Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 175

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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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175. Hana is a Noble? (1)

Night had fallen and the lobby had grown dark.

Count Alpha, who had eaten the prince’s cooking with a troubled expression, spoke in a low voice weighted with gravity.

“As Your Highness’s guard, I have no excuse for leaving your side in such a critical moment. I have urgent matters to discuss.”

Count Alpha’s hand moved toward the prince’s collar.

The knight’s hand trembled, then with a thin sound, it dropped down without grabbing anything.

“Hahaha. You can grab my collar if you want. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Count Alpha’s expression hardened as if he’d heard nonsense.

Instead of getting angry or sad, the prince smoothly laughed it off.

“Oh my. It hurts when you look at me like that. If you have something urgent to say, say it here. Currently, this group is under Princess Serena’s command. Princess Serena values the virtue of honesty.”

“Even personal conversations between friends?”

Count Alpha pointed toward the cave with the blocked exit, saying he wouldn’t go far.

Prince Willow laughed cheerfully and shrugged his shoulders.

“Ah! I haven’t told you yet! I can’t leave the lobby.”

“What? I didn’t hear you correctly?”

“I’m under a terrible life-threatening curse. If I leave this lobby, I’ll die. The Labyrinth God informed me, and we verified it through additional investigation.”

Seeing the prince cheerfully laugh while saying he was under a death curse, Count Alpha’s clenched fist trembled violently.

‘Is he going to hit him?’

The fist rose up, but instead of heading for the prince’s face, it went toward the knight’s own neck.

Serena expressed condolences for Count Alpha’s blood pressure.

Count Alpha looked at Count Randy with a pale complexion. When Count Randy nodded to confirm it was all true, the knight squeezed his eyes shut.

“Sigh. I’m truly sorry, but could you excuse us for a moment?”

For the two to have a private conversation, they had no choice but to clear people from the lobby.

As Serena pondered the knight’s request, Philia burst out angrily.

“How rude and presumptuous! Should Lady Serena have to move for such a trivial matter?”

Heuji Jeolmi’s delicate hand pointed to the capsule bed.

“That small bed Lady Serena received from the Labyrinth God blocks out small sounds, so if you want to have an intimate conversation, it would be proper for the Count and Your Highness to go inside and speak quietly!”

A muscular knight getting into a space suitable for one person to lie down?

The prince immediately made a disgusted expression.

“Even if it were you, Sirius, I wouldn’t want to get on the same bed. Please understand.”

“I also don’t want to share a bed with anyone other than my wife. But we have no choice, don’t we?”

The knight grabbed the prince’s wrist. As it seemed he would be dragged to the capsule bed, the color drained from the prince’s face.

“W-wait! Instead of this, how about that restroom! If we keep flushing while talking, wouldn’t that work?”

‘What a waste of water. But is it okay since it’s infinite?’

The prince and knight went into the restroom together (?).

‘Getting beaten in bed vs getting beaten in the restroom? Getting beaten in the bedroom would make sleeping uncomfortable. But getting beaten in the restroom is sad too, isn’t it?’

Gurgle, whoooosh.

The sound of flushing water continued without pause. Olive, who had sharp ears, pressed her ear to the restroom wall but fell away with a disappointed expression as the water sounds seemed to interfere.

Neet, who was eating snacks and getting sleepy, yawned.

“Cough, yaaawn.”

“Neet should go to sleep now. Make sure to brush your teeth.”

“Yes. Cough cough.”

All the adults were awake, so there was no one to sleep with Neet or stay by her side until she fell asleep.

Neet didn’t dare ask and just fidgeted with her fingers while looking up at the adults who cared for her.

Thinking she shouldn’t disturb the adults, young Neet’s gaze fell on Grey.

But Grey’s face as he watched the restroom was too serious.

Actually, Neet didn’t know the difference between an attendant and a servant. She didn’t know that even an attendant could be a noble.

Her older siblings were the same, but anyway, Neet thought Grey was the prince’s servant and a commoner.

So she secretly felt close to Grey, but that kind brother was busy.

