The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 1231

The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 1231

Chapter 1231
“I have the current shipment volumes for you, sir. As scheduled, 85 percent has been delivered, 10 percent is in storage, and the remaining 5 percent will be moved through standard trade channels.”
“Very well.” Count Chyde pressed his temples with a tired expression. A sharp migraine surged through his head, making his vision blur for a moment.
“My lord... were you not able to sleep again?”
“Don’t mind it. It’s nothing new.”
“It’s because it’s nothing new that it’s a problem,” the young butler replied in a concerned tone.
Count Chyde shook his head instead of responding. It had been quite some time since he’d last had a proper night’s rest.
‘Things weren’t like this before...’
His insomnia had started when his third son, Mit Chyde, caused trouble at the Central Academy and got suspended. Mit had always been the child he was constantly worried about. A child he couldn’t bring himself to love, yet also couldn’t bring himself to hate.
He had tried, at the very least, to fulfill his duties as a father. Nonetheless, the boy had twisted into a disgrace. While it might sound strange to say a father didn’t love his son, for Count Chyde, maintaining the current distance was the best he could do.
“That’s enough. You may go.”
“
Ah...
One more thing. Heins Territory reached out to ask if private trading was possible...”
“All shipments have already been dispatched. Under the treaty laws, cargo held in storage cannot be sold.”
“They’re not requesting a large amount. Couldn’t we make a slight exception...?”
“Chamberlain,” he said as he lifted his weary eyes.
“Yes, my lord...”
“There are no exceptions.”
“Sir, Heins Territory offered a significant return for a small quantity. If we simply adjust a few of our existing contracts, the current debt weighing down House Chyde could also—”
“Chamberlain!” His expression turned cold. “I believe I just said there are no exceptions. Do not attempt to shake the principles this house has upheld for so long.”
“Understood...”
When the butler turned away with heavy steps, Count Chyde let out a long sigh and glanced at the document on the table.
[Damage to Central Academy property, personal injury: Total compensation owed amounts to 70,000 gold.]
It was an absurd sum; one even most noble houses wouldn’t be able to pay. As the count of a minor kingdom near the border, Count Chyde certainly had no way to repay such a debt.
The unfortunate burden that had fallen on his shoulders was all because of one person.
His third son, Mit Chyde.
“Chamberlain.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“How is that boy doing?”
“He’s staying quietly at the villa... although we’ve received s that someone has been visiting him recently.”
“Another woman?” the count asked.
“Yes...”
“I see he still hasn’t come to his senses. So, who is it this time?”
“We’re not certain, but she appears refined and elegant. She doesn’t seem to be a commoner.”
His face turned cold.
“What would you like to do, my lord?”
“Schedule a meeting. That brat...”
“My lord?”
“
Haaah.
No, never mind. Let me think a little longer.”
* * *
Mit Chyde was a teenage boy with a plain appearance. As the third son of House Chyde, he came after the eldest son Taph, the second son Batem, and the eldest daughter Berah, making him the youngest noble of the family.
Though he was only a half-sibling to Berah and Batem, it was said that they got along well during childhood.
However, that wasn’t what mattered. The issue was that this delinquent had an outrageous reputation with women. Along with a nasty personality and a deeply arrogant attitude, he was a notorious womanizer. He always surrounded himself with women, one after another.
Thinking his torment for commoners came from his blatant arrogance, Count Chyde had sent him to the Central Academy to expose him to nobles of higher rank, in the hopes that he’d learn his place.
Yet, you can take a man out the game, but you can’t take the game out of the man—his behavior never changed. He was a hopeless case! A problem child with no room for sympathy. That was the third son, Mit Chyde.
At least, that was what all the intel had said.
‘This guy...’
However, looking at the boy in front of him, Davey couldn’t help but notice the unusually clear look in his eyes. It almost seemed like the Shadows had deliberately given him the wrong intel.
“
Aaaahhh!!
” Mit screamed, falling flat on his bottom and scrambling backward.
