Author Note:

I have created a patr eon page. If you want to support my work, please visit it. There you could find 6 chapters in advance for patrons, but only in Spanish. Since, although I have a bunch of chapters accumulated, I still haven't translated all of them.

https://www.patreon.com/finlegost

You can find the map that the characters talk about in this chapter here:

https://www.instagram.com/finlegost

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It took us 12 days in total to get to the Crossroad Town, and that's thanks to the fact that, two days ago, we got on a carriage driven by an old man, with such an inoffensive appearance, that it made us lose all caution and thank him for his offer of speed up our journey. The time it took us to get there, makes me appreciate in a different way the speed at which we had traveled, a year ago, on Joaquín's horse, since that time, the trip only took us 6 days.

We are currently camping on the outskirts of the town since we arrived when it was already dark. And although the old man entered the town, eager to sleep in an inn, we prefer to sleep outdoors. After all, we have bought tents for a reason. While we eat we start talking about what we are going to do tomorrow.

"We know that it may be difficult for you to enter the town, Xelean. So, if you want, we can find a cart or something to transport the weapons to the client's store" says Sabrina.

"I have almost 1000 items stored in my storage skill, who would pull the cart with such a weight?" I ask, with a smile.

"I could do it... Maybe not all in one trip, but I could" Agustín says, beating his chest with his fist.

"Besides, I don't think your parents would like the idea of displaying what we bring around the town, considering what it's worth and all the advice they gave us before leaving" I say without stopping smiling.

"Well..." Agustín starts to say, but I interrupt him.

"I appreciate the offer, but it's not necessary. I had already assimilated the idea that I would have to return one day. After all, I don't plan to stay living in the capital forever" I say.

"And what would you do outside the capital?" Sabrina asks, puzzled.

"hmm, I don't know..." I say thoughtfully "I could explore, kill monsters, help people. When my parents died, I set out to get to the top floor of the labyrinth hoping to find some answers, but now It's clear to me that it's not something I can focus solely on. After all, Ragnar recommended me to travel for a reason... labyrinths don't move, and traveling can help me learn to adapt to unknown situations"

"It's not very safe to travel alone. Think about what would happen if you were attacked by a large number of enemies" says Agustín.

"I'm never alone" I say patting Azur, who is curled up next to me "but I understand what you mean"

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"I'd go with you too. We'll watch each other's backs!! I've always wanted to explore the world" says Joseph enthusiastically.

'Great' I hear Sabrina and Agustín mutter, with the same tone of discouragement and exasperation that they always put on when Joseph says something reckless, while the latter continues to talk enthusiastically about the places we will go. In my opinion, they are exaggerating this time, there is nothing wrong with leaving the capital from time to time.

"Changing the subject, to go to the next destination, after this delivery, is there a way from here, or do we have to retrace our steps?" I ask.

"Yes, although the roads don't appear on the map they gave us, we know, from what our parents told us, that following the border with the dwarf country there is a road that leads to the village" says Agustín, pulling out the map and stretching it, to mark a point on it.

"I have an idea, what if, after we deliver the second order, we return to the capital through the forest?" Joseph asks with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"I don't think that's a good idea" Sabrina says tersely.

"Yes, although it may seem shorter, we could get lost in the forest" adds Agustín.

"If it's because of the fear of getting lost, there's nothing to worry about. I have the confidence that I know how to return to the capital from anywhere, with or without a map" I say cryptically without saying any more since I don't want to explain about my ability. The map on my interface only fills up with the information on the terrain I travel, but since I have already been in the capital, to return, I would only have to go in a straight line towards the location indicated by the interface map.

"Well... If you're confident that we wouldn't get lost, I'm fine with shortening the path. Besides, Azur could fly above the trees to see the direction" Sabrina says, changing her vote.

"I'm going to sleep" announces Agustín sulking, getting up abruptly.

"Yes" Sabrina says, yawning "I think we should all go" getting up and heading to her tent.

Joseph and I agree with her and head to our tents. When I am about to enter mine, I hear Joseph's voice exclaiming 'think fast!!'. I turn around and see a branch flying in my direction. I catch it in mid-air without much effort and show him the branch. Joseph smiles when he sees it and, saying 'good night', he enters the tent. The four of us have been playing this game ever since Sabrina came up with it on the third day, as a way for me to learn to control my strength. The game consists of them throwing things at me by surprise, and I have to catch whatever they threw at me without destroying it in the process.

The next day, we took the things to the boys' uncle's store. As we entered the town, we saw some people raising a building around the labyrinth, similar to the one around the capital.

There are almost no traces of the fire and the attack of a year ago. Most of the burned houses and buildings have already been demolished, and new houses have been built in their place. The only reminder of the calamity is a gigantic stone plaque, with all the names of the deceased on it. I wasn't surprised to find my name written next to my parents'. After all, I left town with Joaquín after the tragedy. I think it's true that I died in a certain way that day, at least that part of me did. There is nothing left of the town dump either. Now they throw the waste into the labyrinth, where it disappears, absorbed by it.

When we deliver the weapons and armor of the order, Joseph announced to us that we couldn't leave without buying some souvenirs of our trip. So, after looking at different stores for a while, we bought our souvenirs. Joseph and I bought long capes with hoods, to protect us from the wind or rain. His cape is green and mine is black, matching our hair color. Sabrina bought a pair of boots more suitable for walking long distances, since, during the walk, she cursed more than once her shoes, nice, but not suitable for traveling long distances. Agustín bought a pair of kitchen gloves. He's hell-bent on learning how to cook, though I think it's just because of the compliments Sabrina pays Joseph every time we eat something he cooks.

After buying our souvenirs and replenishing some cooking ingredients, we left for the village where they told us to take the second order of our trip. Heading towards the mountains that can be seen in the distance on the north edge of town, the border of the dwarf country.