The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 1150

“Davey, there you are!”

Just as Davey was about to go after the runaways Yuria and Rinne, Illyna had appeared in front of him. “Perserque got some bad morning sickness, so I think you should go check on her.”

“What?”

“I said she’s got it bad.”

Seeing her serious expression, Davey closed his eyes for a moment to process the information. He then stepped closer and gently pulled her in by the shoulder, giving her a light kiss.

“Uh. Wha...?” Her face instantly flushed red as her eyes darted around in confusion.

“I can see through your lies. You want to get in trouble?”

After he scooped her into his arms, she flailed slightly in surprise. “W-Wait, I’m not lying. I'm serious—!”

He kissed her again. Her face turned even redder as she lowered her head, completely flustered.

“You gonna admit it or not?”

“Sorry...” Having been seen through in an instant, she looked up at him with a mixture of embarrassment and wounded pride. “How’d you know?”

“It’s not even the right timing for Perserque to have morning sickness. More than that, I know her body better than anyone.”

Hearing that would most likely make Illyna jealous, yet when it came to Perserque, he truly could confidently say he knew her better than anyone else in the world. After all, she was the first woman he had ever loved.

“If something really was wrong, I would’ve noticed it before you did.”

She clicked her tongue softly. Her reaction was so cute that he couldn’t help but tease her more, which made her cheeks turn even redder.

“So. Are you going to explain why you lied?”

At his question, she pouted and answered, “You little... When was the last time you went on a single date with me or Aeria?”

Her question made Davey lower his head without hesitation. “My apologies, my lady.”

“Hmph!”

Illyna wasn’t the type to complain over nothing, so Davey knew that if she brought it up, things must have already been bad for a while. At times like that, he knew the right move was to just apologize and then keep his mouth shut.

Recognizing that she held the upper hand, Illyna licked her lips and gave him a sultry smile.

* * *

The two absconders realized with shock that Davey wasn’t immediately chasing after them.

They didn’t know that he’d only been briefly delayed, simply taking a moment to calm Illyna’s flare of jealousy. Nonetheless, even a short window of one to two hours made all the difference for Rinne and Yuria.

The two of them racked their brains to come up with an escape plan.

Davey had already started tracking them. Knowing his personality, he wouldn’t be coming at them halfheartedly either. His grudge was locked, loaded, and ready to fire at full power.

“If we get caught by the Gracious Savior now, there’s no way he’s letting us off easy. We need to buy at least a few days.”

“Agreed. A very rational analysis.”

“Where do we run to, though? Even if you jam your tracking system for now to slow him down...”

Doing so wouldn’t buy them more than a couple of days. They also knew if he really lost their trail, he’d bend the rules of the world itself to hunt them down.

Once upon a time, he had needed to rely on clues in order to track down his enemies. However, he had reached a point that he could interfere with the rules of the world with a simple snap of his finger. He could also pinpoint Rinne’s exact location since she was under contract with Davey, and drew her strength from his divine power.

Davey O’Rowane was the epitome of unfairness.

Rinne recalled her earliest records of Davey. Back then, he couldn’t even handle the 7th Circle spell High Reverse Gravity. He would suffer from internal injuries just from a single cast of it.

He had since become a divinity with influence over the entire world.

To Rinne, the Davey of the past and present were two completely different entities. While he used to have openings, it had become questionable whether he was even still human.

“Based on Rinne’s mass data analysis, Rinne evaluates hiding within a nation to be a poor strategy.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“Rinne recommends relocating to somewhere with fewer people.”

When it came to Earth, Rinne clearly had the upper hand in terms of knowledge. Yuria nodded, putting full trust in her. “Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”

Rinne raised three small white fingers; her index, middle, and ring fingers.

“Currently, three options are viable.” She folded her ring finger down. “Option one, we hide on an unnamed, uninhabited island on Earth and activate a large-scale concealment field.”

It would probably buy them a few days.

“But then the moment he finds us, we’ll have no escape,” Yuria commented.

Even if Rinne flew as fast as she could across the vast ocean, terrain might as well have been the last thing that mattered to Davey, who was locked in hunting them down.

“What’s the second?”

“We find a location with escape routes.” Rinne folded down her index finger, and only the middle finger remained staring Yuria straight in the face.

