Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 163

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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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163. Conquering the 25th Floor of the 7th Layer of Heuji’s Labyrinth (1)

 

Were the others resting during the four days the Number Siblings took their test?

 

Of course not.

 

Currently, Serena’s party still hadn’t conquered the 25th floor of the 7th layer of Heuji’s Labyrinth.

 

The first attack group prepared to conquer the 25th floor.

 

Fortunately, there was already someone in the lobby who had experience conquering the 25th floor.

 

In a labyrinth where you can’t see even one step ahead, advice from someone who had conquered that floor was extremely important.

 

The Princess and the Alchemist diligently wrote down the anomalies of the 25th floor that Neet told them about.

 

Neet had conquered the 7th layer with her amazing memory.

 

Unfortunately, the 16 anomalies that Neet knew were all there were.

 

‘Still, it’s better than nothing.’

 

The anomalies Neet told them about also had horror elements mixed in.

 

‘It might be faster to just look for bizarre things that don’t fit the festive atmosphere of the plaza.’

 

Serena spread out the magic map and was pondering the area assignments for party members when Olive approached, yawning.

 

“Princess, what are you worrying about so much?”

 

“I need to decide the areas each person will be responsible for on the 25th floor.”

 

“There’s no need for that, right?”

 

The Guide answered with a question, looking puzzled.

 

When Serena looked up with doubt in her one eye, Olive shrugged her shoulders.

 

“That kid conquered the 25th floor alone, right? We can just take her with us.”

 

At the suggestion to drag a child who looked like she was 5 years old due to her small stature and was covered in wounds into the labyrinth, everyone in the lobby frowned.

 

Ying alone rewrapped the bandage on her left hand with an expressionless face in a corner of the lobby.

 

Olive felt wronged seeing the lobby atmosphere that seemed to have dropped about 5 degrees.

 

“Why? It’s not like I said something I shouldn’t have. She memorizes everything she sees.”

 

“Cough. Yes. I’ll work hard!”

 

“See? She says she’ll work hard. How admirable~”

 

Olive was about to roughly pat Neet’s head but seemed worried about irritating her wounds, so she kept some distance and made patting motions.

 

“Olive. No matter what, we can’t take such a young child on a labyrinth conquest.”

 

“Why not? Anyone who can walk on two legs is fine. I entered labyrinths when I was younger than her!”

 

Olive made claims that sounded absurd to Serena’s ears and even rattled off evidence.

 

“Look, there are monsters that attack first, there are terrifying traps, there are bastards who stab you in the back with spears while telling you to find traps. We just need to play spot the difference, so why are you being so serious?”

 

“Still, we shouldn’t take a young child on a labyrinth conquest. It’s too dangerous.”

 

Ralph stated the obvious with determination.

 

“Miss Olive. I understand your desire for efficiency, but Neet is a citizen of the Empire. As the 5th Prince of the Empire, I cannot tolerate the crime of abusing children who are the pillars of our nation.”

 

The Number Siblings were all officially (though forged) from vassal states of the Empire.

 

When Prince Willow tried to protect Neet based on this, Olive snickered and then burst into full laughter, clutching her stomach.

 

“Puhahaha! An Imperial Prince! Says putting kids in labyrinths is a crime! The Empire! Imperial bastards!”

 

“Olive. If you’re going to be sarcastic like that, it will be difficult for me to show mercy.”

 

“Your Highness!”

 

As Prince Willow showed his displeasure, Grey called out to the Prince in warning.

 

Grey stood between the Prince and Olive.

 

“Sister Olive. Even if you say that, you know Her Highness the Princess would never allow such unreasonable and unethical actions.”

 

“Says the Imperial old man~”

 

Olive didn’t stop her sarcasm.

 

Instead of getting angry as was his nature, Grey looked at Olive then quietly turned his eyes to the side.

 

“Everyone knows Sister Olive is also Imperial. Anyway, the 24th floor might be one thing, but the 25th floor has moving monsters, so variables could arise. Taking Neet is dangerous. Instead, based on Neet’s words, His Highness Willow will draw the 25th floor as a picture. Even if it’s lacking, it should be helpful.”

 

“Me?”

 

When Prince Willow pointed to himself in bewilderment, Grey said bluntly.

 

“I know you had Uncle bring drawing supplies.”

