The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 870. The Bastard Prince of Terraria

A month had passed.

In the meantime, Seo-Yoon and Yoon-Seok were fully engaged in investigating what lay beyond the rift Davey had pushed them into.

“Pant... Pant...”

After dispelling the water blade, Yoon-Seok slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. Seo-Yoon quickly ran over and poured medicine from a vial onto his wound.

“Ow, ow, ow!”

“Don't be such a baby,” she said as she blew on the wound.

“What do you expect me to do? It hurts.”

“Still, it's a relief that this injury is the worst of it.”

Before them laid a monster—a Headless Giant that was a weakened version of the original Special A-rank monster.

“How long have we been here?”

“About a month. There's a timer in the bag.”

“So he knew everything from the beginning.”

Yoon-Seok muttered bitterly. At first, they hadn't trusted Davey. They thought he had lied to get them killed while fighting monsters here.

But as time passed, they realized that wasn’t the case.

This rift was different from what they knew. They noticed that the monsters appearing recently and the mutation phenomena they had reported and experienced were indeed related to what was happening on Earth now.

Special metals, stones imbued with unique power, herbs—Seo-Yoon diligently collected and cataloged all those things as Davey requested.

The bag with the absurd power of spatial expansion was able to store all of these samples without any issue, making it much easier to carry everything around.

They had already found clues regarding the sudden appearance of upper-tier monsters and their more dangerous varieties.

Only a month into their campaign, what they had discovered could already create massive ripples at the International Alliance.

“I never thought there would be people taking advantage of this place to suit their nefarious purposes.”

There were clearly traces of someone already having been there.

Leaving the fallen enemy behind, the two walked further inside, their expressions gradually hardening.

“What is this?”

What they found was a massive mutation hatchery. Transparent eggs, and numerous monsters within them.

They were transforming constantly, eventually turning into creatures they recognized.

“What the hell is this?! A mutation lab?! These monsters—this is where the recently appearing upper-ranked ones have come from?!”

Headless Giant, Taowu, Taotie, Qiong Qi, Chaos, and more. All of them were upper Special A-class monsters or higher. Positioned among the others, the eerie egg with immense power they had seen back in Alfland was there as well.

“Seo-Yoon! Look at this!”

Yoon-Seok called out while breathing heavily.

“This is...”

What they found was a glowing white stone. But it wasn’t just an ordinary stone—it seemed to be the source of mutation for the nearby monsters.

“I’ve seen this before.”

Seo-Yoon murmured gravely.

“You’ve seen it?”

“Remember the Eiffel Tower disaster?”

“Of course. That giant monster that appeared at the Eiffel Tower—the first S-class monster in history. The one humanity failed to defeat.”

“Right.”

“There are records stating that one of these stones was found before that monster disappeared.”

“So then the sudden mutations, the appearance of high-ranking monsters... it’s all because of this stone?”

Boom!!

Suddenly, the ground shattered and holes began to form. From within those holes emerged...

“Holy shit...”

The massive centipede-like creature that caused the Eiffel Tower disaster in the past stood before them. It was a monster that couldn’t even be compared to a Taowu—it was a level above.

It was an S-class monster—considered an absolute threat to humanity’s very existence.

“Run!!”

They had to report this—the information here was part of a massive conspiracy that went beyond what they could handle.

“Run faster!!”

Yoon-Seok grabbed Seo-Yoon's arm, desperately running to report this to Davey.

* * *

Continental Martial Arts Tournament.

Following the recent swordsmanship tournament, this tournament—held concurrently with the magic tournament—was an event hosted by the Continental Union to showcase the full abilities of their teen prodigies.

Winning here would elevate the status of one's nation, and it would also bring fame to the individual on behalf of the Continental Union. They would have their name engraved on the Three Empire Stele and an official medal awarded by the International Federation.

It was akin to winning a gold medal in the Olympics on Earth.

For the participants, it was a great honor.

Those who won first place often went on to become prominent figures in social or political circles, reaching significant positions thanks in part to the recognition they received.

“Your Majesty, the twelfth prince, Maximus von Terraria, has arrived.”

A young boy with gray hair gently bowed and began to speak in the tranquil royal palace. Despite his leisurely smile lacking any seriousness and accompanied by an attitude full of arrogance, no one dared mock him—after all, his prowess was already well-known throughout the nation.

“I heard your skills have improved considerably.”

“I wasn’t even trying.”

Despite the young boy’s lack of humbleness, the king merely observed him silently.

“So the previous incident served as motivation for you, did it?”

“...”

“Our Terraria Kingdom has a long tradition in martial arts. The martial arts handed down by the Terraria royal family will make you the greatest on the continent.”

“Hmm, I’m not particularly interested.”

Even with his indifferent response, the king didn’t show any signs of displeasure.

“Go win. Of course, you’ll then bring back the first place token and give it to me.”

“I’ll hand it to you right away, all you have to do is wait for the tournament to end.”

“Remember, the Terraria Kingdom is a traditional nation known for its martial arts.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“This time, many skilled individuals are participating. You’ll still be able to win, right?”

