Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 304

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

304. Labyrinth Orchard

When Heuji’s Labyrinth strategy team first conquered the 5th floor, Serena had hoped there might be fruit trees somewhere in the garden.

Unfortunately, the Princess’s expectations were disappointed.

The 5th floor was faithful to its garden concept. The autumn garden she had expected to be full of fruit trees bearing abundant fruit was instead filled only with flowers that bloom in autumn, and even the few fruits that did grow were ornamental rather than edible.

So on the 5th floor, they had to be satisfied with obtaining timber, edible plants, medicinal herbs, and honey.

It had definitely been like that.

‘An orchard?’

It was a report that made Serena’s ears perk up.

‘An orchard means there aren’t just one or two trees, but several.’

We’ll be able to eat fruit to our heart’s content without running short. While Serena was pleased inwardly, she was also puzzled.

‘Why is Count Randy so happy?’

Count Randy, having finished his report, was still grinning broadly even though Serena hadn’t shown any particular reaction.

No matter how meager the labyrinth diet was, would the continent’s greatest genius alchemist be this happy over just a few fruit trees?

It was strange.

‘If you’re going to report, you should report properly – what kind of fruit trees and how many. He’s speaking so vaguely as if he wants me to ask.’

If it had been someone else, she would have scolded them, but her opponent was Count Randy. Thinking there must be a reasonable reason, Serena asked the question the Count wanted.

“What kind of fruit do they bear? Judging by the Count’s attitude, the orchard must be quite substantial?”

“I’m sorry, but words cannot express it. Seeing it directly would be most certain.”

Hana and Duri also chimed in.

“It’s really amazing! I still can’t believe it!”

“Woong! Woong!”

“What did you see? I’m curious, so tell me quickly.”

“Sesi won’t believe it until she sees it herself!”

When they said this much, she couldn’t just keep her bottom glued to the chair. Serena slowly stood up.

“Eh, what is it? I’m curious too, so I want to go.”

“I’d like to see it too!”

The Guide and Young Knight expressed their intention to join the party.

“Knight, you’re covered in ash! Dust yourself off first!”

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

“…”

Feeling a gaze from behind, she turned her head to find Ying had somehow come to stand behind Serena. The message was conveyed that if excluded from the party, she would boldly ignore the Princess’s wishes and follow anyway.

Serena, Count Randy, Olive, Ralph, and Ying. A familiar combination had gathered, but one more person squeezed in. An Imperial citizen, but not a knight.

“I want to go too!”

Grey quickly packed his things and joined the party. Not wanting to waste time persuading the old man, Serena accepted him.

This made Philia’s eyes widen. Countess Randy quietly stood beside her master and tried to link arms with Serena. Serena pulled her arm free from her friend’s grasp.

“Philia. You can’t go.”

“Why not? What about Grey?”

“Grey can use magic. If you want to enter the labyrinth too, learn magic.”

Countess Randy seemed quite hurt as she actually shot Serena a resentful look. Count Randy comforted his beloved wife.

“My dear. I plan to propose a complete conquest of the 5th floor. Once we’ve completely conquered it and it’s safe, we’ll go together then.”

Philia didn’t answer and just looked at those going to the 5th floor with sad eyes, making everyone suffer from guilt.

At least she was well-behaved since Serena stayed in the lobby while the 2nd Group strategy team explored the 5th floor – otherwise, tears like dew would have formed in those blue eyes that were bluer than a winter lake.

Serena quickly entered the teleportation room before Philia could start whining again. While selecting the 5th floor, she thought about what the Count had just said.

‘Complete conquest, you mean?’

On the 5th floor they returned to, green and vibrant new foliage that knew no seasons greeted the party. Without anyone telling them to, all members of the strategy team took deep breaths.

The 5th floor was also a labyrinth, but the air was different. Serena expelled the stale cave air remaining in her lungs and breathed in the fresh air to her heart’s content.

The thick, fresh smell of grass, the fragrance of flowers blooming regardless of season, and the sweet scent of honey that could be enjoyed infinitely mixed together, making breathing enjoyable.

