Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 270

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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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270. Hero

A terrible silence followed. People’s gazes now shifted from the Princess to the priest. With only one conscious priest remaining, the High Priest of Effort had to endure everyone’s stares.

“Tell us what you know.”

“Reveal all your schemes!”

“Hehe, Bindo must be tired too.”

“Serena and Seraph are impatient. We don’t have time to wait, so speak quickly.”

“If you tell us everything, we’ll let you rest.”

Rarely did the Princess and Prince agree. The siblings threatened with an ominous momentum.

The High Priest of Effort considered trying to endure through effort, but surprisingly gave up easily.

“Sigh. It can’t be helped. Since you two are the parties involved, Bindo will tell you what he knows. However, Bindo doesn’t know the detailed circumstances either.”

‘Lies. He seemed to know the most.’

If the servants of Earth, Fire, and Decay had only received orders to deal with Richard, the servant of Effort spoke as if he knew something about Richard personally.

‘Richard also reacted favorably to the God of Effort. Let’s uncover everything this time.’

The Bald Man of Effort, suddenly surrounded and interrogated by two parties, rubbed his bald head with a tired expression.

“Where should I start? This story begins 18 years ago, from the day a great tragedy befell the Kingdom of Heuji.”

The Tragedy of Heuji. A tragic event where the royal family of the continent’s oldest nation was massacred, leaving all continental powers with the lesson never to gather heirs in one place.

“The only survivor of that incident was His Majesty the King, who was transported to the royal palace by the power of a magical artifact when caught in the landslide. Later, Duke Oren appeared, increasing the survivors by one.”

Up to this point, it was all a repetition of known stories. The impatient Prince showed his irritation.

“Stop with the stories we all know and tell us what we don’t know.”

“Hehe, stories have an order. This is where the main point begins.”

The High Priest of Effort complained of being tired and thirsty, requesting warm water. Since a fire was already lit, the alchemist prepared and handed over lukewarm water mixed with honey and salt.

Finding it tasteless, the High Priest of Effort made an effort to drink all the water.

“Ahem. How Duke Oren survived at that time, and why he didn’t immediately return to Heuji despite surviving, has never been revealed. The heavenly Effort told Bindo that Duke Oren, caught in the landslide, entered a labyrinth.”

“A labyrinth?”

“That’s right. Though no one knew, there is a labyrinth near Heuji’s Mausoleum. Duke Oren, swept away with the earth, fell into the labyrinth.”

Hearing the priest’s words, there was a relevant part among what Richard had said.

‘He said he was thinking of revealing the location of the labyrinth in the mountain range. That’s why he gathered labyrinth adventurers too.’

The Kingdom of Heuji, an isolated nation surrounded by sea to the west and mountain ranges on the other three sides. It was unheard of that there was a labyrinth in the mountain range, especially near the mausoleum.

“Lies! If there was a labyrinth, the search party would have found it!”

Seraph raised his voice. Serena denied her brother’s words.

“No. They wouldn’t have found it. At that time, heavy rain was falling and aftershocks and additional landslides continued, so even Grandfather couldn’t find the path to the mausoleum. Because of the barrier installed to hide the mausoleum, Grandfather had to participate in the search, but everyone opposed it fearing he too would be in danger, so the search was hastily terminated. I heard that recovering body fragments swept down with the earth was the best they could do.”

Since royal corpses were buried in the earth, precious metals would be buried with them. Those who climbed the mountain range with such thoughts disappeared due to the influence of the barrier installed to hide the mausoleum.

What must have been the feelings of the old man who lost his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, relatives, trusted friends and subjects, survived alone, and couldn’t even find their bodies?

‘He must have wanted to die with them.’

Harold II’s soul was buried in the mountain range during the Tragedy of Heuji. The body that returned to Heuji Royal Palace was empty and hollow.

“Your Majesty…”

Unable to dare imagine the old king’s feelings, Ralph’s face darkened. Even the guide, who cared nothing for the sorrows of high-ranking people, clicked his tongue.

“I interrupted your words. Continue speaking.”

“Duke Oren was swept by earth and debris and fell into the labyrinth. The earth and debris that swept the Duke blocked the labyrinth entrance.”

