The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Novel

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the beautiful Reina who walked through the doors of the conference hall. She looked so calm and composed that even those proud and arrogant members of the royal and imperial families cowered before her.

Reina had lived a very tough and rough life, so she would never be intimidated by countless gazes trained on her body.

Davey glanced at Prince Sullivan the moment Reina, with the huge cloth-wrapped Woldo hanging on her back, made her appearance. He was curious as to whether this older brother, who cherished and loved his sister dearly, would be able to recognize the woman in front of them.

“That… Who is that woman?”

However, it seemed like the curse was working properly. No one had judged that Reina and Illyna were the same person.

“Greetings. My name is Reina.”

“Reina… There’s no family name?”

“Yes, there is no family name.”

Another commotion broke out at Reina’s firm answer.

“Goodness, aren’t you a commoner then?! Right now, a commoner…”

“You’re telling me that you’re going to make someone like that the Commander?!”

Amidst the outraged cries of the people around them, Great Emperor Contas looked at both Davey and Reina silently for a while. Then, he lifted his leg from its crossed position and stomped on the floor.

A loud crack echoed as the ground beneath his feet gave way, making everyone turn to look at him.

“Enough! Her existence is beyond your comprehension. Fools. Are you all so blind that you can’t even recognize a strong powerhouse that has reached a level far beyond that of the Sword Master?”

The warriors of a high level seemed to have noticed Reina’s power in just one glance. To the others, they might just see Reina as someone weird because they could not feel any power coming from her at all.

However, the truly powerful ones could tell that Reina’s body possessed a large amount of mana and holy mana.

“Who is she?”

“She is a Holy Warrior who has answered the call of God. Of course, there’s nothing to worry about her ability to lead the forces and the soldiers,” Davey explained.

Then, everyone looked at Reina suspiciously due to her outer appearance. Even though she was in her late twenties, she still looked very young in their eyes.

Reina was older than her current self in this world when she had entered the Sword Master level. However, after undergoing metamorphosis, her outward appearance no longer changed or aged.

Therefore, to the others, she looked just like a fair maiden who had just reached the perfect age for her beauty and charm to bloom.

“She came here for a great cause with the God-given weapon, Divine Spear Longinus. Feel free to show your doubt in her abilities.”

With a smile, Davey said to Great Emperor Contas, “Don’t tell me… Is the Great Emperor Contas going to take back his words?”

Great Emperor Contas laughed as if he found Davey to be entertaining. He said, “It seems like you have this emperor in the palm of your hands, huh? I have only tried to pull the rug out of your feet once, but you’re able to take advantage of it and have already stirred the situation to this point, huh?”

As Davey chose to remain silent, Great Emperor Contas added, “Good! That’s the spirit! Let’s follow this momentum, then! Did you say your name is Reina?”

“Yes.”

“In the name of the Great Emperor of Contas Empire, I recommend you as the Commander of the allied forces. Any objections?”

“None.”

“I have nothing.”

With the three empires at the lead, the other nations, including the Duchy of Felicity and the marine city state of Valkass that had benefited and received Davey’s help, all voted in favor of the recommendation.

The kings and representatives of the other nations, who were wary of Davey’s ever growing power, could only nod in agreement. They had realized that they had no more room to voice differing opinions or a space to retreat to.

Just like that, the Commander, without showing a single ability, had been appointed through nepotism.

“This is something that we can’t sleep on. Our delayed response has already resulted in the unfortunate collapse of two countries. We cannot and will not lose any more! I ask the alliance to go to war!”

“I completely agree.”

After most of the countries voted in favor of the request, Davey quietly nodded at Reina. Then, he moved slowly, raising his hand that blazed with white flames burning on top of it.

“Prince Davey?”

“Before that, I believe you should all hear who our enemies are,” Davey said calmly as he reached his hand toward the open space at the center of the conference hall.

The space twisted once Davey caught something in his hand.

“Keheok?!”

With an unexpected scream, a pale man dressed in black was dragged out of the empty space. He landed in the middle of the hall.

“Kghhk?! Urk!”

“An, an intruder!”

