The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 995

Working gearheads nearly to death was a surefire way to make the impossible a reality.

Aeonitia and Tiara were complete opposites in many ways, yet they got along remarkably well.

Davey figured the joint research project would be a turning point in terms of their development.

"So, when the fused bluescreen metal is exposed to a room temperature environment, it exhibits unique properties—"

"No, no, what I’m saying is... isn’t this just that?"

"Sigh... No, Tiara! If we consider the purpose of our hypothesis, it makes more sense to refine this part of our methodology first—"

The two were demonstrating an amazing professional chemistry, completely immersed in their research. Watching them, the professors immediately realized that they had misjudged the young girls from the start.

These girls weren’t just smart—they were terrifying geniuses.

At first, many had held a vague sense of awe about the continent of Tionis and its inhabitants, though it wasn’t exactly mind-blowing for them.

How different could it really be? After all, it was still a land where people lived.

But to their surprise, the difference was staggering.

"Professor Park, the continent of Tionis...”

"Yes?"

"With the Saint of Tionis and these two... that place must be something else."

"I was just thinking the same thing. It’s astonishing."

They and all the other professors weren’t just any regular researchers, of course.

They were among Korea’s best—the pinnacle of their respective fields, internationally recognized and sought after by universities around the world.

And yet, if someone gathered all these brilliant minds and asked what they had accomplished by the time they reached the same age as the girls in front of them, they would all—without hesitation—admit that it was nothing close to the two prodigies.

It wasn’t just a matter of having vast knowledge.

It was the way the two girls thought and bounced ideas off each other—their approaches to science were complete opposites on a fundamental level.

So much so that no one could understand how they had even become friends, let alone successfully collaborated.

Tiara was a ruthless experimentalist. Her philosophy was to run tests first and collect data later.

Aeonitia, on the other hand, believed in meticulous preparation. If she didn’t know exactly what would happen, she wouldn’t run any experiments.

Both had unwavering confidence in their methods, each backed by solid calculations.

The moment they began exchanging knowledge, it had become clear that the two possessed a level of understanding that surpassed most professors. They were just specialized in different fields.

"I wonder just how incredible they’ll become when they grow up."

Professor Park murmured, watching with fascination.

Professor Yoon chuckled.

"If I had my way, I’d take them on as grad students... Though honestly, they’re too good to be stuck learning under someone. They’re leagues apart from professors who just hold prestigious titles."

Geniuses beyond belief—that was the only conclusion the professors could come to.

Almost as if mocking the professors who underestimated them because of their age, in just three days, the two had pushed their research forward at an absurd pace.

It was so inspiring that even the professors found themselves newly motivated.

"Beginning the next test run. Experiment number 0204: Metallic Processing & Coating Treatment. Testing at 0.03mm thickness."

Whirrr... Whirr...

A case with a blue metal coating that lined the inside was placed in the testing chamber.

Slowly, a precisely cut rod was inserted.

Then—

Fwooosh!!

A burst of smoke erupted.

"Sigh. Another failure."

They were close—so very, very close.

On paper, the calculations suggested they should be able to neutralize radiation. But they had yet to find the key.

The implications of their experiment went beyond the mere concept of neutralization.

If they succeeded, humanity could potentially convert uranium—an otherwise hazardous radioactive element—into a safe and powerful energy source.

"Sigh. Preparing for the next test. Professor Park Sang-Chul, I need feedback and verification on the theoretical review."

"Sigh. Princess Aeonitia... shouldn’t you take a break?”

The two girls simply tilted their heads in confusion.

Meanwhile, the professors were exhausted.

Sure, their enthusiasm had been reignited. Adding in the government pouring in generous support, there was no reason not to publish new research papers on this topic.

But at their current rate, it was only a matter of time until they experienced burnout and lost motivation.

Even as adults, they were struggling to keep up physically. Even so, the two young girls looked completely unfazed.

As if they were missing some fundamental part of their brain that was supposed to remind them of the human body’s limits.

Professor Um from Seoul National University walked over with paper cups filled with cocoa and handed them to the girls.

"It’s fascinating how the radiation keeps getting blocked so efficiently."

It was thanks to an artifact from Davey, one that prevented radiation exposure from affecting them.

