Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 230

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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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230. Medicine (2)

“Who made that drinking sound?”

The Guide, whose senses were all sharp but hearing particularly developed, demanded that alcohol be brought out.

“Did you say alcohol?”

“Alcohol?”

When alcohol was mentioned, Prince Willow reflexively smacked his lips, and Grey perked up his ears.

“Ugh. Don’t like alcohol.”

“Drunkards are the worst.”

“Groan.”

The Number Siblings openly scrunched their faces, apparently full of bad memories about alcohol.

Since others had already heard, there was no point in hiding it. Serena openly refused.

“Olive. As I’ve said before, alcohol is forbidden in the lobby. Count. Dispose of the alcohol. If it has high proof, it might be useful, so store it securely in subspace.”

“Lady Serena, that is.”

Count Randy hesitated instead of immediately carrying out the Princess’s order.

“Do you have something left to say?”

“To explain precisely, it’s not alcohol but medicine that makes alcohol.”

Count Randy filled a bowl with fountain water and dropped one drop of the medicine obtained from the labyrinth.

Then something amazing happened. As the medicine spread through the water, a subtle alcoholic aroma spread around. It was the most fragrant and refreshing alcohol smell Serena had ever encountered in her life.

‘Wow. This is what alcohol smells like?’

People who liked alcohol flared their nostrils with ecstatic expressions. Olive gulped down the saliva that had gathered in her mouth.

“Wow. If I’d known about this yesterday, I would have had it with the steak. The smell is incredible.”

“Miss Olive, I think the opposite. Close your eyes and savor this aroma. Alcohol with such a good fragrance is also good to enjoy without side dishes. That’s how Grandfather taught me.”

“Our Highness properly learned how to drink from his grandfather! That’s how you should drink alcohol!”

Medicine that becomes alcohol when mixed with water. It was indeed a mysterious medicine that could come from a labyrinth.

Serena gestured to the Count to observe more closely. She hadn’t noticed because it was a wooden bowl, but the water color had also changed to a transparent yellow. With a bit of exaggeration, it could be described as a subtle golden glow.

When she swirled the alcohol to check the color, the liquid rippled and the aroma rose more intensely. Serena scooped up a spoonful of alcohol with a wooden spoon.

She thought the crude wooden bowl and spoon would ruin the taste of the alcohol, but they didn’t.

The alcohol had a sweet and smooth first taste, maintaining its deep aroma until it went down the throat, then the moment it passed down the throat it heated the body intensely. The aroma continued to linger with each breath.

‘It’s delicious.’

It was fine liquor that could be counted among the top three in Serena’s life, having tasted many precious alcohols while living as a princess.

Serena spoke as calmly as possible without showing her feelings.

“The proof is strong.”

“That’s because there’s not enough water. One drop per small jar seems to be the proper amount.”

“Can’t this be used as high-proof alcohol by itself?”

“Without mixing with water, it’s just a tasteless and odorless medicine. It has no toxicity but also no medicinal effect, so mixing with water to make alcohol is the only usage.”

“Only the Princess gets to taste it! Unfair! Hey! That’s Olive’s! Hey!”

Olive claimed ownership of the alcohol-making medicine. Serena acknowledged the Guide’s ownership according to the contract.

“Right. It’s your property. I’ll keep it safe and return it when we leave the labyrinth.”

“Waaah! Olive wants to drink it now!”

Olive, who was about to throw a tantrum, closed her mouth midway as if remembering the Princess’s family history.

She had an intuition that if she threw a tantrum about wanting to drink alcohol here, the Princess’s favorability toward her would become zero.

Olive completely changed her expression and laughed cheerfully.

“Hohoho. That little bit of alcohol, I can drink it after leaving the labyrinth. Hey. I’ll seduce handsome men and beautiful women and tell them to pour, drink, and enjoy. Hey.”

The Princess was pleased to see the Guide maintain such propriety.

Even though she wasn’t drunk from just one spoonful of alcohol, Serena’s heart suddenly became generous.

‘Just for today. Let them drink just this much.’

Based on a 24-hour day, it was an extension of yesterday when they ate steak.