‘I shouldn’t disturb him. I’ll endure even if I’m sleepy.’

As Neet tried to keep her eyes wide open, a cool yet warm human hand touched her shoulder.

The archer, who had never exchanged a word with Neet, spoke in a small but gentle voice.

“Sleep.”

“Cough, yes!”

If the guide always leads the party safely from the front, the archer watches over everyone from the very back.

Serena smiled lightly watching the two really getting along as they entered the bed.

Not long after Neet went to sleep, the prince and knight came out of the restroom.

As if much conversation had taken place, Count Alpha’s pupils shook roughly.

The Imperial Black Knight knelt before the Grand Princess of Heuji just as he had done before the prince.

“I will also participate in the labyrinth conquest. I want to help with both rescuing Crown Prince Kipan, whom I swore to protect, and escaping the labyrinth.”

His intention to somehow get involved in Serena’s Achievement was displeasing.

‘But he’s a 4-star knight.’

Unlike Ralph who was still growing, this was a fully developed 4-star knight. With monster strength gradually increasing, he would be good military power.

“I permit it.”

“We’re five people now, right? Adding one more knight might be okay~”

“Why are you excluding me?”

At Low’s protest, Olive smiled brightly.

“No. You have a party to join too. They’re exploring the labyrinth right now~”

The extremely shy Mysterious Stranger was flustered.

“Th-there are more people?”

“Remember the bandaged kid from earlier? His sisters are here. They’re also doing labor like you, so get along well.”

“More people here?”

Low seemed more burdened by there being more people than joining the criminal party, scrunching up his face.

***

The next day. Serena, who came out of her capsule for breakfast, discovered people gathered in front of the vending machine.

“What’s going on?”

“Princess is awake! This! This lit up! I want to press it this time! I call dibs! Hey! Olive’s!”

They said the vending machine’s product exchange button had lit up during the night.

Olive testified that she had clearly seen it.

‘It resets at midnight.’

Since it reset at midnight rather than every 24 hours, counting days would be convenient too.

Lavenda seemed to think the same, saying she would mark dates on the wall based on the button from now on.

The two newcomers were shocked not by the vending machine they witnessed yesterday, but by the golden egg that Chicken Golem had laid.

When the golden egg was cracked and egg white and yolk came out, even the serious knight’s lips twitched.

“It’s a very precious treasure.”

“Black knight sir shouldn’t covet it. You weren’t here when we got Chicken Golem, so you have no share. Hey.”

“Haha, Sirius, you liked soft-boiled eggs. I’ll make the poached egg soft-boiled for you.”

“…Please make it hard-boiled.”

The black knight, who had eaten only raw meat for several days, requested a hard-boiled egg in a trembling voice.

“Ah! The Guardian of the Restroom Prince is ignoring the egg order!”

“Not at all! It was my turn but I yielded to Sirius! Don’t falsely accuse me!”

The prince hurriedly explained against the guide’s slander and placed the hard-boiled poached egg on his friend and guard knight’s plate.

“I was busy preparing breakfast and couldn’t carve bowls for you. I’ll give you new bowls at lunch, so bear with it this time.”

“N-n-no sir. Hot soup is enough sir.”

Low was overwhelmed by a meal made and served by royalty, overcoming his shyness to answer.

Count Alpha split the poached egg in half. It was cooked all the way through, revealing bright yellow yolk.

“Sirius. Are you really okay? You hate fully cooked yolk.”

“No.”

After spending several days drinking chicken blood instead of water and chewing raw chicken instead of rice, even dry egg yolk would seem more precious than gold.

The Black Knight carefully put the steaming yolk in his mouth and smiled.

“This is the most delicious egg I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

“Hahaha!”

Prince Willow patted the knight’s shoulder, delighted by his friend’s sincere praise.

“Stop watching the black knight eat! Hey! Should I press this? Hey?”

“Go ahead.”

“Awesome!”

Olive jumped excitedly and gathered her strength to press the button like hitting a punching machine.

Light flashed and the vending machine’s products changed.

