Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 278

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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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278. Move!

“Get lost!”

Why didn’t you come after me right away? I hate you, sister!

“Didn’t you hear? I said get lost!”

If you really leave, I’ll sulk for 10 years!

‘This kid, really.’

Was it because he was in the midst of turbulent adolescence? Seraph’s way of expressing himself was too difficult for Serena to understand.

It was only because Serena was a reincarnated one and had watched over her sibling from a young age that she could barely grasp his true feelings. If she hadn’t been reincarnated, she might have turned around immediately at his words to get lost.

“How could you dangerously run off alone like that.”

“I’ve gotten stronger. I can take care of myself. So get lost.”

“Grey has awakened. His mind is clear and he’s not hurt anywhere.”

The reason Seraph was like a hedgehog, raising sharp spines in all directions and attacking his surroundings, was ultimately because he was scared.

‘He must have been shocked when Grey collapsed. He’s tender-hearted after all.’

Though her sibling was an ill-tempered prince, he wasn’t such a callous piece of trash that he could indifferently overlook a young child coughing up blood and collapsing.

“…That’s a relief.”

The hedgehog that had been raising spines in all directions relaxed his ‘the best defense is offense’ stance.

“Hehe, Your Highness, please converse with the Princess. This humble one will be over there.”

Low took Ralph and put some appropriate distance between them.

Perhaps tired from listening to the prince’s venting due to his shy personality, the hunter’s face was full of relief as he moved away.

“Grey said he’ll forgive what you said too. Go apologize to the Prince and Grey.”

“The King is incompetent.”

“That’s not how you use that phrase. Didn’t you learn that in your imperial studies classes?”

Seraph raised some of the spines he had lowered again.

“I’ve heard countless times that it would have been better if you and I were born with switched genders.”

Serena furrowed her brow.

“Who dares say such things?”

“There’s no need to say who. Everyone thinks that way. It’s always been like that. Even Father said something similar!”

“Seraph. If you let such words sway you, it’s your loss. You should listen to the words of those who cherish you.”

“Oh, really? Then should I have given up the throne like Count Stollen said?”

Though Pink Fungus had said it out of genuine concern for Seraph, it was a statement that crossed the line. Serena pressed her fingers firmly to prevent wrinkles from forming on her brow.

“You said you’ve gotten stronger, right? Miss Muffin said the same. That you’ve grown a lot. So she asked me to trust you. As you said, I had given up on you, but now I’ve decided to believe in you again. Can’t you hear what Miss Muffin and I are saying?”

Seraph’s face clouded over. He was shaken.

‘Good. Let me drive the point home while I’m at it.’

“We can’t kill Richard in the labyrinth. Let’s leave restraining the traitor to the priests and focus on escaping the labyrinth. Revenge isn’t your only duty. As the next king of Heuji, you need to rescue and lead the people in the lobby now and those trapped in the labyrinth. I’ll help you too.”

The next king who rescued 100,000 people from the labyrinth that swallowed the capital. Can’t you feel the royal authority poking the butts of the heavenly gods?

Can’t you clearly see the future where external interference will be blocked by the citizens’ will?

If Seraph becomes the focal point, rebuilding Heuji City and stabilizing the nation will become easier too.

While Serena was earnestly dreaming of a bright tomorrow and bright future, Seraph suddenly spoke.

“You do that.”

Cracks appeared in Serena’s beautiful future vision. Serena doubted her ears.

“What did you say?”

“I said you should do that. Everyone’s been doing fine on their own so far, so there’s no need for me to butt in. I’ll keep chasing Richard, so you just find people and bring them to the lobby.”

“Are you saying revenge is more important than the citizens of Heuji?”

Why do people pay taxes to the country, and why do nobles and knights pledge loyalty to their sovereign? Because they believe the king will use those taxes to maintain the country and protect the people.

This world had an even stronger awareness of this than her previous life because gods and monsters actually existed.

The beginning of taxation was when farmers gave a portion of their harvest from the land to warriors who had eliminated monsters for them.

