The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
Chapter 1030

Chapter 1030

"Wait... What in the world...?”

Kouna looked utterly dumbfounded.

[Hold on!! I demand negotiations! Negotiations!]

"Yeah, sure. I’m up for negotiations. This is the negotiation."

[Aaaah!! Kouna, stop this psychopath right now!!]

Davey held onto Haitai’s head firmly and acted as if he were going to shove it toward the boiling cauldron of oil.

Meanwhile, Haitai was desperately holding onto the edges of the pot with its front paws, fighting for its life.

[Ahhh!!]

"You’re holding on pretty well." Davey smirked.

At that moment, Kouna rushed forward, deeming that the situation had gotten way too out of hand.

"Wait!!"

Regardless of how sour they were at each other at the moment, Haitai was still important to her. She couldn’t just stand by and let it get deep-fried.

Meanwhile, Rinne—completely unfazed—had already set up a dining table, tapping her fork and knife against it impatiently.

"Master Davey. Rinne is eager to experience new taste data. Rinne evaluates divine beast cuisine highly."

"Just wait a bit.”

"Wait! Stop! I’m sure Haitai gets it now!!” Kouna pleaded desperately before Davey finally let go.

[Ga. Cough. That damn oil isn’t just any oil!!]

Davey knew that a divine beast like Haitai wouldn’t be affected in the slightest by being dropped in normal boiling oil.

It had instinctively felt something far worse mixed in. Something that if it fell into, would mean it couldn’t come back out.

"Smart dog."

[Damn it! What do you want?!]

At this point, it knew that if it refused one more time, even Kouna wouldn’t be able to stop Davey from throwing it in.

Normally, it could just unmanifest and slip away.

But in that moment, some formless power from Davey was suppressing its power.

Haitai couldn’t understand how a human could possibly do something like that.

Staring at him warily, Haitai gritted its teeth.

‘Fine. Let's at least hear him out on what he has to say. He did mention my spiritual tracking abilities... Does that mean that I’ve smelled the scent he’s looking for before?’

Haitai frowned, considering whether it was even possible.

But then, Davey said something that made its mind go blank.

"I need to find Woochi. He went into hiding.”

[What?!]

Haitai’s eyes widened in shock.

"I’m looking for Woochi. He’s hiding somewhere like a little rat. Without your spiritual tracking ability, tracking him down is going to take forever."

[What nonsense are you spewing?! Woochi died ages ago!]

"Yeah. He died, but his soul’s still around."

Haitai made a confused face.

If Woochi’s soul still existed, it should’ve been able to smell it. Yet, there was nothing.

[Quit joking. His soul’s scent is gone from this world.]

"That’s right. Right now, it is. But if I help you, you’ll be able to find it."

Haitai fell silent at that.

It couldn’t tell if the human in front of it was being serious.

‘Is his soul still...?’

Seeing Haitai hesitate, Davey pressed it for an answer. "Are you in or not? If you refuse, I’ll just have to resort to my own ways, you know...’

[Damn it. At least tell me what method you have to help me locate him first! But if you’re lying, I’ll never forgive you!]

"You and Woochi didn’t exactly get along, right?"

[Shut up!!]

Haitai roared.

[That's between Woochi and me, and it’s none of your business!!]

Davey could immediately tell that Haitai still cared about Woochi, despite the words coming out of its mouth.

The last divine beast, with the last traces of Woochi.

All the others had vanished after Woochi was gone.

Haitai was the only one who had stayed behind, making it an unusual case.

[Kouna.]

It growled lowly.

"Yes?"

[Leave us.]

Kouna hesitated, but eventually nodded. "Understood."

As soon as she walked away, Haitai turned back to Davey.

[I want to make this clear—I still have no intention of lending you my power. Not until you change your mind.]

"That's not possible.”

Haitai stared directly at him.

[Explain in detail. Is he really alive?]

"It’s complicated. His body’s long gone, but his divinity remains. He even recently backstabbed me before vanishing."

So, he needed Haitai to track Woochi down with him.

Now understanding the situation, Haitai came to a decision quickly.

[I see. So my spiritual tracking ability is the only way to find him...]

"Don’t think of anything funny."

[If you give me something, I’ll give you something in return.]

Davey narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

[Eliminate someone for me.]

Judging by the fact that it had sent Kouna away earlier, Davey immediately guessed what exactly it wanted.

"It’s related to Kouna, isn’t it?"

Silence.

