CHAPTER 55: PAST IS PAST

Max couldn’t speak for a while, as he just stared at her eyes that seemed to see through him. For once, he felt helpless, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Even when he was fighting those monsters and even the Baron Marcus, he hadn’t felt this helpless and... vulnerable.

His instincts kicked in as he pushed her and backed away. He gasped repeatedly for his breaths and took some time to reorganize his thoughts.

Melissa sighed, looking at him, and went back to sit on John’s table. Then, she said, "You wanted to know why we are treating you so good, right? It’s because you’re the first kid to check in our Inn."

Max took a breath and smiled wryly, "I didn’t think Aunt Melissa could lie so, so easily."

"It’s not a lie! We don’t get many customers, and even those we get are either retired hunters or some people who come to relax for a day or two. You’re the first kid to book a room ever since the Inn was founded," Melissa smiled and said.

"Is that all?" Max didn’t believe it.

"No! You see, we had a son who was passionate about diving in the Labyrinth," Melissa said, her voice even, but Max could sense the sadness in it. "He was probably the same age as you."

"Had..." Max muttered, as realization dawned on him.

"He once dived in the Labyrinth and... never returned. We didn’t even get his body to give a proper funeral. That is the fate awaiting many hunters," Melissa closed her eyes and paused to calm her emotions.

"I-I-I’m sorry for bringing that up," Max stuttered slightly and quickly apologized.

"It’s fine, boy. You just reminded us of Mark, and you were also the one who saw more benefits in this Inn for your Cultivation than others, just like him. So, we just wanted to make sure the history didn’t repeat itself," John sighed and held his wife’s hand.

Max fell silent, not knowing what to say. He cursed in his mind, ’Damnation! Why do I not know how to console someone when they’re sad? I should have studied some books...’

Melissa opened her eyes and saw his expression. A chuckle left her mouth as she said, "You don’t have to console me, but you should learn to do that if you want to have a good family time in the future."

Max seemed taken aback as he asked in shock, "Aunt Melissa, can you read people’s mind?"

"No, you’re just too easy to read," Aunt Melissa chuckled and said. "That’s why I can sense you hiding some terrible past."

"It isn’t something unique, though. Everyone has a past they want to forget or get over with, but they simply can’t," Max smiled and said. "They just have to live with that. Besides, mine isn’t that terrible, as I sometimes even forget about it, haha."

Melissa continued to look at him with seriousness and then nodded, "It’s fine if you don’t want to tell us, because I also don’t want you to remember anything unpleasant. Just remember that you now have an Aunt and Uncle, so you can come to us if you want to talk about something."

John nodded and added, "Remember one thing, Kiddo. In the Labyrinth, it isn’t just your usual fighting monsters. There are different kinds of battle, and you need to be victorious in every one of them. Hope you understand!"

Max took a deep breath and said, "I understand. Thank you for caring for me, and it really means a lot to me."

"Woah! You can already say your feelings upfront? That’s surprising," Melissa exclaimed lightly.

"Aunt, I’m a confident gentleman who can do a lot of things," Max shrugged. "Just wait, and I’ll bring home your... niece-in-law?"

"Haha! Go on, I’ll be waiting," Melissa giggled at that.

"Well, for now I’m going to sleep. Thanks for the meal," Max said, before escaping to the stairs.

John watched him go and asked his wife, "What do you think about him?"

"He’s good, but also needs improvement. Something has cut him too deeply, maybe when he was a kid, but it left a deep scar on him. The worst thing is that he buried it deep instead of facing it, so it just continued to get worse," Melissa sighed. "I worry for that child."

Then, she turned around to face her husband and asked, "That aside, this is the first time you actually showed interest in someone. What is so special about him?"

Seeing her wiggling brows, John rolled his eyes and said, "His mouth probably, as he likes to use it a lot."

"Oh, come on! Please tell me!"

However, she was bound to get no answer, because John himself had none. But how was he supposed to explain that to her?

Meanwhile, Max reached his room, and with a quick twist of the knob, he entered the room and flopped on the bed.

[I didn’t know you have some trauma!]

"I don’t!"

[Really? I didn’t search through your memories to respect your privacy, but I can do it, you know.]

"I really don’t have any trauma. It’s just a deep-rooted memory of my parents’ death when I was 10. I’m pretty sure anyone who went through that would remember it and be affected by it, right?"

[Ohh, I’m sorry, Max. Also, why didn’t you say that earlier? I could have transferred you to some other world, or maybe some other person, so that you’d get good, loving, and caring parents. I just dropped you with another set of a shitty father and—]

Max opened his eyes, surprised at her worried tone and words. This was probably the first time she wasn’t teasing him and was genuinely thinking of his well-being.

A smile formed on his lips as he said, "You don’t need to worry that much, Big Sis. This is actually for good, as I would have been weirded out if I had parents."

[Really? Are you sure you’re fine?]

"Yeah, don’t worry! Besides, haven’t you heard of those readers who say parents are a burden and that’s why many authors make the main character an orphan? Guess I got that privilege easily."

[Max, do not joke about that.]

"Jeez! You can’t even handle a light joke."

Although he said that, there was a silly smile plastered on his face.