It was a very familiar situation. The heads of people who had been mourning the Tragedy of Heuji lifted.

“You mean that traitor was also trapped in a labyrinth? Like us?”

“That’s right. Duke Oren was trapped in a labyrinth like us. However, unlike us who were trapped together, the Duke was alone. He remained alone until he conquered the labyrinth and escaped.”

A silence of different meaning from right after the incident descended. Serena wasn’t surprised as she had already guessed this fact, but for others it would be as sudden news as hearing there was a labyrinth in Heuji.

The Princess swallowed a groan.

‘That’s when he would have sacrificed his eye.’

Serena could imagine what happened to Richard, who was younger than Seraph at the time, as if it were her own experience.

Cold, hungry, sad, and terrified, Richard wandered the labyrinth and died. Before the dead Richard, a mysterious being in robes appeared and asked.

‘Do you want to live?’

What else could Richard say? There would have been only one thing he could say.

‘Please save me!’

The god’s finger ruthlessly pierced the boy’s right eye.

The god granted the boy’s wish, but that was the beginning of endless tragedy to come.

Imagining up to that point, Serena’s left eye throbbed. Serena put her hand under her eyepatch and massaged around her left eye where the artificial eye was placed.

“Hey! How old was Duke Oren at that time?”

Only the Huaim siblings knew the answer. Since Serena was busy massaging her aching eye area, Seraph answered curtly with a grimace.

“Fourteen.”

“A 14-year-old conquered a labyrinth alone?”

Olive also furrowed her brow at the younger age than expected. Olive twisted her black hair with her fingers.

“Was it a Grade 1 like Vieta?”

Vieta’s Labyrinth was Grade 1. The shepherd boy conquered it alone with just a dagger and staff. To Olive’s hopeful question, the High Priest of Effort shook his head.

“The estimated grade of Heuji’s Labyrinth is 7 to 8.”

“Fucking hell.”

A curse burst from Olive’s mouth. Knowing it was an exclamation of surprise, no one scolded her for rudeness.

Before being mortal enemies, they shared the same blood as relatives. Even Seraph, who would go anywhere to kill Richard, held his breath at the unimaginable hardship.

The guide widened her round eyes and calculated the time.

“Duke Oren came to Heuji 6 years ago, and before that he conquered imperial labyrinths. He was active in the Empire for at least 2 years, so the time it took to conquer Heuji’s Labyrinth was 10 years…”

That’s the simple calculation. However, since Richard didn’t reveal his existence and operate openly, the period of conquering Heuji’s Labyrinth might be shorter than 10 years.

“No, even if it’s 10 years. How could a 14-year-old conquer a Grade 7 labyrinth alone? It doesn’t make sense. He’d starve to death on the 1st or 2nd Floor.”

The guide looked at people’s faces as if seeking agreement from others. Then, seeing the Princess’s face, she seemed to realize something and snapped her fingers.

“That’s it! I remember clearly! Bald priest called Duke Oren the labyrinth’s favorite! Duke Oren also received bread trees and various things like the Princess!”

People who had been skeptical about such an unbelievable story finally unlocked their closed minds.

“Olive seems right. If food was supplied and he could use transfer rooms, there’s definitely a possibility.”

Count Alpha nodded seriously. Serena forcibly swallowed the truth that had risen to her chin.

‘Richard didn’t have bread trees. He said there was no shop window or gacha either.’

I’m envious. I was really hungry, you know.

How many times did Richard starve to death? Duke Oren would be the royal who knew hunger best in this world. Serena was certain.

“Still, conquering a labyrinth alone. I can’t even imagine it. It wouldn’t be possible with ordinary effort and perseverance.”

“This is where the God of Effort comes in! He also called him the favorite of effort!”

“Exactly. Many heavenly beings looked favorably upon Duke Oren’s solo labyrinth conquest and bestowed power upon him.”

‘It’s like an egg hitting a rock with full force again and again until it finally pierced through. If all the heavenly beings were watching, it would have been a human victory.’

Fourteen years old. Alone. No bread trees or shops. Serena stopped thinking, fearing her hatred for Richard might weaken.

The Prince opened triangular eyes, seemingly displeased with something the High Priest of Effort had said.