“Protect His Majesty!”

The guards who protected the kings were flustered, crying out and drawing their swords all at once.

However, Davey raised his hand and stopped the guards from taking action. He said quietly, “You did a good job hiding among us. Don’t go saying anything about glory and honor when all you’ve been doing is hiding.”

“Ke… Keoheok! D-Damn human! How?!”

“Do you think your atrocious act has gone unnoticed?” Davey asked calmly as he slammed the pale man on the ground. Then, he lifted the box in the man’s hands and threw it out.

The contents of the box, which had been dressed up as a gift, were…

“It would be better if you don’t look at it.”

It was too late. Some of the people present in the conference hall had already seen the contents of the box. Some covered their mouths in shock while some looked in terror.

“What the hell! What in the world is that?!”

“That’s the head of the Sorvlan Kingdom’s King.”

The pale man on the floor twitched before giggling creepily and strangely. “Fufu… Fufufufufufu. This is the price that you have to pay for going against the Nobles of the Night and the beings from the Demon World.”

“N-Nobles of the Night?!”

The pale man’s smile deepened at the surprised reactions that his words had elicited. He then declared, “Demon World’s Grand Duke Astaroth has personally come to this world to condemn you. Our great Nobles of the Night have also made a move to condemn you, arrogant humans!”

“Nobles of the Night… Don’t tell me, vampires…?” Crown Prince Sullivan murmured.

Anyone who heard his shocking remarks were taken aback.

“Kyahahahahahaha! All of you will die. No matter how many times you gather together like this, the results will not change! Whatever kind of resistance you show will all end in vain! The Demon Lord, who will open her eyes soon, will destroy all of you and return this land to its original owner!”

Just like a performer showing off to his audience, the vampire turned to Davey and shouted, “Davey O’Rowane! How dare a measly human like you act arrogantly in front of the great Noble of the Nights?! This time, you will not be able to do anything! You, who are hiding under the ugly name of the Saint, will be completely destroyed once the Demon Lord is resurrected! We will kill and take the heads of all of the humans in front of you, bastard…!”

As the vampire continued to pour out curses, a great level of malicious intent spread across the entire conference hall. It spread at a shocking momentum. It weighed down on everyone and made their eyes widen to the size of saucers, the color draining from their faces and their breaths turning ragged.

Reina, with her Woldo emitting a bright golden energy, instantly beheaded the vampire.

The vampire’s body, which slowly swelled up to the point of bursting apart, deflated in an instant. Its energy had been completely drained.

Although vampires had quite a strong power of immortality, Reina’s holy mana from God was powerful enough to send such a being with demonic attributes back to the arms of the Lord and God with a single hit.

Just as Davey also quietly turned around to leave, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Prince Davey.”

Davey looked toward the voice and saw Saintess Candidate Alice approaching him.

“It’s been quite a while, Prince.”

“You look a lot more relaxed and comfortable now.”

“It’s all thanks to you,” Alice said calmly while taking out a small cross and handing it over to him. She said, “You obviously recommended a stand-in because you are going to move separately. This might look poor and shabby since you’re the Saint, but I hope that God’s blessings remain with you in everything that you do.”

Davey smiled as he received the cross. He remained silent, not revealing any of his inner thoughts. Then, he said, “I’ve heard the news. Lina is the one chosen as the final Saintess Candidate.”

“Yes. Saintess Candidate Lina’s hearts and thoughts are far more noble than mine. This will be the last time that I work as the Saintess Candidate. Once this is over, I will only be a simple believer and follower of God.”

It seemed like Alice had given up all of her authority and power as a Saintess Candidate. It was the reason why the Holy Empire had a commotion at one point in time. However, in the end, they still respected the woman’s choice.

She then said, “I have heard the rumors. It seems like you’re building an academy where anyone and everyone can learn, no?”

“And pray tell, where did you hear such rumors?”

“In my dreams. For the first time, God gave me an oracle. Ha… It was a voice that I have never heard before, a voice that I had longed to hear all my life,” Alice said with relief in her voice. She asked, “Even though I’m lacking… I wish to apply as an instructor on theology. If we return safely from this war, I hope you will consider this request.”

