The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

“Hmph...”

In the stifling silence, Davey noticed that Kain's expression soured. It seemed as though Kain was upset that Davey had failed to put the cherry on top of the cake that Kain had carefully baked.

Hyun-Ah probably noticed that something was odd, so she would have realized that this was not a simple issue.

"Are you joking? Or are you seriously saying that?" Hyun-Ah asked.

Kain suddenly stood up and cleared his throat. "Ahem! Ahem! It seems my words got twisted. We’ll have a talk among ourselves," he suggested.

A beat of silence passed before she agreed, saying, “Sure.”

Kain then quickly grabbed Davey's arm and walked rapidly to a spot out of her sight.

"Whew... What are you doing, huh?" His visibly annoyed face was, in its own way, funny as he mumbled and grumbled. "You probably don't yet understand how dangerous it is to meddle unnecessarily in matters here. Yes, being powerful might make you fearless."

Davey nodded his head as if inviting Kain to continue. "Go on."

"You might withstand it with your peculiar powers. But what about Lady Perserque, me, and that lady? Do you think the rules set in place by the gods will simply ignore them? If you aren't planning to kill everyone, please, I beg you, cooperate."

Kain had already said quite a lot, but his rant was far from done. So he continued to voice his complaints incessantly, as if chattering away. "And what if that lady, who is but a stranger to me, gets involved because of Lady Perserque? Ah, yes. You might think it's okay to leave Lady Perserque behind, but what about me? What if I, the one who willingly assists you or the one to close the Abyss, disappear?”

Davey maintained a silent composure amidst his vehement reasoning.

"So please! Adjust your words. It's not only your power manifestation that's dangerous, but careless words and actions could lead to irreparable rifts," he pleaded.

In response to this, Davey threw a question, as if he had been waiting for the opportunity to ask, "Even a single word can cause a rift?"

"This is not Tionis. A single misstep here could swiftly send everyone to an untimely meeting with the Grim Reapers. So please, align your words with mine. It's safer for everyone if misunderstandings are avoided quietly. Why insist on acting this way?"

"Does the Grim Reaper concept you're employing even make sense?" Davey mocked.

"Her seeing you was unexpected, so there was a need to diffuse the situation without escalating any more problems," Kain explained.

Most of the answers could be discerned from his explanations. Perhaps it wasn't merely a coincidence that Davey’s first encounter in this place was with Hyun-Ah, suggesting there could be something behind it. Of course, considering Neltarid has no reason to be hostile toward Davey yet, it seemed to insinuate that meeting her, whom he had been longing for, was arranged.

But why? This thought led Davey to feel as though Neltarid's transcendent will desired more than just that. Speculations, however, would only lead to the collapse of alliances.

"Well then, I ask for your cooperation. It's not like you plan to stay on Earth for long."

"Something bothers me."

"Yes?"

"Do you have anything to tell me about Atlantis?"

"That's the first I've heard of it," Kain replied in ignorance that was either feigned or not.

Davey’s only response to that was a cold smirk.

Both Davey and Kain returned to where Hyun-Ah was waiting. Kain then proceeded to clear up any misunderstanding. He cleared his throat and addressed her in a more stable tone. "Ahem. Now that you've caught us... Let me ask you something. You can see those two, can't you?"

She nodded at Kain’s question.

"Would others be able to see them as well?"

The question caused Hyun-Ah to contemplate in silence, thinking how her bodyguard had no reason to lie to her.

"How unbelievable, isn't it?"

"What on earth are you doing?" Davey asked.

"Please stay put. Because of whom do I have to explain myself like this?" Kain gritted his teeth in frustration toward Davey.

Then, redirecting his attention back to Hyun-Ah, Kain said, "Here's something. And..."

The moment he placed something on Davey's palm...

Whoosh! Bang!

The item fell through Davey's spiritual body, then landed on the ground.

Witnessing such an unbelievable sight, Hyun-Ah gasped in shock. Her mouth had flown to cover her mouth, and her eyes had grown wide. It was hard to believe that a small object passed through a human hand and fell.

With a complicated expression on her face, Hyun-Ah looked at Davey and then slowly extended her hand toward him, only to retract it suddenly as her hand passed through him.

"Do I lack sleep?" she mumbled in a complex tone, her brows furrowed.

