The maze was built starting with the mother skeleton replenishing its magic.

Is this the end?

Lance was filled with surprise.

But which one is the real ending?

Unless the deceased General Rune is resurrected and made to recount how he died.

Otherwise, there is no way to verify it.

It can't be that two endings exist at the same time; General Rune is both dead and alive.

Even if the ending of the Elf version is true, it is impossible to determine whether its history was originally like this, or whether it was influenced by Lance that it became this way.

But... it doesn't matter anyway.

Before entering other recollections, learn about the historical facts first. After you come out, you'll know whether the different versions of the ending were caused by him.

After sorting out his thoughts, Lance turned to look at the big dog.

"Now that you're with me, you need to change your name." Lance thought for a moment, then clapped his hands. "From now on, I'll call you Bruce."

So stylish.

Bruce happily jumped around Lance, but unfortunately, his true form was a pile of bones, so he couldn't bark and didn't have a tongue.

Angelica knelt before Lance, filled with emotion.

Mr. Lance is amazing; he even subdued the lord of the maze.

After a pause, Angelica asked:

"Mr. Lance, what's our next plan... Mr. Lance!"

Stop, Bruce!

Those are Mr. Lance's hands!

These are not bones you can eat!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Ross Town, Storm Troll Tavern.

Ethan slowly awoke from his drunken stupor, his face ashen, like a scarecrow in a rice paddy.

He covered his head and searched everywhere for Martin, but after several fruitless searches, he smiled bitterly and cursed:

"How can this guy drink so much?"

Martin must be on his carriage heading to Auckland by now.

Ethan was pleased about this.

"Bang—"

The tavern door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

The bartender, wiping glasses, stood at the bar counter and called out to the newcomer with a helpless expression:

"This is the third door this month. Adventurers have no sense of proportion."

This caused a burst of laughter from the villagers drinking at the bar, and then their eyes turned over... Wasn't this the noble lady and her attendant from this morning?

Anna ignored the bartender's words and looked around anxiously as soon as she entered the tavern. Her clenched fists showed how urgent she was.

Finally, his gaze met that of Ethan, who was slumped over the table, looking unwell.

"That...that fat guy!"

Anna pointed at Ethan from afar.

"My lovely lady, we meet again." Ethan smiled and waved at her, then covered his mouth with his hand to prevent himself from spitting it out.

The two little ones quickly ran to Ethan's table, and Glenn began to recount what had happened.

Ethan's expression shifted from initial astonishment to shock, and finally to silence.

"Mr. Martin is still trapped in the maze. Our resources are limited. Mr. Ethan, please join our team to rescue him."

Glenn's expression was serious.

He had expected Ethan to be more anxious, but Ethan just let out a long sigh.

"I roughly know what happened," he said. "You mean, Martin blew up the cave entrance when he used a fourth-order magic scroll to cover your retreat, right?"

"Yes."

"Martin doesn't have that kind of spare money." Ethan sighed and shook his head. "He used all the money he's saved over the years to buy a farm, and he even borrowed some from me. There's no way he'd have a fourth-order scroll."

"What?!"

Anna and Glenn stood up excitedly.

Without a fourth-tier magic scroll, being trapped in the lord's room means...

"Don't think about anything." Ethan said, giving the two a bitter smile, his fleshy face unable to hide his sadness. "This is his own choice."

Anna kept her head down.

She realized that it was all because of her curiosity about the labyrinth and the life of adventurers that led her to secretly escape from her home.

If it weren't for her willfulness, she would probably still be having afternoon tea at Byrondin's mansion right now.

Martin was probably on his way to Auckland in a carriage, ready to begin a new chapter in his life.

She gritted her teeth, trying to hold back her regret from turning into tears that spilled from the corners of her eyes.

Under the table, Glenn suddenly reached out and took Anna's hand, smiling gently at her as if to say, "It's not your fault."

He meant well and wanted to comfort Anna, but... he ended up making her cry instead.

"Mr. Ethan, Mr. Martin gave us this when he left."

As Glenn handed Anna a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, who was bowing her head and shedding tiny pearls, he felt the badge Martin had given him in his pocket.

"This is!" Ethan looked at the badge, his eyes gradually regaining their light, and he kept repeating, "So that's how it is..."

"What is this?" Glenn asked.

Ethan placed the badge on the table, looking at the image of "crossed swords and a little man holding a sword" on it.

He sighed.

"This is the badge of our squad, Dawn's Blade. I thought Martin had cancelled the squad, but I see."

"It seems he has entrusted this legacy to you, hoping that you will inherit this name."

Mr. Ethan! Stop talking!

My daughter cried even harder!

"The Sword of Dawn." Glenn picked up the badge, muttering to himself, "So Mr. Martin really is..."

After saying that, Glenn looked into Ethan's eyes.

Although it was a pity, Ethan nodded.

Martin must have been prepared to die.

This was his own choice.

"At least... let us do something for Mr. Martin!"

"I thank you on Martin's behalf," Ethan said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "But you should take care of yourselves first."

After saying that, he put the money for the drinks on the table, paid the bill, and left the tavern.

Ethan, who was not tall to begin with, was now hunched over, and his back looked somewhat haggard.

In the end, you can't do anything.

Glenn felt uneasy.

......

After a short rest in Ross, Anna and Glenn rented a carriage and prepared to return to Byrondin.

The driver, an apple merchant who traveled between the two places, was so shocked when Anna mentioned her father's name that he immediately knelt down.

They refused to charge them any fees.

That's none other than Lord Victor Phoenix, the supreme king of the entire South!

The journey from Ross to Byrondin by horse-drawn carriage takes about half a day.

If we set off now, we can arrive just before dark.

Before boarding the car, Glenn said somewhat absentmindedly, "Miss Anna, I have a request."

"What?"

Please let me stay here.

Anna, sitting in the carriage, slightly opened her mouth, then, overcome with anger, shouted at him:

"No! Are you crazy! How could you say such a thing!"

"I'm not crazy," Glenn said calmly. "I'm too weak; I can't protect you right now."

"What does that have to do with you staying here!"

"I want to train myself starting from the very basics of an adventurer. One year, I only need one year to return to your side."

"Aaaaaah!!"

Anna clutched her head, letting out a sharp, explosive sound.

Because he secretly ran away from home, he not only almost died, but also caused the deaths of innocent people.

Now, even her most trusted servant is leaving her.

Most importantly!

She's actually going to become the adventurer she always wanted to be!

Anna jumped off the train and reached out to pinch Glenn's cheek hard.

"Have you forgotten who rescued you from the slums when you were seven years old?!"

"It's you."

"Who gave you this job! Who allowed you to receive knightly training!"

"It's you too."

"Then why leave! It's so rare to find someone who can be with me, it's so hard..."

As Anna spoke, her voice began to choke up.

All her pent-up emotions burst forth at that moment; she hugged Glenn and cried loudly.

The driver tactfully left, leaving the two of them alone.

Glenn smiled and gently patted Anna's back:

"I'm just taking a year off to improve myself, there's no need to be so sad."

This experience made Glenn realize that the Cavaliers' training could only give him faith and courage.

The skills and experience required for combat can only be accumulated through actual combat.

Even though separating from Anna made Glenn sad, it was something he had to do.

After a long while, Anna's crying gradually weakened until only sobs remained.

"Miss Anna...?"

Glenn's smile froze.

Because his young mistress, with red-rimmed eyes, drew the sword from his waist, pointed the tip at Glenn's nose, and said coldly:

"Kneel down."