Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 267

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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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267. Reunion

Serena jumped up in surprise. High Priest Hazel embraced the Princess in his arms.

“It’s more dangerous if we leave here. Stay together!”

People gathered around the High Priest of Earth. While others, especially Seraph, argued saying ‘You said it was safe!’, Serena cast a mana field spell.

Fortunately, the vibrations that had been shaking the entire tunnel stopped faster than before.

“Did the giant earthworm move again?”

“Ugh, this is all because of Seraph…”

Muffin, conscious of Seraph’s sharp glare, changed her words.

“We’d better pass through this layer quickly.”

“That’s strange. Giant earthworms don’t usually move again after they stop.”

“O fire, uuup.”

Knight Marin’s lips, which had stopped her chattering disguised as prayers in surprise, were about to part. High Priest Hazel covered the Knight’s mouth with his large, warm hand while pretending to comfort people.

Serena thought seriously.

‘I want to die!’

She wanted to die and warn her sibling not to touch strange treasure chests, and explore the 11th layer without earthquakes!

‘How can I travel around if the giant earthworm keeps moving and scaring me!’

She desperately wanted to die and take advantage of being a returner.

However, Serena decided not to use the Zero Express even if she met Ying. It wasn’t just because of what Bald Man had said.

‘If I start over, all the conversations I had with Seraph would become nothing.’

This time she was lucky enough to hear her sibling’s hidden feelings. There was no guarantee she could hear her sibling’s concealed thoughts if she tried again.

As Serena thought this, a notification window appeared in the world of her left eye.

[You have defeated a Labyrinth Rat Leader. 1 shop coin has been awarded.]

It was welcome news that Serena’s party member had defeated the 41st floor Labyrinth Rat Leader.

‘This isn’t the time to be leisurely resting.’

Serena escaped from the High Priest’s warm embrace, gripped her staff, and stood properly.

“As Miss Muffin said, this doesn’t seem like a layer to stay long. We should hurry.”

Everyone agreed without opposition.

***

In the 11th layer of Heuji’s Labyrinth, monsters burst out from walls, floors, and ceilings. Serena’s party had Olive, who was experienced and had sharp senses, detect monsters.

How exactly had Seraph’s party been moving through the tunnels?

Serena’s question was quickly answered.

“They’re coming.”

The High Priest of Earth warned the party and clenched his fist. The metal studs embedded in his leather gloves reflected the light menacingly.

“Rot away!”

“Return to earth!”

Muffin and the High Priest’s fists flew toward the direction Hazel had indicated.

One Assassin Mole that had been stealthily approaching without sound or vibration to ambush the group had its head smashed, while another had half its body rotted.

Serena watched the scene trembling with envy.

‘That’s cheating.’

To be able to detect the location of monsters approaching through the ground. It was a fitting ability for a Priest of Earth, but in the tunnels it was a cheat-level detection ability.

If he had used it earlier, there wouldn’t have been a tunnel collapse from stimulating the giant earthworm. Serena found this very regrettable.

‘He’s strong. He was already strong, but did he get stat bonuses for being underground?’

She had never faced the High Priest of Earth in a tunnel environment. Hazel was truly invincible.

With the strongest dealer Muffin joining him, the only monster that could stop the group on the 11th layer would be the giant earthworm.

‘Won’t they even hunt the giant earthworm?’

If they just secured space and the group’s safety, the two of them could probably kill it.

“O fire! Watching the two priests’ activities, I thought: In the next battle, I too will show my prowess and spread your name high!”

“Knight Marin. You’re disturbing the High Priest’s concentration, so please be quiet.”

Anyway, thanks to their activities, the group moved quickly and arrived at the Leader’s Chamber. Serena’s party, who had been waiting for the stragglers with the chamber door open, smiled brightly upon seeing the Princess.

“Princess! Thank goodness you’re safe! We were really worried!”

“Ah, Lady Serena! Thank goodness, thank goodness.”

“Your Highness the Grand Princess. I apologize for failing to escort you.”

“Phew~ Really glad. Olive was so so scared.”

Even though they knew everyone had survived by leaving markers for each other, they couldn’t feel at ease until seeing them directly.

Both Serena and her party members sighed in relief and savored the joy of reunion. Even the Taciturn Archer wore a gentle smile and bowed silently to the Princess.

“Gasp! Se, Lady Serena! Are you injured? Quickly, a potion!”

“Calm down, Count Randy. I received treatment from the priests. It’s fixed because I need stability.”

The two parties exchanged information. Olive, who heard about the identity of the earthquakes shaking the tunnels, openly glared at the Prince.

“That was because of the earthworm? Do you know how scary it was when even the Leader’s Chamber shook while we were fighting the Labyrinth Rat Leader?”

“The Leader’s Chamber shook too?”

“Yes! The Leader’s Chamber shook too and we were so scared it might collapse!”

She was about to say that surely the Leader’s Chamber wouldn’t collapse, but held back. In labyrinths, anything could happen.

“As the Earth Priest said, when giant earthworms move once, the damage is great but the rest period is long. But moving again this quickly is suspicious.”

When Olive gave her opinion as an experienced Labyrinth Adventurer, High Priest Hazel smiled like someone who had something to feel sorry about.

“Hazel. What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry. Actually, I was speculating that the earthworm moved because the Princess’s party members touched the earthworm’s treasure chest.”

At what the High Priest of Earth said, the Guide jumped up and down in anger.

“Priest, that’s too much! Who do you think is stupid? Even though the shiny shiny shiny shiny shiny chest is tempting, I check properly before touching it!”

“Are you calling me stupid right now!”

Seraph, who had excitedly touched such a suspicious chest, got angry. Olive pretended to cry while wiping her dry eyes.

“Sob sob, Olive got hurt.”