“Hm. Questionable folding technique,” Yuria murmured awkwardly, glancing at Rinne’s hand. However, she quickly shook her head—she knew it wasn’t the time to worry about that. “Escape routes... are there even such places to be found on Earth?”

It didn’t matter if it was on land or sea. If Davey found out where they were, getting captured was only a matter of time.

“There’s the method Rinne initially rejected... hiding among the humans. Rinne evaluates the tactic of hiding a tree in a forest highly.”

“That’s true. Even Gracious Savior wouldn’t rampage in a crowded area... But still, that’s dangerous.”

Davey, who was chasing them down with a smile, could easily turn into a nightmare if they kept annoying him.

“At that point, it won’t be about getting caught. The consequences and damage will be irreparable.”

Rinne looked away, confirming she knew the risk.

“So in the end, we’re back where we started. Or worse, honestly.” 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Davey wasn’t angry at that moment, just holding a grudge.

Sure, his grudge was already enough for him to pursue them until they fell to exhaustion. However, in no way could it be considered the same as him being angry. Even if he was the same Davey who could shatter dimensions barehanded and grind Princesses of the Abyss into pulp, it wasn’t a situation he would ignore.

“Third option.” Rinne finally spoke again. She didn’t fold her middle finger. “Surrender, explain everything, and beg for mercy. Rinne rates this option lowly.”

“So, it sounds like all three options have their own risks. Are those our only options?”

Rinne shook her head.

“One more—dig underground and hide.”

“That’s not really much different from the first option...”

“Rinne analyzes that the World-Destabilizing Spear can melt earth. We create a complex ant colony of escape tunnels.”

“Anything else?”

“Rinne reports there to be no more options.”

If they couldn’t hide underground, the next logical choice would be the sky. Alas, that wasn’t much safer either.

“There is one more,” a voice interrupted them.

Appearing suddenly behind them was Jack. Precisely speaking, it was Aina in the form of Jack.

The two perked up at once upon seeing her.

“Thank goodness! We’ve never been this happy to see you.”

“You always help people in danger, right?”

Still in Jack’s form, Aina stepped forward and spoke calmly, “First, you two need to relocate. Anywhere with a large human population is off-limits for now.”

Rinne and Yuria both nodded at that.

“Of course, if we actually make the Gracious Savior angry, we’ll go from being guests to hostages in no time flat.”

The best strategy was to stall for time, let Davey cool off, and drag the situation out while he was still relatively rational.

“Behemoth and a mermaid are on Earth. They would know the untouched and uninhabited islands like the backs of their hands.”

“You’re suggesting we get help from them to hide on one of those islands? Getting there will be difficult, and we’ll have limited options for escape...”

“There’s no time. We move now.”

Her firm tone made Yuria sigh with resignation.

“Alright, then I’ll tell you what I know first.”

As she began to speak, Rinne and Yuria exchanged a look and gave each other a silent, determined nod.

* * *

On a silent, uninhabited island where the only light came from the stars and the moon, Rinne worked quickly to install jamming devices across its entire area using her particle manifesting abilities.

“Will this really be enough?”

“If the Shadow Leader’s explanation is correct, Master Davey currently has difficulty interfering with the laws of the world on Earth. Assuming that’s true, if we activate the jamming devices...”

“Then what?”

“Rinne calculates that we can buy at least a week.”

A week! That’d be more than enough.

Of course, knowing Davey, he’d keep his grudge and make them pay for it for weeks afterward. However, avoiding immediate punishment was priority numero uno for the moment.

For Rinne and Yuria, even a week of grace was a gift.

“Still... where did she go?”

“She’s scouting the island to prevent any unforeseen situations.”

They were on an uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Reaching that far had only been possible thanks to Rinne, plus they’d also received help from the ever-free-spirited mermaid So-Ya. Only after getting a firm promise from both So-Ya and Behemoth to keep their arrival an absolute secret did they finally settle down for the long haul.

“I guess I’ve unintentionally become a sea elf now. Still, Rinne...”

Yuria, arms behind her back and fingers intertwined as she took in the ocean breeze, asked with a curious smile, “Even though said she was helping us, that was probably a lie, right?”

“Rinne evaluates the probability of betrayal to be extremely high.”

Betrayal by the Shadow Leader Jack.

Yuria and Rinne knew the members of the Gourmet Research Society far too well to take such flowery words of consolation at face value. Even from the beginning, neither of them had truly believed her.

