Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 245

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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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245. The Reward for Effort

“Huff!”

Knight Marin suddenly cried out in pain and dropped her weapon from her hand.

“Knight Marin, where are you hurt?”

People were startled and the only healer, the Priest of Light, approached the knight.

“Grgh!”

Knight Marin couldn’t stand straight and bent at the waist. Then with trembling hands, she felt around her neck and grasped her necklace.

“Th, this!”

The time written on the necklace had stopped at 30 days. The stopped time began rapidly decreasing. 29 days, 28 days, 26, 20…

The time continued changing even after reaching 0. A negative sign appeared before the time, and it only stopped after reaching minus one week.

It wasn’t just the time written on the necklace that changed. The number of yellow stars above the knight’s head also changed.

The yellow stars became transparent one by one until only 1 remained, with all the rest becoming transparent.

The 5-star knight had become a 1-star candidate.

“My power! The power given by the God of Fire has been sealed again! Oh Fire!”

Knight Marin, realizing the abnormality that had occurred to her body, called upon the deity again to use divine magic.

Flames arose from Knight Marin’s hand. A fire smaller than a match flame appeared and instantly disappeared.

“How did this happen!”

Knight Marin demanded an explanation from the High Priest of Effort. The naturally bald priest chuckled.

“Heh heh heh. The time you actually put in effort was only one hour, wasn’t it? Since you experienced in advance the results of diligently working for a month, you must pay the price.”

Everyone except the knight who had gained and then lost power was convinced.

‘I thought so. One hour of investment for a month’s effect. It was too good to be true.’

Even though it used divine power, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. It would have been stranger if such a good buff had no side effects.

“Heh heh heh. If you perform silent meditation for a week, the negative sign will disappear and your additionally sealed power will return. Work hard. Heh heh heh.”

“Grgh! How can this be! Not being able to speak for a whole week!”

‘Why don’t you think about enduring another month to break the seal?’

Seeing that the time written on the necklace had stopped at 30 days, it meant the God of Fire required 30 days of silent meditation from the knight.

But the chatty knight didn’t think about enduring 30 days and only agonized over the additional week. The day the knight would break the seal seemed far off.

‘Well. If she were capable of that, the deity wouldn’t have directly imposed a sealing tool.’

Apart from accepting Knight Marin’s weakening, a new problem arose after defeating the powerful enemy. It wasn’t Serena’s party’s problem.

“Ugh, so we have to wait another week?”

The labyrinth was a dangerous space even when one could fully demonstrate their abilities. Taking a weakened companion to explore a new layer would be murder and suicide.

Count Randy sought permission from Serena with a glance and spoke to Seraph.

“Lord Seraph. Since Knight Marin needs time to recover, how about coming to the lobby with us?”

At the count’s suggestion, the priests, especially Rihua and Muffin, were visibly pleased.

“That’s right! That would work! The lobby has bread trees and hot springs and is safe, right? We could wait there even for a month!”

“It would be better than here for Knight Marin’s rest too.”

“I’d like to ask High Priest Hazel to look at the blocked exit. Rocks, earth, and debris have blocked the exit, but perhaps the great earth could make a path.”

“I was thinking I should take a look.”

High Priest Hazel also responded favorably. Knight Marin cast her vote of agreement with silence, so they just needed to change Seraph’s mind.

But as soon as Seraph heard Count Randy’s words, he frowned his pretty face. He knew more about the labyrinth than when he was on the 3rd and 5th layers and had suffered accordingly, but his stubbornness remained unchanged.

“Lord Seraph. You wouldn’t be staying in the lobby permanently. Just until Knight Marin recovers. Lady Serena and my wife are both worried about you.”

“Hmph! Does the count think I’d fall for such lies? Serena will tie me to a tree or pillar the moment I set foot in the lobby.”

Serena smiled brightly as soon as her brother’s impudent gaze reached her.

‘Caught?’

Still, being blood relatives, he knew Serena’s way of thinking well.

Since it had come to this, there was no choice. Serena made as serious an expression as possible. She mixed in a spoonful of sadness.

Her brother, who had been impudently glaring at his sister, suddenly clenched his fists and bit his lips when Serena suddenly made a sad expression.

The Grand Prince of Huji loses his reason when a purple-haired woman becomes sad. This was a secret known only to Serena and a few close associates.

The prince was frightened like a child before a monster, while simultaneously suffering from the conflicting emotion of needing to comfort the sad monster.

Though he was frightened, he deliberately widened his eyes as if unwilling to admit he was also enchanted by the monster.

Serena delivered the news she had been putting off to her brother.

“Let’s go to the lobby. I have something urgent to tell you about Count Shulten Baker.”