Davey stepped forward. “Talk. Why were you putting your filthy hands on my disciple?”
“S-Sir, it was an accident! An accident!” he shouted desperately.
“Speaking politely all of a sudden? That’s odd.”
“I—I don’t speak rudely to elders or people of higher status.”
“A guy like that hospitalized an old butler from the house?”
Mit clenched his jaw and looked away.
Davey immediately noticed bitterness and shame in his eyes, yet not frustration.
“Hey. Stop drinking and get down already.”
“
Mmph! Mmm!!
”
Whatever the situation, Davey knew he wouldn’t get the full story from the boy. He needed to ask Josiah. He knew she wasn’t the type to let anything untoward happen to her, even if the kid truly had tried something. There was absolutely no chance he would have succeeded.
Among vampires, the high-level ones were already at Master-level power. A Vampire Lord could take on dozens of those kinds of vampires, even if they attacked together. In fact, it’d hardly even elicit a yawn from her.
However, that very same Vampire Lord Josiah Frances, being drunk off Davey’s blood for the first time in ages, wasn’t letting go. She was drinking way more than she should.
Though divine power was constantly restoring Davey’s energy and blood, he knew that such prolonged feeding was never good for anyone. At the very least, Josiah would be negatively affected by the long exposure to his blood.
Glancing at Reina, Davey signaled with his eyes. She caught the message instantly, stepped over, and yanked Josiah off by her twin-tails.
“
Kyaaah!!
” Josiah thrashed and screamed, but Reina just smiled sweetly while peeling her off.
Then, once she was finally detached, Reina stared at her with an expression void of all emotion. “Don’t drink any more.”
She didn’t say much, but Davey could tell she had almost added ‘unless you want to die’ at the end. She ultimately didn’t, yet something in her tone made it feel like she actually had.
Josiah nervously blinked. “
Uhhh.
Hero Reina...?”
Reina, however, smiled innocently as if nothing special had happened. “Josiah, I picked out a good spot.”
“
Huh?!
Really?! Then let’s hurry and—”
That instant, Davey snatched her by the back of the neck, eyes narrowing. “Go where? Don’t you think you should explain first?”
“
Hehe.
Your blood was so sweet that I kinda forgot...”
“Reina, tie her up. It’s time to swat a mosquito.”
“W-Wait!!”
“Then explain. How many people came to get you?”
She gave a cheeky smile. “Teacher, were you worried about me?”
“Yeah, of course I was. Lord knows what kind of trouble you could have stirred up.”
Though she was currently helping Archbishop Alice as a graduate assistant at Heins Academy, Josiah was essentially a faculty member herself. If she caused a problem while out and about, everything would fall back on Davey.
“You’re not worried about me, though?”
He shot the question right back at her, “Want me to be? You’ll regret it.”
Josiah pouted and shook her head. “On second thought, I’m good. Anyways, what just happened was an accident. I fainted from anemia, and that chimp over there tried to help me but tripped. That’s it.”
It sounded like something straight out of a comic, but there wasn’t any reason for her to lie.
Davey sheathed Red Ribbon and spoke, “You’re lucky, young noble.”
“It’s Mit.”
“Yeah, young noble Mit.”
“Davey... You’re the prince, right? Or do I call you Grand Duke?”
“Call me whatever. On another note, you’re nothing like the rumors say.”
Josiah clicked her tongue. “He wants to change, and fix what he messed up. He feels it’s time to try living like a decent person.”
“What...?” Davey knew people didn’t change that easily—not unless something foundational shifted, or they went through some life-changing event or incident.
According to the intel, the boy was the type of delinquent that would never change. Yet the Mit Chyde before him didn’t look anything like the scumbag he’d heard about.
‘Is this kid trying to pull something?’
The thought crossed his mind, but Davey shook his head. At the same time, he supposed it didn’t really matter.
“Right. So you made a contract.”
“Yes,” Josiah replied.
Davey then suddenly grabbed Mit by the collar and lifted him off the ground. The boy struggled to break free, making choking sounds.
