Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 166

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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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166. Raiding the 7th Floor of Heuji’s Labyrinth

 

“Shall we have some fun raiding!”

 

The thief couldn’t contain her overflowing excitement before work and shrugged her shoulders.

 

“There’s a shop I’ve been eyeing on the 25th Floor too. The jewelry store on the 25th Floor has some expensive goods on display. I’ll clean that place out first, then hit all the other places. If you need anything, just say so.”

 

Olive loosened her finger, wrist, forearm, and shoulder joints.

 

Though she didn’t want to dampen Olive’s cheerful excitement, Serena brought up reality.

 

“If you clean out shops like that, the guards will notice and attack. Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

 

“Hmm. Should I steal little by little in secret?”

 

“Even then, they’ll notice when the goods gradually disappear from the displays.”

 

Even if they could get away with it the first few times, as products disappeared and empty spaces increased on the displays, the guard dolls might start being on alert from the beginning.

 

Wasn’t that why the Number Siblings went hungry?

 

Olive seemed to think the Princess’s point was valid and rolled her big, round eyes around as she devised a new plan.

 

“Should we give up on what the dolls are wearing and sweep everything with Count’s potions?”

 

“Before that, there’s something I want to experiment with.”

 

Count Randy pulled out a pouch full of money from his chest.

 

The pouch contained a good mix of gold, silver, and copper coins.

 

The alchemist took out one coin and showed it to the group.

 

In the world where Serena was reincarnated, it was common to mint coins with the face of the nation’s ruler.

 

The Kingdom of Heuji minted coins with the profile of Harold II, Serena’s grandfather, while the Empire minted coins with the current emperor’s frontal face.

 

However, the coin Count Randy pulled out had a plain wooden doll face carved on it without any facial features.

 

Still, since it was a doll minted on a coin, it wore a crown.

 

“Coins obtained from the 24th Floor.”

 

“Count, you kept those? I didn’t take any because I was afraid of being misunderstood for counterfeiting currency.”

 

In this world too, counterfeiting currency was a serious crime punishable by death at worst.

 

Olive had been afraid of later misunderstandings, so she only took jewelry and didn’t take gold or silver coins.

 

“All the shop vaults and dolls’ wallets contained these coins. So I thought I’d try an experiment.”

 

“What kind of experiment?”

 

“To verify whether these coins can be used as money on the 25th Floor. When doing alchemy, the Shining Gold didn’t recognize the coins as ‘money.'”

 

“Did it only recognize them as metal?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. But since we obtained the coins on the 7th Floor, they might be usable as money here.”

 

Count Randy went to the 25th Floor and picked up a chicken skewer from the nearest stall.

 

The owner doll remained still, but a nearby guard doll stopped and watched Count Randy.

 

Count Randy calmly took out a copper coin with the wooden doll carved on it and put it into the money basket at the chicken skewer stall.

 

Then he took a bite of the chicken skewer.

 

Even though Count Randy deliberately watched the guard doll while eating the chicken skewer, the guard doll didn’t react further.

 

Instead, the guard doll turned around and returned to its patrol route.

 

As the guard doll moved away, Count Randy nodded as if he had expected this.

 

“As expected. These coins can be used as cash on the 7th Floor.”

 

“So if we have doll money, we can take things from shops?”

 

“That’s right. Since we’re not stealing but legitimately paying and purchasing, the guard dolls won’t attack either.”

 

“Money is usually in wallets, money baskets, or vaults, so you can’t tell from the outside. Even if we secretly steal it, the guards won’t notice, right?”

 

“Without needing to steal with difficulty, we can get quite a lot of money by raiding the shop vaults and doll wallets on the 24th Floor. Even if we steal everything.”

 

“It will be restored over time.”

 

“That’s right, Lady Serena.”

 

“Awesome! Good! This isn’t the time for this. Sir Knight, let’s go!”

 

Olive grabbed Ralph’s hand and ran to the 24th Floor.

 

The coins she had been afraid to even look at for fear of misunderstanding had become real money, so she was going to get them.

 

“Aah! We’ll be back!”

 

Ralph, who ended up accompanying the guide unexpectedly, left a greeting and disappeared.

 

Count Randy had collected doll money by himself. No. Calling it doll money makes it sound too much like fake money, so let me correct that to labyrinth money.

 

He distributed the labyrinth coins to Serena and Ying.

 

“Lady Serena, have you ever bought anything yourself?”

 

Count Randy asked Serena with some concern.

 

It was a question that made her want to protest about what he took her for, but that was her past life’s way of thinking.

 

After reincarnating, Serena had never once bought anything directly herself.

 

‘Other people always made the purchases.’

 

Princes and princesses don’t carry wallets in the first place.

 

That’s the role of maids and servants.

