Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 281

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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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281. Blessed Are Those Who Make an Effort

A day had passed. The priests who could move had also joined the lobby for now. Grey welcomed Count Randy with open arms, grateful for his hard work caring for the patients.

“Hyuuuung-niiiim!”

“Hieek!”

Harsh reality is hard to endure even when warned in advance.

Whether the alchemist suffered from the unbelievable reality or not. The old man launched a body tackle just like when he first reunited with his sworn brother, crawled up his body, grabbed his ears and whispered.

Whatever conversation they had, Count Randy stroked Grey’s gray hair after finishing their talk.

“Hahaha. I’m happy we can now call each other brothers!”

For someone claiming to be happy, his smiling face was full of worry. The Guide didn’t miss the chance to bite at the alchemist.

“But why does your smile look so sad?”

“Ahem. I’m just tired.”

“The Count has had a hard time.”

“It’s what I should do. Rather, I’m relieved the priests are safe. I thought we had enough recovery potion stock, but I need to increase our reserves.”

As the alchemist gratefully grabbed the lifeline Serena extended, Philia walked over. Heuji Jeolmi spread his arms to welcome his husband whom he hadn’t seen for three days.

“Honey!”

“Sorry, dear. I’m smelly and dirty right now, so I can’t touch you.”

When Count Randy pointed to himself covered in sweat, blood, and dirt, Philia replied coyly.

“We can wash together. Lady Serena, that’s okay, right?”

Though newlyweds washing together was excessive contact, she nodded thinking of the alchemist’s hardships.

As soon as the master’s permission was granted, Philia jumped up and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck. Count Randy embraced his beloved wife with emotion.

“Philia!”

“Mark!”

The alchemist forgot his fatigue and lifted his wife, carrying her into the hot spring. Olive pressed her ear to the wall surrounding the hot spring with a sinister smile.

But the sounds the Guide expected didn’t come. All that could be heard from beyond the partition were washing sounds and the couple’s affectionate conversation.

Why would Serena have allowed them to wash together in the first place?

‘Philia won’t disobey my orders, and Count Randy is someone who knows proper limits.’

She had given permission knowing they were people who would be satisfied with washing together lovingly as a couple.

Serena felt at ease and prepared sleeping places for the High Priest of Earth and the Fire Knight.

High Priest Hazel, whose complexion had improved considerably, bowed his head as if ashamed.

“I’m embarrassed to return injured after leaving so grandly.”

“You’re not embarrassed! I’m happy the priests returned alive!”

Thanks to the Young Knight honestly expressing his joy, a gentle smile returned to High Priest Hazel’s face.

“Gentle and kind fire. I have once again set foot in the lobby on the 1st floor of the labyrinth. Familiar faces and a familiar space. Especially the never-extinguishing campfire that brightens the lobby and provides warmth, wrapping this warrior’s cold and aching hands and feet as warmly as you in heaven—”

“Knight Marin! If your injuries are cold and aching, you should say so!”

Muffin was startled and moved the blanket Knight Marin was lying on close to the campfire. Fire Knights recover faster near flames.

Seraph sat down heavily in the middle where the priests lay, holding a cushion. His expression was full of irritation, but it was obvious all that irritation came from worrying about the injured.

The Prince seemed to want to ask about the Priest of Corruption who was moving busily, pursing his lips. But Muffin had gone elsewhere before Seraph could gather courage.

“Ugh. All the clothes are soaked in blood. Will the bloodstains come out?”

“I’m not sure. They weren’t immediately soaked in cold water and were left to harden. It would be better to wash only important clothes like winter gear and throw away the rest…”

Lavenda, who was examining the pile of bloodstained clothes, kept glancing at Serena. She was curious about the Princess’s intentions regarding providing spare clothing to the priests.

When Serena nodded, Lavenda felt relieved and opened the stone chest.

“How much do you need?”

“Ugh, I think washing them would be fine.”

Since Muffin seemed burdened, Serena stepped forward personally.

“Miss Muffin. Even if you wash them, you could be in danger from monsters that sense the blood smell or traces remaining in the fabric. We can get more from the 7th floor, so don’t feel burdened.”

“Then I’ll accept them. Thank you!”

Color finally returned to the Pink-Haired Girl’s face, which had been dark all along.