“I’ll store the medicine well. Instead, let those who want to share and drink what remains in this bowl. Exactly one cup per person, and throw away what’s left.”

“Kyaah! Princess is the best!”

“I brought cups here. Do you need side dishes?”

“Wooden cups ruin the taste of alcohol! Uncle! Let me borrow a beaker.”

People who had been swallowing saliva from the moment they smelled the alcohol moved in unison.

“Sirius! Aren’t you drinking? Low, what about you?”

“I’m fine.”

Low, who was still shy around the Prince, gained courage from Count Alpha’s refusal and followed suit in declining.

“I’m also fine. Alcohol is the enemy of muscles.”

“You can exercise as much as you drink.”

Grey rummaged through the workshop on his own and poured the alcohol from the bowl into a beaker he had grabbed. The clear, transparent yellow liquid rose in the beaker, boasting an enchanting aroma.

“What? Just us three? Hey? This is good alcohol, and it would be a waste to throw it away, so include more! Miss Potpourri will drink, right?”

Olive tried to persuade Lavenda. Lavenda refused, but her reason for refusal was extraordinary.

“I have a strong tolerance for alcohol, so my friends told me not to drink because there’s no point in drinking.”

The faces of the three who heard this extraordinary reason hardened.

“Oh? When you say it like that, it sounds like a challenge?”

“I don’t want to force someone who says no, but I’m curious how strong you are.”

“Sister Lavenda, you’re strong with alcohol?”

Lavenda showed a service worker’s smile without answering and left her seat. Olive, seemingly disappointed, smacked her lips and then tried to persuade the Young Knight who was quietly smelling the alcohol.

“What about you, Knight? Want to learn about alcohol from this big sister?”

“Since it’s the enemy of muscles, I’m also fine.”

“Tsk. It’s a waste to throw away.”

“Woof?”

Duri seemed to like the sweet alcohol smell and sniffed with her nose. The Guide and Old Man were about to feed alcohol to the Black Bear when Hana and Sesi stopped them.

“Duri! No good! Alcohol is bad stuff!”

“If you drink alcohol, you become a dog! But Sister Duri is a bear! It would be a loss to become a dog!”

As a bear standing at the apex of beasts, she couldn’t become a dog. Duri obediently backed down.

Would the remaining alcohol be thrown away like this? Count Randy cleared his throat beside the disappointed trio.

“Ahem.”

“Uncle, you’re drinking too? You don’t like alcohol.”

“I kept smelling it while analyzing, so I became curious about the taste. I’m thinking of sharing half with my wife.”

“The Countess is joining too? Yay! I should sit next to the Countess!”

“Mark, there’s a seat here. Countess, sit next to Mark too.”

Philia, who had received permission from Serena in advance, before sitting next to her husband, pinched and lifted the ear of Grey, who was boldly occupying a seat.

“Kyaah! Kyaaaah!”

“A little kid who hasn’t even hit puberty yet can’t drink alcohol!”

Grey had been treated this way several times but couldn’t adapt to this treatment, and was too surprised to even think of rebelling as he was kicked out of the drinking gathering.

The gray Grand Mage with tears in his ashen eyes gave the Princess a look asking her to do something about it. Serena shrugged her shoulders.

Whether this person was acting like this knowing his identity had been discovered, or whether he was truly feeling wronged, Serena knew what she had to say.

“Even Seraph didn’t drink alcohol until after he turned 14. I don’t know about the Empire, but in Huji, follow Huji’s culture.”

This world, befitting a medieval-style world, was lenient about minors drinking, but that didn’t mean it was a culture that encouraged alcohol for young children.

Even Seraph, who had fallen into gambling and alcohol, only started drinking after his 14th birthday passed. Grey, whose physical age was at most 12, was better off staying away from alcohol.

“Wow! This alcohol is really delicious! I’ve never had such delicious alcohol in my life. It’s more delicious than the alcohol I got from the treasure chest before! Hey!”

“This is… more sweet than the alcohol presented to His Majesty.”

“Hmm. Working as an alchemist, I’ve tasted alcohol from pretty much every brewery in the Empire, but this is the second most delicious alcohol I’ve had in my life.”