 

Even Philia only paid directly when serving Serena; when alone, Philia’s servants did it for her.

 

Serena was even a well-behaved(?) princess who had never once gone on the incognito outings that were essential hobbies for fantasy world royalty.

 

Isn’t sneaking out of the royal palace during festivals to buy chicken skewers or street food a cliché?

 

It’s a basic element in novels and frequently appears in games, movies, and comics – didn’t she have such romantic dreams?

 

‘This was my first festival since reincarnating! And when would I have time to sneak out! I was working constantly!’

 

Serena was in the position of hosting festivals, not enjoying them.

 

With few royals and even fewer competent royals, there was even more work to do.

 

Like a defense game, she barely finished the pouring work, then fled before more work was added, and ended up falling into the labyrinth.

 

“Even if you know it in your head, you might forget and just take the items. I’ll accompany you.”

 

Count Randy seemed worried about Serena, who had been a hothouse flower, a bird in a golden cage, so he decided to follow her around.

 

“Do you need anything?”

 

“I’m fine, so let’s look at the Count’s things first.”

 

“Then I’ll look at mirrors first.”

 

Count Randy must have needed a mirror, as he moved to the mirror shop as soon as the Princess finished speaking.

 

The Count carefully examined the mirrors in the shop.

 

Serena also observed carefully, wondering if another person might be reflected in the mirrors.

 

“It’s for Philia, right? Weren’t there mirrors on the 24th Floor too? I remember seeing them at the jewelry store.”

 

“Those were too ornately decorated and heavy. I want a light mirror that can fit in a capsule.”

 

Count Randy carefully selected a gift for his beloved wife.

 

‘Should I get a mirror too?’

 

Serena recalled how the mirror had reflected Hana, who was in a different but similar labyrinth, then shook her head.

 

‘No, better not. Not catching my eye increases survival probability.’

 

Serena touched a small hand mirror then put it down.

 

Count Randy seemed to have chosen a gift for Philia and placed labyrinth coins on the counter.

 

Then the clerk doll, which had been motionless the whole time, suddenly moved.

 

The group quickly took combat positions. The doll put the money in the vault, took out change, then stopped.

 

“Is it safe?”

 

“It seems so.”

 

The transaction was complete, and even when the Count took the change and mirror and left the shop, the guard dolls didn’t react.

 

The alchemist carefully stored the fragile mirror in his spatial bag and pointed to the cafe.

 

“Next, at the cafe…”

 

“Since we’ve taken care of the Count’s business, let’s take care of Ying’s business too.”

 

In the labyrinth where solo action was prohibited, since Serena and Count Randy were moving together, Ying had no choice but to follow them.

 

The archer’s eyes, constantly glancing at the food stalls, looked quite wistful.

 

“Oh my. I’m sorry for not noticing. I wasn’t ignoring you.”

 

“I know.”

 

Ying went to a food stall with slightly lighter steps and bought three chicken skewers.

 

The archer held out one chicken skewer to Serena.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Count Randy also naturally extended his hand.

 

Ying ignored the Count’s gesture, held one chicken skewer in each hand, and sent a puzzled look.

 

You already ate yours.

 

The Archer’s eyes said exactly that.

 

“Ahem! Cough! Ehem!”

 

Count Randy couldn’t hide his embarrassment and forced out a cough, when Ying chuckled and held out a chicken skewer.

 

“Just kidding. Not ignoring you.”

 

“Ahem! Thank you!”

 

Count Randy gratefully received the chicken skewer the Archer offered with both hands.

 

Serena smiled softly at the sight.

 

‘Ying seems much more comfortable with us now. Even playing pranks.’

 

“Long ago.”

 

Ying rarely spoke first.

 

“I bought chicken skewers with companions.”

 

The Dark Priest smiled wistfully. Ying’s black eyes trembled slightly as if recalling the past.

 

“I miss them.”

 

Which party’s companions did the Party Destroyer miss?

 

Asking would only hurt the Party Destroyer’s heart.

 

Serena swallowed her curiosity along with the chicken. The chicken skewer was tough and fishy with too much seasoning, but the charcoal flavor made it edible.

 

The three conquered all the food in the Town Square and even packed some for the Remaining Party waiting in the lobby.

 

The next item Count Randy purchased was tea, a teapot, and teacups.

 

“The Count enjoyed drinking tea.”

 

“It’s a habit I inherited from my Master. Grey also enjoys tea, so he’ll like it.”

 

Seeing the Count’s thoughtfulness for his wife and nephew(?), Serena also wanted to care for others.

 

After much deliberation, Serena bought a gift for the Mysterious Stranger struggling in a foreign land.

 

There happened to be a cosmetics shop where she picked out suitable beauty water and hand cream.