Such a quality was precisely how they were handling nuclear waste without wearing heavy protective suits, instead using enchanted clothing.

In a way, the artifact alone seemed to be the answer to nuclear waste disposal.

But there was a problem—it was a one-of-a-kind creation, made by a single individual.

And for scientists, that wasn’t an actionable and replicable result. It was merely part of the process before they were able to industrialize it.

Still, having faced days of practically sleepless research, the professors were reaching their limits. They figured it safe to assume the same for the girls as well.

Professor Um began to wonder if they were pushing themselves too hard.

"Um... Your Highness? Aren’t you tired?"

"I am."

Aeonitia answered indifferently, her eyes still locked onto the microscope.

Meanwhile, Tiara was busy spinning vials of reagents, smoothly inserting them into a centrifuge before moving on to the next step.

"If you’re tired, maybe you should take a break."

"I am tired, but..."

"Huh?"

"Wouldn’t it be slacking off if we rest after only doing this much?”

Professor Um blinked, thinking what kind of insane nonsense she was saying.

"Your Highness... what do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said. Isn’t it too soon to be taking a break? I’ll run a few more reaction tests, you can go ahead and rest first."

‘Wait... what? We’ve been working nonstop for days, barely sleeping, and she thinks it's too early for a break?’

She knew the only rest they had was while unconscious, spending every other waking minute diligently working.

Professor Um couldn’t help but shudder in shock.

"That’s strange... Usually, when my brother assigns a project, we don’t stop for at least a month."

All the professors suddenly understood.

Ah.

These girls weren’t missing something. Nor was something wrong about them.

They had just been trained under a demonic man—one who had completely and mercilessly destroyed their natural sense of exhaustion.

Wearing magically coated protective gear, she casually picked up the toxic substance, which emitted small amounts of radiation.

"Professor Um. I used to think I was a heartless bastard for overworking my grad students."

“Professor Park, I don’t think you’re alone in that."

"Turns out... people are a lot harder to break than I thought."

That day, every professor present came to the same understanding that maybe they should work their grad students a little harder.

"Ah... I guess that’s it for me, then. No more breaks. If even those kids can work tirelessly, we can’t just sit around watching them."

Professor Park groaned as he stood up, crushing his empty paper coffee cup before tossing it into the trash.

"Calling them geniuses doesn’t do them justice. Their talent is borderline demonic."

Of course, they were unaware that an even greater monster of persistence existed—Davey O’Rowane.

But their perspective, even just seeing Aeonitia—a mere child—possessing the knowledge and capability of a world-class researcher was insane enough.

And then there was the research topic itself.

Nuclear waste neutralization.

Neutralizing the radioactivity and handling of nuclear waste, thereby securing the safety of nuclear energy and becoming capable of recycling it.

It surely was a ridiculous concept.

But what if they succeeded? Every single country with nuclear power plants, or those that were struggling with radiation issues, would lose their minds trying to get their hands on the technology.

And the craziest part was that it was only the beginning.

Of course, with modern science as it stood, it was an impossible feat.

Both Aeonitia and Tiara agreed that basic science wouldn't be enough.

But once materials from another world—and magic—were added into the equation, what had been deemed impossible was suddenly within reach.

It drove the professors insane with excitement.

At first, they had thought the girls were just playing scientists.

But at some point, they had unconsciously begun treating them as equals—fellow researchers.

They gradually opened up to discussing their ideas without holding back.

* * *

While Aeonitia and Tiara were being worked to the bone, Davey was strolling through the streets of Seoul with Aeria, Illyna, and Perserque.

"What will you do about the massive societal ripple effect if Tionis fully embraces Earth's science?" Perserque said while resting on his shoulder.

She had a point. Seeing something and delving deep into it were two entirely different things.

On Tionis, both science and magic developed simultaneously. Thanks to that lack of singular focus, neither field had been able to advance to its absolute extreme.

No, to be precise—the world itself had placed a limit on it.

Scientific advancements in Tionis hit clear boundaries.

But now, Aeonitia and Tiara had crossed dimensions and were absorbing the vastly superior technology of Earth at a rapid pace.

The impact would be immense.

Not only would it create unprecedented shockwaves, but the very limit of the world might be shaken. If they went too far, their lives could even be endangered.

