Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 153

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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153. Pest Control (1)

 

Prince Willow soaked bread thoroughly to make bread porridge for the Numeral Sisters whose digestive systems had weakened.

 

He mixed precious eggs into the porridge and added plenty of honey.

 

The Numeral Sisters received the warm and sweet bread porridge with expressions full of wariness, nibbling at it cautiously.

 

“Could you give a little more to my younger sisters?”

 

“I made plenty, so eat to your heart’s content.”

 

“Thank you!”

 

“Woong!”

 

As soon as the porridge entered their mouths, they abandoned their wariness and focused on eating.

 

Especially Duri, true to being a bear-person, went crazy for the sweet taste and had a vigorous appetite.

 

As if only her stomach had become that of a bear, she ate without stopping.

 

While her older sisters emptied several bowls of bread porridge each, Neet, who had barely managed to finish one bowl, opened her mouth with a cough.

 

“Cough. Are we. Cough. trapped in the labyrinth? Cough.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“So everyone needs to work together to conquer the labyrinth and find a way to escape.”

 

“Cough, I, I see. Cough cough. I thought it was strange. Cough. that the Princess was in the labyrinth.”

 

“Strange?”

 

The eldest of the Numeral Sisters was puzzled by the youngest’s words.

 

“Princesses are supposed to be in palaces. Neet is right, isn’t she?”

 

“High-ranking people are often strange, aren’t they?”

 

“True. Lots of perverts.”

 

Sesi grimaced and shuddered.

 

It was the attitude of someone who had experienced being tormented by perverts.

 

“You said your name was Sesi. A lovely lady beautiful as a rose should have words as sweet as honey coming from her mouth.”

 

Prince Willow advised in a gentle voice while ladling porridge into Sesi’s empty bowl.

 

Impressed by that sweet voice and kindness, Sesi said:

 

“Wow, did you smear pig fat on your lips? That’s so greasy.”

 

She said.

 

To prevent the Numeral Sisters from making more verbal mistakes, Serena informed them of the reality of the lobby, which had an unnecessarily high average social status.

 

“The person who smeared pig fat on his lips is the 5th Prince of the Empire.”

 

Clatter.

 

The utensils fell from the hands of Sesi, Hana, and Neet.

 

“Cough! Sesi! Your head! Your head!”

 

“I have committed a mortal sin!”

 

In a world where guilt by association was written in law, all the sisters except the bear-brain prostrated themselves, bumping their foreheads on the floor in apology.

 

“Haha. It’s fine. We’re all trapped together, so treat me comfortably.”

 

Olive, who was sorting the precious metals obtained from the 24th floor, added:

 

“Right. You can treat that Prince casually. I’ll tell you exactly who to be careful of. The Count here. He’s a precious alchemist responsible for our supplies, so you should treat him respectfully. What’s an alchemist? You’ll find out in time. You know what a knight is, right?”

 

Olive pointed in Grey’s direction without taking her eyes off the precious metals.

 

“See that gray-haired young master over there? It’s more important to please him than the Prince. He’s a scary attendant who freely beats up his master, the Prince.”

 

Even though Grey grumbled that he hadn’t hit him that many times, the guide’s introduction didn’t stop.

 

“See the pretty lady who resembles lavender flowers? The Princess appointed her as the general manager of the lobby, so you must listen to her well. You can ignore that kid playing with a bow in the corner. She’ll say strange things sometimes, but don’t learn from her.”

 

Olive pointed to herself with her thumb and raised one corner of her mouth.

 

“I’m Olive, Wind of the Wilderness. I’m a capable and cool labyrinth adventurer. If you want to get out of the labyrinth, you’ll have to listen to me too.”

 

It was quite a charming smile, but the Numeral Sisters, who had almost been scammed once, weren’t fooled.

 

“Scammer.”

 

“Geez. Even if you lose a bit of money, getting paid safely is what’s important. Kids who don’t know anything are hopeless.”

 

Olive shrugged and continued her explanation.

 

“Finally, the most important! The owner of this lobby and the dream and hope of labyrinth adventurers worldwide! The Princess of Heuji!”

 

The guide pointed to the lobby facilities Serena had purchased: the bread tree, fruit trees, hot springs, and more.

 

“All of that was obtained by the Princess asking the Minotaur God. Without the Princess, we’d all be dead. So if you want to live, just obey the Princess absolutely. Especially you, the biggest one. You clearly saw your siblings appear when they weren’t in the warehouse before, right? The Princess made it possible for you to meet them too.”

 

All the Numeral Sisters except Duri, who was scraping the bottom of the pot, looked at Serena with interest in their eyes.

 

Especially Hana, who had witnessed her siblings suddenly appearing when they weren’t there before, was the most moved.

 

“You’re not just any Princess! You’re a magical Princess!”