The pink-haired girl who heard her brother’s name listened intently to the royal conversation. Normally it would be right to speak to Muffin, who was family, first, but unfortunately this world was a class-based society.

“Is Count Shulten also in the lobby?”

Her brother showed interest in the name of the guard knight he had known since childhood.

“Yes. He’s in the lobby.”

‘Since we buried him in the lobby. It’s not a lie.’

Seraph’s lips twitched and a faint emotion of joy seeped into his frightened amethyst eyes. Seraph deliberately managed his expression as if he didn’t want to show he was pleased about the guard knight.

“Then I don’t need to go to the lobby. Bring Count Shulten here.”

“Count Shulten can’t move right now. You need to go to the lobby.”

“Oh, really?”

Seraph raised the corners of his mouth in a bitter smile.

“I don’t need a guard knight who avoids his duties with excuses.”

“Ugh. That’s too much. Brother worked so hard…”

Muffin grumbled quietly at Seraph’s heartless reaction.

Serena sighed softly and pressed her forehead. She thought her brother would easily agree to go to the lobby if she brought up the pink fungus, but it was different from her expectations.

As the princess massaged her temples, she heard a small girl’s voice.

“Lady Serena. I’m sorry to interrupt while you two are speaking…”

The girl with lovely pink hair asked while trembling with fear.

“Is brother badly hurt?”

“What are you talking about? Count Shulten is injured?”

Seraph was surprised and pressed Muffin for answers. Muffin made a tearful face.

“Ugh. Lord Seraph, you know too. With brother’s personality, if he could move, he’d rush straight to Lord Seraph. But having to go to the lobby to meet means…”

Muffin’s words seemed persuasive as Seraph looked at Serena with a surprised expression.

“Serena. Was the reason you brought this up seriously because of an injury? Is Count Shulten badly hurt?”

Serena was about to speak when Seraph warned her.

“If you’re going to say I’ll know when I see for myself, don’t. I’m not going to the lobby.”

Dealing with her brother made the back of her neck stiff. Serena massaged her nape using the method Lavenda had taught her and called her brother and Muffin aside.

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll tell you the truth. We discovered Count Shulten Baker’s body in the labyrinth, recovered it, and temporarily buried it in the lobby. Seraph Parkling Huaim. You have a duty to pray for your guard knight’s soul. And Miss Muffin Baker. I should have told the bereaved family first, but I’m sorry the order was delayed.”

The young boy and girl opened their eyes wide and said nothing. The grand prince staggered as if shocked, and the daughter of Count Baker covered her face with her hands.

They had known each other since childhood, he was a promising candidate for engagement, and someone they both knew well had died.

Seraph and Muffin didn’t lean on each other or offer comfort, but each swallowed their shock and grief alone.

Unable to watch, Serena awkwardly extended her hand, and Muffin embraced the princess and began to cry.

Seraph didn’t hug his sister. He only bit his lips and held back the tears that threatened to come.

Even keeping some distance, the entire conversation could be heard. High Priest Hazel, the actual leader of the prince’s party, carefully stepped forward.

“Your Highness. Since it’s come to this, it would be good to go to the lobby to mourn the deceased.”

“How many times must I say it? I’m not going.”

The high priest’s gaze became sharp.

“If we all go to the lobby, what do you plan to do alone, Your Highness?”

Seraph pointed to the cave that had been blocked by the ice snake, his eyes blazing with anger and grief.

“I saw it on the map at the mountain entrance. There’s a mountain hut in there too. I’ll wait there.”

“What if we don’t come even after a week?”

“If you don’t want to come, don’t. I can go alone.”

It was absurd for a 2-star who would have difficulty preserving his life, let alone seeking revenge, the moment he was left alone to say such things.

“Waaahhh, idiot, fool, moron! Acting tough when you’re so weak!”

Muffin, who was crying with her face buried in Serena’s chest, also subtly cursed the prince while pretending to talk about her brother.

“Seraph. I won’t tie you to a tree if you go to the lobby, so just stay for a week.”

“No.”

“Why are you being so stubborn?”

“Because I’m a fool, an idiot, a moron, and a weakling!”

Seraph shouted in frustration at Serena’s words that came out like a sigh.

“I know it too! I’m weak! I’m pathetic! Like father, like son, I easily fall for temptation! That’s why if I go to a safe place like the lobby, I won’t be able to maintain this current anger and passion.”

The prince contorted his face and pleaded.

“Please leave me alone! Let me think only of revenge! Don’t tempt me, Serena!”

‘I see.’

Only after hearing her sibling’s words did Serena realize. Her sibling knew he was vulnerable to pleasure and indulgence, safety and peace. That’s why he had stubbornly refused to go to the lobby.

