Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 283

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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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283. This Awakening Contract Has Been Approved by Death

Serena stood before Krom’s grave. She was there to retrieve the buried coffin.

While others would need to dig through the mound to extract a coffin, Serena could retrieve it with a single click.

‘This feels strange.’

She was retrieving the corpse of someone she had personally buried (with a click, but still). Moreover, it was the drug dealer she had given up on reviving.

‘She said death would be agonizing.’

If she had known that fact when Krom died, would she have regressed to save her?

Now Lucas seemed like nothing more than a trivial enemy, but when facing him with 1/100,000th of her abilities, he had been a terrifying adversary.

‘I don’t know. Even though it depends on my decision, I really don’t know.’

She was retrieving the coffin from the grave to raise that same Krom as an undead. The Princess concealed her complicated feelings as she read the text visible only to her eyes.

-Would you like to retrieve the coffin?

Serena selected ‘Yes’. Before choosing, she thought she should tap the mound three times with a shovel and shout about grave robbing, but she didn’t since that was knowledge from another world.

‘Neet said she spoke with Krom, so it should be fine.’

When she selected ‘Yes’, the mound split in half and the buried coffin rose up conveniently. Being a Labyrinth-made coffin, it was well-sealed and only gave off a moist earthy smell.

‘Opening the coffin will be different.’

Serena filled her lungs with air and warned those in the lobby.

“I will now open the coffin. Those who are mentally weak or have weak stomachs should leave the lobby.”

No one left the lobby.

“Even if the magic fails, it’s important to observe the process.”

“Miss Neet is my student, so I’ll endure it.”

Grey was thoroughly excited at the thought of witnessing undead awakening, the flower of death attribute magic.

Countess Nex also held her position due to her desire to see magic she only knew in theory being cast and her position as Neet’s teacher.

She wasn’t just stubbornly enduring. The noblewoman, well aware of her own frailty and weak stomach, brought a quince from the fruit tree to her nose. She intended to neutralize the corpse’s stench with the quince’s strong fragrance.

“We must stay by Neet’s side!”

“Yeah!”

“Seeing corpses is scary! But since you said she’s a good grandmother, it’s okay!”

The Number Siblings naturally wanted to remain by their youngest member’s side.

“Real necromancers are rare, we absolutely have to see this!”

“I’m also curious about how undead are different.”

“….”

The Labyrinth adventurers, accustomed to death, burned with the will to observe as if they couldn’t miss such a rare spectacle. Olive was crunching on corn snacks fried by the Prince. To think she was eating food when she was about to see a corpse – she really had a strong stomach.

“I too have seen many corpses resting in the earth’s embrace. I’ll be fine.”

“Magic is ultimately grace bestowed by the heavenly magic upon many talented individuals. To suffer while witnessing that grace would be insulting to the great beings of heaven. Since this is an undead approved by heaven, there’s a story that comes to mind-.”

“Ugh. Knight Marin. I’m only tolerating you as a patient until today.”

“Hehehe, Bindo is also seeing a necromancer and undead for the first time. I’m curious what differences there might be from commonly seen undead.”

All magic is power permitted by heaven. Since necromancers don’t unilaterally raise and control the dead, and the agreement between parties was complete, the priests only showed curiosity.

“Will Lord Seraph be alright? You have a weak stomach.”

“Of course I’m fine! Don’t look down on me!”

Muffin, who had been scolded for worrying about the Prince with good intentions, turned her head with a fed-up expression. The Priest of Corruption’s fists trembled.

“Philia. You.”

“I’ll stay beside Lady Serena.”

Philia closed the distance as if ready to link arms with her master at any moment. She had noticed Serena’s troubled feelings.

Serena was grateful for her friend’s stubbornness and didn’t try to dissuade her further. Instead, she told Count Randy to take good care of his wife.

“Will Sir Ralph be alright?”