"Do you believe me now?" Kain asked as she silently alternated her gaze between him and Davey.

"Really... Grim Reapers or something?"

"Somewhat similar. Due to certain circumstances, I'm the only one who can materialize and interact with you," Kain tried reaching out to her.

But the moment he attempted to grab her hand...

Smack!

Without realizing what he was doing, Davey unexpectedly smacked Kain’s hand away.

"What are you doing?!" Kain exclaimed.

"That was the right thing to do. What exactly are you doing? Came for a matchmaking session? Not getting your job done?" Davey sternly reproached before rising from his seat abruptly.

Davey then turned to the person who had a dazed look on her face, saying, "What are we even doing? The misunderstanding about us has been cleared. Do we need to say more?"

"The misunderstanding hasn't cleared yet," she interjected.

"First off, what's with a grown woman impulsively inviting two men into her house? Are you out of your mind?" Davey chided, leaving Kain astonished and causing Hyun-Ah to frown at him.

"It might not be the wrong statement, given the situation, but why should I hear this from you? What does it even have to do with you?"

Her retort left Davey unable to think straight, which was something very atypical of him.

"Why should you hear? Well..."

"Well?"

After a moment of silence, Davey snarled at Kain, "Kain, pack it up. We did not come here to exchange useless talks. We're returning to Tionis."

Muttering curtly, Davey sharply kicked the air. He already accomplished one of his main objectives anyway—protecting Han Yu-Na.

As the Dimensional Key reacted, which caused a gust of wind, Hyun-Ah looked on in surprise.

"Follow me."

Dragging Kain by the ear, Davey swiftly entered the whirling gateway.

* * *

"You were too impulsive. You should have handled the aftermath better. If you were set on protecting her..."

"Enough."

“...”

Davey dismissed Kain briskly as he turned away from him.

"Go back to Illyna. From now on, don't interfere with matters concerning Earth. Don't even look. Forget it entirely."

"I believe I at least deserve to hear the reason. I am here to assist you by the order of Lord Neltarid, but the way you are acting now..." His voice trailed off. "You're being too reckless. You're not like your usual self."

"Listen, Kain." Taking a step forward, Davey, without hesitation, grabbed Kain by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "It seems to me you need to be a bit more careful with that mouth of yours."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Why? Let me ask you. What are you? Why would you go to such lengths to help me?"

"Davey, stop!" Perserque interjected, trying to calm Davey down with a worried look on her face.

"Why are you even asking me that question?!" Kain yelled.

"All right, I'll change my question. Do you want to leave my sight right now, or do you want to die by my hand?"

Perhaps Kain found further conversation with Davey to be meaningless. So he looked up at Davey with a scowl and then closed his eyes. "It doesn’t seem like you’re in a stable state to have a conversation."

It was then that the real Kain, who usually conversed with Davey, seemed to recede as his original persona emerged.

"Huh?! What... What the heck, human?!"

"Since I don't have the leisure to argue, go back to Illyna."

"What? What do you mean?! What's happening?!"

"Get lost."

At the hostile words, Kain flinched.

He then started to flap his wings and quickly fled from Davey while sticking out his tongue. "Bah! Bad human!"

Perserque approached Davey and firmly held his hand as Kain swiftly disappeared.

"This time, you were too rash. From your statements to handling the aftermath, there was not a single thing you managed properly."

"..."

"Davey, you're not without regrets, are you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie. Ever since you saw your younger sister, haven't you been unable to make a proper judgment?"

Frustrated, Davey retorted. "A proper judgment? Perserque, I am being rational right now."

"Sigh

... You should rest for now," Perserque said as her face turned red.

For a short while, she mused on her thoughts in silence. She then cautiously reached out her other hand.

"Um... Davey, do you want to touch my horn?" Perserque shyly asked with a face that flushed quite scarlet while showing her horn.

"You..."

Surprised by her unexpected behavior, Davey looked at her.

But she was unable to meet his gaze, so she looked away. Then, with a face that was still red as a cherry, she said, "If... If you don't like it, then never mind."

With a quick instinctive motion, Davey grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace, saying, "Who said I did not want to?"

* * *

After Perserque fell asleep, Davey was left alone, lost in thought.