 

While Prince Willow, who had been introduced as someone who could be ignored, was alone in his sadness, someone whose name wasn’t even mentioned got angry.

 

“Why am I being ignored!”

 

Prince Willow had at least been mentioned, but Philia had been completely left out of the introduction.

 

At the anger of the Countess, who was born in Heuji and thus called Heuji’s greatest beauty, but could be praised as the continent’s greatest beauty without it being insufficient, Olive waved her hand.

 

“There’s no need to tell them to listen to the Countess. You know.”

 

“What do you mean by that!”

 

“They’ll listen well even without being told.”

 

“Lady Serena! That adventurer is ignoring me!”

 

Philia clung to Serena with tears hanging in her eyes, more beautiful than jewels.

 

“No, Philia. Olive is right. Children naturally follow you well anyway.”

 

The Numeral Sisters, who had been keeping their heads down and couldn’t look at people’s faces properly.

 

The sisters looked directly at Philia’s face and stared blankly like people whose souls had left their bodies.

 

When their departed souls returned, they blushed like people who had fallen in love.

 

Even Duri, who had been focused on the porridge, stopped licking the bottom of the pot and stared at Philia with her mouth open.

 

‘Children and animals are naturally more drawn to beautiful women.’

 

Other people had experience seeing several beauties who had dressed up, even if they weren’t unforgettable beauties like Philia for life.

 

But how often would the Numeral Sisters, who had lived a wandering life with a traveling troupe, have the chance to see a beauty like Philia?

 

From the Numeral Sisters’ perspective, it would be earth-shaking, no. It would be like the shock of watching a color film with sound after only seeing silent black and white movies.

 

Indeed, Hana stared at Philia without noticing drool falling from her mouth, while Sesi and Neet hid behind their older sister and stole glances at Philia, seemingly embarrassed for no reason.

 

“Woong!”

 

Duri even scraped up the porridge she had been licking with her hands and offered it to Philia.

 

‘To receive food from a bear.’

 

Serena realized anew the beauty of her friend, which she had momentarily forgotten due to familiarity.

 

The Numeral Sisters, who had devoured bread porridge like they were possessed, were so surprised by Heuji’s greatest beauty that they slightly lowered their guard.

 

Countess Randy, who had neutralized the Numeral Sisters’ wariness just by showing her face, said primly:

 

“You’re all too dirty. Go wash up quickly.”

 

“Hehe, yes.”

 

“Woong!”

 

“How embarrassing to be called dirty! It’s true though!”

 

“Cough cough. Yes!”

 

The children who had trembled in fear of even brushing sleeves when coming to the lobby with the conquest team became gentle lambs in front of Philia.

 

“That’s the hot spring, so take off your clothes and go in. Bear hide? You have to take that off before going in!”

 

“Wait a moment, Countess. The child named Neet has wounds on her body, so she can’t wash right away.”

 

Hana, who had been giggling while intoxicated by Philia’s beauty, regained her senses.

 

“Neet is sick but it’s not contagious!”

 

“That’s right! It’s not a lie!”

 

Lavenda, who had studied various types of skin diseases while working as a masseuse, stepped forward.

 

“I know a bit about skin diseases. Would it be okay if I take a look?”

 

The sisters hesitated before nodding.

 

Lavenda considerately removed the cloak behind a partition.

 

Even the masseuse was momentarily speechless at the horrific sight hidden beneath the cloak.

 

“My goodness! That must hurt a lot.”

 

“Cough, it’s okay.”

 

“Your neck is swollen and cracked too. I’ve never heard of this kind of skin disease. Is it an allergy?”

 

Lavenda carefully unwrapped the bandages.

 

The bandages had stuck to the wounds, so they had to be cut with scissors and forcibly torn off.

 

“Hic! Cough cough!”

 

Neet endured the pain with groans from her small body.

 

Lavenda washed the wounds with hot spring water and examined Neet’s skin.

 

Her skin was cracked and wounded, with blood and pus flowing out and hardening into scabs.

 

Where the scabs fell off, there should have been new flesh and skin, but Neet’s new flesh would crack again repeatedly even after healing.

 

Lavenda first applied a little healing potion to Neet’s skin.

 

Since the wounds themselves weren’t deep, the cracked skin immediately healed.

 

“It’s no use. It’ll crack again after a while.”

 

“Herbs, oils, fat. No matter what we smear on, it keeps bursting open.”

 

Hana and Sesi, who had been watching their sibling, muttered in gloomy voices.

 

“Don’t you have any ideas either, Miss Lavenda?”

 

“No, Princess. I’ve learned about all rare skin diseases, but this is my first time seeing something like this.”

 

“How about treating her entire body with a high-grade potion and monitoring the progress?”

 

“I’m not sure. It would be fortunate if it heals properly, but…”

 

The Mysterious Stranger, feeling sorry for the child covered in wounds, pressed a handkerchief soaked in hot spring water against Neet’s eyes.