 

Prince Willow and Count Randy hunched their shoulders.

 

“Th-there was a reason I asked. We need to record this unprecedented situation. I thought it would be good to leave pictorial records too.”

 

“Who’s scolding you? While you’re leaving pictorial records, try drawing starting from the 25th floor.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Olive crossed her arms and pouted, then suddenly asked.

 

“Prince, are you good at drawing?”

 

“If it’s the skill of someone who didn’t do their studies but doodled in notebooks, it shouldn’t be completely terrible.”

 

Prince Willow seemed to have forgotten all of Olive’s rude behavior and asked in a kind voice.

 

“May I draw a picture of your lovely appearance?”

 

“Skip the people drawings and try drawing the lobby.”

 

The Prince, as if he would overcome the Guide’s disgust with his drawing skills, captured the lobby on canvas with a determined expression.

 

“Phew, it’s lacking skill, but this is about what I can do.”

 

After struggling with the artist’s pencil and paper for a while, the Prince showed his completed drawing to the group.

 

Part of the lobby was captured on paper. Prince Willow’s drawing skills were considerable.

 

Even to Serena, who had become familiar with various artworks thanks to being reincarnated as a princess, it was quite good.

 

“You captured the characteristics well. Lord Willow’s skill is amazing.”

 

“You draw very detailed and well.”

 

“You’re good at sculpting and drawing too!”

 

“Cough, drawing is. Cool. Cough.”

 

Hearing people’s praise, the Prince blushed as if embarrassed.

 

As a prince favored by the Imperial Emperor, he must have heard enough flattery to make his ears callous, yet he was strangely shy about compliments.

 

“Haha, I’m embarrassed by my lacking skills. I lack creativity and artistry, but I’m confident in drawing things as they are.”

 

The Prince immediately drew part of the 25th floor plaza based on Neet’s words.

 

It would be difficult to transfer something into a drawing based only on descriptions without seeing it directly, but thanks to Neet’s excellent memory and the Prince’s drawing skills that captured characteristics well, a quite plausible picture was completed.

 

Olive looked at the drawing with a dissatisfied expression, then nodded.

 

“This much is well~”

 

The Prince, perhaps intuiting that completing this task would allow him to draw confidently in the future, immediately began working on drawing the 25th floor.

 

Olive, perhaps upset that no one took her side, clung to Lavenda.

 

“Miss Potpourri~ Everyone won’t take my side~”

 

“I also think Olive was wrong this time. Taking a sick child into the labyrinth isn’t right.”

 

“There’s a law that those who don’t work shouldn’t eat, so we can’t make exceptions for that kid~ Didn’t Miss Potpourri also do odd jobs as a Mysterious Stranger apprentice from that age?”

 

“That’s true, but. Neet is sick.”

 

Lavenda seemed to think they couldn’t communicate due to different standards with Olive, so she changed the subject.

 

“By the way, I didn’t know you were Imperial, Olive.”

 

“Originally half the continent’s people are Imperial anyway~”

 

“What part of the Empire are you from?”

 

“Ah~ You wouldn’t know even if I told you~ It’s the countryside of the Empire~”

 

Olive stretched out her words like a lament, adding melody to the endings.

 

“No house~ No fields~ No people~ Only stones~”

 

While receiving Lavenda’s massage, Olive repeatedly hummed the part about “only stones.”

 

The Princess sighed in relief as the Guide’s stubbornness seemed to end peacefully.

 

Through this incident, Serena became certain.

 

‘The Empire used children for labyrinth conquests too.’

 

It was a terrible crime that couldn’t be understood even by medieval fantasy world standards.

 

‘Why would they send children into labyrinths where they can’t even send armies due to personnel restrictions?’

 

Though she couldn’t know the reason, judging from Prince Willow and Grey’s reactions, it probably wasn’t a common occurrence.

 

‘Grey knows but the Prince doesn’t. Were there strange labyrinths that required children for conquest?’

 

Labyrinths that required children for conquest.

 

Serena racked her brain, even drawing on her past life memories, but couldn’t think of any plausible labyrinth.

 

‘Unless it’s a special case like the 7th layer and Neet, children are just burdens in labyrinths. If they’re equally incapable, adults are better. Why on earth would they use children…’

 

The Princess, who had been earnestly agonizing, gave up her worries when her head started to throb.