The Dimensional Key, which emanated more of Neltarid’s power than that of Goddess Freyja’s, needed some time to recharge after a single use. Yet, for some reason, Neltarid, who had previously prevented Davey from coming to Earth, was now calling him back there.

"Do you really want this?"

Davey frowned as he scrutinized the activated Dimensional Key.

‘When did you ever say not to come, and now suddenly... Why?’

Unable to have a clear conversation with Neltarid, all he could do was speculate. It did not seem like Neltarid had a reason to be hostile to him.

Davey believed he had no lingering attachments to his past life. On top of that, Hyun-Ah had been doing quite well. She was now gradually building her presence as the heir to a top-tier company; she now had a life that was unlike her impoverished past. So there was no place for Davey to interfere anymore, nor did he have any reason to.

However, anxiety filled his thoughts. There were still too many unresolved issues.

Without realizing it, Davey activated the Dimensional Key, puzzled as to why he was even heading back to Earth again.

"Do I really need to go to Earth?"

The contract with Yu-Na was fulfilled through the Lord of Gears. Kain had killed Go Jin-Seok, who had been targeting Yu-Na. His death would likely cause several issues, but this hardly posed a direct problem to Han Yu-Na. And so there really was no reason for Davey to involve himself any further.

With a complicated expression, Davey watched the Dimensional Key activate and then started walking.

"There are no regrets... No, I have no regrets."

It was someone else's issue now. It was just the remnants of a past connection.

"Maybe just taking a glance wouldn't hurt."

With that thought, Davey moved alone. Without Kain or Perserque.

He was told that unleashing his power would put everyone around him in danger, not to mention those who were involved with him, so while it was safe for him to use the Power of Taboo, it might get Hyun-Ah into trouble.

So he decided. He would cause no unnecessary issues and just observe.

"Right. This is just after-service."

Unable to resist the impulse, Davey took a step forward. And as soon as he passed through the Dimensional Key, he frowned at the unexpected sight he saw.

Hyun-Ah was caught in the middle of changing, holding a blouse in her hands as their eyes met.

"Kyaa... Kyaaa!"

Seeing her scream and collapse in an instant, Davey immediately said, "What are you doing, squid octopus? Are you dressed up to go on a date or something?"

Her expression turned sour at his words. "Laughable, really. I’m going to school, you three-legged octopus... Eh?"

Without thinking, they spoke too familiarly, as if they were too used to speaking like that.

Both Davey and Hyun-Ah were shocked. It felt like a thousand years had passed since they had such a familiar conversation.

"Enough already! Are you not going to turn away?!"

With a frightened look, she threw an object at him, but it just passed through Davey harmlessly.

Meanwhile, he regretted it. After claiming to have no ties to his past family, why had he come here? His regret started to swell as his mind cleared. He was truly beginning to regret this foolish act he was doing at the moment.

Rationally, he should not have provided any cause for them to become more dangerous to each other. The best and safest course of action was to cut off all communication with her. He would just unlock the Dimensional Key, go back, and never come back to Earth again. Yes, that was the most sensible course of action.

Though yelling at the air might seem crazy, Davey turned his head to look away and asked, "Do they dress up like that to go to school these days?"

"It’s just a blind date set up by a senior. What? Are you a Grim Reaper who doesn’t even know that?"

Bearing no particular fondness for Davey and believing him to be some sort of Grim Reaper due to her assumptions, Hyun-Ah had shown quite a comfortable side to him.

"What... What blind date?"

"A blind date. It’s when men and women meet to form good relationships. Don't Reapers date?"

At her question, Davey couldn’t help but scowl. "What are you dressing up for?! And what’s with that makeup?! Are you trying to scare ghosts away?! Did your guts spill out or what? And that hairstyle, what’s with that?"

There were no regrets. So this was merely... Yes, just a good deed. The whimsical acts he always engaged in.

"Change your clothes, let your hair down, and get rid of that ludicrous lipstick!!"

Her expression changed as she frowned. "What's with this person... No, this Reaper..."

Sensing no more reason to be puzzled about the fact that only she could see Davey, she proceeded to ask, "Why do you keep coming back to cause such a fuss? Do you like me?"

"The nerve of you... You’re losing your mind. Geez, I'm already worried about who'll have to deal with you!"

Hearing this from him, her expression changed once again. This time, it was filled with utter bewilderment. "Ha... How can something like you even exist?!"