Since the owner of the land actually existed in the heavens, no one dared claim to be the landowner. Instead, they collected protection fees under the pretense of protecting the people living on the land.

Of course, since this was also a place where people lived, there were kings and nobles who tried to enjoy only rights without fulfilling their duties.

But in any case, kings had the duty to protect nobles and commoners.

Seraph was the heir to Heuji’s throne, yet he was refusing that duty head-on.

‘No, wait.’

It was too early to give up. There was still hope left for her sibling. With just one more word here, there was a cowardly and underhanded move that only her sibling could use to take care of both the citizens and revenge!

‘Say it, Seraph. You must have learned this in your imperial studies!’

“You’ve always liked public welfare and safety. Do as you please.”

Since her sibling seemed not to realize his secret weapon, Serena gave him a hint.

“Are you giving me an order right now?”

That’s right. As the heir to the throne, Seraph possessed a cheat key that could secure both justification and practical benefits.

Orders. If he just ordered Serena to rescue people in his place, care for them, and figure out how to escape the labyrinth, all that credit would belong to Seraph who gave the order.

Isn’t that too underhanded? That’s just how the class system works.

Even in games, the hero does all the hard work, but the credit for defeating the demon king and stabilizing the world goes to the king who sent the hero.

All the king provided was equipment support that was embarrassing to call basic investment, and a small amount of funding.

‘Say it. Order me. That’s how you take your first step as a king.’

Serena focused her one eye on her sibling’s pretty face. Perhaps feeling burdened by the one-eyed gaze, Seraph averted his eyes.

“It’s not an order, just do what you want to do.”

‘You flower trash! You can’t eat even when I’m spoon-feeding you!’

What came out was a sigh, and what increased were wrinkles.

***

Upon returning to the lobby, Seraph politely apologized to Prince Willow and Grey.

“I’m sorry for having such a creepy misunderstanding. I’m sorry, Grey Ash.”

Since sincerity could be felt in his expression and tone, the Prince and Grey accepted the prince’s apology.

“Hmm. I too would have been upset if someone with such misunderstandings was a candidate for my sister’s fiancé.”

“Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, how about we talk about the marriage proposal slowly? Right?”

Grey seemed to be thinking of using Seraph’s mistake toward him as a stepping stone to advance the marriage talks.

However, Seraph apparently didn’t want to become in-laws with Duke Pein, who had trash personality, so he ignored and avoided the old man.

“What a strange miracle indeed….”

The prince stared wide-eyed at the various items his sister had supposedly received from the Minotaur God.

The hot spring and bread tree were one thing, but what on earth were the toilet and dog house-like bed? And what about the exercise facilities outside the lobby?

After finishing his tour of the lobby, Seraph confidently tried to sit in the chair.

“Wait.”

Serena stopped her sibling.

“Why?”

“That’s my chair.”

The princess’s orange eyes and the prince’s amethyst eyes clashed in mid-air. Serena didn’t stop at just a staring contest and strode toward the chair.

“Move. It’s my chair.”

Serena issued an eviction order to her sibling standing in front of the chair. Seraph got annoyed.

“Are you telling me to sit on the floor right now?”

“You’ve been sitting on the floor just fine all this time. What’s with the sudden fuss?”

“Back then there was no chair, but there’s a chair here.”

“There’s no chair for you. This is my chair.”

Serena crossed her arms and deliberately lifted her chin to look down at her sibling who was similar in height. Seraph gritted his teeth.

“You didn’t say anything when I sat earlier, so why are you picking a fight all of a sudden?”

“Why do you think I let you use the chair and now I’m trying to take it back? Don’t you know, so you’re asking?”

The reason Serena had let her sibling sit in the only chair in the lobby was because Seraph was the next king of Heuji.

‘But what? You’re going to focus on revenge?’

In that case, Serena had no need to respect Seraph.

Serena was older, and she had even gained the sacred authority of being the Minotaur God’s apostle on top of the secular power of being royalty.

Most importantly, this was the labyrinth. Even a mutt gets half the credit in front of its own house, so what about when the Minotaur God’s apostle is in the labyrinth?

