Novel The Max Level Hero has Returned!

Chapter 184

Davey thought that this current situation was the very definition of awkward.

‘Why are all these esteemed princesses of empires taking turns visiting me?’

Davey didn’t engage with other kingdoms’ nobility or royalty that visited during the festival, because it would be endless if he were to engage with all of them. In that sense, he should do the same with the beastfolk girl in front of him right now, but… She was a little different, since she was not here for the festival. She had come for a routine check-up as Davey had treated her before.

“Um… Are you uncomfortable because of me…?” The beastfolk girl was quick-witted, so she asked that question with an anxious expression.

“No, it’s fine. I was just looking at your condition, which appears to be fine right now.”

“Ah… Thank you so much. I wasn’t able to say a proper goodbye back then…”

The beastfolk girl’s face lit up as if she was relieved. Then, suddenly feeling startled, she instantly lowered her head and did not know what to do.

—Even her ears are red. How can she be that adorable?

Perserque flew all around the princess as if she wanted to give the latter a hug at any second.

“Anyways, I was a little surprised. I would have prepared something if you sent word that you were going to come.”

Davey was lying.

“S… Sorry. I was being a bit stubborn…”

The beastfolk girl was lying too. Davey could sense that someone had strongly encouraged her to come.

“No, that is alright. Try the tea. It is quite fragrant.”

Widening her eyes slightly, the beastfolk girl reached out and carefully sipped her tea.

Although Yuria Helishana used crazy ingredients most of the time, no one in the entire seigneur’s palace had more experience in brewing tea than her. Of course, she was quite good at brewing tea with ordinary ingredients as well.

“It is very fragrant,” Aeria commented.

“This tea is made by brewing Elicil leaves. It’s a rare herb that only grows in the Forest of Elves.”

“Ah… Is that so?”

There was nothing but silence between them as Aeria looked around, unable to find something to focus on.

Disliking the quiet atmosphere, Red Ribbon tugged on Davey’s clothes with a sad frown. “D… Dada.”

“Red Ribbon, come here.” Davey picked Red Ribbon up into his arms.

Aeria’s ears twitched. She suddenly turned to stare at the girls, Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon. The children were peeking out from behind Davey.

“Ee… Eah…”

Of course, the children groaned from the sudden attention.

“T… Those children called you ‘Dad’ a little while ago…” Wondering about the children, Aeria looked like she was desperately wishing for something as she asked that question. It was somewhat courageous of her to do so.

—I think I know what this is about.

‘What is it?’

—I don’t know.

Perserque giggled and backed away. She was teasing Davey.

“Red Ribbon, Blue Ribbon, say ‘Hi’. This is Princess Aeria.”

“A… Aeria,” Red Ribbon quietly mumbled and repeated the name.

“S… So cute!” Aeria’s eyes sparkled as she watched the children squirm. She didn’t know that she was also quite cute with that particular reaction. Then, her eyes widened and she shouted bravely, “Um… Y–Your Highness! I know it may be rude, but… May I ask you…”

“Yes, of course.”

“Ah, thank you! Um… So… Are the two children…” Aeria seemed flustered by Davey’s silence, but still managed to finish her sentence. “Are they your biological children?”

Biological children… Davey did give birth to Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon in a way. However, the children weren’t human, so they weren’t the kind of biological children that Aeria was asking about.

“The situation is a little strange, but I am raising these children.”

Aeria’s face lit up at Davey’s calm response. She was flushed, then flustered, and finally her face lit up again. It was fascinating how animated she could be.

“

Sigh…

” Letting out a sigh, Aeria looked around like she didn’t know what to say before speaking cautiously, “S… So, I wanted to tell you how thankful I was! Um, so… It was…”

“You said that a little while ago, Your Highness.”

“Oh!”

Aeria widened her eyes as if she was going to cry at any moment… She had a cuteness that made Davey want to tease her even more.

‘No, I can’t.’

If Emperor Deorte, who was taciturn and a crazy daughter fanatic, were to know that Davey teased Aeria in such a manner, he might be angry enough to send his military after Davey. No matter how playful he was, Davey wanted to avoid the tiring event of going to war against an empire.

‘Anyway, I’m going to have to do a closer examination.’

“Just in case, do you mind showing me your back?” Davey asked.

“Pardon?”

“I will do a more thorough examination just in case.”

Flustered and surprised by Davey, Aeria quickly got up. It seemed like she had understood him, but she stuttered, “O… Okay. I–I’m sorry, but your head…”

“Hm?”

It seemed like Aeria had gotten the wrong idea.

“It’s a little embarrassing if you watch me get undressed.”

“Oh…”

It was quite a rare occurrence for Davey to be bewildered, but he was by Aeria’s innocence.

“You…don’t have to take off your clothes. Just turn your back towards me.”

Realizing that she had misunderstood, Aeria began tearing up from the humiliation.

Davey sounded cold and stern as he abandoned all personal motives when treating Aeria as her doctor. Perhaps that was why Aeria flinched and looked dejected. It was adorable.

Whoosh…

There was no more conversation after that. Davey quietly put his hand on Aeria’s back and released mana during the awkward silence. With a slight vibration, the mana’s buzzing resonated through the room.