Because as soon as he went to the lobby and realized he was safe, his desire for revenge would fade. Because the fuel of his anger would evaporate.

When the prince spoke honestly, High Priest Hazel’s sharp gaze softened. The High Priest of Earth slowly walked behind the prince.

“Princess, I’m sorry, but it seems we won’t be able to show you the exit.”

Priest Rihua also went to Hazel’s side, and Knight Marin moved toward the prince as well.

Even Muffin, who had been crying pitifully in Serena’s arms and occasionally cursing the prince, slipped out of the princess’s embrace and toddled toward the prince. Only the Bald Priest didn’t go to the prince and chuckled behind the princess.

Serena also raised the white flag. She didn’t want to indulge her sibling’s stubbornness, especially since he had grown up spoiled and had a nasty temper, but she was pleased that he had grown enough to acknowledge his own shortcomings.

“First, we need to check if the mountain hut is suitable for staying about a week. The priests should take turns going to and from the lobby.”

Seeing that his sister seemed to agree with his words, the prince belatedly wiped his eyes.

***

[You have discovered the stairs to the next floor. 5 shop coins have been awarded.]

The cave that the ice snake had been blocking. Upon entering the cave, they found stairs leading to the next floor, a sealed door, and the mountain hut Seraph had mentioned.

Serena, who had secretly worried about what to do if there was no teleportation room, felt relieved. She had told the priests to take turns using the teleportation room, but that would be impossible without one.

The mountain hut inside the cave at the mountain summit was abundantly stocked with supplies, perhaps intended to encourage adventurers who had made it to the top.

There was plenty of firewood and charcoal, and ample food and furs. Seraph strutted around smugly as if to say ‘I told you so.’

Behind the mountain hut where firewood was stacked, there was also a magic-grade treasure chest hidden. The treasure chest was so close that everyone had been wandering around looking at compasses spinning in place, but Seraph had pinpointed exactly where the chest was hidden.

‘This guy. Did he receive some blessing for finding treasure chests?’

Whether his sister was looking at him with suspicious eyes or not, Seraph triumphantly tried to open the treasure chest. Muffin, who had stopped crying, protested.

“Ah! Prince Seraph didn’t do anything! This time Knight Marin worked the hardest, so Knight Marin should open it!”

“Priest Muffin is right. I heard from the count that Princess’s party shares treasure chests fairly too. We should also take turns opening them now.”

Muffin and Rihua rebelled against the royalty’s monopoly of treasure chests.

Seraph glared as if asking what kind of impudent nonsense this was.

“What are you talking about? Treasure chests belong to whoever finds them. I found this treasure chest.”

“Now, now, everyone please don’t fight.”

The High Priest of Earth, the party’s actual leader, mediated the dispute.

“Ugh. The High Priest keeps taking Prince Seraph’s side, so he’s being stubbornly unreasonable.”

Muffin clenched her fists, but Seraph snorted dismissively. Serena was genuinely amazed by her sibling’s audacity.

‘He’d die if Muffin hit him. Isn’t he scared?’

Even Serena herself had been mindful of Lucas’s force, but Seraph was truly brazen, whether he trusted the priests’ character or had no doubt about his own status.

“Prince. Since Knight Marin’s contribution was great this time, how about yielding the treasure chest?”

“Hmph. Do whatever you want.”

Seraph stepped back with an openly annoyed expression. Muffin and Rihua, who had taken the treasure chest from the wicked prince, clasped hands in joy.

“Knight Marin! Hurry up and open it!”

“A fire-related magic tool would be good.”

“I’m… fine.”

Marin waved her hand with a dazed expression, perhaps still shocked from suddenly dropping from 5-star to 1-star. Then an unexpected person spoke up loudly.

“Oh my! What kind of ominous words are those!”

The Bald Priest, who had been chuckling, scolded the disheartened knight while spitting.

“The rewards of effort must be seized. If you don’t seize them, it’s the same as not having made any effort. Even if it was just for an hour, Knight Marin tried her absolute best. Are you planning to make that time and effort meaningless?”

‘Oh ho.’

If you work hard, you should also claim your rewards. The God of Effort unexpectedly understood earthly reality well.

Knight Marin, perhaps snapping to attention from the spit that flew on her face, shook her head with much clearer eyes.

“I can’t do that! Do you know how hard that one hour was for me!”

“Then quickly claim the reward for your effort! And set aside Bindo’s share!”

The High Priest of Effort didn’t forget to claim his own share of the effort either.

Light returned to Knight Marin’s eyes, which had been as precarious as a candle in the wind. Knight Marin vigorously opened the treasure chest.

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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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