Serena asked the teenage knight among those positioned beside the coffin, preparing for any emergency. Ralph gripped his sword firmly and answered.

“Yes! I’m fine!”

“How about Miss Lavenda? There’s no need to force yourself.”

If the Mysterious Stranger was staying in the lobby out of obligation since everyone else was there, she could be sent out with Ralph. The Mysterious Stranger declined the Princess’s consideration.

“I’m fine too, Princess. If we end up burying Grandmother Krom again, someone will need to arrange the corpse. Since there’s no family here, I should do it as someone with a connection.”

“What a beautiful heart! Miss Lavenda! I’ll help too!”

“Huh? That’s a bit.”

Lavenda failed to manage her expression, apparently really disliking the idea. To help the Mysterious Stranger who belatedly tensed her facial muscles, Serena commanded the knights standing beside the coffin.

“Open it.”

“Yes!”

“Excuse us.”

The two knights opened the coffin. Krom’s corpse laid inside was revealed. The corpse looked exactly as it had when buried, and there was no corpse odor that people had worried about.

“The corpse hasn’t rotted at all?”

Philia, who saw the corpse over Serena’s shoulder, was startled. People each offered their own speculations.

“Perhaps the Labyrinth’s soil prevented decay.”

“Hmm. Maybe it’s just because the tomb given by the Minotaur God is special?”

“Hehe, it’s not even mummified. It looks exactly as it did when it died.”

“Ugh. It hasn’t rotted at all. This means my brother isn’t rotting either… Should I go rot him after all?”

It would be terrible if Muffin asked to open a coffin thinking of her brother. Serena quieted the lobby, which had become noisy with the increased number of people.

“Everyone calm down. The corpse is clean because the tomb given by the Minotaur God is special. If taken outside the Labyrinth, it will decay normally, so don’t worry.”

When the Princess calmed the people, the Old Man stepped forward.

“Your Highness. May I examine the corpse?”

Serena nodded. Grey didn’t immediately examine the corpse but asked Neet again.

“Neet. Ask the deceased if I may examine the body.”

“*Cough*. The kid looks unsightly, but she says go ahead if you’re okay with it.”

Thanks to Krom calling Grey a kid, some choked and others held their stomachs laughing.

Grey pressed his forehead as if his neck was stiff, then approached the coffin.

“Excuse me.”

Gone was his excitement about unknown magic driven by intellectual curiosity. Grey’s attitude toward the deceased was polite and respectful.

Though the cold corpse should have been disgusting, Grey didn’t frown once and seriously examined the affected area and other parts.

After finishing his examination, Grey bowed respectfully to Krom’s corpse.

“I’ve finished the examination. Thank you for allowing it.”

It was clear he genuinely meant it, not just going through the motions.

If that was acting, then the clumsy acting he’d shown so far would mean he was performing the most difficult type of acting – acting like a bad actor.

‘Acting, acting – this is confusing.’

In any case, Grey was serious. Serena narrowed her one eye.

‘He treats people he doesn’t think highly of as fools or chess pieces, but he’s not someone who would waste human life meaninglessly. Why did he put a young child in the Labyrinth?’

“*Cough*.”

Neet approached the coffin. Serena focused on the present.

“I wish to use the power permitted by heaven. *Cough*. Please heal Grandmother Krom’s wounds.”

Before awakening the corpse as an undead, Neet first cast corpse restoration magic. The fatal wounds left by Lucas healed.

‘A corpse’s wounds healing. Even seeing it, I can’t believe it.’

Wounds healing and mending was the privilege of the living. Seeing it applied to a corpse caused physiological discomfort and revulsion to surge.

Others seemed to feel the same, as coughing sounds could be heard from various places. Serena suppressed her revulsion and focused on the corpse.

This time Countess Nex confirmed that all wounds on the corpse had disappeared. Neet opened her eyes properly and chanted a new spell.

