Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 155

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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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155. Pest Control (3)

 

Grey hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

 

“Let me ask just one more thing.”

 

Serena immediately frowned.

 

‘Damn it. It’s not like I asked you to wait 60 seconds, so why are you taking so long?’

 

If Serena, an outsider, felt this frustrated, how much more frustrated must the numbered siblings, who were actual family, be?

 

The numbered siblings endured their frustration and waited because of the hope that their sibling could be treated.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Your sisters. Or brothers and sisters? Have you never sought out a priest?”

 

“You mean a priest?”

 

“Yes. While wandering around, haven’t you ever encountered a decent priest? Hasn’t a doctor ever told you to go see a priest? When a child is this sick, even a quack would tell you to go find a priest.”

 

If it were an ordinary illness, a doctor would try to treat it, but Neet’s condition was clearly abnormal to anyone who saw it.

 

‘After all, in this world, it’s common sense to seek out a priest when you’re sick.’

 

Surprisingly, Hana shook her head.

 

“We’ve never met a priest.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“The leader said it would be dangerous if the priests found out. He said Duri was dangerous, so the priests would take him away if they saw him.”

 

“It sounded like nonsense. But we avoided them because it seemed like they might lock him up.”

 

“Same with Neet. He said if it was a curse or sorcery, we’d all be caught and thrown in prison.”

 

“Cough. Prison is scary. Cough.”

 

“Woong!”

 

After hearing the siblings’ story, Grey stroked his chin.

 

“That’s quite a suspicious fellow. In the first place, a skirt-wearing brother transforming into a bear isn’t sorcery but a divine miracle.”

 

“What?”

 

As if this was unexpected news, all the siblings expressed confusion.

 

‘I was curious about this too.’

 

The topic Grey mentioned was something Serena had also found strange.

 

The world Serena had reincarnated into was one where gods truly existed in heaven.

 

In this world’s sentiment, when a wealthy woman living alone used strange powers, instead of shouting ‘She’s a witch! It’s sorcery!’ and setting fires, they would wonder ‘What kind of divine blessing is this?’

 

But they would imprison someone for transforming into a bear?

 

Of course, they might confine them if they couldn’t control it since it would be dangerous, but not in prison.

 

The first response would be to confine them safely and wonder which god had granted such power.

 

Hana was startled as if hearing this for the first time.

 

“A, a miracle?”

 

“That’s right. You must have received a blessing from some god, or there must be a great ancestor among your lineage.”

 

“Was Duri a priest? Then why did the leader tell us to avoid priests?”

 

“That’s why I said he’s a suspicious fellow. He was lying to keep exploiting you brothers and sisters.”

 

The numbered siblings made expressions asking ‘what does exploitation mean?’

 

“He probably lied to keep using you.”

 

“That’s terrible! We were so scared that Duri might be imprisoned!”

 

“If he couldn’t control himself, they might have confined him somewhere, but it wouldn’t have been prison.”

 

“That leader is such a XXXXXXXXXXXXX”

 

“XXXXXXXX!”

 

Hana and Sesi cursed the leader with veins bulging in their necks.

 

Neet, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, spoke up.

 

“Cough. Then perhaps I too. Cough. Did I receive a blessing?”

 

The child’s eyes sparkled as if she would endure even the harsh suffering that had tormented her all her life if it was divine power.

 

“No. Your illness has nothing to do with any great being.”

 

‘What kind of blessing would make a child’s skin burst?’

 

Serena thought it was obvious, but Neet seemed disappointed and lost her energy.

 

“Cough, then. Cough. Am I really cursed or under sorcery?”

 

“That’s not it either. If we’re being precise, it’s an illness. Just a rather rare one.”

 

Finally, the conversation had returned to the original point.

 

Serena quickly spoke, worried the old man might change the subject again.

 

“So. What exactly is this illness? Can it be cured?”

 

“The illness Neet has is internal mana excess syndrome, Your Highness Princess.”

 

It was a disease name Serena had never heard in either of her lives.

 

Everyone in the lobby tilted their heads at the unfamiliar disease name.

 

Except for one person. Count Randy, who knew the disease name, acted knowledgeable.

 

“Ah. Now that I hear it, everything makes sense!”

 

“Honey. Don’t keep it to yourself, explain it to us.”

 

“Internal mana excess syndrome is a disease where the body breaks down because there’s too much innate mana inside, dear.”

 

“What does that mean? Isn’t mana what mages need to cast magic? Isn’t having a lot of it good?”

 

“Of course not. Think about having more blood than others. Your blood vessels would burst and you’d die.”

 

“So can you cure Neet? That’s more important than the disease name.”

 

Grey tapped his shoulder with his staff while furrowing his brow.

 

“It’s not easy. Especially in a labyrinth.”

 

Grey clicked his tongue while looking at Neet.

 

“The mana concentration in labyrinths is denser than outside. Staying in the labyrinth will make it deteriorate rapidly.”

 

“Will she get sicker?”

 

“It’s not about getting sicker.”

 

Grey looked at young Neet with genuinely pitying eyes.