‘Absolute power.’

She didn’t even die in the labyrinth. Though her power paled in comparison to that unfilial son who possessed similar authority plus the military might of a Sword Master, Serena’s power was still considerable.

“If you understand, then move. This is my chair.”

Her sibling always got angry and annoyed, saying Serena acted selfishly, but Serena had been respecting her sibling as the next king in her own way.

If he wouldn’t act like a king, there was no need to respect him as the next king anymore. She could just treat him like an ordinary sibling.

It might be different if Seraph properly rebelled and tried to assert his authority. But would a sibling who couldn’t even give orders to his sister have such guts?

Serena pushed aside her sibling, who could only gape wordlessly, with her shoulder and sat in the chair. She even crossed her legs, which she hadn’t done before because it was bad for her back and pelvis.

“Tch.”

The prince acknowledged defeat and tried to sit in the lower chair. Serena stopped this too.

“Wait.”

“What now!”

“That’s Viscount Nex’s chair. You’re not planning to make the delicate viscount sit on the floor, are you?”

“I’m fine.”

Even though Viscount Nex said he was fine without a chair, looking at the mage’s frail, almost precarious body made his words lack conviction.

Even that worthless flower trash couldn’t tell such a skeletal, gaunt person to sit on the floor. Seraph shouted angrily.

“You there, hunter! Bring a cushion!”

“Yes sir.”

Low, who had suddenly become the prince’s attendant, bowed his large frame obsequiously as he offered the cushion.

The people in the lobby felt a sense of peace and smiled brightly as they looked up at the princess sitting in her chair, looking down at them.

Serena leaned her upper body against the chair’s backrest and surveyed the lobby. There seemed to be no major problems.

A striking red-haired beauty was petting a giant Labyrinth Chicken while sending desperate glances her way. Unable to ignore it, Serena gestured to Sesi.

“Yes! You called for me, Princess!”

As if she had been waiting just for the princess to notice her, Sesi came running over. The Labyrinth Chicken ran along too, scattering chicken feathers throughout the lobby.

Serena carefully observed the Labyrinth Chicken that Sesi had successfully tamed with her one eye. Judging by its extraordinary size, fierce gaze, and menacing claws and beak, it was definitely a floor boss.

“You really tamed a floor boss! Well done!”

“Hehe. This time was really hard. Duri helped me!”

“Woof!”

Duri, sitting beside the chair, suddenly thrust his head forward. He wanted to be petted.

A tall, unfamiliar man pressing his face against the princess’s thigh? Seraph drew his sword in shock, but after hearing the sound of the sword being drawn and seeing Duri’s eyes when he turned his head, he calmed his excitement.

Duri’s black, shiny eyes were pure and innocent like a young child’s. They were closer to the honest eyes of a beast than the eyes of someone with many thoughts.

“Hmm. Pure indeed.”

“Hehe, it’s natural that you’d be surprised. Duri is closer to a bear than a person. His intelligence seems a bit lower than an actual bear’s.”

Serena petted the bear boy’s head as he craved praise. Though there was less area to touch than when he was a bear, his round head was still satisfying to pet even in human form.

“Would you tell me your tale of valor?”

“Yes! Our Chicken Leader resisted at first, but when Duri hit him a few times, he became docile!”

‘As expected, you can’t tame floor bosses right away. Can you only tame them after breaking their fighting spirit or when their stamina drops?’

Despite taming an actual floor boss, the yellow stars above Sesi’s head were still only two.

‘Is it because she only tamed one? Or does she need to tame stronger magical beasts?’

Sesi’s abilities had many unknown aspects. As she was petting both siblings’ heads with her hands, Prince Willow shouted for them to eat.

“Today’s menu is chicken porridge! Hahaha! Since Chicken Chicken was big, there’s plenty of meat and bones left, so eat your fill!”

If Sesi tamed stronger magical beasts, Chicken Leader would probably become the party’s daily bread like Chicken Chicken.

Serena ate the chicken porridge while avoiding looking at the two fake chickens as much as possible.

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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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