“Do you mean heaven tolerates the crimes that dirty traitor commits by wielding power?”

Serena pointed out her brother’s crossing the line.

“Seraph. Watch your words.”

“Hehe, I understand the Prince’s misunderstanding. Duke Oren’s power was indeed given by the heavenly beings. However, please note that Bindo and other priests made efforts to stop him.”

The High Priest of Effort pointed to the priests and knights who were severely injured and still unconscious. Seraph was left speechless.

But the guide’s speech wasn’t blocked. Olive spoke in a prim voice.

“Instead of risking your lives to stop him, why not take back the power you gave? It might be petty to give and take back, but isn’t it better than priests dying?”

Serena also agreed with Olive’s words. If Richard’s strength was due to power given by the heavenly gods, couldn’t they retrieve the given power instead of putting precious priests in danger?

The High Priest of Effort firmly shook his head.

“It’s impossible. Duke Oren received rewards according to the Achievement he accomplished as a hero. Rewards received by overcoming trials cannot be retrieved even by heavenly beings.”

“Ha! A criminal who killed his own blood relatives is a hero?”

“Duke Oren conquered an estimated Grade 7 or higher labyrinth alone. It’s an Achievement no one has accomplished since labyrinths appeared on earth.”

“Oh, really? I suppose the heavenly beings were displeased seeing such a great hero commit patricide? So they ordered the priests to attack Richard?”

“Slightly different, but the Prince is correct.”

Ecstasy flickered across the Prince’s face, which had briefly darkened upon hearing of Richard’s tragedy. Seraph looked at his sister with an excited expression.

“You heard it, Serena! Heaven also doesn’t tolerate Richard’s crimes! My revenge is justified!”

There was much wrong with Seraph’s words. Since pointing it all out would be endless, Serena didn’t open her mouth at all.

Count Randy, who had been quietly listening without daring to interrupt when celestial beings were mentioned, subtly posed a question. It was a question born from concern for his lord’s safety rather than intellectual curiosity.

“Lady Serena also receives the Labyrinth’s favor. Could this perhaps be due to some physical trait you both share?”

The High Priest of Effort agreed with the alchemist’s hypothesis.

“Orange eyes are known to be evidence of divine blood passed down through House Huaim. Divine blood gradually weakens, but occasionally there are descendants in whom it manifests strongly. For such people, celestial beings can more easily bestow their power. Of course, they cannot interfere with divine blood to which they have no connection. The owner of the divine blood flowing through Huaim is likely the Labyrinth.”

Though he had suspected as much inwardly, it was hard to believe from the perspective of descendants who had only suffered hardship after entering the Labyrinth.

‘Descendants with strongly manifested divine blood are easier to empower. So that’s why I was able to offer sacrifices too.’

As evidence of this, Seraph, who lacked orange eyes, never gained the opportunity to offer sacrifices to the Minotaur God no matter how many times he died.

Seraph frowned as if he found it even harder to believe.

“Nonsense! Do you have proof? Huaim’s ancestors must have been more noble than the Labyrinth!”

“Heh heh heh. Isn’t the fact that Your Highness can blaspheme the Labyrinth within the Labyrinth without divine punishment falling upon you proof enough?”

Seraph grumbled in irritation. The Darkness Apostle, who had been keeping his eyes half-closed after taking Priest Rihua’s light attack, spoke in a low voice.

“Heuji’s founding king bore a child with the Minotaur God. That child had orange eyes.”

Ying’s elegant lips curved upward slightly. It was a smile as if recalling a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Ying maintained her smile as she looked at the Princess and Prince. Though it was an affectionate smile like one would give to a relative’s child, the siblings, who had never encountered such a relative, only felt awkward at this unfamiliar expression.

“How does Zero know that? Did the darkness tell you again this time?”

The archer shook his head lightly. If he hadn’t heard it from a deity, how could he know a story from a thousand years ago?

“Ugh.”

A faint groan was heard, so Serena set aside her questions. It hadn’t been a particularly important question anyway.

“Grgh.”

“Mmgh.”

Muffin, High Priest Hazel, and Knight Marin made similar groans while writhing their bodies. The three’s eyelids trembled, then as if by arrangement, they regained consciousness at similar times.

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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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