The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 860

"Um, excuse me."

While talking with Perserque in the fairy garden, Super Ribbon turned to see a few people approaching them cautiously.

"Are you free by any chance? If you don’t mind, it’s just the two of us guys here, and we thought maybe we could hang out together?”

The men, flashing friendly smiles, looked to be in their early twenties. They had warm expressions and decent looks, giving off a friendly and inviting vibe.

“Oh, shall we?” Super Ribbon responded eagerly, her eyes sparkling as she stood up. But Perserque gently held her back by the arm.

“Sorry, but my husband will be back soon.”

“H-Husband?”

“Yes.”

The men stared at her in stunned silence. To them, she looked like she was in her late teens at most, so hearing her mention a husband left them at a loss.

And then, to top it off...

“Mom?”

“He’ll be back soon, dear. Just wait a little bit longer.”

“Okay!”

Though Super Ribbon only looked a bit younger than Perserque, she had just called her mom. The men couldn’t help but wonder just how young she actually must be for that to be the case. But instead of backing away, they quickly adjusted to the circumstances.

“Oh, come on, I can tell you’re bad at lying. Look, we’re not bad guys. We just thought it’d be fun to hang out with you two.”

“I assure you, it’s not a lie,” Perserque replied calmly.

“Oh, come on! You’re too young for that to be true. You barely look older than your ‘daughter.’”

“Honestly, it would’ve been more believable if you said you were sisters,” the other man chimed in.

“We don’t even look alike...”

At their insistence, Perserque let out a small sigh, closing her eyes for a moment before reopening them. She quickly flashed her red gaze at the two. The men instantly turned silent, looking at her with dazed expressions. Without another word, she took Super Ribbon by the hand and left the two behind in their stupor.

“Super Ribbon, remember: half the men in the world are wolves.”

“Wolves? But they looked like people...”

“It’s just a figure of speech. Apart from Davey, you should be cautious around other men since they can be dangerous.”

“Okay!”

Super Ribbon responded with a bright, innocent smile, and Perserque affectionately patted her on the head. Together, they made such a picturesque scene that it was impossible not to notice them, even with the face blindness spell in place.

And it wasn’t just them.

Tiara and Aeonitia had teamed up and were racing around Alfland while Illyna and Aeria were exploring together in another area. Both groups were attracting a fair amount of attention. Each of them had distinct, unusual hair colors rather than the common dark tones the locals had, which naturally drew even more eyes.

But Super Ribbon was by far the most eye-catching of them all—with her striking, reddish-blue hair and mismatched eyes that somehow looked charming rather than overwhelming, she was quite the rare sight.

“D-Daddy!”

Spotting Davey in the distance with a handful of waffles, Super Ribbon ran up to him, throwing herself into his arms. With both hands in the air to keep the waffles from dropping, Davey smiled as she nestled into his embrace. He then offered a waffle to Perserque.

“Thanks.”

“What about the others?”

“They’re all off having a blast and probably won’t be back for a while.”

“So much for saying they were here for Super Ribbon—they’re the ones having the most fun.”

For the people of Tionis, accustomed to its less technological/whimsical culture, the civilization on Earth were certainly fascinating novelties. Rides that soared to great heights without the use of magic were something they’d never experienced.

“So, where have you been?”

“Rinne fainted in the haunted house, so I took her to lie down for a bit.”

“Oh, I see.”

“And, well, I also did a bit of prep work.”

“Prep work?”

“Dad! Let’s go! Let’s ride that one next!”

“Sure. But we’ve got plenty of time, so let’s take it easy.”

He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen Super Ribbon this happy. She was all smiles on the Ferris wheel, got delighted by the foods of Earth, wore cute accessories she’d picked up somewhere, and beamed at the gifts people in mascot costumes gave to her.

The others that had been caught up in their own excitement later on began to gather around Super Ribbon, watching her pure joy with warm smiles. Though she looked quite mature on the outside, her innocent spirit stood out among her peers.