"And that’s the reason you got into a huge fight?"

‘How is he so damn sharp?’

Haitai let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

If Davey was taking the agreement seriously, then Haitai figured it might as well use him to get what it wanted too.

At least, that was its initial line of thought.

"I refuse."

His immediate response left Haitai completely dumbfounded.

* * *

Woochi had hidden himself somewhere—whether it was middle earth or the gaps between dimensions, no one knew. But if Haitai was going to track him using its spiritual tracking ability, then it needed a matching authority to activate that ability.

However, the more power Davey used on Earth, the more it burdened its guardian deity—Neltarid.

[O’ Guardian of Tranquility, Neltarid—I ask that you lend me a small portion of your miraculous power.]

Neltarid did not directly interfere with middle earth, but if something beyond it was involved, they would respond nonetheless.

Unlike Goddess Freya, Neltarid wasn’t at the highest levels, but they still had a significant influence.

Whummm...

The stigmata of Neltarid on his wrist faintly glowed before a fraction of Neltarid’s power seeped into him.

He then used the power to weaken each dimensional gap just enough.

[How am I supposed to smell—?]

Haitai, who had been grumbling skeptically, suddenly froze.

[This smell!]

"You found him already?"

[Without a doubt! It’s Woochi!!]

Haitai turned to him in shock.

[I’m smelling things I’ve never even smelled before. What did you do?!]

"You don’t need to know that. Now—where is he?"

[This smell... So his soul really still exists.]

How far away Woochi was didn’t matter. Haitai only had to pinpoint his general direction.

It sniffed the air, inhaling the unfamiliar scents drifting in from the various dimensional gaps.

It fell into deep thought for a while before speaking up.

[I’ve found him...]

He looked at Davey.

[But I’m not telling you until you uphold your end of the deal.]

Haitai wanted Davey to eliminate that human first.

"So this really is about Kouna, huh? You got into a fight with her over this, and now you want me to clean it up?"

[That fool! What era does she think she lives in?! Getting caught up in something that should’ve died out centuries ago—what an idiot!]

For once, Haitai actually sounded furious.

[A political marriage. That’s what this is about. Her family is part of an ancient bloodline. She was adopted into it, but still—]

"And now she’s engaged to some bastard she hates—so you want me to take him out?"

[I like how quick you are to pick up on things.]

Haitai was a divine beast who abhorred deception and hateful actions.

Even though it adored Kouna, it wasn’t the type to kill a human without reason.

If Haitai—the divine beast that warded off evil—hated that man to such an extent, then it was obvious what kind of person he was.

When Davey followed Haitai toward where Kouna was residing, he already had an idea of what to expect.

Smack!!

"You little bitch! Do you think I’m a joke?? I told you to inform me before you leave! How dare you talk to another man?”

Davey nodded at the scene. "Yeah, that checks out."

[That son of a bitch!!]

Haitai growled, ready to pounce.

But if it killed that guy right then and there, it would only be going against its own nature and diluting its power down, ultimately weakening Kouna.

Davey tripped Haitai before it could lunge, then slammed the beast’s head into the ground.

[Damn it!! Let me go!!!]

"Stay put, dumbass. Or do you wanna renegotiate?"

Despite their fights, Haitai had always stood back a little.

While the divine beast kept fuming, Davey shifted his gaze toward Kouna.

He saw her cheek red from the slap.

The man who had hit her looked to be in his mid-twenties. He had a sharp haircut and was well-dressed, with polished shoes. He looked like someone who’d be respected outside in public.

"Next time I hear even one more rumor of you sneaking off to meet another man, I won’t let it slide so easily. Understand?"

Kouna stayed silent.

"Answer me, Kouna. If you keep being this uncooperative, our group will no longer support your grandfather’s business."

"Yes. I apologize."

While her face was usually quite expressionless, the lack of emotion as she bowed was almost chilling.

"Come. We’ve got lots to go through today.”

Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her forward.

Davey hesitated for a moment. If Kouna herself didn’t want it, then no matter how much Haitai begged, there was no reason for him to step in.

But looking at Kouna, he couldn’t help but think of someone else he knew.

His sister, the first princess Tanya O’Rowane.

She had suffered the humiliation of being shipped off like a product to the Hyeon Empire.

[Take. Him. Out. I’ll help you once it’s done.]

Haitai growled in fury.

"Why don’t you handle your own family issues?"

[She will never defy her grandfather’s wishes! No matter what happens to her, she’ll keep going along with this damned engagement!]