“Well, I have no reason to refuse.”

“Thank you.”

Davey had found Alice’s fiery temper to be a problem in the past. However, he could not deny the fact that she had always been a great priestess in a way. In fact, her abilities were the reason why she had been nominated as one of the Saintess Candidates. And there was no way for Davey to turn away someone so skilled, right?

***

Reports about the humans’ movements were being sent day in and day out. The alliance between the vampires and demons had also begun to make their move; they had sent scouting units in several directions while leaving a considerable number of their forces behind as their main unit.

However, even their scouting unit was big in number. It reached around 150,000 people. They even had a huge variety of soldiers, from half vampires, blood beasts, and corroded and corrupted monsters to vicious and ferocious demonic beasts from the Demon World.

The demonic beasts were overstimulated after having forced themselves to enter the Tionis Continent, so they became even harder to control. However, that did not weaken them at all. Their ferocity remained the same. In fact, they now had the tendencies of biting anything and everything in their path.

Gorgon, the high-leveled vampire who was leading one of the scouting units to suppress the humans’ activities, was showing satisfaction over the Demon World Armor that had the effects of amplifying his powers.

Wearing the armor alone could increase the vampires’ blood energy tremendously. It also allowed them to partially control the ferocious demonic beasts and make them follow their orders.

Looking at the army of 150,000 vampires and beasts, Gorgon could see their vicious gazes. He thought that nobody in the world would be able to stop the might of his troop. However, his greatest assurance was the being that the humans were most wary of, Black Dragon Gargas.

Black Dragon Gargas had originally been a wise and sensible dragon. However, after being exposed to the Demon World’s power for a very long time, the dragon’s strength and resolve, including his reason, had eroded. Although Gargas had become weaker when compared to the Magic Dragon, he was still a mighty being hailed as the sovereign of magic. His prestige had not gone away.

Well, Gorgon was generally glad that he had been given this opportunity. He stopped grumbling as he planned to use this opportunity to push forward and slaughter all of those weak human beings! If he made a huge contribution here, then his lord and master would definitely spare him a glance.

Besides, there was nothing that he needed to be afraid of. He had a troop of 150,000 strong soldiers, a very dangerous and vicious large army, at the ready!

—Grrrrrrrr!

Just then, the goblin and the ghost wolf that had been sent for a reconnaissance rushed to where Gorgon was. Looking at them, Gorgon simply pierced through the head of the goblin without any hesitation.

—Kihyeeck!

Gorgon then yanked his arm out of the goblin’s head. The goblin died before it could even finish its scream.

Without a care in the world, Gorgon even chewed on the goblin’s brain as if he was eating some kind of delicious snack. With a vicious smile adorning his face, he guffawed, “Ha… Hahahahaha! What can those humans do with just a mere 50,000 strong troops?!”

Gorgon was a vampire with very unusual powers. By eating his opponent’s brain, he could access their memories. Although he had just been using this power on monsters for reconnaissance missions, he was confident that his abilities would have more uses from here on out.

There was a cheeky and arrogant human that Gorgon’s lord was wary about. However, Gorgon thought that, no matter how powerful that human was, a human was still a human. There was nothing for him to worry about.

Yes, Gorgon was an extreme noble chauvinist. He was an extremist that believed that any race other than their own noble one was too lowly and unworthy for him to care.

“Move! You lazy scums! For dinner, I will let all of you eat human flesh as much as your heart desires!”

Their unit’s original task was to observe the enemies’ movements and hinder their plans until reinforcements had arrived. However, Gorgon was of a different mind. He firmly believed that with this armor that strengthened his powers and a large army behind him, he would be able to overpower and destroy these humans all at once.

In fact, he believed that his troop was powerful enough to decimate the humans. Needless to say, he did not stop his troops’ advance until he found countless human soldiers and cavalry men waiting for them in an open field.

“I see, so this is going to be a very easy and boring war,” Gorgon said, thinking about why these humans had recklessly and fearlessly come their way.

But just as he was about to give the order to advance…

“Hmm?”