However, knowing that making their distrust obvious wouldn’t do them any good, they had nonetheless played along.

“If she already betrayed us, it won’t be long before Davey finds this island. If that happens, we won’t have any way out.”

If Davey caught them in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, there’d be no escape. They’d last ten minutes, at best.

Which left them with only one option.

Yuria and Rinne met eyes and nodded.

“We have to use this to our advantage.”

“Rinne assesses the possibility positively. However, Rinne determines that acting on mere suspicion in the current situation is unwise.”

Even so, Rinne activated the large antenna-like devices installed across the island. It took a massive amount of energy to generate and maintain them, but they were on Earth, Neltarid’s domain. Since Neltarid was her creator, her authority there was significant despite Neltarid bearing a certain amount of strain.

Whummm!!!

A great light spread as a transparent barrier cloaked the island. The island apparently disappeared from the world, as if it had never existed.

The barrier that blocked all energy signals had finally been set up, proving Rinne hadn’t been exaggerating about her ability to jam Davey’s tracking. She then filled the island with ambient light and laid down to rest.

They enjoyed their peace... for exactly one day.

Maybe it was the extreme stress, but for the first time, the usually bickering Yuria and Rinne engaged in real conversations of emotional depth. They grew closer, bonding in a way they never had before.

Aina, still appearing as Jack, remained quiet in one corner of the island, resting with her eyes closed. It was difficult to tell if she knew what the two were actually thinking.

“You know, Rinne... I think this is the first time we’ve talked like this.”

It felt like they were waiting for the end of the world, the only two survivors.

She also responded in kind, unlike her usual self, “Rinne evaluates that statement highly. Also, Rinne apologizes for previously devouring all the sweet and sour pork.”

Yuria smiled, pulling Rinne into her arms and nestling her between her legs. “If I knew things were going to turn out like this, I would’ve talked to you more before now... And I really am sorry about the hot sauce on your cheese pizza.”

“Reasonable analysis.”

They looked each other in the eyes.

It had been just one day, yet while standing on the edge of annihilation, they had found honesty. Their bond was deepened through the countless conversations they had in that short time.

“If I could be reborn... I’d want to be your sister.”

“Rinne analyzes that she’d also like to be a high elf like Yuria.”

“Haha. You, the one who always says she hates high elves?”

“If even one high elf in the world is like Yuria, Rinne analyzes that exceptions can be made.”

Rinne snuggled deeper into her arms. Her small frame made her seem like a child curling into an older sister’s embrace.

“Ahhh. Why didn’t I realize sooner? You’re such a precious friend...”

They let a moment of silence hang.

“I wish time would stop right here...”

A single tear slipped from Yuria’s eye. But then—

“Run, save yourself.” Rinne slowly raised her head. She pulled away from Yuria and spoke firmly, “Rinne will hold him off. Yuria must escape through the multi-space rift Rinne has opened.”

“What are you talking about?! We still have—”

“According to Rinne’s calculations, there is not nearly enough time for Master Davey to calm down.”

“So what then?!”

“Rinne asserts that Rinne will attract his attention and stop him.”

Shocked, Yuria reached for her hand, but Rinne had already stepped away.

Fwoosh!!

Her pure white wings unfurled. “Rinne states that Yuria must move before Master Davey arrives.”

“No! Come with me!” Yuria cried out.

However, Rinne was resolute. “Rinne determines that the chase will simply continue if neither of us are here. Rinne analyzes that Rinne’s presence can sufficiently delay and confuse Master Davey.”

“But still...”

There was something else they hadn’t accounted for—Jack the traitor. What should they do with the Shadow Leader?

Seeing the question in her eyes, Rinne closed her own for a moment in thought.

“Rinne reports that two escape routes have been prepared on this island. The right-hand path and the left are structurally identical, but Rinne determines that the Shadow Leader has not discovered the left path. Rinne will guide Master Davey to the right, and Yuria must escape through the left.”

As long as Rinne held the line, Yuria would be safe.

“No! I’m not going. I refuse to leave you behind!”

“Yuria, Rinne states that you must survive as the President of the Gourmet Research Society.”

“Don’t give me that nonsense! What club, what society?! What kind of president am I if I can’t even save a member of my club?!” she shouted emotionally.