Maximus chuckled at the question.

“Those who aren’t even masters—I could beat them with one hand.”

* * *

Terraria Kingdom was bustling with visitors from other nations excited for the upcoming tournament.

Four years ago, it was held in a different country, but this time it was hosted in the central nation of Terraria, renowned for its martial prowess. Naturally, the citizens of Terraria were filled with pride.

“Hey there, Prince! You came to watch again?”

“Cut the crap. Are there any decent fighters today?”

“Nah. Nobody worth comparing to you at least, Prince.”

Chuckling at the thug's response, the prince looked at the underground arena where a fighting tournament was taking place.

“Hyaahp!!!”

Bang! Bang!

Heavy blows with various techniques went back and forth.

“Idiots. Ben, bet it all on the one to the left.”

He threw his money pouch, and the bald man licked his lips, nodding eagerly.

“Keke... How much is this? Don’t say something else after you lose!”

“I’m going to win today. No way the guy on the right can win, even if he dies and comes back a new man. You know what happens if you try to deceive me, right?”

“Oh, of course, Prince!”

With a smirk, he half-laid back in his seat, and women in revealing outfits glided over. They sat beside him, fawning over him and offering fruit and wine.

The underground arena—technically illegal, yet openly conducted.

Maximus von Terraria was one of the main sponsors of this underground arena.

“Alright. Fight to the death.”

He spoke playfully, smiling while teasing a beautiful woman next to him and sipping his wine.

The match ended as he had predicted—the guy on the left emerged victorious. The victor raised his arms high with confidence as the crowd cheered.

After watching a few matches, his expression hardened.

“Boring. They're all weaklings.”

He spoke nonchalantly and stood up.

“I'm leaving.”

“Huh? Your Highness!”

“Have fun without me.”

With a straight face, he clicked his tongue and left. Others murmured as they watched him leave.

"Tsk, tsk. To think that a prince who was so kind and passionate about martial arts ended up like this..."

* * *

Maximus von Terraria stumbled drunkenly down the street, sneering at the bustling atmosphere of the royal capital.

“There are so many people—they’re like pests. What of worth is there to see in this filthy place?”

His words were chilling, not what one would expect from a prince of a nation.

It was then.

“Fine. I don’t want to cause trouble, so I’ll let it slide. Get going.”

“You must be out of your mind. Do you know who we are?”

“You serve the Tenth Prince of the Terraria Kingdom, Astra von Terraria...”

Clank, clank...

Maximus, acting without hesitation, grabbed a glass ornament from a nearby stall.

“Huh?”

“Here’s some money.”

He tossed a few gold coins from his pocket and stepped into the alley. He approached the men with fierce expressions surrounding a young man.

“Hey.”

“Huh? Who are you? We're busy, so get los—”

Crash!!

It all happened in an instant. Maximus swung the glass ornament, hitting the back of the man's head and sending him flying. Stumbling slightly, he commanded, “Get lost.”

The men grimaced at his chilling smile, but when they recognized Maximus, they turned pale.

“P-Prince Maximus! W—We apologize!!”

They quickly picked up the unconscious man and fled.

“The Terraria Kingdom isn't exactly known for its good security. People just like you and me can learn some pathetic martial arts and get their pride inflated.”

The young man had black hair and red eyes. He appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties, with a handsome and gentle face.

Maximus gave a playful smile and patted the young man's shoulder.

“It's dangerous for civilians to get involved in these things, so be careful.”

“Busybody.”

The young man chuckled, and Maximus shrugged.

“Hey, did you come to watch the martial arts tournament?”

“Hm?”

“You seem to be from another country. Since we met, want to grab a drink with me?”

He spread his hand playfully, and as if he had performed magic, gold coins appeared between his fingers.

“I’ve got plenty of money. You seem interesting, so let me buy you a drink.”

“Just like that?”

“Well, you remind me of someone,” he said while chuckling. He then extended his hand.

“I’m Maximus. And you?”

“Davey.”

“Nice name. Same as that damn famous saint.”

“Is that so?”

“Who cares? Let’s go! I know a great place. Oh, by the way, how old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“We’re the same age! No need to be formal with me then, right? You can drop the honorifics too!”

“I can’t say no to a free drink.”

Seeing the young man smile, Maximus leisurely walked ahead.

* * *

Davey and Maximus found a quiet bar without further questioning each other's identities.

"Hey, old man. I'm here."

"Oh, it's you again?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just bring me the usual. And don't glare at me; I'm paying this time."

"Tsk, tsk. Just make sure you don't drink yourself to death."

Clicking his tongue, the old man brought out a uniquely aromatic drink.

"Try it. That old man may have a nasty temper, but he sells some amazing booze."

"The aroma is interesting."

Davey took a sip from the glass. The sweet taste of honey spread in his mouth, but it also had the strong kick of hard liquor.

"Oh, this is good."

"Right? Told you it's good. Come on, drink up!"

Maximus was surprisingly good at holding a conversation. Even though he introduced himself as the Twelfth Prince of Terraria, his behavior was more like that of a laid-back commoner.