“I wish to use the power permitted by heaven. Let Grandmother Krom’s soul enter her body and awaken! As long as my mana allows, let her move as if alive!”

It was her first time using this magic and being 3rd tier magic, the casting didn’t seem easy. Unfortunately, the only undead she’d seen was the Leader undead, which seemed to have a bad influence on her mental image.

“The deceased desires awakening. Since the great beings of heaven have permitted this contract, may this will be fulfilled!”

The incantation grew longer and longer. The amount of mana Neet was pouring out also gradually increased.

‘You can’t get full on the first spoonful. Should I suggest taking a break and trying again?’

As Serena was about to stop Neet, Neet raised her staff high.

“Arise! Deceased Grandmother Krom! I am Neet, who made a contract with you!”

“Goodness. Stop calling already.”

A familiar voice came from the coffin. Ralph, who was closest to the coffin, was the first to brighten up.

“Miss Krom!”

“Noisy. I told you to stop calling me.”

Krom opened both eyes wide and raised her upper body from the coffin.

She had clearly died and become undead, yet her eyes were clear. Her pupils weren’t dilated but normal, and her blinking was as natural as a living person’s.

Krom blinked rapidly while turning her head to look around.

“Goodness. Why are there so many people? Oh my, there are more dead people besides me.”

Her voice had none of the unpleasant quality typical of undead. It was similar to when an ordinary person spoke. And how smooth her neck movement was as she looked around.

And look at what she was saying. She had reason and intelligence. She showed no hostility toward the living.

The undead awakened through formal alliance with Death was clearly different from the undead the party knew.

“You said undead! But this is complete resurrection! Yo!”

That was exactly what Serena wanted to say. The Guide jumped up and ran to Krom, arbitrarily checking her pulse.

“What!”

Krom looked displeased and swatted away Olive’s hand that was on her neck. Olive rubbed her struck hand.

“Ah, right. Looking closely, she’s not breathing and her heart isn’t beating. Yo. Her hand is cold too. She is undead.”

“Why does this young lady talk like that? Is there something wrong with her?”

Whatever they had imagined, this exceeded all expectations. In the Labyrinth, nothing should be surprising, but Krom didn’t belong to the Labyrinth’s mysteries.

Serena was so shocked her mind wasn’t working well. Grey, with his experience, was the first to regain his composure and approach Krom.

“Ahem! Hello, Grandmother Krom! How many do you see?”

Grey held up two fingers. Krom replied curtly.

“Two. I’m undead now, aren’t I? Undead are dangerous to children, so stay back. Shoo, shoo.”

Krom waved her hand as if shooing away a bothersome puppy.

An undead telling the living to keep their distance because she was dangerous!

People who were amazed by this astonishing fact were amazed again. Viscount Nex, so shocked that strength left her hands, dropped her quince and trembled.

“It’s just like the records. They said undead raised by true necromancers have reason and intelligence like living people, don’t antagonize the living, and can fully utilize their abilities from life. Exactly like the records! Gasp, my heart!”

The sickly viscount’s heart wouldn’t allow even excitement from joy. The viscount breathed heavily while being supported by Prince Willow to sit on a low chair.

“Oh my. That lady is nothing but bones. She’s not sick because of me, is she? This is really okay?”

Serena pushed aside all her complicated thoughts and answered Krom’s question.

“It should be… fine. For now, I can only very faintly sense the death energy emanating from your body.”

It wasn’t empty words – it really was so faint that Serena had to concentrate to feel it. At this level, it would be fine to be near elderly or weak people.

“For now, can you come out, can you get out of the coffin?”

“I’ll help you!”

Ralph shouted energetically while extending his hand to Krom. Krom scolded him.

“Quiet! My ears are ringing, so don’t shout!”

Krom didn’t take Ralph’s hand but gripped the coffin and slowly stood up. Her joint movements were stiff, finally showing her undead nature, but her movements gradually became smoother.

And so Krom stood upon the earth.

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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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