The world’s natural laws might deem them as forces that disrupt balance and adjust their fate to ensure their eradication.

"I’ll make sure they stay just at the edge of the line."

Davey spoke casually as he made his way to a nearby street vendor.

"Mister! Four of these, please."

"Alright, that'll be two thousand won.”

"Here you go."

"Thanks—wait a second. You look kind of familiar..."

Leaving the puzzled vendor behind to wonder to himself, he handed the snacks to Perserque, Illyna, and Aeria. Their eyes lit up as they nibbled on the unfamiliar treat.

"Wow, this is good!"

"It’s called a waffle. I was thinking about adding it to Heins Territory’s gourmet scene."

"I... think I could probably make this."

Surprisingly, Aeria was the first to react.

She chewed on the waffle carefully, deep in thought, before making her declaration.

"I’ll make it for you later!"

"Wow, you already figured it out just from tasting it?"

Being a beastfolk, her sense of taste was incredibly sharp.

Perhaps it was also due in part to the fact that ever since the two got married, she had poured her time into cooking as a hobby.

"It won’t be exactly the same, but I think I can get something pretty close."

The fact that she could recreate something just from a single bite was beyond abnormal.

"I’ll look forward to it."

"Yes!"

Aeria beamed and nodded enthusiastically.

At that moment, Perserque noticed something. She suddenly grabbed Illyna by the arm and tugged her.

"Illyna, come here.”

"Huh?! Sister?!"

"Just for a moment."

Without further explanation, Perserque dragged Illyna off, leaving only Aeria and Davey behind.

Davey had cast a subtle face blindness spell to ease the pressure for everyone, ensuring no one recognized him.

"Davey.”

"Hm?"

"This whole situation... it’s because of me, isn’t it?"

He lifted his head and looked up at the sky before answering.

"You mean this mess with the congressman?"

"Yes."

She murmured, her voice laced with guilt.

"I can’t help but feel that the whole situation spiraled out of control because of me. Because of me, Seo-Na died... and because of me, those two people’s lives were ruined..."

Seeing her expression darken, he reached out and gently took her hand.

The face blindness spell was in effect, but it only hid the fact that he was Davey O’Rowane. People still saw him standing in the middle of the street, holding her hand.

He could feel the attention from the onlookers.

"You’re not the one who did anything wrong. You’re a victim. Why should you be sad?”

"Huh?"

"You shed tears, so I made sure those bastards shed blood instead."

Davey shrugged and pulled her into a warm embrace.

Her face reddened as her eyes darted around in panic.

"U-Uhhh. We’re in the middle of the street..."

He could feel her hidden ears and tail twitching furiously, but he only released her slowly.

"So stop worrying. Stop blaming yourself. Your friend’s soul has already moved on and returned to the cycle of reincarnation,” he said while glancing around to find how he could lift her spirits.

That was when he saw a piano placed right in the middle of the busy walkway.

"Excuse me,” he said to a woman passing by.

"Huh? Y-Yes?"

She turned, her eyes suddenly widening when she saw his handsome face.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, as if she was expecting something from him.

"That piano over there. Is it okay to use it?" he asked while pointing to the piano.

Her face briefly fell in disappointment, but she quickly nodded.

"Yes. Haven’t you seen the videos? Sometimes, really skilled people use it for street performances."

Davey smiled in response.

"Thank you."

"O-Oh, it’s nothing!"

After she walked away, he turned back to Aeria.

"Come with me."

Taking her hand, he led her closer to the piano, stopping just in front of it.

"Remember this, Aeria."

He cleared his throat.

“Just as you care for others, there are those who care for you. Whenever you struggle, they will worry for you and stand by your side. And if the world dares to cast you aside, then I will oppose the world itself without hesitation.”

He then gave her a playful grin.

"How about a performance? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

"Ah... But Perserque and Illyna—”

"Seems like they graciously decided to give us time for ourselves.”

He had no doubt that Perserque had left on purpose. He figured she must’ve noticed how troubled Aeria was, and left to give him a chance to cheer her up—a silent nudge in the right direction.

"So today, you can just relax and enjoy yourself."

Her face brightened.

Just as he was about to sit down, someone’s arrival stopped him.