“We came in such a hurry that I forgot to ask about the location. Where is the orchard?”

“It’s close from here.”

Count Randy unfolded a magic map and shared the orchard’s location. The Guide, having grasped the route, took the lead carrying insecticide.

“Brother.”

“We dealt with the monsters, but just in case, don’t let your guard down too much.”

“Brother.”

“Ah, right. We used up almost all the insecticide. I need to replace the magic stone, so give it to me.”

Count Randy ignored Grey’s calls and focused on exchanging magic stones. Grey, who had been calling the Count in a small voice out of concern for monsters, finally raised his voice.

“Mark! Can’t you hear me?”

“Eek! Th-that startled me.”

The alchemist who was exchanging magic stones was so startled by the loud voice from behind that he clutched his chest in shock.

He froze in terror as if the boy with ash-gray hair was some terrifying monster like a Shadow Tiger.

“Ahaha. Sorry, Grey. I’m not used to being called brother yet.”

Count Randy kept his gaze fixed downward as he made excuses. He had just gotten used to being called uncle, but now the title had changed to brother, so he was confused.

Grey seemed to take Count Randy’s circumstances of being confused by the title into consideration, as he didn’t get angry and forgave him.

Count Randy didn’t know what to do with himself at his sworn younger brother’s(?) generosity, while the Guide held his stomach and laughed.

“Did you discover the orchard by investigating flowers that don’t match the season?”

“Right. After investigating all four, I heard the sound of the central garden’s plant wall moving. Until investigating three of them, there was no change, so I was worried we might have worked for nothing.”

“I know, I know. When you spend time investigating because you think there might be something, but nothing comes out. Forget feeling sorry – the way humans look at you gets nasty~ Makes me want to drain them of black ink~”

Olive violently empathized with the worry Count Randy had harbored.

“If it’s an orchard, what’s the scale? I’m also curious about the fruit varieties!”

“Heh. You’ll know when you see it.”

Count Randy didn’t give a definite answer and postponed his explanation. The corners of his mouth and his cheeks twitched.

“If it’s nothing special, you’ll get flicked on the forehead for making a fuss. Not by me, but Zero will hit you.”

“Heh. You’ll know when you see it.”

True to his word that it was close to the teleportation room, the party quickly arrived at their destination.

A plant wall completed by densely grown stems, branches, and leaves intertwined. There was one door in that wall.

Olive, who had checked if it was safe, opened the door.

When the door opened, sweet and fragrant fruit scents flowed out from the revealed orchard. Mixed in was also the savory smell of bread.

‘Bread smell?’

In the clearing inside the door, five trees were positioned.

Among them, the one closest to the door was a Bread Tree. From luxurious white bread made with fine flour, butter, and plenty of sugar, to black bread made only with rye and barley. Various types of meal bread hung diversely from the branches.

The Bread Tree wasn’t particularly surprising since there was one in the lobby. Rather, thanks to the lobby’s Bread Tree being upgraded, there was more bread and greater variety.

The next tree that caught the eye was a fruit tree. This too was inferior to the fruit tree in the lobby.

The real thing started from the third tree.

Serena approached to get a closer look at what hung in clusters on the third tree, but backed away from the musty smell that rushed at her. Her nose couldn’t adapt to the smell she hadn’t encountered in a long time.

“That couldn’t be… cheese, could it?”

Ralph asked someone else, as if he couldn’t believe the cheese hanging from the tree even seeing it. Olive cut off a chunk of cheese with her dagger and put it in her mouth.

“Ah, makes me want alcohol.”

“It’s not just cheese. There’s also butter hanging there. And.”

Count Randy scored the trunk of the tree bearing cheese and butter with his dagger. White sap flowed from the tree where the bark was cut. The alchemist scooped up the white sap with his finger, brought it to his mouth, and licked it.

“This tree’s sap is milk.”

The fourth tree had money instead of fruit (it wasn’t labyrinth coins), and the fifth tree was entirely made of gems.

The leaves were green crystals, and gem-shaped fruits that no one had crafted hung in clusters, color-coordinated.

