The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 927

The families that the fanatics targeted were spread across the world, but they all had one thing in common.

They were households that worshipped gods other than the Goddess Freyja, such as Syras and Cryas. In other words, their ideal victim wasn’t devout followers of Freyja but rather the families devoted to other gods.

The issue was that most of these alternative religions, including those worshiping Syras and Cryas, were officially recognized by the Church of Freyja.

Goddess Freyja was universally acknowledged as the Primordial God, but worshiping a god was a matter of personal freedom. Keeping that in mind, the Church didn’t enforce the matter too harshly.

However, these fanatics promoted the ideology of Freyja as the one true god while still branding all other religions as heretical, committing massacres indiscriminately.

“The situation is dire.”

“It’s critical to buy time, but with so many nations raising objections, it’s proving to be quite difficult.”

Hildesnova, a Heresy Inquisitor currently accompanying Davey as a representative of the Holy Empire, made a face bordering on despair. She was clearly someone who thrived out in the field, and not someone who engaged in diplomacy or paperwork with foreign nations.

“Honestly… I thought being physically worn out from the Inquisition Tribunal was the worst of it, but this…”

“Is buying time impossible?” Davey asked.

“They’re on the brink of declaring war if we don’t respond immediately…”

The potential for open conflict loomed.

“Too much blood has been spilled already. Even if we claim this offshoot isn’t the will of the Holy Empire, we lack the evidence to persuade them.”

“How much time can you buy us?”

“At best… two days.”

“That’s hardly helpful.”

Hildesnova averted her gaze. The time they had was far too short, clearly an intentional design by their enemies. Once the disputes escalated, they’d be nearly impossible to control.

“This is cutting it too close…” Davey muttered.

“Do you need more time?”

At that moment, the door burst open as someone abruptly entered.

“Professor.”

It was Archbishop Alice. She had come looking for Davey.

“Hmph?! Archbishop Alice! I—I’m the Executor of the Third Legion of the Inquisition Tribunal!”

“Introductions aren’t necessary. I’m no longer bound by the formalities of the Church since transferring to the academy.”

“B-But still!”

“The Inquisition Tribunal must always conduct itself with confidence. Don’t you agree?”

Her icy words made Hildesnova flinch.

“I apologize for my loss of decorum. I was just… overwhelmed to meet someone I deeply admire…”

Alice turned away, her cheeks faintly tinged with red. It was clear she was embarrassed by the unexpected outburst of praise.

“You said you needed more time, correct?” Alice asked, getting to the point.

“That’s right. Eliminating these fanatics before any more disputes arise is of the utmost priority,” Davey replied calmly.

Alice smirked faintly in response. She was remarkably perceptive.

“You had me in mind from the start, didn’t you?”

“Think of it however you like.”

“I’ll secure four days for you. Will that suffice?”

“That’ll do.”

Hildesnova widened her eyes as she looked at Davey and Alice back and forth.

“Wh-What are you two talking about? Wait! Don’t tell me—!”

She leaped to her feet in surprise.

“Are you saying you’ll catch them in just four days?!”

“And if I am?”

“How?!”

“What do you mean, how? By doing it well,” Davey said simply.

Her gaze turned to Alice.

“Don’t look at me,” Alice said coolly. “I’m just here to buy time—what happens afterward is the prince’s responsibility.”

“That’s all I ask, Professor.”

“Then we’re in agreement.”

Hildesnova sighed deeply, shaking her head in disbelief.

“If only we could prove they’re fundamentally different from the Heresy Tribunal, we might be able to suppress the feud across the continent more effectively…” ℟𝔞Ꞑọ𝔟Ęʂ

“That’ll most likely prove difficult,” Davey said as he stood and turned his back.

If Archbishop Alice could secure them so much time, then he’d make sure to catch them within that window. He already hired mercenaries for a task as well—he was going to crush their operations and gradually dismantle them piece by piece until nothing remained.

“Why is that?” Hildesnova asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

“Because they’re essentially the same. Their roots are identical; only the methods differ. While closer examination might reveal minor differences, they’re too trivial to serve as credible evidence. It’ll practically sound like a loser’s semantic argument at that point.”

Simply put, it was like arguing over whether a knife was used for slicing or stabbing meat. The outcome might differ, but it wouldn’t be enough to prove the Holy Empire’s innocence.

“Huh? What does that mean?!” Hildesnova exclaimed.

“Instead of proving that they’re evil,” Davey explained, “it’ll be far more practical for the Holy Empire to publicly declare them as criminals, take responsibility, and punish them.”

Davey heard Hildesnova panicking, but he didn’t bother responding.

* * *

“I don’t usually rely on praying for luck,” Davey muttered with a wry smile, skimming through the documents summarizing the current crisis.

These fanatics operated in two distinct ways: ruthless heresy trials, and targeted attacks on people associated with Davey. For now, they had attacked Josiah, someone whose very existence they deemed blasphemous.