“Haah… Hup.”

Davey thought it would be really nice if Aeria didn’t make those weird sounds every time mana went inside her, but Perserque just giggled from afar as if she enjoyed seeing him suffer. And…

“Rinne, collecting very excellent visual data. Appreciates this.”

Rinne, who Davey didn’t notice approaching, was standing outside the window and smiling creepily. Her reaction was annoying Davey.

“Kyahh!”

When Davey held Aeria’s shoulder to stop her from moving, she screamed in an adorable way at Rinne’s sudden appearance.

“Stay still. You shouldn’t move.”

No matter how quiet or awkward the atmosphere was, all those little things should be disregarded during a medical examination. Aeria froze in an awkward position when she heard Davey’s firm voice. However, Davey stayed quiet. He kept carefully spreading mana and pushing it into Aeria’s body.

Unlike other diseases, the Melting Acceleration Virus was distinct and easy to find due to mana. As such, Davey was able to examine Aeria for the virus by spreading mana around her body with his hands and without any other complicated medication. Although the virus wasn’t completely gone, a small amount of it couldn’t cause a relapse. However…

‘What is this?’

Davey could feel something strange in Aeria. It was like a superior virus that he had never seen before had been planted within her. She was possibly born with it, but she had no clue of it at all.

“I think you will be fully cleared in a month at the most. You must rest until then.”

Aeria nodded like crazy after Davey calmly gave her an answer.

“

Giggle

… Sir Davey, Rinne has obtained exceptional visual data. Analyze that it can be transformed into a lot of taste data if handed over to Yuria.”

‘You’re saying that Yuria will give you a lot to eat if you show this to her.’

Sparks flew from Davey’s eyes as he glared at Rinne, who was mocking him. He commanded, “Leave. Go and play with the kids.”

“Rinne refuses. Sir Davey gave Rinne vacation today. Requesting that he guarantees Rinne to do whatever.”

“…”

Rinne was basically protesting that she was free to do whatever she wanted because she was on vacation. Davey couldn’t take away what he had given Rinne, so he was the one to wave the white flag first.

“All done. You can turn now.”

“T… Thank you.” Aeria looked down with a flushed face, then looked up at Davey and called out, “Um… Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“If it is alright, may I give you a present?”

Davey was confused, but he still nodded quietly.

Then, with two hands, Aeria gave Davey the small basket that she had brought when they had first met. She explained, “I… It’s chocolate from a trending confectionary from the central continent! I made it myself. Please accept it!”

Taking the basket from Aeria, Davey thought that this was quite similar to Valentine’s Day, a trending event from his past life on Earth.

“Valentine’s… Oh!” Coming to a conclusion, Davey widened his eyes in realization. Then, he sincerely expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Huh? Oh… Yes! You’re welcome.”

Aeria had taken it a different way, but Davey was already running simulations on how to use this event to get some cash or financial gains in his head. The thing about trends was that if it was maintained to a certain extent, it could develop into its own culture. And this kind of culture…would make a lot of money!

—What should I do about this money-grubber…?

Clicking her tongue, Perserque looked at Davey like he was pathetic. However, Davey was strictly thinking about nothing but spreading this story as trends began with a famous person doing something.

What Davey didn’t know now was how this decision would come back to haunt him later…

* * *

“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Kathryn Carabella, the Grand Duchess of the Lyndis Empire.”

The greeting was quite formal. It seemed like Kathryn was forcing herself to be.

“Hello, Grand Duchess Kathryn. I’m familiar with your great name.”

Davey actually didn’t know who she was, but he still said that he did.

Kathryn, the woman with amber-colored hair who was standing in front of Davey, was the one who lightened up the tense atmosphere between Aeria and Davey. Suddenly appearing in the middle of the awkward silence, she had used all kinds of excuses to keep Aeria away and requested a one-on-one with him.

—I heard of Grand Duchess Kathryn when I was still inside Caldeiras. She is the strongest swordsman of the Lyndis Empire.

Listening to Perserque’s mumbling, Davey quietly glanced over at her.

“Please forgive my impertinence for coming out of the blue. It was my idea that Her Highness and I come here. I insisted,” Kathryn revealed with a smile.

Davey clenched his jaw while maintaining a friendly smile.

‘So, you’re the culprit.’

However, Davey hid his true emotions.

“To be honest, I’m curious, too. I’m curious to see who our innocent Highness has deeply fallen for,” Kathryn said.

“Hm… I wonder. I am grateful for your friendliness, but a small kingdom’s prince such as myself is undeserving of Her Highness’ attention.”

“Oh my, I did not think you would be this humble.” Kathryn giggled as her eyes shone playfully.

Kathryn had a dangerous smile; just in terms of feelings, it seemed like she was as dangerous as the four psycho women in the Hall. But of course, the degree of it was incomparable.

‘I speak from experience when I say that you have to be careful of these kinds of women at all costs.’

—Why?

‘They are enemies that I can’t beat.’

They were powerful but illogical nuisances, and they always took unbelievable actions.

‘It’s best not to get involved with a psycho like that. I guarantee you that this woman is just like them. My involvement will only bring me trouble.’

After listening to Davey’s answer, Perserque tilted her head in confusion.