“If this is second, what alcohol was first, honey?”

“Of course it was the alcohol we drank on our wedding day!”

“I think this one is more delicious!”

“Is that so! Would you like to drink a little more alcohol?”

“Lady Serena. May I drink just half a cup more?”

Serena nodded to the maid who was asking for permission.

“Yes. Since the proof is strong, drink exactly half a cup more.”

Following the Princess’s strict orders to dispose of all remaining alcohol, Olive didn’t hesitate to fill half a beaker for Philia to drink.

“To think I’m pouring alcohol for someone like the Countess. I’ll treasure this as the greatest honor of my life.”

“Puhoot.”

Perhaps Olive’s words sounded amusing to her alcohol-loosened mind, as Philia laughed out loud.

Moist, fragrant lips with the scent of alcohol, watery transparent blue eyes, and a smile more radiant than usual.

Not only those drinking with her, but even the onlookers all clutched their hearts.

“Wow. She said it was the honor of a lifetime, but I almost ended my lifetime for real.”

“Uhuhuu. The alcohol tastes good. Lady Serena! I feel so good! I feel like I could fly!”

“Good. I’m glad you feel good. Wash your face and go sleep in the capsule.”

“Before that, I’ll go water the tree!”

“Honey, let’s go together.”

“Yes. Huhuhuu.”

Philia, who had been scattering smiles in all directions making people unable to lift their heads, gestured to her nephew who was only chewing his fingers since he couldn’t drink.

“Grey.”

“What.”

“You can’t just drink alcohol, but I’ll allow you to mix a little alcohol in your tea.”

Grey’s ears perked up again. Philia went to the herb garden with her husband, scattering deadly smiles in all directions. Ralph followed them, thinking it was dangerous to let drunk people go alone.

Grey grinned so widely his mouth nearly reached his ears as he poured tea and alcohol in a 1:9 ratio into his teacup. Of course, the alcohol was the 9.

“Grey. It’s a bit strong, so keep that in mind when mixing.”

“It’s fine, Your Highness. You know I know.”

Count Alpha raised his smooth eyebrows, seemingly unable to cope with the reality that the Prince not only didn’t stop his attendant from drinking, but actually knew his drinking capacity.

Whether the Imperial Knight was surprised or not, Grey laughed like an evil mage going “gelgelgel” as he savored his alcohol-laced tea.

“Hmm. Your Highness’s expression wasn’t an exaggeration. His Majesty would like this too.”

When a mere attendant mentioned even the Emperor, Count Alpha couldn’t bear it and squeezed his eyes shut.

“The alcohol tastes good. It tastes good enough that I might forgive Sister Olive’s rudeness from yesterday.”

“I’m in such a good mood I could laugh off the young master’s annoying words! Alcohol really is a cure-all!”

‘I don’t think that’s right.’

Not long after, the Count couple and Ralph who had gone to the herb garden returned. Philia washed her face as Serena had ordered and went straight into the capsule.

“It was truly amazing! When the Countess watered the tree, everything around the Countess sparkled!”

Ralph was as delighted as a child who spotted a puppy while walking. No one was surprised.

“My wife always sparkles brilliantly. It’s nothing to be surprised about.”

“Right. Philia always sparkles. Sometimes you can even hear songs when you look at her.”

“So it wasn’t just me. When I stare at the Countess in the dark, there’s a halo behind her…”

“You can totally hear songs too!”

“Yes! You can hear something like bell sounds too!”

“Cough. There’s also a nice fragrance. Cough.”

Seeing an opportunity, the people in the lobby eagerly shared their experiences of hallucinations and auditory illusions caused by Philia’s beauty.

She was like that even when not smiling, but now she had been drinking and smiling continuously, so it was natural that Ralph would find her dazzling.

“I see! The Countess is always dazzlingly beautiful, but I must still lack adaptation! I’ll work hard on eye exercises too!”

At the mention of exercise, Count Alpha and Low jumped up. Since the topic came up, they intended to exercise.

Serena confirmed that the three drinkers disposed of the remaining alcohol, then began meditating to build her magical muscles.

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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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