you ever betray me..."

She smiled softly with radiance. "I’ll burn you alive."

After saying so, as if startled, she slapped her mouth with one hand. "Oh my, such impropriety."

Her expression and tone a moment ago seemed entirely like a lie, now replaced with a charming smile. She withdrew her hand from stroking Davey's cheek. Trying to rise, she winced. "Ugh... My body's not okay."

As the aftermath of their first night led to a sense of lethargy, Perserque uncharacteristically zoned out and then slowly lay down. Holding Davey close to her chest, she closed her eyes, whispering tender words she had been too shy to say, "I love you, Davey."

She was remarkably different from the night before.

***

In the Rowane Kingdom, the royal family was originally buried within a cemetery inside the royal palace. Once a princess, Davey's mother had fallen out of favor with Queen Lynesse and wasn't buried properly. However, with the downfall of the Bariatta ducal family and the noble faction, she was formally interred in the cemetery.

Staring at the silent and large tombstone gracefully placed amidst the grass-covered cemetery, Davey fell silent. Though only ashes remained since her cremation, they were laid to rest here due to their belonging to the royal lineage. If dismissing tradition could be called inefficient, then that was what it was. One of the incomprehensible traditions among the cultural norms of the continent had to be the couple outfits for newlyweds. If it didn't exist, one could simply create it. Davey entered the royal cemetery wearing a uniform outfit that looked neither exclusively masculine nor feminine, accompanied by two unexpected figures at his mother's tomb.

"Lennie, your son has grown to be a source of pride and has entered into matrimony," a man's voice, tinged with bitterness, remarked.

"You two can be happy now. So rest well now," a woman's voice followed, equally laced with a tinge of bitterness.

"Greetings to the sun and moon of the kingdom," with a bow showing respect, to which Perserque quietly followed suit.

The sudden appearance of Davey and Perserque startled King Krianes and Queen Anisha, who, after observing their clothing for a moment, gave a slight smile. "Welcome, Prince."

"Are you alright?"

"Thanks to the medicines you sent, I feel incredibly revived. Thank you."

"That's a relief."

Upon Queen Anisha's response, King Krianes said, "That's a peculiar outfit."

"It’s called a couple outfit."

"A couple outfit?"

"Lovers wish to share many things. Rings exchanged during vows are the same because of these reasons, you see."

"Hm."

"If it works for rings, why not clothes or accessories?"

Showing off the bracelet around his wrist, Davey shook it, prompting Perserque to raise her slender, pale arm adorned with a matching bracelet.

"Hmm. I find it hard to keep up with the sentiments of the youth," said King Krianes.

"My goodness, how romantic," Queen Anisha added.

The reactions of the two differed greatly.

"Couple outfits, bracelets... it seems romantic."

"Your tastes are refined, Your Highness the Queen."

"Your Majesty, why don't we get a set made up as well?"

"Hmm... Well... Do as you please."

Laughing, Queen Anisha led King Krianes past Davey and Perserque and whispered to Davey, "So we will take our leave. You newlyweds should pay your respects to your mother."

"Thank you, Your Highness the Queen."

After they departed, Davey reservedly observed the traditional Rowane Kingdom rites at the cemetery.

"Mother."

A brief silence ensued.

"Your son, I am living well. Please keep watching over me. I will live envying no one."

That was his purpose, his means, his method. Davey silently swept his hand across the surface of the tombstone.

Ssshhhh…

Suddenly, he felt someone's presence and frowned as he turned his head. "Don’t you know when to intrude and when not to?"

"It's an important situation on this side too."

The revealed figure was Kain, or rather, the Valkyrie within Kain.