“Father, I heard Earth has a big festival at the end of the year!

“Whoaaa...”

As she looked down in awe from the Ferris wheel, Davey gave her a sly grin.

“That’s right. There’s a man who crawls up from the depths of hell, wearing a blood-red mask and accompanied by two terrifying beasts. He sneaks into houses through chimneys and gives a creepy laugh beside the children sleeping there.”

Whack!

Super Ribbon made a shocked face as if her dreams and wishes were falling apart. Both Perserque and Illyna kicked him in the shins at the same time, their aim striking true. They both glared at him.

“Davey... That was a bit much, don’t you think?” Aeria chimed in.

He didn’t expect even Aeria would jump in to chide him.

“It would’ve been nice if Darian and Evangeline could see this, too,” Super Ribbon said as she looked out at the scenery.

“They’re too young right now. Let’s bring them along next time,” Aeria said with a smile.

“Okay...”

Super Ribbon, eyes watering a bit, looked up at Davey.

“Uh... Father! Is that really true? That there’s actually something that terrifying out there?”

‘Terrifying, she says... I wonder if she knows that she had taken down something far scarier—Thanatos.’

“It’s just a story. The truth is, he’s a wonderful fairy who brings presents to good kids.”

“A fairy! Does that mean he’ll come here to fairyland in Alfland?”

With a sparkle in her eye, she clung to him as the Ferris wheel gently shook.

“Santa might not visit, but you’ll definitely see something even better,” Davey said with a smile.

She nodded with a face full of expectation, ready for whatever was to come.

* * *

“But, Team Leader Seong-Ah...”

“Yes, Yoo-Hwan?”

Yoo-Hwan, one of the Alfland staff, asked as he followed Team Leader Park Seong-Ah.

“Wasn’t there some trouble with Alfland before? I remember it almost shut down.”

“That’s right. It nearly cost us our jobs.”

“I saw some folks from the NSDIA here earlier. Do you really think we’re safe if those rumors turn out to be true?”

Rumors had been circulating about the Special A-class monster that had once appeared at the park and the off the chart wave readings it gave off. Some experts were warning on social media that there was a high chance of a similar event reoccurring at Alfland.

“Well, the recent measurements show no issues. By the way, Yoo-Hwan, have you taken care of what our new employer requested?”

“Oh, yes. I was just on my way to do that.”

“Good. You’d better be quick about it. It’s pretty clear that it’s related to the Awakened. If you mess it up, I don’t think it’ll end with just a pay cut—you could lose your job entirely.”

Although she commanded him in a cold tone, Yoo-Hwan understood her point—he knew she was saying it for his own good. After all, this was the same place where a Special A-class monster had appeared before. With NSDIA agents Seo-Yoon and Yoon-Seok—some of Korea’s top Awakened—present, he could tell that something serious was stirring up. But it didn’t mean he’d do something reckless.

- Zzzt... Operations Team here. All the boxes the Chairman mentioned are now securely buried.

- This is Yoo-Hwan. Roger that—don’t worry, I’ll wrap things up on my end.

Yoo-Hwan had heard that properly burying those boxes was all that was needed to keep Alfland safe.

As he hummed a tune, he strolled toward a marked spot on the map with a shovel in hand.

“They said to dig at least fifty centimeters down, right?”

Thunk!! Thunk!!

It was a bit surprising that someone much younger than him had given these orders. According to Team Leader Seong-Ah, this young man was the acting Chairman on behalf of Al Hajat, managing all of Alfland. How someone so young had landed the role or built such connections was a bit of a mystery to Yoo-Hwan.

“Well, as long as the pay’s good, I’m happy.”

Al Hajat’s offer was simple: a lifetime contract with a hefty salary and excellent work conditions, secured until retirement. There was no better ironclad job out there. And of course, he didn’t want to lose this job.

Thunk!! Thunk!!

Once he reached the depth he wanted, measuring carefully, Yoo-Hwan cleared the dirt around so that they didn’t cover the flower beds and took out a small wooden box.

