The Max Level Hero Strikes Back!

Davey told Illyna that this was just a glimpse, a token of appreciation for what she had done for him and what she would do for him in the future.

Illyna was possibly disappointed. After being surprised by Davey’s gesture, she chuckled after realizing something. Then, she handed him the necklace again and asked, “What are you doing? You’re not going to put it on for me?”

“Ask your boyfriend to do something like that for you.”

Illyna smiled brightly and said, “That’s stupid, Davey! Are you telling me that I should ask my boyfriend to put on a necklace another man gave me?”

“Hm, I guess you’re right.” Davey took the necklace Illyna handed him, undid the clasp, then gestured for Illyna to come over. He said, “Come close.”

“This is supposed to be romantic, but why do I just feel empty…?” Even though she muttered those words, Illyna willingly approached Davey and stared up at him with a smile.

Davey then wrapped his arms around Illyna and slowly clasped the necklace around her neck. Then, he lifted her luscious blond hair and straightened it out a bit.

Illyna’s delighted smile brightened even more. Maybe she really liked the necklace that shone with a serene, blue light. She then commented, “You’d be great husband material if you weren’t such a psycho.”

“Tomboys like you aren’t my type.”

When it came to women, Davey liked the petite animal-like princess of the Lyndis Empire, or Perserque, the Demon Lord beside him.

“Psychos like you aren’t my type, either. The royal palace is going crazy about finding me a husband, but you are the complete opposite of their criteria.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”

They giggled together before bumping fists. Like Yuria had said, there were no true friends between men and women; however, Davey thought that his relationship with Illyna had something a little off for it to be called a romantic relationship. It would just be a nuisance for them both if the people around them called them a couple when they themselves did not have any feelings for each other.

“But…” Illyna, who was looking up at Davey, lowered her head. Then, she carefully said with a faint smile, “So… You know, Davey. If…”

Rambling on, Illyna looked around like she was flustered. “If… If there isn’t anyone who is good for me… Y… You…”

The moment Illyna bit her lip and was struggling to tell Davey something…

Vooosh!!!

“Kyahh?!” Forgetting about what she was about to say, Illyna let out a cute scream fitting for her age and collapsed onto the ground at the sudden vibration. The source of the sound was none other than her ring.

“Sigh… That surprised me,” Illyna mumbled in annoyance, then sighed. “My kingdom is calling me. Sorry Davey…”

“Go.”

“Huh?”

“Go. Something came up for me as well.”

Illyna looked confused when Davey repeated himself, “Go.”

Although confused by how firm Davey was being, Illyna still nodded. She then said cheerfully, “Sorry. But since the festival is going on for a few days, let’s come with Winley tomorrow!”

At last, Illyna sighed and turned her back on Davey to leave as he had suggested.

From a little while ago, Davey had weakly sensed a familiar energy from not too far away. There was only one person who had this unique and cold energy: Jack, the Echo Guild informant who was taking on his personal requests.

Jack’s actual identity was Aina Helishana, the dark elf. Right now, she was fighting someone and releasing her killing aura on the outskirts of the territory.

“These guys are ruining a good day.”

Davey was a little annoyed.

‘They should know the time and place to invade or attack or whatever.’

If they couldn’t even keep those basic manners…

“I’m going to have to pull out all their hair, even if it’s the World Tree.”

Davey had no choice but to punish them.

* * *

There were four or five elves wearing a blue uniform; they were all Ancient Guards who were exceptionally strong in the Divine Tree. They all had Master-level bowmanship, and they were skilled elves who had made a contract with spirits of higher ranks than intermediate.

The Ancient Guards were heading to the Heins Territory, where everyone would be enjoying the festival without knowledge of their presence. By the command of the World Tree, they were to attack the Heins Territory and end the life of the human who had the guts to provoke them. However, their secret invasion was stopped by some man before they could even enter the territory.

“You should’ve gotten rid of your killing aura. You cannot go any further than this,” the man said calmly.

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The Ancient Guards silently surrounded the man with their weapons in their hands.

“We do not want unnecessary killing. Move, human,” the male Ancient Guard quietly said to Jack, the man in the black uniform.

However, Jack did not budge and simply twirled his smoothly curved dagger, his favored weapon and his protection all this time. He continued to block their way. “I refuse. I have no choice but to kill you if you decide to come any closer.”

The invaders became more hostile at Jack’s emotionless warning.

“We are going to execute the command we have been given. If you choose to stand in the way…” one of the Ancient Guards trailed off and loaded an arrow into their bow. They added, “Unfortunately, we will have to return you to Mother Nature.”

Ping!!

