Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 295

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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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295. Ralph is Cool

A red form caught the Princess’s single eye, but it was an afterimage. Serena’s dynamic vision and reflexes couldn’t keep up with the red Assassin Mole’s attack speed.

‘I’m going to die!’

Serena accepted death as a foregone conclusion and squeezed her single eye shut. She thought that when she opened her closed eye, the mysterious Minotaur God with crimson eyes would be waiting for her.

“Princess!”

‘Huh?’

Today the deity’s voice sounded similar to Ralph’s for some reason. And why was it calling Serena “Princess”?

If the deity wasn’t joking, it meant Serena was still alive. Serena opened her tightly closed single eye. Ralph and Count Randy were holding and shaking her.

She could vividly feel her body being shaken. Serena was alive.

“Are you alright?”

“How did I survive?”

“Don’t move.”

Count Randy lifted the Princess’s torn outer garment that had been ripped by the mole’s claws. Not a single scratch could be found on the black undergarment worn beneath. The undergarment had perfectly defended against the 45th Floor Labyrinth Rat Leader’s attack.

Only then did the Count feel relieved and quietly praised the golden deity.

“Thank goodness. The undergarment did its job.”

“I see.”

Just as the ring bearer whose race name cannot be written due to copyright survived thanks to mithril armor, Serena also survived thanks to clothes made from silver fabric.

“You bastard! How dare you target the Princess? Die!”

Sizzle-!

The fate of an assassin who poured everything into their first attack was always miserable.

The red Labyrinth Rat had its throat pierced by Olive’s (borrowed) dagger and died instantly.

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

A notification window appeared in Serena’s left eye’s world. The party continued to maintain tension since there might be another floor boss hiding like in the library.

“Count. It’s safe here, so bring the Princess over here. We’ll finish off the remaining worms.”

“The salt water is here.”

“Count Hanson, please protect the Princess. You were excellent just now.”

Count Alpha suddenly praised Ralph. Ralph’s freckled face reddened as he shook his head.

“I don’t deserve praise. In the end, I failed to properly protect the Princess.”

“That’s not true. Thanks to Count Hanson’s quick reaction, the mole’s claws targeted Her Highness’s torso instead of her neck and face.”

“Good job, good job.”

Even Olive stood on tiptoe and patted Ralph’s helmet, sparing no praise.

The tall Archer more comfortably patted the top of the helmet instead of his head, which was easier than Olive’s reach.

It seemed Ralph had done something, but only Serena didn’t know what.

“It seems Count Ralph did something.”

‘Thank goodness. The Count doesn’t know either.’

Since she wasn’t alone, she didn’t feel lonely.

It seemed our Young Knight had done something to protect the Princess, but only Serena and Count Randy didn’t know. The answer became clear automatically when Ralph approached.

Long claw marks were etched on the magic shield attached to Ralph’s wrist. Needless to say, it was the mole’s doing.

“The mole’s attack was incredibly fast. It attacked 5 times in the blink of an eye.”

She knew it had attacked at least 3 times consecutively since it had torn through all three layers of the magic barrier, but it was actually 5 consecutive attacks.

Serena was quite surprised by the red Labyrinth Rat’s attack speed.

‘The magic barrier was breached and Ralph blocked one attack. That’s why the mole changed its attack direction.’

Only then could Serena understand why the rest of the party was praising Ralph.

If the mole’s original target had been the neck and head instead of the torso, its claws would have mercilessly slashed Serena’s face and severed her neck.

Having grasped the situation, Serena calmly praised Ralph’s contribution as if she had known everything from the beginning.

“Count Ralph, thank you.”

“Not at all! If I had reacted just a little faster, the Princess wouldn’t have been hit by the claws at all! I’m sorry!”

“That’s not so. I clearly saw the mole aiming for my neck.”

She had never seen it.

“Thanks to Count Ralph stepping in, the mole changed its attack direction, and the undergarment was able to block the attack. My safety is entirely thanks to all of you.”

“I’m just happy to serve Lady Serena with my meager skills.”

“I’m also happy I could protect the Princess!”

Count Randy breathed another sigh of relief, and Ralph didn’t know what to do with himself at the Princess’s praise.

“We got all the worms! Now there’s nothing alive here except us!”

“Are you certain?”

“I swear on the Black Knight’s baby!”

Count Alpha gritted his teeth at Olive’s words, which involved none other than the Child. Olive laughed loudly and slapped Count Alpha’s back.

“That’s how confident I am! But do you want a daughter or a son?”

“…As long as both my wife and child are healthy, either would be fine.”

“I wonder if the baby is crying asking where daddy is since birth, not even showing his nose?”

“…”

The Imperial Knight’s handsome face rapidly darkened. When baby talk came up, Ralph also became gloomy. He seemed to be thinking of his nephew.

The Guide, who had only intended to tease Count Alpha and hadn’t meant to discourage Ralph too, became flustered.

“Ah, I mean they’re all waiting safely. Take care of yourselves since people are waiting for you.”

“Right. Everyone must be worried, so cherish your safety as much as mine.”

At least in the Labyrinth, they could care for themselves more than the Princess. Of course, the rigid Imperial Knight wouldn’t accept the Princess’s consideration.

“I, Sirius Alpha, will risk my life to protect Her Highness the Princess. I will work harder to earn your trust.”

“Me too!”

Serena mentally facepalmed. She had told them to take care of their own lives, but it seemed to have had the opposite effect.

‘Let’s not do this. The children waiting outside need their father and uncle to return safely.’

But where was this? A medieval fantasy world where honestly expressing one’s feelings would lower the knights’ morale.

Serena glossed over it by saying she would also repay the Counts’ trust while pondering ways to increase the knights’ survival rate.