The acting Chairman had given him five boxes. And the box in his hands was one of them. In a world full of the Awakened, he knew it couldn’t be just some shamanistic gesture—he believed there was something more to it.

“Surely just taking a peek inside would be... No, they said to never open it.”

Yoo-Hwan knew his job was backed by one of the world’s wealthiest oil tycoons; he wasn’t about to risk it. Thoroughly double-checking everything to avoid any mistakes, he prepared to bury the box. But just then, he spotted someone.

“Hey! This is a restricted area. You can’t be here!”

When some people silently entered the restricted zone, Yoo-Hwan stopped what he was doing and ran over to them.

“This area is off-limits to anyone except authorized staff... Oh, wait—aren’t you the two Awakened Seo-Yoon and Yoon-Seok from the NSDIA?”

“You know us?”

“Of course! Who doesn’t recognize the heroes from the NSDIA who’ve saved so many lives?”

“Thank you.”

“But what brings you here? This part of the park isn’t open yet. If you come back a little later...”

“No, we need to get in now.”

“Here? Why...?”

“It’s urgent.”

At her response, his face hardened.

- By the way, don’t let anyone unnecessary in here. If anything goes wrong, it’ll be a huge headache.

The acting Chairman’s words from earlier echoed in his mind.

“I’m sorry, but company policy doesn’t allow you to enter.”

“Excuse me, but do you have any idea how serious the situation is?”

“I am fully aware—which is why I’m here. You folks don’t need to worry.”

He stood firm, attempting to usher Seo-Yoon, Yoon-Seok, and their group of five away when suddenly—

Thwack!!

A figure darted forward, striking Yoo-Hwan on the back of the neck, knocking him out cold.

Thud!!

The wooden box slipped from his grasp, and Yoo-Hwan tumbled to the ground, lying unconscious.

“What the heck have you done?!” Seo-Yoon shouted, shocked.

The man shrugged in response.

“Team Leader, you said we’re short on time. Let’s get inside. If something really does go wrong, it’s not just going to be some small problem.”

At his words, Yoon-Seok nodded.

“You’re right. Let’s go.”

Despite her anxious expression, Seo-Yoon only hesitated for a moment before following.

They had no idea.

They had absolutely no idea what they had just done.

The mana flowing from the four buried boxes was disrupted by the single misplaced one, and a disturbance began to brew.

Bam-bam-bam-bam!

Accompanied by lively, dreamlike music, a dazzling parade unfolded, making for an enchanting atmosphere. Though night had fallen, Alfland was packed with people—it was the weekend, after all.

“Father! Can I really look forward to it?!”

“Of course. I planned something big just for you, Super Ribbon. So don’t worry.”

At his smile, Super Ribbon eagerly waved at the passing parade. Her innocent joy drew the gazes of others, though she carried on as usual, indifferent to them.

“What’s that?”

Davey asked as he looked at what Illyna was holding.

“Huh? Oh, I was waiting in line to pick up a photo after the ride, and someone came over and told me to get in touch if I was interested,” she said while holding out a business card.

It read: XXX Entertainment.

Rip!!

Davey tore it up without hesitation, and Illyna looked shocked.

“Wh—What are you doing?!”

“Would you want to wear clothes that show your ankles and calves?”

At his question, Illyna shook her head, her face turning red. He figured she might feel embarrassed since the culture on Earth was different, but he could tell that the idea of wearing such clothes was clearly unbearable for her. After all, in the Palan Empire, revealing one’s calves or ankles was practically unheard of.

“You’d have to wear those for them.”

“Not doing it.”

“Alright.”

Davey looked around, satisfied with her quick refusal.

The energy felt off, but he knew things were fine with the barrier holding securely...

Ring, ring!

Just then, Davey’s smartphone began to ring.

- Park Hyun-Su

It was none other than Hyun-Su, his legal advisor.

“Hyun-Su?”

“Sir... we have a serious problem.”