As long as they struck first and kept their movements hidden, Davey would be left with no choice but to react defensively. It was frustrating, especially since their leader wasn’t just a power-hungry lunatic. She was remarkably clever, executing hit-and-run guerilla tactics with precision. Because of this, Davey had already failed to prevent tragedies involving heterodox families in multiple kingdoms.

The realization that he couldn’t resolve such matters, despite being a demigod, weighed heavily on him. The root of the issue laid in his lack of understanding of the enemy, whereas they had clearly studied him in detail. Fortunately, the realization came with insights of his own.

It didn’t seem like they were merely fanatics persecuting other religions for ideological reasons—his instincts told him that there was more to their actions. Their abnormally overwhelming power confirmed it.

If they had been bestowed strength from constellations, it would’ve been understandable. But the constellation Libra didn’t have such immense power—it wasn’t like Cancer, for instance, which held great might.

In short, these fanatics were drawing power from an unknown source.

‘Why are they tearing apart the souls they judge?’

Apart from their heresy trials being different, they shared the same roots as the holy magic he was familiar with. But the act of ripping apart souls required enormous effort, and yet they insisted on destroying souls completely and totally, leaving nothing intact.

He wondered if it was simply to increase the severity of their atrocities. But that explanation felt insufficient. Instead, it almost seemed like they had to tear the souls to pieces.

Lost in thought, Davey closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, something clicking in his mind.

‘Wait a minute…’

Reviewing the incident reports of their victims, Davey couldn’t help but smirk. He had yet found another common trait.

Before every massacre, the victims had all participated in rituals or ceremonies dedicated to their respective gods. No exception.

Some performed rites for Syras; others held sacred night festivals for Cryas; some were baptized; while others attended regular congregations to take part in mass gatherings.

While the deities varied, every victim had conducted some form of religious ceremony before their deaths.

“So, they’re drawing the power from those rituals.”

The constellation Libra was weak and peculiar, even in its essence. It stood to reason that its servants would derive power through highly unconventional means.

Davey made a cold smile.

* * *

Three of the four days Archbishop Alice promised had already passed.

“Three days have gone by! Why aren’t you doing anything?!” Hildesnova stormed into the room, her frustration evident.

The Holy Empire, while not exactly in a trust-based relationship with Davey, had nonetheless aligned itself with him in the crisis. Given the gravity of the situation, it seemed like they were counting on his assistance.

Of course, they knew his help was going to come at a hefty price tag. When he had announced that he would help them, the empire had entrusted him with full authority over clearing up matters.

Yet, for the past three days, Davey had done absolutely nothing. It was only natural for Hildesnova to be on edge.

“You understand… the seriousness of the situation, right?” she pressed.

“I’m well aware.”

“Then why are you just sitting here?!”

“...”

“Ah, I apologize. I got carried away. It’s simply… I’m just worried. I heard the Holy Empire reached an understanding with you, and they’re fully supporting and relying on you in resolving this crisis.”

Her voice wavered, as if she were going to cry at any moment.

“It was four days! We only have four days in total to deal with these people, who are practically invisible. And now, by the third day, you’re still doing nothing.”

“That’s correct.”

“We’ve deployed three divisions of the Heresy Tribunal and a whole battalion of paladins to assist you! They’re all waiting for your command, and yet…”

There were over five hundred holy warriors at his disposal.

“Please! Help us, Saint! If this continues, an unprecedented chaos might upend the continent.”

At this point, she was practically clinging to Davey.

On the first day, he had spent the entire time lounging and gazing at the sky. On the second, he taught Evangeline swordsmanship and magic. By the third day, Hildesnova—unable to contain her frustration—had come to confront him.

Despite her agitation, Davey remained unbothered. He sat with Aeria nestled comfortably in his embrace, watching her as she knitted away. It was different from usual—rather than Davey teaching her, she was the one leading him through the motions.

“Are you getting the hang of it now?”

“It’s harder than I thought.”

“Hehe, don’t worry. A little more practice and it’ll come naturally,” she said with a radiant smile. Her ears perked up with delight, and the tips brushed against his chin, tickling him.

“Saint!” Hildesnova practically shouted.

“Oh, geez, my ears are ringing,” Davey teased.

“You don’t have time to waste like this!”

Woosh!!

At that moment, the door opened, and Royal Attendant Bernile entered.

“Your Highness.”

“How did it go?”

“It’s just as you expected: the mercenaries you hired have begun to move.”

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

“Good.”

He immediately set aside his knitting and gently released Aeria from his embrace.

“Davey?”

“Sorry, we’ll finish knitting another time.”

“I’ll be praying for the sisters to come back unharmed.”

“They won’t even get a scratch on them,” Davey said with a confident smile.

Aeria, smiling sweetly, moved her eyes in embarrassment. Once he held her quietly, she kissed him on the cheek.

“I’ll have some delicious cookies ready for you.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Three days. Davey had used up three out of the four days they’d been given. It was finally time for him to do his part.

“Executioner Hildesnova.”

“Y-Yes?”

“It’s time to move.”

“But there’s only one day left!” she exclaimed.

“Exactly.”

His calm smile made her stare at him with a mixed expression of disbelief and curiosity.