 

‘It’s not even our country’s business. Let’s not worry about it.’

 

She had learned the reason why the Guide showed hostility toward the Empire, so that was enough.

 

The Princess silently memorized the Wooden Doll behavior patterns that Neet had taught her.

 

‘I need to master at least this much to pull my own weight.’

 

Serena decided to rely solely on Count Randy for the 25th Floor as well.

 

***

 

The next day.

 

Serena and her Party boldly challenged the 25th Floor of 7th Layer of Heuji’s Labyrinth, armed with 16 past problems, Wooden Doll behavior patterns, and a drawing of the 25th Floor.

 

The bulletin board in the room leading to the 25th Floor.

 

The message written on that bulletin board demanded the Party to turn back if there were ‘no’ abnormal phenomena.

 

‘They unnecessarily used a negative sentence to confuse people. They could have just said to advance when abnormal phenomena are detected.’

 

The Princess pointlessly nitpicked the bulletin board’s wording.

 

“Opening the Door. Yo.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The Guide confirmed that the group had finished their mental preparations and forcefully opened the Door.

 

Cheerful music accompanied by the sound of fireworks bursting, a Town Square where the festival atmosphere was in full swing.

 

As the Assault Team carefully observed the appearance of 10th Plaza, which served as the original, a Guard doll patrolling the Town Square suddenly pointed at the Party.

 

Swoosh. All the Wooden Dolls on the 25th Floor turned their heads toward the group.

 

“Eek!”

 

The Party was terrified and fled back to the Room, closing the Door.

 

“What? Why are they like that? Why are they on alert?”

 

“The Monsters are different from last time!”

 

“What the hell!”

 

Since 10th Plaza was the original space, even if they provoked the Monsters, closing and reopening the Door should reset everything to its initial state.

 

But the 10th Plaza before the group now still maintained the alert situation that had occurred when they previously fled with Hana.

 

Even without considering the characteristics of the 7th Floor, the Labyrinth’s restoration power should have lifted the Monsters’ vigilance after a week had passed.

 

However, the Monsters on the 25th Floor were still in an alert state.

 

The Guards were patrolling undefined areas searching for suspicious individuals, and as soon as they spotted the Party, they called for all Wooden Dolls to attack.

 

‘I thought this would go smoothly!’

 

They had obtained past problems and drawings, expecting to clear this more easily and conveniently than the 24th Floor, but what was this bolt from the blue?

 

The Party panicked and analyzed the reason for this strange phenomenon.

 

“Did I open the Door too forcefully and upset the Guard?”

 

“That doesn’t seem right – the Guard doll signaled its companions as soon as it saw us.”

 

“Hmm. The Monsters on the 24th Floor were docile though.”

 

“Many.”

 

The Loyal Servant of Darkness spoke incomprehensibly with both the beginning and end cut off.

 

“Ying. Please give us a detailed explanation.”

 

At the Princess’s request, Ying spoke at length so everyone could understand.

 

“There’s one more Guard than before.”

 

“Now that you mention it, that seemed to be the case.”

 

“The number of Monsters increased? What’s going on?”

 

The Archer provided unusually generous service.

 

“The Monster that came over with Hana is still there.”

 

Serena opened her one eye wide.

 

‘That’s right. When we extracted Hana, the Monster that was chasing her did come along.’

 

Could it be that the Monsters were still in an alert state because that Monster remained?

 

“Damn. Zero seems to be right? Then if we just catch that guy and close the Door, will the alert be lifted?”

 

Now that they knew the cause, removing the reason should solve the problem.

 

Olive grabbed the door handle and winked at the group.

 

“I’ll be back. Yong.”

 

The Guide generously blew a hand kiss and entered the 25th Floor.

 

‘Reliable.’

 

The remaining group firmly believed that Olive’s assassination would succeed.

 

Indeed, the Guide returned a few minutes later in pristine condition without a single injury.

 

But her expression was dark.

 

“Ah~ This is troublesome.”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“These bastards are Wooden Dolls so they have no weak points. Even when I separate their necks and heads, they move like Undead, so I can’t catch them.”

 

“Then how about throwing an attack potion and closing the Door before reopening it?”

 

“That’s a waste of potions. Yo. Rather than that.”

 

Olive looked at Serena and grinned.

 

“How about Princess drops a bolt from the blue? Yo?”

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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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