With the sound of air ripping, sharp arrows began flying towards Jack in seconds.

* * *

‘Ancient Guards.’

Trying to hide the cold sweat running down his entire body, Jack, no, Aina Helishana moved swiftly as she swatted away the arrows flying towards her with a tense face. Dangerous attacks that could severely injure her if she made even one misstep flew toward her endlessly.

She was a high-ranking informant in the Echo Guild, the continent’s best intelligence guild. Her assassination skills were that of a Master, and as she herself was a former Ancient Guard, her spirit magic was also quite advanced.

As such, Aina could not let down her guard; her opponents were Ancient Guards, what she had been before, and there were five of them targeting her. The person who was grabbing her attention was…a woman in a flowy uniform that the Ancient Guards were surrounding and protecting.

“Hup!”

Shwang!!! Splatter!!

As soon as Aina’s concentration broke for a second, the sharp arrow cut her waist as it flew by. She reflexively moved and avoided any lethal injuries, but she couldn’t help but frown at the stinging pain that she felt.

“…”

Aina stared at the arrow instantly pointed at her forehead with wide eyes. As soon as the elf let go, that arrow would be lodged right between her eyebrows. It was too late to dodge it; the damage of concentrating on something else proved to be far more detrimental.

[Stop. Stop it.]

For the first time, the woman who was standing still near the Ancient Guards opened her mouth and interfered with the situation. Smiling like she knew everything, the woman had incredible beauty and was wearing a very modern outfit. She looked to be in her mid to late twenties, and was frail with no weapons or muscles. There was no reason to worry about her as she wasn’t wearing defensive armor, but just a thin and flowy outfit that looked like it could easily be ripped apart.

There shouldn’t have been a reason to worry, but Aina did feel wary. Apart from not judging a book by its cover and whatnot, Aina Helishana knew who that woman was: World Tree Yggdrasil. It was the woman’s only name that was given to her by the primordial will.

The woman wasn’t the true being, but was an incarnation that had part of its powers. If it was the World Tree’s incarnation, it could subdue Aina with a flick of her fingers. This meant that Aina was just hanging by a thread.

Watching Aina reflexively get up and back away from her, Yggdrasil deepened her benevolent smile even more.

[Hm, I wondered where my naughty daughter had run away to. It seems you were here.]

“I am human. I am not an elf.”

[A human, you say… That is quite an interesting story, Aina.]

“…”

[Did you really think I would not be able to recognize my own child if you hid your face with such a crude artifact?]

“Damn it…”

[I don’t know why you and your sister are making my heart ache so much.]

“You are the reason why. Take off that disgusting hypocritical mask. I have become dead to my sister because of you and the Saint of the Divine Tree, and I cannot show myself to her.”

Aina Helishana felt tense from her inevitable nervousness.

‘I cannot let her—the World Tree—and the Ancient Guards get to Davey.’

The Ancient Guards wouldn’t pose a problem, but the incarnation of the World Tree was a different story. The World Tree was a transcendental being that had the ability to change the terrain of a land with its will. This woman may just be the incarnation, but her powers were beyond common sense and logic. It meant that no matter the level of power, nothing could measure up to her.

The World Tree was an almost unfairly powerful being of another dimension. If it was the World Tree whose presence itself held great power, even Davey would have a hard time.

‘If he doesn’t stop her with the interference of a Spirit King or something, he doesn’t even stand a chance.’

All Aina Helishana knew was that Davey had gone to the Forest of Elves and that he had gone against the World Tree, but she had no idea what he had done there. That was inevitable as she had just returned to the Heins Territory.

To be honest, it was almost a coincidence that she had discovered the invasion of the World Tree and the Ancient Guards and was stopping them. This was the result of her moving to the source of a familiar but terrifying energy on her way back to the territory.

“Why are you here?”

The World Tree put on a benevolent smile at Aina’s cold question.

[I have become interested in the human who took away two of my children. I am delighted today. So, move. Although you have left my nest, Aina, you are still the child of my forest like everyone else. I do not want you to lay down your life for some worthless human life.]

Aina ground her teeth at Yggdrasil, the World Tree, talking as if the outcome had already been decided. She could not know how strong the incarnation was, but no good would come from Davey facing her.

This was a difficult decision to make. If Aina blocked them from advancing, she would die. If she let them go, however, then Davey would die.

Aina didn’t follow Davey enough to pledge her life to him, but no one would be able to solve her problem if not for Davey. Above all, she felt nothing but loathing for the World Tree.

This was a scale that had been tipped to one side already, so Aina’s decision was quicker than expected. She said, “I refuse. I cannot let you harm him in any way.”