 

“If she stays like this, she’ll die soon.”

 

A sudden terminal diagnosis.

 

Neet remained still, but Hana and Sesi collapsed to the floor in despair.

 

Duri also seemed to sense that something bad was happening from the atmosphere and hugged Neet.

 

“Can’t you cure her? Is it a disease that definitely kills?”

 

“If we were outside the labyrinth, we could try various things, but in the labyrinth…”

 

A patient appearing in a situation lacking supplies and manpower.

 

And a young child at that.

 

Serena felt dizzy as the worst combination she had imagined after falling into the labyrinth actually appeared.

 

Her head spun and the back of her head throbbed.

 

“We’ll do everything we can! Please save Neet!”

 

“Please save her, Young Master!”

 

“Woong!”

 

“Cough. Sisters. I’m cough. fine.”

 

Whether she wasn’t afraid of death because she was still young, or trying to comfort her sisters and brother.

 

Or perhaps she was accustomed to it because death had always been near.

 

Neet handled it with composure.

 

That sight was even more pitiful and stimulated people’s tear ducts.

 

“Gray Young Master! Is there really no way?”

 

“Right. Is there really no solution?”

 

Though Neet’s age was unknown, the age range that could be guessed from her build was 5 or 6 years old.

 

Prince Willow made a desperate expression, his heart aching at the fact that such a young child would suffer all her life and die young.

 

“You could help somehow. Right?”

 

Grey lowered his eyes.

 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Trapped in the labyrinth, even I have no clear solution.”

 

Serena’s intuition, honed through nearly dying several times since reincarnating, cried out.

 

‘That’s a lie.’

 

The Princess was certain that the Old Man was lying.

 

“Thinking alone won’t give you answers. If several people put their heads together, a new treatment might come to mind.”

 

Serena took Grey and Count Randy outside the lobby under the pretext of having a quiet consultation among intellectuals.

 

At a distance where their conversation wouldn’t be heard in the lobby, the Princess spoke.

 

“You lied, didn’t you.”

 

Grey bowed his head in apology.

 

“I had no choice. I can slow the progression, but that would require a lot of top-grade magic stones, gold, gems, and alchemical materials. We’d probably have to use almost all the precious materials Uncle brought. And it’s not a one-time thing – we’d need them continuously.”

 

In Grey’s gray eyes, there was no trace of childlike innocence to be found, only cunning that was seasoned and worn.

 

“The child is pitiful, but she’s not worth saving.”

 

Grey spoke decisively, his conscience so worn that it didn’t hurt at all.

 

“Then why did you tell us the name of the disease?”

 

When Serena scolded him sternly, Grey shrugged his shoulders.

 

“It’s better than dying without knowing what’s wrong.”

 

Serena was about to get angry, asking if he was mocking them, but suppressed her rage.

 

‘This Old Man would think the same way even if it were his own situation.’

 

Since he thought that way himself and at least told them the disease name, there was nothing to say.

 

Count Randy, having heard the story, stroked his chin in deep thought before reaching a conclusion.

 

“I also agree with Grey.”

 

What were top-grade magic stones? Contract killings happened over the price of intermediate magic stones.

 

The disease wouldn’t be completely cured, and they couldn’t use top-grade magic stones just to slow its progression.

 

Serena gritted her teeth and looked up at the ceiling.

 

‘Should I give up?’

 

She wanted to save Neet if possible, but the resources needed to save her were too many and precious.

 

If only Neet had fallen into a trap like Ralph, she could work to save her.

 

‘Top-grade magic stones and alchemical materials aren’t something I can obtain even if I die several times.’

 

Serena recalled what the Guide had said in the past.

 

‘Did he say I didn’t seem like someone who would use human lives as consumables?’

 

When she heard those words, she had been self-deprecating about throwing away her own life like grass, but those times were better.

 

‘So the time has come to weigh another’s life. And not against another life, but against material goods.’

 

Of course, since precious materials could save other people’s lives, it was right to put lives on the other side of the scale too.

 

‘One person versus many.’

 

Grey looked directly at the Princess with his seasoned gray eyes and advised.

 

“Your Highness. This isn’t worth agonizing over.”

 

Serena already knew this too.

 

She couldn’t make a decision because her conscience, not yet completely worn down and still sharp, was causing her pain.

 

‘I know I can’t save everyone I meet. But I should at least try.’

 

Perhaps putting their heads together would produce a good idea.

 

Though it had been an excuse to have a private talk with Grey, Serena decided to try.

 

“Do you really need all those materials? Isn’t there another way?”

 

“I told you. Maybe outside the Labyrinth, but here there’s no choice.”

 

“If mana overdose is painful because of too much mana, couldn’t she learn magic to consume the mana?”

 

Like if there was too much blood threatening to burst blood vessels, you could draw out the blood.

 

Grey sighed as soon as he heard Serena’s words.

 

“If that were possible, I would have done it.”

 

“Is it difficult?”

 

“Think of people’s innate mana capacity as a thin stream of water. Neet has a river flowing from the start. You need to learn how to move a thin stream and gradually increase the flow, but asking her to move a river from the beginning? Could you do it?”