A large stone about the size of a child’s fist appeared in the product display window.

Olive cheered in triumph.

“It’s a high-grade magic stone!”

The alchemist’s eyes, who had been pacing in front of the vending machine hoping for another rare herb, were once again filled with greed.

“How much? How much is it?”

“Move aside, Uncle! I want to see too!”

“One, ten, hundred… gasp! It’s incredibly expensive!”

The Young Knight gasped after seeing the price of the high-grade magic stone.

“For a high-grade magic stone, this price is cheap though? Hey? It’s almost cost price.”

“Price doesn’t matter. You have to buy when it’s for sale!”

“Uncle, hurry up and take out the money!”

The alchemist, who was hastily inserting Labyrinth Coins into the vending machine, frowned.

“What are you doing, Uncle!”

“I don’t have money.”

The genius alchemist, who was the Empire’s pride and the continent’s envy and jealousy, spoke dejectedly as if he never thought he’d say such words in his life.

“I don’t have money.”

“My goodness, I never thought you’d say such a thing.”

When Philia approached in surprise, Count Randy hurriedly opened his subspace bag and pulled out his wallet.

“No, my lady! I have money! I just don’t have Labyrinth Coins! I’m a rich man who only has money, please don’t leave me!”

It was such a desperate plea that Serena wanted to cover her ears.

Seeing this, Philia frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Of, of course you don’t love me just for money, my lady! I know that, but I’m someone who lacks so much compared to you!”

“I came to give you money.”

Countess Randy shook her wallet. She seemed hurt by the strange misunderstanding when she had come to give him money because he seemed short on cash.

“It’s true that your wealth is reassuring, but my heart never wavered because of money. It’s okay if you don’t have money. You can earn it again.”

If he’s a genius alchemist, even if he became penniless, he could earn enough money to buy a palace within a year.

So there’s no need to worry about running out of money.

Count Randy was moved to tears by Philia’s simple and clear logic.

“My lady! I’m sorry! I didn’t understand your heart!”

“It’s okay. You’re worried because I’m too pretty.”

If anyone else had said this, they would have been scolded for talking nonsense, but since it was said by the continent’s greatest beauty certified by the 5th Prince, it sounded like the truth.

“Philia! I love you!”

“Me too, Mark! I love you!”

The lovebird couple embraced each other tightly. Several people applauded at the sight.

The applause wasn’t directed at the couple, but at Serena who had brought them together.

“How wonderful. It’s truly romantic.”

“To meet such a beautiful and truly loving wife. I really envy Mark.”

“Oh, Your Highness! You shouldn’t be envious, but should work hard so you can have that with Princess too!”

Hearing the attendant’s words that especially emphasized effort, Prince Willow’s gaze turned to the purple-haired woman.

To the purple hair that resembled fragrant flowers, not the mysterious purple like amethyst.

“Then should we put in money and buy the magic stone?”

Ralph asked innocently. Serena immediately opposed.

“Cash should be used for alchemy, so that won’t do. We need to bring more Labyrinth Coins from the 7th Floor.”

Serena asked Neet just in case.

“Didn’t you collect any Labyrinth Coins?”

Neet shook her head.

“Cough. Fake money, cough. Is punishable by death. Cough. I said it wasn’t allowed.”

“That amount of money won’t be enough just from picking automaton wallets. Hey. We need to rob the vault.”

“Did you leave the vault alone?”

The thief scratched her cheek.

“It was the type that opens with a password. Hey. I didn’t have enough tools so I just left it. Hey.”

Olive shrugged her shoulders.

“The 25th Floor vault also needed passwords. For now, we have no choice but to go pick the 25th Floor automaton wallets. Hey.”

The Guide looked over the people in the lobby and frowned.

“To rob them all, we need a decoy to distract the Soldier Automatons. There’s no suitable person. No talent, no talent.”

Tsk tsk. Just as the Guide clicked her tongue saying there was no one suitable to be an accomplice in thievery.

“We’re back!”

“This time we passed! For real!”

“Woong!”

The Number Siblings who had gone to retake the exam returned.

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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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