“Hehe. Bindo will rest a little.”

No one objected. They knew the High Priest of Effort had worked harder than anyone caring for the patients.

The moment the Bald Man settled down comfortably. A pack of hyenas that had been waiting for their prey to let its guard down swarmed in.

“Now’s the time! Attack!”

“Woong!”

“Why don’t we get allowance!”

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

“Huk! You still haven’t given up?”

The Bald Man snapped his eyes open and barely escaped the hands of the three hyenas and the Labyrinth Chicken’s claws. Sweat poured from the naturally bald head.

“Your effort is admirable, but couldn’t you make an effort in a more proper direction?”

“When you’re tired is the opportunity!”

“Woong!”

“I won’t give up this time! For real real real real real!”

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

The lobby was too narrow and complicated with too many people and things.

The High Priest of Effort fled outside the lobby as before. The pack of hyenas chased their prey with high spirits. Black chicken feathers scattered by the Labyrinth Chicken fluttered in the lobby.

Count Randy and his wife finished bathing and came out, lovingly combing and drying each other’s hair. From the large pot came a savory smell that made mouths water, as if pork was cooking.

Delicious smells that stimulated the nose and loving couples. Chicken feathers fluttering instead of colored paper and flower petals. Seeing thieves targeting people’s wallets, it was about half similar to a festival.

“You need to be able to use magic even in such chaotic situations.”

“Cough. Yes.”

With a performance of a dead fish flopping around in the corner of the lobby, wouldn’t this be a perfect festival scene if only music were added?

Countess Nex, who had difficulty dealing with people, seemed to lose energy just looking at people, her face paler than High Priest Hazel or Knight Marin.

Low also became severely shy, clinging to Olive, a familiar face, only to be pushed away and ended up maintaining weapons next to Ying.

Prince Willow was the opposite of Countess Nex and Low. He smiled brightly as if excited by the crowd.

“Hahaha. The meal is a bit delayed because of all the people. Rest comfortably until then.”

“I’ll help.”

“Sirius, you’re tired. Rest. That’s an order.”

The Prince half-forcibly drove Count Alpha away, but there really were many people.

‘I should help. Isn’t there anyone free?’

As Serena looked for suitable workers, Neet carefully approached her. Neet usually helped with odd jobs in the lobby, but was forbidden from helping with meal preparation due to wounds all over her body.

The youngest person in the lobby wiggled her bandaged fingers as if she had something to say to the Princess.

“What’s wrong, Neet?”

“What’s wrong Neet. Ugh.”

Seraph complained of an allergic reaction to his sister’s gentle voice and dry heaved. Serena ignored her brother without even glancing in his direction.

“Cough. Um, the God of Magic said I could learn new magic.”

Serena smiled gently. It was welcome news, so she didn’t need to act.

“That’s good. So?”

“Death attribute magic is special, so from the 3rd tier, the offerings must be special too. They said I need to offer an excellent corpse, and that’s, well.”

‘Just as Ying said.’

Thanks to the God of Gold’s generosity, the offering was prepared. Serena waited until Neet properly finished her request.

“An excellent corpse should look cool or pretty on the outside, and the stronger the better! It’s even better if it sparkles! Cough! Could I ask you to prepare an offering?”

Cough cough cough. Neet burst into coughs, perhaps very nervous about asking the Princess. Serena gently rubbed Neet’s back.

“That works out well. I have a pig head that’s perfect for an offering.”

“Cough. A pig head?”

Serena called Count Randy, who had melted with love and was combing Heuji Jeolmi’s beautiful silver hair like moonlight.

“Count. Take out the pig head the God of Gold gave us last time.”

“Understood.”

Serena smiled with satisfaction seeing her loyal retainer who immediately carried out orders without adding any words to her sudden command.

From the alchemist’s spatial bag came a white boar head with a gold coin embedded in its forehead. Everyone admired the excellent offering that wouldn’t be shameful to present to any god.

“The Earth would truly be pleased.”

“Fire. I have seen a pig head that would make you smile brightly if burned in flames!”

“It would be really good if buried in soil to rot.”

The priests showed particular deep interest.

“Oh, this is really nice. Why did you embed a gold coin in the head?”

“It’s a decoration placed by the God of Gold. Watch your words.”