 

Since the Maid would cry if she only cared for the Mysterious Stranger, she also bought cream for Philia.

 

Since Count Randy had brought a small amount of labyrinth coins, the group’s money quickly ran out.

 

The three waited near the Bread Tree for the Guide and Knight to return while eating food purchased from peddler’s stalls.

 

The food was delicious and pleasing to the mouth, and cheerful music was pleasant to the ears.

 

It would have been perfect if their eyes were also pleased, but seeing Wooden Dolls instead of people dampened the mood.

 

‘I did complete the mission of buying chicken skewers at a festival though.’

 

During her protagonist complex days, she had wanted to eat chicken skewers with companions or friends like in novels.

 

Though it was quite different from what she had imagined alone, she had eaten chicken skewers with companions during a festival(?), so wasn’t that good enough?

 

“It’s a shame there’s no weapon shop.”

 

“Arrows. Bolts.”

 

“Even if we can pick up arrows on the 4th Layer, I have to keep making bolts myself.”

 

The 25th Floor only sold cosmetics, mirrors, jewelry, clothes, shoes, hats, umbrellas and parasols, and miscellaneous goods.

 

Perhaps because it faithfully recreated part of District 7, there were few items among the merchandise useful for combat.

 

“Regrettable but unavoidable. I’m glad we don’t have to worry about clothes.”

 

“Yes, there was even an underwear shop on the 24th Floor. That’s quite fortunate.”

 

Most of the clothes were also inappropriate attire for labyrinth exploration, but that was fine since the Alchemist could alter them. Since they planned to change expensive clothes into sturdy, cheap ones, they didn’t need money or magic stones either.

 

“Shh.”

 

Ying covered the mouths of the two conversing.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

The Archer silently pressed her index finger to her gracefully curved lips and pointed toward the direction of the 24th Floor.

 

“Princess! Where is everyone?”

 

“Where are you!”

 

In the Town Square that had perfectly copied the festival’s noise and crowds, minus only human voices, they could hear the Guide and Knight searching for the group.

 

“Over here!”

 

Count Randy quickly waved his hand to signal their location.

 

Soon after, Olive and Ralph emerged from among the dolls.

 

“Phew. There were too many dolls instead of people, so it took a while to find you.”

 

“In such crowded places, we should have decided on a meeting spot beforehand in case we got separated. Olive was too hasty.”

 

“You’re right. I won’t do that next time.”

 

“Did you bring the money properly?”

 

In response to the Princess’s question, the thief showed a heavy pouch instead of answering.

 

“I swept up everything there was. It was so heavy the pouch tore, so I had to change pouches.”

 

“Olive even stripped the dolls’ underwear.”

 

She thought it was a joke, but Ralph’s serious expression showed it wasn’t.

 

“These guys are really funny. They hid money just like real people.”

 

Olive said there was even a doll that hid a wallet in its hat, mimicking taking off a hat.

 

“By the way, their crotches were as flat as their faces.”

 

“That was truly unnecessary information.”

 

“Just in case anyone was curious~”

 

Serena took some money from the heavy pouch and gave it to Ralph.

 

“Count Ralph, feel free to buy anything you need.”

 

“Is that alright?”

 

“We already bought chicken skewers.”

 

“Hehe, thank you. Then I’ll get chicken skewers for those in the lobby.”

 

“We’ll buy those with public funds, so Count Ralph should buy things you personally need. When you’re done, let’s meet Under the Bread Tree.”

 

“Yes! Ying, please come with me!”

 

Ying silently stood up and disappeared among the dolls with the Young Knight.

 

“Then let’s go buy jewelry first.”

 

Olive, who had been waiting her turn with sparkling round eyes, protested.

 

“Princess! Don’t I get spending money?”

 

“Didn’t you take care of yourself?”

 

“That’s that and this is this! I’m the one who collected this money!”

 

The Guide boldly demanded spending money with an outstretched palm.

 

Serena had no choice but to reach into the pouch and place whatever coins she grabbed onto the Guide’s palm.

 

“Wow, Princess, you’re generous.”

 

Since she grabbed without looking, the proportion of gold coins was high.

 

Serena watched Olive sweep through peddler’s stalls within the group’s sight, appreciate street musician dolls’ performances, and give them money.

 

‘Maybe because she can steal it back, she’s quite generous.’

 

Serena watched Olive’s thrown gold coin glinting alone yellow in the coin basket in front of the musician doll, then took 10 each of gold, silver, and copper coins from her own pouch.

 

“Do you need anything?”

 

“I have something to experiment with.”

 

Serena carefully examined the labyrinth coins engraved with bland doll faces.

 

‘These are coins too.’

 

Couldn’t they be used in vending machines?

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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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