Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 30

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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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30. Olive Ying

“Hmm~ Seems like a waste of time, but shall I humor you?”

The short woman stretched languidly, then bowed with exaggerated formality.

“I’m Olive! I’m a Labyrinth Explorer specializing in guidance, trap disarmament, and treasure hunting. My age is a se-cret!”

Olives come in two colors: green and black. Olive was an attractive woman who possessed both colors of her namesake.

She had a small, sturdy build with matching brown skin. Green olive-colored eyes and short, curly hair as black and glossy as black olives.

She wore pants with many pockets, and while her top was simpler than her pants, the form-fitting material revealed her upper body’s contours. Her small frame with well-defined muscles gave off a healthy beauty.

Her voice was cheerful and her expression bright. Olive winked.

“Right before and after coming here, I’m exactly like Zero, so I’ll speak once Zero’s self-introduction is finished! Okay?”

Olive pointed at Ying with both hands as if to say ‘you’re next.’ Ying nodded in greeting.

“Ying. I’m an archer.”

“…?”

No matter how long they waited, no follow-up came.

“Is that all?”

“That’s it.”

Ying was tall. She seemed to be over 180 centimeters, with shoulders as broad and sturdy as a swimmer’s.

For whatever reason, she was dressed in matching dark black from head to toe, making her uncovered face and ungloved right hand appear to float.

‘Those aren’t gloves, they’re bandages.’

Ying’s left hand was tightly wrapped in black bandages. Even her fingers were completely covered – it was impressively bound.

‘Personal preference, I should respect that.’

In contrast to her consistent black clothing, her hair was bright blonde that sparkled like honey in the light. Though her expressionless face diminished her charm, her elegant and distinct features approached classical beauty.

Her cool atmosphere was unique and attractive. She had an elegance that would suit a Gothic mansion more than a Labyrinth.

“Zero is so quiet that there are stories about how her nickname became Zero because she never speaks. Everyone please understand!”

Olive stepped in for the taciturn Ying.

“I happened to meet Zero at an inn and we were having a drink together. We know each other’s names and faces but have never really talked. Then suddenly the ground started shaking!”

Olive waved both hands wildly.

“I thought it was an earthquake so we went outside the inn, but when I opened my eyes, we were in a Labyrinth! Fortunately Zero was nearby so we searched for an exit together. Then we found stairs going up, climbed them, and met you folks. Yeah.”

Ying nodded as if confirming Olive’s story was correct.

“So? We finished our introductions, so it’s your turn, right?”

Serena, Philia, Ralph, and Lavenda introduced themselves in order.

Olive was surprised to see a princess for the first time, then lost her words in admiration at Philia’s beauty.

She was surprised again to hear Lavenda was from Vieta.

“Vieta is completely at the edge of nowhere! Amazing! I’ve been to the Labyrinth there too. It was really funny seeing the Labyrinth Rats running on their wheels. They were so plump and their fur was so glossy – they looked happy.”

“Agreed.”

“Zero’s been there too? Well, any Labyrinth Explorer with leisure time would want to visit at least once. A Labyrinth that only goes to 1st tier, 1st floor! Is that even a Labyrinth? The neighborhood hill would be more dangerous than that place.”

Olive held her stomach and laughed. The neighboring monarchs who mocked Lido V probably laughed exactly like that.

“But thanks to that, I roughly understand. Yeah. I get it.”

Olive, who had been smiling the whole time, became serious.

“We’ve been devoured by a Labyrinth.”

Her eyes gleamed and her smile deepened.

“Interesting.”

To Serena’s eyes, she absolutely did not look like she found it interesting. It was closer to ‘we’re screwed.’

“Devoured by a Labyrinth?”

“Weren’t we accidentally dropped into a Labyrinth because of an earthquake?”

“Wasn’t that just a rumor?”

The party was shaken by the words of a real Labyrinth expert. Everyone looked at Serena with eyes hoping for answers.

“If an expert thinks so, then it must be so.”

Even those experts probably couldn’t imagine that the entire Royal Palace and city had been devoured by a Labyrinth. Serena decided to first acknowledge the expert’s opinion, then reveal her true purpose.

Serena slowly nodded. People’s attention focused on Serena. It seemed impossible that such a small action could draw people’s gazes, but if you were royalty, it was possible.

