Chapter 93

93

The maze looked vast, and it seemed like it would take quite some time to pass through it.

Since we were standing at the entrance of the maze, there was no option but to enter it.

Roar!

A loud roar echoed from somewhere in the maze. It was a very familiar and very well-known roar.

'Griffin.'

Why is a griffin appearing here? It's the guardian of the ruins.

Sharent Clownd seemed to have heard the sound as well; he frowned and crossed his arms.

"Too much."

"It's dangerous, right?"

"From what I know, it shouldn't be physically dangerous."

I also think it's too much. What kind of room is this?

Since we had to move forward, I started walking. The method to pass through the maze wasn't difficult.

I had read in a book that if you hold onto one wall and keep moving forward, you will eventually reach the end. I had also seen this in the ruins I had entered a few times to help.

'Really, it's like a miniature version of the ruins.'

Well, when I designed this, I was inspired by the ruins and based it on my experience.

If the court mages had built it according to the design, finding the way shouldn't be difficult.

'There were markers at each fork to indicate the path.'

All we need to do is find them.

If there are no markers, we can grab the right wall and walk in a circle, and the exit will eventually appear. That method is also fine.

'I need to pass through as quickly as possible.'

The rabbit's interference made things a bit more difficult for me.

I might not have enough time to be the first to pass through. There was no time to waste.

I entered and looked around.

At the first fork, I turned right. As I walked through the dimly lit maze, Sharent Clownd looked curious.

"Aren't you scared?"

For some reason, he even made a pointless joke.

"What?"

"It's dark, cramped, and narrow. Don't most kids dislike such spaces?"

"Um, not really."

It's a bit surprising.

I was locked in a room alone for two weeks when I was even younger than I am now, before Hella.

Back then, there wasn't even any night.

"I've been living alone since I was a baby."

"..."

"I don't care what you say. Don't bother."

It's already in the past. I'm not idle enough to care.

After walking for a while, my legs started to hurt more than expected.

'Damn rabbit.'

When I get out of here, I'll change the rabbit into a bear.

Honestly, a bear is much cuter than a rabbit. It's fluffy and has a big, round belly.

"If you're tired, you can take a break."

"No, it will make us late."

"There's no time limit, though."

Even without a time limit, there is a ranking limit.

I moved forward at the next fork, looking for the marker.

My heart beat a little faster out of anxiety. I instinctively put a lollipop in my mouth but stopped abruptly.

'They're all watching, right?'

I slightly let go of the lollipop I was holding tightly. I didn't want to be the subject of gossip.

'But I'm just sucking on it...'

Is there any reason to give up the comfort of sucking on this lollipop? I couldn't think of a good answer.

After a long deliberation, I lifted my head.

"Let's take a short break."

"Sure."

"Why are you so anxious?"

"I need to be first."

Isn't that obvious? If I'm not first, what will they say? There's nothing more miserable than being treated as useless.

And how can I lose to kids?

"I don't have to be."

Sharent Clownd stopped walking.

My face naturally twisted.

'What do you mean, "I don't have to be"?'

Oh, does the famous Clownd family not expect much from a half-breed? I still have my pride.

"My mom."

"Second or third place is fine, why are you so fixated?"

"What's the point of second or third?"

What's the point of second or third place?

Second and third place are just numbers. The conclusion is that they are losers.

"To have a purpose in life, you need to be better than others."

"If you make one mistake, you're trash!"

My head rang.

I frowned and shook my head. That's an old story. It's different now.

'It's just that my pride can't accept it.'

The ringing in my ears faded.

When I looked up, Sharent Clownd was standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, looking at me.

"No point, no purpose."

"Why do you need a point and a purpose?"

Sharent Clownd countered immediately.

The sound of a griffin's cry came from nearby. We were almost there, but the pointless conversation felt meaningless. I was a bit annoyed.

"What purpose do you need?"

"I don't need to be first..."

"I never said you need a purpose. Even if you fail to pass through here, it doesn't matter."

I looked at Sharent Clownd for a moment and then turned away.

I don't understand what he means.

If you're useless, you should be discarded, but he says it's okay to be useless.

I don't want to be remembered as a fool.

"If you want, stay here."

I can go alone.

I left Sharent Clownd and entered the fork.

I heard him sigh and follow behind.

I walked forward. After a while, I found a resting spot in the maze.

And in the resting spot was a griffin...

A griffin...

"Grif...fin...?"

"Roar?"

But where was the loud roar we heard when we entered? Why is this griffin so small?

Of course, it's bigger than me, but it's so small that Sharent Clownd could kill it with one swing of his sword.

'Can I kill it?'

Looking around, I saw a few small weapons on the ground.

Swinging a sword isn't my style...

When I held a dagger with both hands, Sharent Clownd sighed.

I glanced back to see if I was right.

"Is this it?"

"Yes. Usually, you learn basic sword skills, so they probably had that in mind."

"Um."

But it's still cute.

Sharent Clownd took a step back.

The griffin ran up to me, flapping its wings slightly.

It was so low that I could reach it by extending my hand.

I don't understand what this is.

'The easiest way to defeat a griffin is to ride it and stab its head.'

I couldn't do it back then because I was too small.

Of course, there are other methods, but this is the easiest one for me now.

I climbed onto the griffin, which was about twice my size.

"Roar!"

It let out a loud cry.

The voice from its small body was surprisingly powerful.

I closed my eyes tightly and grabbed the griffin's neck feathers as it tried to throw me off.

It's actually quite cute.

I raised the dagger and struck the griffin's head.

The griffin cried out again and then disappeared, turning transparent.

A blue rhombus-shaped gem rolled on the ground where the griffin had been.

'What is this?'

I picked up the gem and put it in my pocket, thinking it might be useful.

With the griffin gone, the entrance to the next part of the maze was visible.

"Sharena."

"Um."

"Do you want a hug?"

Caught off guard by the sudden offer, I turned my head slightly. Sharent Clownd frowned slightly and offered.

My legs hurt a bit, but it wasn't unbearable.

I wanted to strengthen my stamina, but I couldn't use magic freely because someone might be watching.

"Are you worried about me?"

"Yes."

His answer to my casual question was sincere.

I almost laughed but changed my mind. Thinking about it, Sharent Clownd didn't force me to do many things. He always asked for my opinion.

'He never said I had to do something.'

He didn't take away my right to do things on my own.

Compared to most adults who limit children's choices, he was a good guardian.

"Thanks. But it's fine. I can do it alone."

Actually, this trial wasn't that difficult.

Most of the time, I dealt with cute monsters, and the revenge was just laughable. Of course, killing the monsters wasn't that hard either.

Sharent Clownd didn't speak to me again as I passed through the maze. There was nothing he needed to say.

This was the final gate of the maze.

At the end of the maze, I understood the meaning of the second room.

"..."

"..."

When we entered the third resting spot, Sharent Clownd, who was standing in a familiar garden, pointed his sword at me.

Sharent Clownd had a dagger-like sword at his waist, and the artifact on his wrist was the same.

I instinctively turned my body.

Sharent Clownd was still behind me.

Fortunately, the Sharent Clownd in front of me with the sword didn't seem real.

The Sharent Clownd who had been following me also stopped, surprised by the scene.

"Sharena."

The fake Sharent Clownd called out to me.

Sharent Clownd, who usually stepped back during trials, stood beside me this time and faced the opponent.

"You're a liar."

The griffin and the mysterious robed creature that appeared before were strangely familiar.

But now I was certain.

This is a 'nightmare.' The nightmare I most dislike in reality.