* * *

The great forest of the Northern Kingdom.

This vast woodland, known for its strong connection to the forces of nature, was also home to numerous ancient ruins.

Clank!

A group of men and women dressed in the ornate armor of paladins stood in neat formation. Standing atop a rock before them was a woman with short hair.

“May the judgment of our Lord be upon us.”

“Judgment be upon us!”

The girl continued to lead their prayer in a reverent tone.

“There is evil that disrupts the world. Let the holy fire rise to punish this evil.”

“May the blade of retribution fall for those who writhe in pain and despair.”

“O, my Lord, feel my hatred, anger, and resentment.”

The knights joined in unison. A brilliant white holy power began to gather around their bodies.

“The karma of judgment may drag us to the depths of hell.

“If such is the will of the divine, I will set myself aflame to fulfill it.

“For the mission you have bestowed upon us, we shall never falter, but continue to reignite the fire.

“Let that fire immolate the heretics and devour our hatred.”

After she finished the prayer, the cycle of hatred began to burn and churn.

Silence filled the air.

“You all know why we are here.”

Everyone remained quiet, listening intently.

“There are heretics conducting a massive ritual at this ancient ruin.”

The silence continued.

“Eradicating the heretics is our mission. This is not just an objective, but a step toward our ultimate goal. If we fail to absorb the power here, we will never achieve our purpose.”

Her cold, unyielding words added to the heavy atmosphere.

“Do not fear. Davey O’Rowane has left for the Western Continent. No one will stand in our way as we destroy these heretics and seize the power we need.”

She raised her axe high above her head.

“Even if we are damned to hell when this is over, do not stop. Keep moving forward,” she declared. “Everyone advance.”

They knew this could very well be a trap, but without Davey present, they believed no one could stop them. The judges divided into squads and swiftly dispersed into the forest.

Watching their intimidating movements, the woman murmured quietly to herself.

“Once this is over, I’ll find myself in the depths of hell.”

Her eyes burned with hatred and killing aura.

“But so will you, Davey O’Rowane. Whether you fall first or I do, it’s merely a matter of who goes first.”

She raised her axe high once again. An immense amount of holy power erupted from her body.

A ultra-high-level holy magic that not even the High Priest of the Holy Empire, the Pope, could successfully cast began spreading. At the same time, a golden scale shimmered above her.

* * *

Elsewhere in the forest, a silver-haired woman was observing the movements of the black-robed priests from the shadows. She gripped her staff, the Transcendence’s Demise, tightly in her hand before vanishing, only to reappear directly in their path.

“Well, you’ve done a fine job hiding until now.”

“An enemy?! How did you—?”

Their startled cries were cut short as Perserque raised her delicate hand toward the sky.

Fwoosh!!

A vibrant blue flame began to swirl at her fingertips, flickering ominously.

“Davey suffered because of you. Whatever the reasons, you are not free from the karmic consequence of driving him to despair.”

No matter the circumstances, the fact that Davey had killed members of their families remained true. That truth was not lost on him, weighing down heavily. Despite their actions, the ones he had killed were undoubtedly precious family members to these people.

That truth only fueled her fury further.

“And because of that, I cannot forgive you.”

[8th Circle]

[Circle of Fire]

[Prometheus]

“You’d better brace yourselves.”

“High-level magic?! Shield yourselves!!” one of the priests shouted.

With a flick of her wrist, she bombarded them with blazing blue fireballs.

* * *

A vast map lay spread out, white and black chess pieces scattered across its surface.

“You made the first move. I’ll let you take the black knight.”

With a faint glow, the black chess pieces on the map began to move one by one. In contrast, the white pieces before Davey remained still.

“From the moment you set foot in the forest, you’d already walked into my trap.”

He figured they had realized it was a trap. Even so, he knew they couldn’t afford to back down—that was why he had been still in wait over the past three days. Watching the black pieces shift across the map, he made a cold smile. His crimson eyes glimmered faintly, like they contained swirling mist of dry ice.

The enemy was utilizing some mysterious power, strong enough to score a single kill on someone as resilient as Josiah. That was why it was dangerous to send Illyna, Perserque, or anyone else into the fray without taking precautions.

But despite the risk, he had done so. The enemy held a trump card, but so did he.

[10th Level Transcendent Holy Magic]

Immense holy power poured from his fingertips. The holy magic was not only overwhelming but also exhibited an unparalleled level of precision.

“Even if you and I both end up in hell someday,” Davey murmured, “today is not my day.”

With a faint smile, Davey picked up the white Queen, holding it between his index and middle finger. He took his time before he slammed it decisively onto one side of the map.

The spot where he had placed the piece erupted with a radiant white light, sending streaks of energy coursing across the map like the intricate circuits on an electronics board. The light spread swiftly, illuminating every corner of the map.

“Whether you’re in the palm of my hand, or I’m in the palm of yours, will be revealed soon enough.”

The mysterious chessboard, where he looked to be playing alone without an opponent, began to move under his control.

“Let’s play a game of chess.”

Then, a large group of people began moving through the forest of the ancient ruins.