‘Equipment is life for a tank. Count Alpha’s equipment is good stuff concentrated with the Empire’s funds and technology, so it can be used until the end, but Ralph is the problem.’

Especially the shield with claw marks from where the Labyrinth Rat’s claws had scraped across it was an eyesore.

‘If it had been an Imperial Royal Knight Order shield, it would have deflected the claws. How embarrassing.’

Serena asked the Alchemist.

“Count. Could you repair the shield?”

“Yes, it’s possible. Since we can obtain minerals on this floor, I can even craft a new shield. However.”

“However?”

“How about we check the treasure chest reward first before deciding?”

Since there had been treasure chests in all the leader’s chambers from the 41st to 43rd floors, there was a high probability of a treasure chest in the 45th floor leader’s chamber too.

The Alchemist’s answer pleased the Princess greatly. Hearing the conversation between the two, Olive stopped extracting earth dragon stones from the Labyrinth Worm’s belly and opened the door first.

“Indeed, will there be a treasure chest!”

Even while making drum sounds with her mouth and making a fuss, the Guide’s eyes and hands moved seriously.

After confirming there were no traps, the Guide vigorously opened the door. Descending stairs and a magic-grade treasure chest appeared.

“Huh, it’s a sparkly sparkly sparkly sparkling chest? How about aiming for the next chest for the knight’s shield?”

“Olive. Move aside.”

“Waaah!”

“Count Ralph, tell her thank you for yielding.”

“Thank you for yielding! Miss Olive!”

“Tsk tsk. Shields are important so it can’t be helped. But everything except the shield is mine.”

“Six.”

The greedy Guide drooled over the treasure chest then backed away. Perhaps pleased that he was getting a new shield, Ralph approached the treasure chest with an excited expression and light steps.

Being at a sensitive age where he was conscious of others’ gazes, he seemed to try to maintain a serious expression, but perhaps due to his honest nature, the smile never left the young man’s face.

“I’m opening it!”

‘Let a shield come out!’

It was worth 5 out of 6 people sincerely hoping. Ralph held up the shield he pulled from the treasure chest high.

“A shield came out!”

‘Ooh! Since it’s a magic-grade chest, it must be a magic shield, right?’

Serena suppressed her urge to clap and cheer, watching the shield the Knight raised with her single eye.

The shield looked extraordinary from its very appearance. The Princess blinked her single eye at its unusual form.

‘Black color aside, what’s that protruding thing in front?’

Like the Heuji Royal Knight’s magic shield, the shield Ralph pulled out also had a structure that fixed to the wrist and expanded in size. But something was protruding from the center of the shield.

‘I know you can use that protruding part for stabbing attacks and defense. But why of all things!’

“The lion face is really cool!”

‘You stuck a lion’s head on the shield! It’s unnecessarily vivid!’

Right in the center of the shield from the box was a lioness carving with its mouth open, proudly showing its fangs. Since it was all black, she thought it might be a leopard, but if Ralph said it was a lion, it must be a lion.

The new shield’s functions besides changing size hadn’t been revealed yet, but the Young Knight was ecstatic, seemingly loving the shield’s appearance from the start.

“I really love it. This is the shield I’ve dreamed of!”

Ralph held a light-attribute magic sword in one hand and the new shield in the other, taking attack and defense stances. Ralph’s mouth stretched as if it might tear.

“It’s really, really cool! Look! It’s cool!”

Ralph couldn’t hide his joy and happiness as he showed off his new shield to the Party. Count Alpha remained silent while Olive gave an awkward smile.

“So Knight liked that kind of thing. Hahaha, it’s cool.”

When the surrounding reaction wasn’t as enthusiastic as he’d hoped, Ralph’s eyebrows drooped downward.

‘Should I praise it too? But what should I say to praise it?’

Serena earnestly searched for parts of the shield to praise in order to lift the Knight’s spirits.

Just then.

“Excellent.”

The Archer, whom no one expected to speak, opened his mouth.

“A very fine shield. Honestly, I’m envious.”

Not only did he speak, but his words carried emotion. The faithful servant of darkness genuinely envied Ralph’s shield.

“Hehehehe, would you like to look at it closely?”

Ralph, who had been dejected, smiled brightly and handed the shield to the Archer. Ying examined the shield closely with her deep, dark black eyes and praised it again.

“Very excellent. I especially like that the head carving isn’t a dragon.”

“At first I thought a dragon head would be good, but thinking about it again, dragons seemed too common. Tigers reminded me of Shadow Tigers which was scary, and since I’m the Princess’s knight, I chose a lioness!”

Just because he decided on a lioness, the Labyrinth actually gave him a shield with a lioness head embedded in it?

Serena internally protested to the Labyrinth that only kindly responded to specific individuals’ desires.

‘Why won’t you give me a Labyrinth escape magic tool! I’m wanting it so honestly like this!’

As the Princess earnestly protested internally, her eye caught something suspicious. A black aura emerged from the Priest of darkness’s hand and seeped into the shield.

‘What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re casting enhancement or blessing?’

Only Serena witnessed this, while others with both eyes intact couldn’t see it. She was grateful that the High Priest hiding his power was buffing their equipment, but she was curious about the reason.

‘Surely it’s not because he likes that it’s black and edgy.’

Could Ying actually be an incredibly shallow person, just not showing it because he was taciturn and expressionless?

Serena harbored suspicions about the Archer but immediately discarded them.

‘What am I thinking? Ying is a serious person who only moves according to the Deity’s will.’

The taciturn Archer with his dignified coolness placed his unbandaged hand on Ralph’s shoulder.

“You understand style. Don’t be arrogant and keep striving.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Ralph sent admiring looks to Ying while clenching his fist.

The four who didn’t understand style were afraid of being told “you understand style too” by Ying and couldn’t look directly at the Archer.

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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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