 

Pus, scabs, and blood came off on the handkerchief.

 

“Neet. Would it be alright if the Count and Grey examine your body?”

 

“Cough. Just the Count? Cough. Won’t that work?”

 

At Neet’s age, being naked in front of other children was more embarrassing than in front of adults.

 

Serena understood that feeling and wanted to exclude the old soul, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

“Grey may be young, but he’s knowledgeable. He might know something.”

 

Neet hesitated and then sniffled.

 

“What if Grey oppa. Cough. Cries when he sees me. Cough cough. What should I do?”

 

‘Oh no.’

 

Neet wasn’t embarrassed about showing her body, but worried that Grey might find her hideous.

 

‘She must have had similar experiences.’

 

From the children’s perspective, Neet covered in wounds and bandages all over her body would be frightening.

 

“Grey won’t cry or be surprised.”

 

“He won’t throw stones either? Cough!”

 

“Of course not.”

 

Serena asked as if inquiring about Neet’s wishes, but no child could openly refuse when the Princess had made the suggestion.

 

If she were truly a young child, she might have been able to refuse with the courage of ignorance.

 

Neet was too smart for that, so she pressed her lips together and nodded.

 

The Mysterious Stranger noticed Neet’s inner thoughts but ignored them without reporting to the Princess, knowing Grey was an exceptional young master.

 

As Serena and the Mysterious Stranger expected, Grey didn’t cry, get angry, throw stones, or curse when he saw Neet’s face.

 

“Tsk tsk. How did such a young thing…”

 

Grey clicked his tongue and, like Lavenda had done, soaked a handkerchief in hot spring water to wipe Neet’s face.

 

Neet seemed surprised that the handsome oppa(?) wasn’t startled by her face, and her mouth hung open.

 

“Open your mouth. If it hurts, don’t force it.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“Close your eyes and open them. Yes, very good. That’s right.”

 

Grey examined Neet more gently than Serena had expected.

 

After finishing the examination, the old soul asked Neet’s sister a question.

 

“She’s been like this since birth?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And her mother was sick during pregnancy too?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The old soul, confirming information he’d heard from the Count, changed his questions.

 

“Does she have bloody stools?”

 

“What’s bloody stools?”

 

“Yes! She poops blood!”

 

“Her gums swell and bleed too, right? Teeth fall out even when it’s not time, wobbling and falling out.”

 

“Yes! That’s right!”

 

Indeed, Neet had very few teeth.

 

Her sisters’ dental health was also poor, and they thought the teeth had rotted and fallen out, but that wasn’t it – they just fell out easily. At least they were baby teeth, which was fortunate.

 

“She has nightmares often too, right? Seizures at night, convulsions and fainting? When she wakes up, she doesn’t remember having the seizure.”

 

“That’s right! All correct! How do you know? Is this a known disease? Can our Neet be cured?”

 

Having some idea, Grey rattled off symptoms that couldn’t be known from a simple examination alone.

 

“How can she be cured? We have money! We have jewels too! We didn’t steal them, we got them from the labyrinth! They said we could sell them for fair prices!”

 

“I’ll give you all our fortune! If you cure Neet, I’ll become your concubine, young master! For real!”

 

At Sesi’s brazen words, Grey burst out.

 

“Hey! A little brat whose blood hasn’t even dried yet has no shame!”

 

When Grey shouted his scolding, Sesi blinked and looked at Grey, who appeared younger than herself.

 

“It’s not blood, it’s really red hair. If, if you hate it because it’s dirty, I’ll wash it right now!”

 

Before the old soul’s blood pressure could breach critical levels and burst his blood vessels, Serena declared.

 

“Listen well. In this labyrinth, I forbid all romance or that type of talk and contact. It could cause unnecessary trouble, so it’s completely blocked.”

 

“Lord Serena, am I alright?”

 

“Count Randy is fine since you’re a married couple. However, keep your affectionate acts where others can’t see.”

 

The Princess slowly made eye contact with the Numeral Sisters and spoke clearly.

 

“If anyone approaches you with such intentions, tell me immediately. I’ll handle it right away.”

 

At the Princess’s threat, the Numeral Sisters just blinked and returned to the main topic.

 

“So can she be cured, doctor?”

 

Just as Grey was about to speak, Lavenda, who had been caring for Neet with a pitiful expression, screamed.

 

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

 

At the scream that shook the lobby, the Princess, who still occasionally had nightmares about the Mysterious Stranger submerged in hot springs, was startled.

 

“What’s wrong!”

 

When Serena hurriedly looked at the Mysterious Stranger, Lavenda pointed at Neet with the face of someone who had witnessed the most terrifying thing in the world.

 

“Bedbugs! Bedbugs came out!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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