Taking the leaves and fruits separately, they were merely semi-precious stones and low-grade gems, but looking at the entire gem tree, it was a wondrous and mystical work of art.

Her eyes had already rolled back at the milk tree, and her mind grew dizzy at the money tree and gem tree. Though there were only five trees, it was worthy of being called an orchard.

Before enjoying this amazing discovery, Serena declared a rest to maintain her sanity.

“Let’s rest for a moment. It’s hard to maintain my composure in the face of the labyrinth’s mystique.”

“Please have some fresh milk. I added honey to it.”

While receiving the cup of milk, Serena noticed large scratch marks on the milk tree.

“What is that? Were there monsters here too?”

“When we gave Duri honey-mixed milk, her eyes rolled back. Fortunately, she didn’t like the taste of raw milk, so she came to her senses quickly.”

The sight of a giant bear hanging from a tree lapping up milk must have been incredibly adorable.

Serena drank the milk from her cup. To be able to drink her fill of precious milk that could only be purchased in small quantities on the 7th floor – it felt like a dream.

‘Not just milk, but cheese and butter will be added too. A revolution of taste will begin in the lobby. Ah, revolution won’t do.’

Serena corrected the inappropriate word she had unconsciously used to something more befitting royalty.

‘An innovation of taste will begin. Everyone will love it.’

The others also drank a cup of milk each. Ralph, who was in his growth period, particularly enjoyed it.

“It’s rich and savory like freshly squeezed milk!”

Olive didn’t drink the milk and glared at it suspiciously.

“Is this really milk? Hey? It’s not actually some feel-good water that’s enchanted us all, is it?”

“I’ve confirmed it.”

“Then is it milk? The taste is, smack smack. It’s milk. Delicious milk.”

As soon as Olive said something unsettling, Count Randy said something reassuring. Serena, who had downed her milk in one gulp, felt relieved alone.

Olive, who finished her milk while smacking her lips, gave a thumbs up.

“Amazing discovery, I’ll acknowledge it. Hey. Honestly, I’ve seen money trees and jewel trees a few times, but this is my first time seeing a milk tree. Acknowledged, acknowledged again.”

“The scale is small, but it’s truly an amazing orchard!”

“Hmm, now I understand why brother insisted on perfectly conquering the 5th floor.”

Setting aside the resources that could be obtained from the orchard, Count Randy probably wanted to show this unbelievable sight to his beloved wife as well.

Serena also wanted to show Philia the beauty of the jewel trees.

Of course, the beauty of the jewel trees couldn’t match Philia’s beauty, but how beautiful would Philia look standing beneath the jewel trees!

“How was the 2nd Assault Team? Do they have enough strength on the 5th floor?”

“Yes. I didn’t even need to step in. How was Sesi’s condition?”

“Sister Sesi has improved a lot too. But her current state isn’t good for her health, so I’d like to use medication that helps with mental stability – do you have anything good?”

“Hmm.”

The alchemist rubbed his chin as if too many things came to mind.

“Let me examine Sesi and think of what would be most effective for her. For now, how about we harvest the fruits?”

Harvest. Olive made a sly smile and called Serena in a wheedling voice.

“Princess~ I’ll take care of the jewel trees! The money trees are good too!”

“I, I want to pick cheese and butter!”

The princess ignored the volunteers and grabbed one of the few gold coins among the coins hanging on the money tree. When she twisted and pulled it like picking fruit, the gold coin dropped from the branch with a clink.

‘Grandfather’s face.’

All the fruits(?) hanging on the money tree were currency from Heuji and the Empire.

Serena pondered whether this was counterfeit currency or not while stroking her grandfather’s profile engraved on the gold coin with her finger.

“Count Ralph can pick the cheese he wants. Olive can also harvest from the jewel trees while Ying supervises.”

Olive, who had been disappointed thinking it was over since Serena ignored their requests, threw both arms up in the air.

“Kyaah! Princess is the best!”

“Today is a cheese party!”

Ralph held a piece of cheese as big as his torso and grinned from ear to ear.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————