“I was hasty in my thinking. I apologize.”

“Take it back! Take it back right now!”

Muffin and Count Randy held back and stopped the angry Seraph.

“Ugh, honestly we did wrong. I’ll be stupid together too, so please calm down.”

“Lord Seraph, thank you for saving Lady Serena. Are you injured anywhere, Lord Seraph?”

Hearing Count Randy’s sincere thanks, Seraph calmed his anger.

“So? What will you do now? It’s dangerous before the earthworm calms down. For now, we’re going back to the lobby. We found a proper shortcut.”

Rather than resting while being anxious about the earthworm’s movements, it was better to return to the lobby and wait for the earthworm to calm down while resting.

“We are.”

“We’re going down.”

High Priest Hazel was about to answer Olive when Seraph interrupted. High Priest Hazel didn’t get angry and affirmed with a smile.

“We intend to go down. This time our response was late and we got separated from the Prince, but from now on I can handle it.”

“If you’re going back, hand over food and consumables to us. We used high-grade potions treating Serena, so give us potions too.”

He was second in line for succession to the throne of a historic kingdom with over a thousand years of history, but his actions were no different from a highway robber.

Why was the shame Serena’s burden when it was her sibling doing embarrassing things?

Serena held her forehead and shook her head.

“The spare potions…”

“Count! How can you just hand them over obediently!”

The Guide’s gaze, who had been stopping the Alchemist from obediently opening his subspace bag, turned toward the door.

Not just the Guide. Everyone in the Leader’s Chamber turned their gaze to the door.

Because the Leader’s Chamber door that High Priest Hazel had closed when entering moved.

“Are there other people besides us?”

Since monsters couldn’t open doors and enter the Leader’s Chamber, whoever was trying to enter was human.

“Your Highnesses. Please step back.”

If there were other people on the 41st floor, had they touched the earthworm’s treasure chest? Everyone swallowed dryly and watched the door.

“Who is it? If you’re going to enter a room with guests, introduce yourself first!”

Olive shouted at the door, but no answer came back. Instead, the door swung open wide and the mysterious stranger she feared to see even in dreams revealed himself.

‘That’s him!’

“Richard!”

Before Serena’s thoughts could finish, Seraph, who had been at the back of the group, burst forward.

“Aaah, Lord Seraph! It’s dangerous!”

“Your Highness, please calm down.”

“Let go, let go! Release me!”

Fortunately, Seraph was caught by Muffin and High Priest Hazel before he could reach Richard.

Richard displayed his characteristic relaxed atmosphere, looked at Seraph and Serena, then smiled warmly.

“Hello. Serena, Seraph.”

“Richard, you unfilial wretch!”

“Haha. Seraph still has such good lungs.”

The unprecedented unfilial son laughed peacefully, remaining spotlessly clean without a speck of dust even in tunnels where giant earthworms caused earthquakes.

Behind Duke Oren, a small-framed young man with carrot-colored hair grown long and braided appeared.

“My lord! I told you opening doors is my job! Huh?”

His surprise at seeing the visitors was brief. High Sol smiled pleasantly and waved at the group, especially toward where Olive and Ying were.

“Little carrot! You’re alive?”

“You remember now? It’s been a while, Ying!”

When Olive acknowledged him, High visibly brightened. Like his sibling, the older brother still seemed to harbor feelings for the flighty guide.

“Let go!”

Hazel and Muffin could be trusted to handle Seraph. Though Seraph’s dramatic reaction had overshadowed it, everyone had taken combat positions.

Serena first tried to persuade the 5-star guide and spear wielder.

“High Sol. I don’t know what you seek from Duke Oren, but Duke Oren is a traitor to Heuji and an unfilial son who murdered his grandfather with his own hands. Don’t risk your neck following a villain—come to our side. Your sibling is with us too. In times of crisis, shouldn’t siblings join forces?”

“Right. Don’t serve some Orange guy or whatever and come here. Our Princess is the best.”

“Wow. First time being scouted by a Princess. My heart’s pounding, you know?”

High laughed cheerfully but didn’t leave Richard’s side.

“Hey! Our Princess isn’t just any princess. She’s a Magic Princess. Come over now and I’ll tell you some really valuable information as a new member bonus.”

“This lord isn’t just any lord either. He’s a Sword Master lord.”

“Eh. Being strong isn’t everything in the labyrinth. Our Princess is an apostle of the Minotaur God!”

High showed interest, apparently intrigued by these words.

Three parties were in the 41st Floor Command Room of Heuji’s Labyrinth, 11th Layer. One party was recruiting from other parties, one party was hostile to other parties. And the leader of the last party was.

“Oh my, Serena. Did you hurt your leg? I have a regeneration potion, so please take it.”

Richard pulled out a regeneration potion from his bag, presumably a spatial storage bag, and offered it. When he stepped forward to hand over the potion, Serena grew wary and Seraph struggled even more violently.

“Don’t come closer. Have that High person deliver it.”

“Serena, are you insane! What are you doing when we should be ganging up to kill him!”

“Ugh, Lord Seraph. Please calm down a little.”

“What should I do? Wh-what should I do? Oh light? Wh-what can I do.”

Priest Rihua was quite shocked by Richard’s appearance, only repeating “what should I do.” The talkative Knight fell silent, coldly lighting up his blue eyes as he watched Richard.

“Huh? I’m really delivering it?”

High looked surprised at the regeneration potion Richard offered, then voluntarily disarmed and approached with both hands spread wide and visible.

Olive, the fastest in the party, stepped forward to make contact with High, but the High Priest of Earth, who was sweating profusely while restraining Seraph, shouted.

“Oh Earth! Bind your enemy!”

Stones erupted from the floor and fell from the ceiling, trapping Richard.

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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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