Rinne sighed and walked up to her. She then cupped Yuria’s face in both hands, holding her still.

“Rinne commands Yuria to listen closely. As Vice-President of the Gourmet Research Society, Rinne has decided to remain behind and buy time. Rinne states that it is the president’s duty to escape for the sake of the club’s mission.”

“B-But what about you?”

For the first time, Rinne gave a faint smile.

She had grown, her emotions becoming much deeper.

“Rinne analyzes that it will be enough. Rinne evaluates the survival of her dear friend Yuria highly.”

“A-Ah...” Yuria couldn’t help but cry. She hiccupped and trembled as she wiped her reddened eyes. “Rinne...”

Even as tears streamed down her cheeks, she straightened her back and saluted like a soldier with determined eyes.

“May fortune be with you.”

Rinne nodded quietly, then her eyes glowed.

Her halo shifted into a geometric design, and her wings separated into three full pairs of brilliant white. After going through Sephirothization, she looked down at Yuria again and grit her teeth as she held back her emotion.

She then returned the salute. “Make it alive.”

Yuria turned and ran, vanishing into the forest at the center of the island. She went to the left, just as Rinne had told her.

At the same time, Rinne turned her gaze to the sky and flew up. As she took to the air, the barrier around her shattered, and the world began to distort.

She saw Davey casually glide toward her with massive white wings. He was smiling, but she instinctively knew that she’d be dead once he caught her.

When he landed softly on the surface of the sea on the island’s coast, the glowing wings of light behind him dissipated into sparkles. The moment his feet touched the water, the ocean froze solid. It was as if the sea itself didn’t dare swallow him into its depths.

Rinne watched the sea solidify like ice sheets under his feet, then drew the World-Destabilizing Spear. She spun it once, pointed it up to the sky, and gripped it tightly.

[Summon]

As if unleashing her full power, energy bloomed around her. Then, white-winged angels began to descend around her, one by one. First four, then eight. Fifty. A hundred. Two hundred. They formed a shining wall around the island at an incredible speed, each pointing their weapons at Davey.

Rinne then whispered to herself at a volume that Davey couldn’t hear, “All units will fulfill the promise.”

Following her words, the angels began channeling light. Rinne spun the spear once more and leveled its tip at Davey.

“Charge.”

At her command, a blinding storm of light erupted.

Hair flying, Rinne hovered at the center as the angels surged toward Davey.

Faced with such an intimidating and breathtaking scene, Davey simply smirked and flicked his hand. The crescent glaive materialized in his grip. It was the third form of the Divine Spear Longinus.

For a moment, Rinne shrank back in fear. Even so, she ultimately didn’t stop her assault, as she knew that if she failed to hold him there, Yuria would be caught too.

She had the most power on Earth, which meant that it was her duty to give her friend time to flee.

[Mantle Cut]

Crack!!!

However, Davey’s power was beyond what she had ever imagined.

In just one strike, he wiped out half of the two hundred angelic warriors. His strength was monstrous.

Even so, Rinne did not waver. She didn’t stop.

The emotionless Sephiroths went after him again and again like moths to a flame.

“Rinne will stop him! Rinne evaluates resistance highly!” she roared as she charged. “The will of the heavens is on our side!”

She was like a general making their final stand.

At that very moment, Yuria wiped her tears and took ragged breaths as she moved toward the second escape route, thankful that Rinne had secretly set it up with jamming to deceive Aina.

She sprinted through the forest with movement only an elf could muster. Before long, she reached what looked like a dimensional rift. She collected her breath as she looked at what Rinne had created.

Rinne had fixed a set of coordinates and connected two spaces by tearing space itself with her spear. The other end was another location not too far from there.

She had to survive—that was the promise. It was the debt she owed to the friend who stayed behind to buy her that chance.

“That’s right. I won’t get caught. Rinne, please... survive too.”

Still tearing up, Yuria reached toward the rift.

As the swirling rift gently pulled her in, she didn’t hesitate. She hurled herself in, letting the rift pull her through. She soon realized that she was no longer on the island, that she was somewhere else entirely and wiped her tears clean,

Her crying face and tears vanished like it had never happened. In fact, her usual manic smile resurfaced.

“This way, your sacrifice wasn’t for nothing.”

She was Yuria Helishana, the President of the Gourmet Research Society.