“A serious problem? I don’t see anything out of place.”

“One of the staff you sent to bury the boxes suddenly went off the radar.”

Davey’s expression hardened instantly. Then, as if it was waiting, a massive wave of energy spread out.

He wasn’t the only one who felt it. He knew it was no ordinary wave—it felt like the kind of chaotic energy that would only be unleashed if someone had kicked a colossal hornet’s nest.

“Davey? Was that just now...?”

“Could you wait here for a bit?”

“Father?”

Super Ribbon looked at him curiously, unable to pay attention to the parade.

“Where... are you going?”

Davey gave her a wry smile as she looked up at him, clearly wanting to stay together.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

She smiled faintly, but couldn’t hide her disappointment.

Davey turned away slowly, clenching his fist tightly enough that his knuckles cracked.

“Whoever messed with this is going to pay for it,” he said with an ice-cold face.

* * *

Meanwhile, back where Yoo-Hwan had collapsed, he slowly opened his eyes, dimly aware of someone approaching him.

“W-Who...”

“Yoo-Hwan. Are you okay? Get yourself together.”

“Sir... Chairman?” Yoo-Hwan screeched in surprise.

“What happened?” Davey asked.

“M-My apologies! Some people from NSDIA... they tried to get in, so I stopped them, but...”

“And then?”

“Someone knocked me out. Because of that...”

Davey then saw the box lying on the ground.

“No wonder the barrier isn’t working...” he muttered.

Yoo-Hwan didn’t respond, his face having turned cold.

Thud!!

Out of nowhere, something flew straight at Yoo-Hwan. It was a monster with a terrifying appearance.

“Ah... Aaaaah!”

He barely had time to scream before instinctively curling up in fear, but when the expected pain didn’t come, he cautiously looked up. His eyes widened in astonishment.

Davey, his chairman, stood there holding back the massive monster by its head with one hand. Dark crimson energy swirled around him like a vortex.

“Yoo-Hwan.”

“Yes!”

The deadly aura and fierce look from Davey made Yoo-Hwan shout out louder than he had even in the military when he was grilled by his drill sergeants.

“I apologize. That was close. Go to HR and tell them I sent you, then take some PTO.”

“Huh?”

“I’m just glad you’re not hurt.”

- Grrr!!!

Crack!! Crack!!!

The monster, wielding a massive club, squirmed and struggled, only to suddenly twist and burn into flames, disappearing in an instant.

His sheer power was overwhelming. He looked like an ordinary person on the outside, but he was clearly something else.

“NSDIA, huh? Stirring up trouble and causing this mess? Even when I tell them nicely, they just don’t get it.”

His chilly tone made Yoo-Hwan instinctively take a step back. His chairman looked ready to tear someone apart.

“My daughter’s waiting for me. How dare they make me deal with this nuisance...”

Davey was now radiating an intense aura, heavier and more overwhelming than anything Yoo-Hwan had ever felt from even top-ranked Awakened, those hailed as national heroes. He realized the man in front of him wasn’t just any normal Awakened individual.

He found it rather odd that despite the young chairman in front of him being this powerful, he wasn’t very well-known. But then, a thought crossed his mind.

‘Wait... there was someone like him in the past, wasn't there?’

Frozen in place, Yoo-Hwan looked at his employer with a bewildered expression.

“Go now. And check in at the hospital, just in case.”

“Yes... Yes, sir!”

His words, though icy, somehow made Yoo-Hwan feel immensely grateful.

Boom! Boom!

As he was about to get going, monsters began appearing around them en masse.

“C—Chairman! Watch out...”

Flare!!

Each one of them was an A-grade monster—a True Ogre—that was a newsworthy monster. They were dangerous monsters that normally required several Awakened individuals to take down.

But before Yoo-Hwan could even react, their bodies ignited and vanished, evaporating into thin air.

“Go on. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Without even struggling, Davey grabbed the head of a staggering True Ogre with one hand, twisted it, and walked away, leaving the ashes of the monsters behind.