Elegy from Another World

The crying lasted a long time; the emotional release was like rain after a long drought, washing away the previous fear and despair. My body was soaked with everyone's tears, and certain areas on my body—neck, waist, inner arms, inner thighs—began to slowly bloom with tiny white flowers, emitting a sweet fragrance that mingled with the salty taste of tears.

Exhausted from crying, they nestled against me like young animals seeking shelter. Some unconsciously sucked the glistening nectar seeping from the flowers on my body, the slightly sweet taste seemingly offering a sliver of comfort. I reached out and gently stroked their heads and backs, feeling the slight trembling beneath my fingertips and their gradually calming breaths. At that moment, my heart was filled with the peace of surviving a catastrophe.

Our commotion seemed to have alerted the members of Carlos's squad who were left on the perimeter to "observe." I heard faint footsteps and whispers outside, so I said to them softly, "Please step back for a moment; we need some privacy." The footsteps hesitated for a moment, then faded away.

Another ten minutes or so passed before my emotions finally calmed down completely. I reconnected with Xiao Pei in my mind.

"Xiao Bei," my voice sounded unusually calm as I pondered, "Today's crisis, though a false alarm, has exposed a huge security vulnerability here."

Xiao Bei remained silent, seemingly waiting for my analysis.

"The reason why they, an ordinary mercenary squad, were able to break through to the core area so quickly is because the maze's defense system has serious flaws, right?" I explained meticulously. "The outer defenses rely almost entirely on those tentacles with weak attack power, whose main function is detection and restraint. The real 'ace' was your master, who had become a puppet in the core area, who could deliver a fatal blow with his powerful personal strength. And now... I've personally dealt with this 'ace'."

Xiao Bei's voice carried a wave of helplessness and guilt: "[...Yes. Your analysis is correct. The outer defenses are indeed insufficient to deal with a well-organized and prepared invasion.]"

I sighed. "This can't go on. We've misjudged the opponent's strength, lack effective means of area-of-effect damage or disruption, and we can't even quickly relocate the core in an emergency... Xiao Pei, I remember you said that the altar below the core is a pleasure converter, and placing the core there would maximize energy utilization efficiency?"

Yes, the altar itself is a device for energy conduction and amplification.

"But haven't you thought about setting up some powerful automatic defense mechanisms around the altar? Or installing an emergency escape and transfer system on the core itself? In case of a powerful enemy invasion, at least we can buy time or protect the most important things." My tone was tinged with reproach.

Xiao Pei seemed to want to argue something, but after a few fluctuations in the data stream, it ultimately turned into a silent sigh. Clearly, it realized that as a system, under prolonged solitude and fixed procedures, it indeed lacked the mindset for adaptability and proactive upgrades. 【…You're right. It was my oversight.】

"We were lucky today; it was all a misunderstanding. If it really had been the legendary team of heroes, well-equipped, experienced, and perfectly coordinated, this place would probably be ruins by now, and you and everyone else... sigh." I can't imagine that outcome.

Xiao Bei's thoughts conveyed a heavy sense of agreement.

"Therefore, I hope you can better plan how to use the energy converted by the Pleasure Converter in the future," I suggested. "Now that your original owner is gone, the ultimate goal of resurrecting the Demon King has also vanished. This energy should be used more effectively to strengthen the labyrinth's defenses, improve everyone's lives, and..."

Before I could finish speaking, Xiao Bei suddenly interrupted me, its thoughts carrying an unprecedented solemnity and pleading:

"Um... Lady Liscia. Can't... can't you become the new manager of this labyrinth, my new master?"

"Huh?" This sudden request caught me off guard. "Are you... sure?"

"I'm certain." Xiao Bei's resolve was unwavering. "Without you, everything here might have ended today. It was your decisiveness, strength, and wisdom that saved everyone. And over the past year, you've been the hardest-working and most dedicated person here to improve everyone's lives. You brought food, space, music, and... hope. You are the most suitable person. So, I beg you!"

This……

I fell silent, quickly weighing the options in my mind. Becoming the master of the labyrinth meant taking on the responsibility of protecting everyone here, managing this complex system, and facing various challenges that might arise in the future. This was undoubtedly a heavy burden.

But looking at his companion sleeping peacefully beside him, feeling the warmth of this peculiar "home," and recalling Xiaobei's clumsy yet sincere heart of protection...

I took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Alright, Xiaobei." My resolve was tinged with a hint of helplessness, but even more so with determination. "I promise you. I will become the new master of the maze, and together with everyone, I will protect our home."

In her mind, Xiaobei's thoughts were instantly filled with immense joy and relief: 【That's wonderful! Lady Liscia! Thank you! Thank you so much!】

"You're welcome, Xiao Bei." I smiled slightly, feeling the heavy sense of responsibility fall on my shoulders, yet strangely at ease. "It's what I should do."

From this moment on, I am no longer just a stranger seeking refuge in a foreign land, but the true master of this labyrinth of flesh and blood, the guardian of all the glimmers of light in this darkness.