"And?"

[I refuse to stand by and watch it happen. If you won’t do it, then I’ll tear that bastard apart myself, even if it means becoming a fiend and vanishing forever.]

‘Well. That’d be a real wrench in my plans.’

"Fine. I’ll take care of him within a week."

[A week? Do you have a plan?]

"I do." Davey smirked. “Now, tell me where Woochi is."

At that moment, the most important thing to Davey was getting back the life essence orb that Woochi had stolen.

* * *

A secluded mountain range—vast, untouched, and breathtakingly serene.

In such an isolated paradise, a small, humble hut stood in stark contrast to the wilderness around it.

Inside, Woochi lay sprawled out, mumbling lazily, "Right under the nose. This is so nice.”

Woochi was on no other place but Earth.

He knew that Davey, without a doubt, would realize that he was gone and go searching for him like a madman.

But there was no way that man would find the new hiding place easily—he’d probably spend months combing through the Heavenly Central Plains and other continents. And knowing who Davey was, Woochi knew he’d take a while to thoroughly search each world.

There was a high chance that he wouldn’t be able to find him on Earth.

After all, Earth was the domain of Neltarid, which meant Davey wouldn’t recklessly use excessive power unless it was absolutely necessary.

Besides, he didn’t think Davey would ever expect him to hide on the very same planet where Bi Yeon was.

Not a chance.

His plan was simple.

He’d let Jeo-Seung handle whatever he was supposed to do and enjoy a peaceful, stress-free life as he waited for Bi Yeon to die of natural causes.

Even for a Gumiho, she wouldn’t last beyond a hundred more years.

She had lived far too long already.

By the time Davey found him, Woochi would already have an escape plan fully prepared.

As long as he could stay hidden for the first few years, he’d essentially be able to get away forever.

Feeling thoroughly smug, Woochi casually spun a gourd bottle in his hands.

It was none other than the legendary liquor Dokgo Jun the Heavenly Destroyer had brewed—the Nirvana Brew.

But just as he was about to take a sip, a strange chill swept through the air.

"Hm... Guess it’s windier up here in the mountains," he muttered to himself, unconcerned. He decided to fetch some fruit from his storage to eat with his drink.

But the moment he opened the door to his storage hut, his expression darkened.

"Hm? Who in the—?!”

He noticed that his fruit stash was gone, as if someone had broken in to steal it all.

“Who the hell?!” His qi flared, cold and menacing.

He wanted to break the legs of the thief that stole his snacks, and make their teeth move like a damn sliding door.

He was that furious.

Just as he turned around, ready to hunt down the culprit—

Slam!!

The storage door suddenly shut by itself behind him.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Heh... Heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh..." A chilling laugh echoed through the small, dark space.

Woochi’s eyes widened in horror.

He knew it couldn’t be happening. Finding him should’ve been like finding a needle in a haystack!

Yet, reality had made a fool of him.

Someone had successfully gone through the haystack straight to finding him, the needle.

"Older brother. You do know how easy it is to find that nose of yours, right?”

“Ah... Ahahaha.”

With a shocked face, Woochi looked at his evil little demonic disciple standing before him.

Davey flared his red eyes and grinned toward him.

"Hey Bi Yeon, this place is perfect for you. You could live here for three hundred and sixty-four days a year. Don’t worry, though. I’ll let you have one day off, Woochi."

"W-What?!"

Suddenly, a barrier began forming around the hut.

An insanely thick one.

As Woochi frantically looked around, panic rising, he yelled at Davey, "W-Wait! Bi Yeon?! Davey, what the hell?!”

"You started this. I can’t just let debts go unpaid."

"Wait!! Davey!! Is this about the life essence orb?! You’re not thinking this through!! Let me explain!!" he shouted desperately, but he quickly realized that Davey was not in any mood to listen.

Woochi screamed, "Wait!! If I’m stuck here, who’s going to manage the River of Souls?!”

Davey shrugged.

"You dumped all that work on Jeo-Seung anyway, didn’t you? Jeo-Seung will figure it out.

‘Well shit. He got me there.’

Soon after, the storage hut’s door creaked open.

Standing outside, with the happiest smile Woochi had ever seen, was the person he feared most.

"Woochi. I’m so happy."

“D-Don’t come any closer, you crazy bitch!!”

Davey’s mocking laughter echoed through the area, “Heh heh. Heh heh heh heh.”

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