"To be honest, the martial arts tournament is just a competition for a bunch of kids. Most of them think they're something special at their age, but in reality, they don't have a clue."

He laughed and gulped down his drink.

"Then why don't you just not participate?"

"Well, I can't do that. I love martial arts, you see. I was born with talent, so I don't even need to work hard to be strong. It makes life easy."

"Hmm."

"But I heard that Saint or Prince or whatever is coming this time. What was his name again...? I can't remember his full name. Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing if he can entertain me.”

"Entertain, huh...”

"Well, whatever happens, I'll win in the end anyway."

His confidence was quite remarkable.

"I heard he's a mage. How good can a mage be at martial arts, really?"

Davey shook his head at his words.

"You never know. There are all kinds of crazy people out there."

"Really? Haha, you sure say whatever is on your mind. From what I've heard, the Saint isn't exactly the nicest guy. He might beat you up if he hears you talking like that."

"I think you should be more worried about yourself."

"Hahahaha!"

Clank!!

Their wooden cups clashed.

"Hic! It’s not everyday I get to meet someone like this. You should come watch the match tomorrow. I'll give you a flashy show to watch, my friend.”

"I don’t know... You said you haven’t trained, so it sounds like you might lose pretty badly." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Maximus flinched.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm strong even without training thanks to my incredible talent."

"I heard that the Saint is much stronger than you seem to think."

"Well..."

"With your current mindset, I just think you might struggle. Plus, you're already undermining yourself..."

Maximus's expression twisted at his words.

"Hey."

Crash!

The friendly atmosphere suddenly disappeared. Maximus grabbed Davey by the collar and growled.

"Know your place. Even if we're friends now, there are boundaries. Got it?"

"..."

"Let’s have another drink if we meet again after the tournament. I'll get you something even better next time, so don't poke where you shouldn't, okay? We all have our own privacy."

With that, he turned around and left without looking back. Davey watched him with a curious expression.

"Master Davey."

From under the table, Rinne, who had been hiding, suddenly peeked her head out.

"Hand it over."

"Rinne needs to analyze the alcohol content..."

"Hand it over. It's mine."

After hearing it a second time, Rinne clicked her tongue and reluctantly handed over the glass she was hiding.

"It sure does taste good.”

Davey smiled as he took a sip before standing up.

"Honestly, what does it matter?"

"Rinne determines there’s no need to crush a young sapling. Rinne determines Master Davey wants to smurf...”

‘Where did she even learn this word from? Ah, it was probably League.’

Davey smiled, patting her on the shoulder.

"Rinne. This is important to me."

Illyna’s bunny outfit awaited him; Perserque was going to dress up with cat ears and a tail. Aeria also had something prepared for him.

They were significant rewards that none of them would normally be willing to wear.

"I have to do my best too!!”

"..."

"Aina."

"Yes."

Aina, having just finished her task, once again moved to assist him.

"Do you have any information on Maximus von Terraria, the Twelfth Prince of the Terraria Kingdom?"

"I do."

‘As expected. She’s reliable,” he thought.

“Is that so?”

"Yes, as if you weren't competing, he'd be the favorite to win. He has a record of defeating multiple expert-level martial artists without a scratch. He's liked martial arts since he was young, but he originally didn't have talent. Then one day, he suddenly showed incredible skill. It's quite interesting for him to say that he always loved martial arts."

"That explains why he’s so arrogant. What a funny guy—to say he likes it? He had the face of someone who’d destroy martial arts if it had a form.”

To have his level of skill, one would have to be at the master level. But Davey wasn’t sure if a master-level teenager even existed.

With such talent, he should’ve naturally taken pride in his power and been genuinely interested in it. Yet, contrary to those expectations, the Maximus he encountered hated martial arts to an extreme degree. Moreover, his behavior seemed exaggerated in many ways.

"Oh, and there's additional information."

"What is it?"

"Your brother, Prince Baris, used to be close with Prince Maximus."

"Baris was?"

Davey assumed about now he’d probably be unpacking at the inn with Winley, bickering since he had snuck out to explore the capital.

"Baris wouldn't be friends with someone as arrogant and reckless as him."

Aina bowed slightly as he muttered.

"Also, the current King of Terraria has ordered Maximus to win first place at whatever cost, yet there's been no sign of him training."

Maximus wasn't directing his hatred at him in particular; he simply hated martial arts itself. And from what Davey saw, he wasn't training because he would be strong regardless; he was refusing to train because of his hatred.

"Well, I suppose I'll see for myself at the tournament,” Davey said. "Still, I managed to make a new friend."

He placed his empty glass down with a loud thud and shouted confidently.

"Owner! I want to buy the recipe for this delicious beer!"

"It’s not for sale—it’s priceless..."

"Thirty platinum coins!"

"Hey! Are you trying to buy me with money?!"

"Fifty. Plus, I'll give you a share of the profit I get from this beer every month."

"Now that’s too much money to let slip through my fingers... Right this way, please."

His change in attitude was quick.