“From what I’ve heard, even if the exit is blocked, there are ways to get out if you conquer the Labyrinth.”

“That’s right.”

“Aren’t you two in the same situation, swallowed by the Labyrinth? I’m not asking for free help. I want to hire you as Labyrinth Explorers.”

It was nice that the system reflected greed sensors, but managing the people who came from the gacha was Serena’s responsibility.

Remembering some novels where summoned beings couldn’t disobey their summoner’s words, she shed tears of blood from envy.

She thought they might ignore a simple invitation to join the party, so she brought up employment contracts, but the reaction was cold.

“Eh? I don’t want to. Maybe that Knight over there, but the Princess, Countess, and Mysterious Stranger are all just baggage.”

Olive spoke honestly. It was better than Lucas who had hidden things shadily.

“Actually, that Knight is a bit unreliable too. What do you say? Want to come with us?”

Olive smiled at Ralph while suggesting he change jobs. Ralph straightened his shoulders and stood beside Serena.

“I am the Princess’s Knight!”

“Never mind then. I have no intention of forcing someone who refuses.”

“Won’t you consider traveling together? I’ll try not to be a burden. I may be inexperienced, but I can use magic.”

“As if the Princess using magic matters. Yeah?”

“How dare you! Lady Serena is different from lowly creatures like you – divine blood flows through her veins and she even communicated with the Labyrinth God and received the Bread Tree!”

Philia finally caused trouble. She had been forcibly holding back while her master was being ignored, then exploded.

“What? Bwahahaha!”

Olive held her stomach and laughed. She laughed until she had trouble breathing while pointing at the Bread Tree.

“That’s just a tree you sometimes find deep in Labyrinths. And there’s a god in the Labyrinth? I’ve been going in and out of Labyrinths since I was tiny, but what god? I’ve never seen a single trace.”

“It’s true! That Bread Tree is a gift the Princess received from the Labyrinth God!”

“That’s right! That’s a divine statue!”

Some stranger who suddenly appeared was insulting their Princess who received the Bread Tree from a god? Ralph and Lavenda joined forces with Philia to spread word of Serena’s greatness.

‘Should I stop them? Or not?’

Couldn’t she win over the Labyrinth Explorers with the Labyrinth God?

While Serena pondered, Olive burst out laughing again after seeing the ugly divine statue.

“A divine statue? That thing? Pfft!”

Olive covered her mouth with her hand and pointed at the statue.

“That’s a cursed statue. Those are also found occasionally in Labyrinths. Yeah.”

Serena frowned. She could understand not believing the Labyrinth God story, but calling the divine statue a cursed statue. One wrong move could result in divine punishment for blasphemy or being tainted by evil.

“A cursed statue?”

“Because if you unluckily touch it, bad luck sticks to you until you leave the Labyrinth. Yeah.”

“That’s only natural. If you dare touch the Labyrinth God’s divine statue carelessly in a Labyrinth, you’d be punished.”

Serena had never spoken so logically in her life.

Regardless, Olive waved her hands dismissively as if it wasn’t worth listening to anymore.

“Ah, I see. Good luck with that. I’m leaving.”

Olive filled her canteen with fountain water and approached the Bread Tree. Ralph moved to block her but stepped aside at Serena’s glance.

“It’s good to pick bread early and dry it while waiting for new bread to grow. This is premium information, but it’s a service for seeing the pretty Countess!”

Olive picked several large pieces of bread and headed toward the passage. She returned after Serena blinked about three times.

“Zero! Aren’t you coming?”

That’s right. Ying hadn’t said a word while Olive chattered, and remained in the lobby even when Olive was leaving.

“Were you dozing while standing? If you’re awake, let’s go quickly!”

“The employment contract discussion isn’t finished.”

“What?”

Olive opened her mouth in surprise. Though she didn’t show it, Serena was equally surprised.

‘She was interested in the contract? But why didn’t she say anything?’

Since Ying hadn’t said a word while Olive chattered, she thought they were of the same mind, but apparently not. Anyway, if she was willing to contract, that was good for Serena.

“Ying, was it? Do you have desired employment conditions? Tell me.”

“Zero, are you crazy? You want to go down into the Labyrinth with these burdens? Even if it’s just the 1st Floor, still. This is a Labyrinth!”

