Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 233

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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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233. Mountain Climbing Preparation (2)

They say seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

Low rubbed his daily-shaved bald head and bowed before Serena.

“Princess. To prepare mountain climbing equipment, I think I need to survey the mountain terrain.”

It was an extremely logical request with no reason to refuse. Serena supported her heavy feet and even heavier head as she went to the transfer room with the Mysterious Stranger. Count Alpha volunteered as escort.

Low investigated the 10th layer environment more thoroughly than expected. First, he checked the general direction of the stairs with a labyrinth compass, then measured the mountain’s height by holding his thumb close to his eye.

He examined the mountain in detail with his own binoculars, then scooped up snow to check its moisture, weight, and crystal structure.

‘Ooh.’

The entire process was serious and professional. He had asked to handle the mountain terrain, and just watching the investigation process filled her with confidence.

Serena raised Low’s score from 3.9 points back to 4.0 points.

Finally, Low finished checking even the soil by digging through the snow and returned to the Princess.

“I’ve got a rough understanding.”

Serena returned to the lobby, received public funds from Lavenda, then added Count Randy to the party and headed to the 7th layer.

The sky on the 24th floor of Heuji’s Labyrinth’s 3rd layer was still red. Serena and Count Randy, who remembered the 24th floor’s original appearance, expressed displeasure, and Low also frowned.

Count Alpha, for whom the 7th layer was a first visit, found the numerous Wooden Dolls even more unpleasant.

“We should buy only necessary items and move quickly.”

Serena had the same thought. The four first stopped by a shoe store. Low sighed looking at products that prioritized aesthetics over practicality.

It was the same when they entered other shoe stores. If he had something to say, he should just say it. Low hesitated despite his large frame, then whispered in his workout friend Count Alpha’s ear.

“Count Landriole. Low asks if you can manufacture shoes if he tells you the sole and shoe structure.”

“Of course I can manufacture them.”

The Mysterious Stranger whispered to the Imperial Knight again.

“Then he says let’s manufacture the shoes. We’ll move to a clothing store.”

The clothing store was in better condition than the shoe stores.

Low rummaged through clothes that looked like they’d freeze you to death if worn on a winter mountain with a dissatisfied expression, then found thick fur clothing in the warehouse.

Low gathered all the fur and leather clothing. Then he swept up gloves and thick socks, and collected fur hats too.

There wasn’t much else worth taking on the 25th floor. The party bought chicken skewers and returned to the lobby.

Low drew snowshoe blueprints and handed them to the Alchemist. He converted the gathered fur into clothes suitable for winter mountain climbing, and filled the shortage of fur by exchanging Alligator Rius leather, prepared to pay the fee.

Trading, exchanging, manufacturing. Leaving Count Randy faithful to his main job as an Alchemist behind, Low assembled the party scheduled to tackle the 10th layer.

Perhaps because his workout friend Count Alpha was there along with Ying, who had been in the same party before, Low spoke refreshingly without being shy.

“Based on my experience, there’s a high probability the 10th layer has no traps. The terrain itself is the trap.”

“Like the 3rd layer?”

“Yes yes, exactly. And there probably won’t be much combat either.”

Almost no combat. It was welcome news for Serena, who was sick of fighting after continuous battles on the 9th layer, but it was so welcome that it was rather suspicious.

‘Low doesn’t seem like he’d lie though.’

“What’s your basis for that?”

Count Alpha also seemed curious about the reason and asked a question. Low answered immediately.

“If there’s combat on top of that, the difficulty becomes too high. It’ll probably be in a form where it’s easy to avoid monsters.”

The Mysterious Stranger took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

“I’ll be honest with you. Winter mountain climbing in snow isn’t just any mountain – it’s suicide. And once we start climbing, it’ll snow without fail. I’d bet my wrists on it. In my hometown, there’s a greeting we give to idiots who go out in weather like this.”

Low narrowed his eyes and said:

“See you in the valley next spring.”

It was a brutal joke meaning they couldn’t find corpses in winter due to snow, but when spring came and the snow melted, they’d discover bodies stuck in valleys and at least give them a funeral.

The Princess and Imperial Knight, who grew up in various national capitals, shuddered at this greeting that reeked of mountain village experience.

“Low. Aren’t you scaring us too much? For such talk, wouldn’t snow need to pile up to our knees?”

Count Alpha, who had experience climbing snowy winter mountains to hunt monsters, asked a question.

Low shook his head quite firmly.

“More snow will fall. I’ll bet my wrists on it. The moment we climb the mountain, it’ll fall like an alarm was set.”

Not because mountain weather was unpredictable. This was Low’s assessment of the 10th layer’s gimmick.

“We Sol Brothers are rumored to be strong in mountainous terrain, so we’ve been to most labyrinth mountain terrain layers. I’m confident based on all that experience.”

‘If it’s that vicious, being able to avoid combat makes sense.’

Climbing a snow-covered mountain was hard enough, but adding combat? Serena was confident she could die 10 times.

The Princess finally understood the hunter’s words that adding combat would make the difficulty too high.

“Fortunately, there’s a mountain trail. If we climb following the trail, there should be stairs near the summit.”

‘There was a mountain trail?’

Serena only saw piled snow, but Low claimed there was a trail.

“I’ll take the lead, then Sir Knight, Princess, Count, Duri and Ying in that order. Everyone except Duri will wear belts and be connected with rope. We’ll avoid combat in advance, and if combat breaks out, Duri and I will step forward. When we lack strength, untie the ropes and provide support.”

Besides that, moving only when it’s warmest and the weather is best, finding shelter before sunset, etc. – mountain climbing plans flowed smoothly.

The Odd Sisters, who were clinging to Duri and listening to the plan together, were impressed.

“Fake muscles actually work!”