Davey looked at him calmly. “Vampires are enemies of the continent, and yet you made a contract with one. Are you insane?”
Mit groaned in pain, unable to speak through the grip on his neck.
“Davey. You’ll kill him at this rate,” Illyna said.
Davey finally let go, and the boy looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, gasping for breath. There was no kind of ego or hostility that you’d expect from some arrogant brat. What Davey saw instead was a desperate will to survive.
He was definitely different from what the intelligence suggested.
“All I did was wish and pray! She appeared on her own.”
Davey glanced sharply at Josiah, who immediately averted her gaze and started whistling. “W-Well, this was my first time doing a contract spell, so...”
“I’m gonna lose it. Seriously.”
‘Fine. I hadn’t given her blood, and she’d been on the edge of going crazy, so I’ll forgive her this once.’
Davey took a deep breath before continuing, “Fine, I guess I’m feeling generous.”
“Thank you, Teacher!”
“I’m cutting your entire vacation, just so you know.” Davey grabbed her by the arm, then gripped her small head with one hand.
“
Kyaaah!!
My hair! My head!!” As she screamed and thrashed, Davey applied a gentle yet firm head kneading. He figured a decent noogie would be enough punishment for the moment.
“It’s not a full contract, so I can break it. Hey, Mit Chyde,” Davey called out.
“Yes...?”
“Vampire contracts can’t normally be broken until they’re fulfilled. Even if Josiah was the one who cast the summon spell, you shouldn’t have accepted.”
Vampires were considered public enemies across the continent. Even though the radical extremist vampires were all wiped out, and the only ones left were moderates hiding away on a massive island to the east of Tionis, hardly anyone knew that.
To the continent at large, vampires were still demons who disturbed the peace and massacred countless people. They were treated no differently than demons.
“If the church finds out about this, they’ll hunt Josiah down immediately. You’ll be marched straight to the stake, too.”
Even though Davey had wrecked the Heresy Inquisitor and made them go through a complete overhaul, playing with vampires was still an act no one could just overlook.
“I-I’m aware.”
“Then I’ll give you the choice. Say you want to break the contract, and I’ll sever the link between you and Josiah. After that, you’ll forget everything that happened.”
Josiah spoke up, “Davey—”
“Stay out of this. I don’t know what made you go along with her, but this isn’t something I can just let slide.”
Illyna puffed out her cheeks and looked away.
Davey continued, “Make a choice. If you say the words, I’ll take full responsibility and keep your vampire contract secret.”
He may be a known delinquent, but the boy in front of Davey wasn’t some ill-mannered punk. If Josiah was treating him so kindly, then there had to be something special about him.
“If I do that... What happens then?”
“What do you think? You go back to living your life. Nothing about you has to change because of this.”
“No, not me.” He pointed at Josiah. “What happens to her?”
Davey shrugged. “There are things in this world you’re better off not knowing.”
“I...” Mit went silent, then looked Davey square in the eye. Most people wouldn’t even be able to lift their head under Davey’s pressure. Yet, even though his hands trembled, he didn’t look away. “I want to change. I don’t want to miss this chance.”
“Do you understand what it means to join hands with a vampire?”
“She’s your vampire, though. The one belonging to the great hero and Saint of Tionis.”
‘Well, well. This brat sure knows how to talk.’
“And... It hasn't been long, but during the few days I’ve spent with her, I’ve come to a realization. She may have a foul mouth, but she’s not bad at all.”
The rumors of him being a delinquent probably weren’t lies. He was originally elitist to the core; obsessed with women; immature; shameless; and a hopeless case who threw his weight around just because of his family’s status.
If that kind of person suddenly wanted to change, Davey wondered just how big of a shock he must’ve gone through.
When people changed that abruptly, it usually came down to one of three things: brainwashing, memory loss, or possession. However, Davey saw no signs of that. The boy’s soul matched his body far too well. There wasn’t some other entity taking over his body.