“By Gold? I’ll be careful. I see. Gold too…”

Grey added Gold to the list of deities showing interest in their party and nodded seriously.

“Wow. Cough.”

Neet couldn’t close her mouth at the sight of the pig head larger than herself.

“With this, my sisters and I could eat for a month. Cough.”

Let me correct that. She was drooling while imagining the taste of pork.

“Miss Neet, the Prince is cooking pork. This is an offering to be presented to the God of Magic.”

“Hup. Yes.”

Neet wiped her drool with her bandages. Serena was puzzled by Neet’s reaction being different from what she expected.

‘I thought she’d be happy, but she’s so calm?’

The bandaged child fidgeted with her fingers again before speaking with difficulty.

“Are there no other offerings? Cough. Cough cough.”

“What’s wrong, Miss Neet? Is this offering insufficient?”

“Does Mysterious Wisdom have any specific requirements?”

The two Magic Tutors immediately pressed for the reason to find other offerings. Neet fidgeted before revealing the worry she harbored in her small head.

“This is my first attempt. Cough. If I fail to learn because of my inadequacy and waste such a splendid offering, it would be a shame. Cough.”

‘Ah. I understand that feeling.’

Even if magic acquisition failed, the offered sacrifice would ascend to the heavens and never return. One had to be cautious when offering hard-to-obtain sacrifices.

“Now that you mention it, it’s certainly too precious an offering to use on the first try.”

“That’s right. If Miss Neet wants to practice a bit more, it would be better to save the pig head and use a different offering.”

“How about the Labyrinth Chicken that Sister Sesi tamed? Since it’s a Floor Boss, it’s stronger than other Labyrinth Chickens, and being tamed, we could kill it with minimal damage.”

“I could also hunt a new pig. Yes yes. Please leave the hunting to me.”

Perhaps because it involved the boar head he had killed, Low also chimed in with his opinion.

As opinions narrowed down to practicing with the Labyrinth Chicken and hunting another boar, the Alchemist suddenly objected.

“Neet. I think it would be better to perform the ritual with this pig head right away.”

“Cough. What? Why?”

“This pig head was specially bestowed by the shining Gold. It contains Gold’s blessing, so we mustn’t ignore it.”

‘Does it work that way too.’

It was certain that the God of Gold had given the pig head as an offering, even embedding a gold coin in the head’s hole.

At the mention of divine will, the priests agreed with the Alchemist’s opinion.

“The Count is right. If heavenly Gold gave us the pig head, there must be a purpose.”

“Fire. I was wondering which of the countless stories I should tell first about those who saved divine gifts only to face misfortune instead, uurp.”

“Stop pondering and eat some tangerine.”

Muffin stuffed a peeled tangerine into Knight Marin’s mouth. The Fire Knight chewed eagerly, wanting to eat quickly and speak.

“Neet. This is a gift from the God of Gold who thought of you. Gold wouldn’t have given you a gift foreseeing your failure.”

With the Princess and Prince already overwhelming, now even a deity appeared. Neet nervously swallowed dry saliva.

“So you must do your absolute best with the mindset that you’d rather die than fail!”

Count Randy, who seemed to be encouraging Neet, spouted something absurd.

‘What kind of thing is he saying to a child who’s already nervous!’

Serena began to understand why Grey went around hitting people with his staff. Her hand naturally reached for the floating staff beside her when a loud noise came from the Labyrinth direction.

“A hardworking good child! Bindo will help!”

The Bald Man of Effort burst into the lobby, breathing roughly. A pack of hyenas followed behind him.

“Stop right there, Baldy!”

“Grr!”

“I won’t let you escape this time! Go, Chicken Leader! Wind attack!”

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

As the Labyrinth Chicken flapped its wings vigorously, a strong gust blew. While the Bald Man of Effort couldn’t open his eyes, Hana stealthily approached a priest and reached for his wallet.

“Got it. Huh?”

“Tsk tsk. This way you’re not receiving allowance money, you’re stealing it.”

Olive deflected the pickpocket’s hand targeting the priest’s wallet. Hana pouted her lips before hanging her head.

“Grr. So frustrating.”

“Kyung.”

“Next time I’ll definitely get allowance money.”

“Ho ho ho. Blessed are those who strive.”

The High Priest of Effort patted his knees and approached the hardworking good child, Neet.

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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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