 

Serena was also learning magic. Hearing Grey’s explanation, her own words felt absurd.

 

However.

 

‘Neet’s potential is 5-star.’

 

Though four gray stars occupied most of it, Neet was a child who could become 5-star.

 

They wouldn’t have given her five stars just for having a lot of mana.

 

‘She’s smart too. She cleared both the 24th and 25th floors.’

 

Knowing it was idealism and foolish attachment, the Princess wanted to give Neet a chance.

 

Not 2-star, not 3-star, not 4-star, but a full 5-star. Shouldn’t she be given a chance to bloom that talent?

 

“Neet is a smart child. If you help her, she can learn magic.”

 

“Your Highness. In that time, it would be more helpful for escaping the Labyrinth if I quickly gathered mana through meditation.”

 

“I’m not asking you to use top-grade magic stones. Just help her learn magic at minimum. Wouldn’t that put your mind at ease too?”

 

Grey frowned deeply and glared at Serena before sighing.

 

“Sigh. I’ll check her mana response. If she’s insensitive to mana, that’s the end of it.”

 

When the Princess, Old Man, and Alchemist returned to the lobby, Hana, Sesi, and Duri rushed over with anxious faces.

 

Grey made the number siblings step back and went straight to Neet.

 

“Here, put your hand on this magic stone. Do you feel anything?”

 

“Cough. It’s tingly.”

 

Fortunately, Neet reacted sensitively to mana.

 

Grey cleared the people around them and sat facing Neet, then clasped hands with the child.

 

“Now, can you feel the mana moving like this?”

 

“Cough. Yes.”

 

“Move your mana the way I moved mine. Even just a little bit is fine. If you succeed in mana circulation…”

 

Grey, who had been speaking curtly and quickly like giving orders, raised his eyebrows.

 

“You succeeded in circulation?”

 

“Cough. Did I succeed?”

 

“This means…”

 

A gleam appeared in Grey’s seasoned gray eyes.

 

The Old Man jumped up and took off the cloak he was wearing, spreading it on the floor.

 

Inside the cloak was a magic circle so complex it made one’s mind reel just looking at it.

 

“Hah. I made this for my own use.”

 

Grey grumbled quietly, then looked up.

 

“Mark! Uncle!”

 

Thinking he had called too casually, he belatedly added ‘Uncle.’

 

“What do you want. Do you want?”

 

“Please grind a high-grade magic stone into powder. And the golden pen too.”

 

Grey dipped the golden pen in magic stone ink and modified the magic circle on the spot.

 

Serena was amazed by the Old Man’s skill, which she was seeing again after the magic stone crafting.

 

The original effect of the magic circle carved on the cloak was mana concentration.

 

Grey modified it to disperse mana instead and wrapped the cloak around Neet.

 

“Never take off this cloak. Sleep wearing it too. Then we can slow the progression a little.”

 

“Yes. Cough.”

 

Neet bowed her head and fidgeted with her fingers.

 

Her cheeks showing between the bandages were slightly red.

 

“Does this slow down Neet’s dying?”

 

“Of course this alone isn’t enough. She needs to learn magic.”

 

“Magic? Neet learns magic?”

 

Hana blinked slowly.

 

“Learn and live, or fail to learn and die.”

 

“She can do it! Neet is smart!”

 

“That’s right! Neet memorizes everything she sees once! For real!”

 

“Woo!”

 

“We’ll see if she tries.”

 

Grey received aroma candles from Lavenda and placed them in appropriate positions.

 

Among the great beings residing in heaven, especially the God of Magic who mercifully and generously bestows power upon humans.

 

Grey taught Neet the ritual method, hoping the poor child could reach great wisdom.

 

Could this ignorant, rootless wandering child truly make contact with merciful magic?

 

The offering had disappeared, but Grey wasn’t reassured.

 

Even when rituals fail, the god takes the offering.

 

‘Since it’s her first time, she’ll probably fail.’

 

Neet was too young to begin with.

 

There was a high possibility she couldn’t meditate properly and would just close her eyes and stay quiet.

 

‘I’ll try five times today, then retry three times daily.’

 

Even this was giving Neet a tremendous opportunity.

 

As Grey moved to prepare the next offering, the Princess stopped him.

 

“There’s no need.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

They needed to start the next ritual quickly, so what was she saying?

 

Grey looked up at Serena with a puzzled expression.

 

“The ritual succeeded.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Serena gazed at the space above Neet’s head with her single orange eye.

 

‘So that’s how it works.’

 

Five stars floating above Neet’s head.

 

Only one of the five shone with clear yellow light, but one of the grey stars was acting strangely.

 

As if someone was trying to break through plaster covering the star, it shook and the grey cracked, creating fissures.

 

Finally.

 

The opaque grey disappeared and yellow light sparkled from within.

 

Two yellow stars twinkled above Neet’s head, showing off their brilliant light.

 

The ritual had succeeded.

 

Neet had safely made contact with the God of Magic and taken her first step as a mage.

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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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