“He’s not just doing it randomly? He’s good at it?”

“But why isn’t our Duri tied with rope? What if Duri gets lost?”

Hana stroked Duri’s black hair. As her bangs swept back, Duri’s pretty eyes like smooth pebbles were revealed.

‘So cute.’

The lobby’s Black Bear was cute even in human form. Serena smiled warmly inside.

Low replied nonchalantly as if it was nothing.

“Duri. You can return by following the scent of the path we took, right?”

“Yeah!”

“If you get separated from the party, Duri should follow the scent back to the stairs and wait. I’ll come get you.”

“Ooh! Really good at work! I see you differently now!”

“Really like a Labyrinth Adventurer?”

“You brats! I am a Labyrinth Adventurer! I’ve been roaming labyrinths since before you were born!”

“Really? It’s nice being old.”

“Ugh!”

Even with diligent exercise, blood pressure rising from stress couldn’t be controlled.

Low gave up on arguing with the Odd Sisters who had been teasing him ever since it was revealed he took height-increasing medicine, and called Count Alpha.

“And Sir Knight.”

“Speak.”

“You’ll need to remove your armor.”

“My armor and cloak have temperature control magic enchanted on them.”

Count Alpha thought Low was worried about the cold characteristic of metal and informed him of the Empire’s technology and wealth.

Low shook his head, saying that wasn’t it.

“That’s not it. Armor is heavy. The axe can’t be helped, but armor won’t do. Even with snowshoes, you’ll sink deep into the snow due to the armor’s weight, and if you fall, the connected people will get swept along too. Ice that others step on lightly, you alone might not be able to cross.”

Perhaps because he was strong in mountainous terrain, Low’s logic had become stronger since starting the 10th layer strategy.

The Imperial Knight lowered his long eyelashes and nodded.

“I’ll remove it.”

Prince Willow, who had joined the meeting under the pretext of being a secretary and was taking notes of people’s words, whistled.

“To make Sirius, famous in Astrom high society as the hardest to undress, remove his clothes. Low, you’re no ordinary man. I see you differently.”

At the Prince’s frivolous Imperial-style joke, Count Alpha smiled a smile befitting his gorgeous face.

“Lord Willow.”

“Hm?”

“I heard your stamina has dropped considerably from staying only in the lobby. Before going to the 10th layer, I’ll teach you training methods good for stamina building. Let’s start with 300 squats.”

Cracks appeared in the Prince’s expression as he tried to maintain his usual gentle smile.

“Ha! Ha! Ha! I’m fine! Cooking is surprisingly good exercise too!”

“Squats? Good idea! Do them right now, Your Highness!”

Prince Willow’s plan to somehow stick his bottom to the floor and endure was foiled by the appearance of a Child wielding a staff disguised as a blunt weapon.

***

The pendant enchanted with temperature control magic created by Countess Nex, Huji’s royal mage, was completed. This time too, the magic stone and other crafting were Prince Willow’s work.

The party threaded the pendants on strings to avoid losing them while moving, hung them around their necks, and layered clothes on top.

Just in case, they also made spares and each took one.

‘Double the results with the same materials. Professionals really are different.’

The magic stones used were exactly the same as when making the purification magic tools, but this time they got twice as many magic tools. Of course, there was a difference in the hierarchy between purification magic and temperature control magic, but having a professional was definitely good.

They layered thin clothes multiple times and finally put on fur coats. They wore three layers of socks, stuffing their thick feet into leather boots connected with snowshoes.

After putting on cold-weather masks and protective goggles, they added fur hats that also served as earmuffs.

Finally, they put on thick leather gloves lined with fur to complete the outfit.

“Groooan.”

Duri was no exception when it came to bundling up in clothes. Duri, who found pants uncomfortable and preferred skirts, kept groaning as if the thick pants felt stuffy.

“Just in case, Duri needs to wear clothes too. Even if it’s stuffy, please bear with it.”

“Duri looks so cute in fur clothes!”

“Groooooan.”

Even with her family’s encouragement, Duri continued groaning.

‘She’s bundled up and even wearing bear fur, so it must feel stuffy.’

But they didn’t know what might happen during the mountain trek. Duri might need to climb the mountain in human form, so cold weather preparations were essential.

Incidentally, Low took on the role of calming down the excited Duri. Instead of using a whip, he whistled directly with his mouth, and Duri understood well.

‘How do I comfort her stuffiness?’

While Serena was worrying, Neet stepped forward.

“Cough. Everyone’s fur is nothing compared to Duri’s. Duri’s fur is the best. It’s the softest and warmest.”

At those words, Duri stopped groaning.

‘So the furry animal was jealous of other fur.’

Duri was a bear with confidence in her own coat quality. It was an emotion that Serena, being human, couldn’t understand.

‘For humans, it would be like wearing clothes made from other people’s skin. Ugh. Let’s stop.’

Even changing skin to hair or wigs made her feel queasy.

Serena frowned, but no one could see it hidden behind her cold-weather mask, goggles, and deeply pulled-down hat.

Thanks to this, the Princess could leave the lobby after only hearing the maid’s farewell wishing her a safe return.

‘Mountain climbing. That’s quite far from Huaim.’

The Kingdom of Heuji was mostly plains with no mountains except for the mountain range to the east.

Since her relatives had all died while going to the mountains for ancestral rites, Serena had never climbed even a small hill after her reincarnation, wondering what mountains were.

Her past life’s mountain climbing experience was limited to school field trips to mountains.

‘Will I be able to climb up in one go without dying?’

Anxiety from lack of experience crept in, but the Princess imagined the smooth back of the Mysterious Stranger’s head hidden under his hat at the front of the party and steeled her resolve.

‘Let’s trust our guide.’

Serena set foot in the snowy country once again.

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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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