“I am where I need to be.”

“Are you suddenly acting nice? Or are you blinded by the Countess’s beauty?”

“Think whatever you want.”

“Tch.”

For the first time, Olive showed genuine emotion instead of a fake smile. Olive closed her mouth and pondered, then let out a big sigh.

“Sigh, fine, I get it. It’s better than traveling alone.”

Olive returned to stand before Serena.

“Our industry does have standard employment contracts, but given the situation, let’s keep it simple. How about it, Princess?”

“I agree.”

“Originally, to hire adventurers like me or Zero, money alone isn’t enough. You need connections and high reputation too, so you should know how lucky you are, Princess? I normally don’t work without a contract fee.”

“Countess Randy.”

“Here.”

Philia took out a pouch of gold coins from her pocket.

Olive closed her mouth and counted the gold coins in the pouch, her lips gradually protruding. Not because the amount was small. It was because there were so many that her lips naturally jutted out as she counted.

“This much is…”

Olive closed the mouth of the gold pouch and put it in her pants pocket.

“Wow, the Countess came well prepared. I thought everyone had fallen here empty-handed like someone else.”

‘She’s talking as if it’s about someone else, but she’s talking about herself.’

Unlike Ying who at least brought a bow, all of Olive’s possessions were just the clothes she was wearing and what was in her pants pockets. Even the water bottle filled from the fountain belonged to Ying.

‘That’s probably why she gave up on traveling alone.’

She had planned to travel with Ying, but since Ying wouldn’t move, Olive had no choice but to bend her stubbornness.

When Serena tried to give Ying the same amount of gold coins as she gave Olive, Ying shook her head.

“Not necessary.”

“Zero, are you doing charity work?”

“I have a condition.”

“Right! That’s how it should be!”

“Don’t expel me from the party until the very end. Pay me afterwards.”

Ying made a very strange condition.

“By the end, you mean?”

“Until the end that the Princess has in mind.”

Ying’s black, deep eyes gazed at Serena’s single orange eye.

Blonde hair with black eyes. It was such a rare combination that it felt more mysterious than her own orange eyes that she always saw in the mirror.

Serena and Olive exchanged other conditions. Serena demanded that Olive share all the information she knew about the Labyrinth, and Olive demanded that party members be treated fairly.

“The distribution of loot and treasures found in the Labyrinth should be equal among all party members except the Princess and the Countess. You can’t change your mind later if some precious magical tool appears, you know?”

“Escape is my top priority. I’m not interested in magical tools or gold and silver treasures.”

“As expected, a princess from a wealthy country is different. And one more thing.”

Olive emphasized that there was something more important than loot distribution.

“There shouldn’t be any abandoning us to save the Princess, right?”

“I promise.”

“We’ll take care of things like food and hygiene for the Princess first. You understand, right?”

“You must also tell me everything you know about the Labyrinth, as soon as you think of it.”

“Do you know how expensively Labyrinth information is traded? Oh right, this is Huji. You wouldn’t know~ I’ll chatter away, but you better listen well. Got it?”

Serena, Olive, and Ying wrote employment contracts and copies in Lavenda’s notebook, stamped them with their seals, and divided them among themselves.

“Hmm~ So? I saw on the way here that you defeated the 1st Floor boss, but what were you doing instead of going down? Resting after taking down the Floor Boss?”

Olive and Ying said they saw the corpse of the Labyrinth Rat Leader in the Leader’s Chamber. They said they came up from the 2nd Floor, but didn’t mention the Minotaur’s corpse.

‘Did they loot it on their own? That can’t be right?’

The leader rat was worthless, but the Minotaur should have had something to gain. At minimum, the horns could be salvaged.

“We lost a comrade on the 2nd Floor and were discussing how to hold a proper funeral.”

Labyrinth adventurers would encounter such situations more often, so they would have better solutions. When Serena spoke honestly, Olive was dumbfounded.

“You strip off all the equipment and chop up the body to scatter it. What’s there to think about?”

“Isn’t that desecrating the deceased?”

“Princess, you don’t know anything. At minimum, you cut off the limbs and leave them scattered – that’s basic. The Labyrinth has a high probability of creating undead.”

Olive didn’t give people a chance to argue back and walked toward the corridor.

“Come on! Quickly! Let’s go chop up the body!”

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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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