“What if that’s all just an act she put on to fool you?”
“Well... I just have a feeling it isn’t,” Mit quietly responded.
Davey turned his gaze to Josiah. “What about you? What do you want to do?”
“If it’s all the same, I’d like to help him a little. Partly because... Well, he kind of grew on me. Seeing someone acknowledge their mistakes and try to change... it doesn’t feel like a stranger’s story, you know?”
She seemed to be remembering her time back at Shakuntala. Her bitter smile made Davey chuckle.
He hadn’t properly taught her anything as a teacher, but he had rescued her. He’d sponsored her, and she was his disciple.
If it was what she wanted, then so be it. While the contract wasn’t in the best shape, as a Vampire Lord, if she truly meant to stay hidden, no one would ever detect her.
“Then it’s settled. Illyna, let’s head back.”
“
Huh?
Already? The scenery around here’s great, though! We should at least take a look around...”
“We’ll come back another time.”
Originally, Davey had planned to take Josiah and Illyna back to Heins Territory. He was also going to personally break the troublesome contract. Despite Josiah creating the issue herself, he was the one protecting her, so he also had a duty to clean up after her.
That was when Reina, who had been quiet to that point, cautiously spoke up, “But is breaking a contract really that easy?”
“When Josiah awakened as a Lord, she became... somewhat bound to me—
hm?
”
The moment he said ‘bound,’ Reina’s expression changed. Her eyes dulled, and she put on a crooked smile. It gave Davey a chill like needles pricking every inch of his skin.
Yet Reina smiled sweetly again, like nothing had happened. “I see.”
“Even if Josiah’s a bit of an idiot, she’s still my disciple. If she’d been tricked into something, I’d have broken the bond immediately. But if she says she wants this, I’ll just advance her vacation time. That’s all.”
As expected, Josiah exploded. “Wait! What do you mean to advance my vacation time?!”
“Do you think your job is a joke? That it’s no problem taking time off without notice? Don’t worry, though, I’m a benevolent chancellor. I’ll authorize an early vacation.”
“That damned academy... I should just quit already,” Josiah murmured.
“You think it’s up to you? You’re working there for life, girlie.”
Fire lit up in her eyes. “You’re sucking all the life out of me!”
“You think the professors are just workaholics who never take time off?”
Having nothing to say, Josiah clamped her mouth shut.
“Come on, Teacher, can’t you help me out a little?”
“No thanks! I’m not interested. Since I’m already here, though, I’ll go negotiate with Count Chyde about getting some Sacred Grass and head back.”
Deep down, he knew the odds were slim, yet since he was there, he figured he might as well try. Sacred Grass was something he needed quite badly.
“If you want to meet Count Chyde, you’ll have to wait. I heard he’s just returning from the capital.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah?
Oh.
Yes, that’s what I heard,” Mit answered.
“Then while we’re waiting, go ahead and help me out, Teacher. Please?” Josiah was sharp. If it was necessary for her plan, she would use anything and anyone. Where she had picked up such nasty, rotten habits was something Davey truly didn’t know. Definitely.
“Don’t push your luck, you little brat. Go handle the mess you made yourself.”
“No, really! Just trying to explain this theory to that idiot is making me lose hair. Can’t you please help?”
Her words made Davey turn to Mit Chyde with a serious look. “Magic theory?”
He looked down in embarrassment. “
Ah.
Yes. I’ve been studying magic.”
“You’re a mage?”
“Well... It’s the one thing I’ve got some degree of talent in,” he cautiously replied.
Davey’s expression darkened. “You’re telling me you’re learning magic from
her
?”
“
Uhhh.
Yes?”
Davey stared at him and asked once more, this time pointing straight at Josiah, “You’re learning magic... from that birdbrain?”
Her face twisted instantly. She then leapt at him without warning. “You don’t know how fierce a fighting hen can be, do you!?”
She lunged forward, fangs bared, trying to bite his neck.
Davey ignored her completely.

.
!
Chapter 1231