Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 47

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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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47. Genius Alchemist (1)

Count Randy seemed startled, not having expected his nephew’s sudden assault. Grey climbed up on his uncle and whispered something in the Count’s ear.

Even without hearing it, the content was roughly predictable.

‘I missed you, I was scared, something like that.’

Had he been very frightened? Grey’s behavior was a bit extreme. Running over and headbutting his solar plexus was understandable, and climbing on his body like a monkey was also acceptable, but pinching and pulling his ear was a bit much.

No matter how happy and scared he was, was it okay for a nephew to pull his uncle’s ear like that? Wasn’t that too ill-mannered?

‘He’s not just letting him do whatever because he feels sorry for the child, is he?’

If he wasn’t properly disciplining the child out of guilt for making him a victim of power struggles, he would truly be a terrible relative.

Count Randy stayed still while his ear was being grabbed, then widened his eyes and shook his head. When Grey whispered something again, the Count furrowed his brow and nodded.

Grey let go of Count Randy’s ear and came down to the ground. Count Randy brushed off the dirt that had gotten on his clothes from the child climbing on him and smiled brightly. The smile was somewhat awkward.

“It’s been a long time, my nephew!”

“It’s been a long time, Uncle! I missed you!”

Grey showed off an innocent smile and hugged Count Randy. Count Randy patted Grey’s back and shoulders as awkwardly as possible, then stepped back to create distance from the child.

“Uncle?”

“Hahaha, no. I mean, no.”

At Grey’s cute call, Count Randy hurriedly returned and closed the distance.

“Um… So the person who just appeared is the Countess’s husband and Grey Young Master’s uncle, right? I’m really glad to meet you!”

A new character who appeared as if summoned when Serena performed her strange act. The awkward greeting between uncle and nephew that seemed like acting.

Something was very strange, but if you worried about every little thing like that, you couldn’t survive in a labyrinth full of high-ranking people. Lavenda acted appropriately tactfully.

‘It’s a bit strange, but anyway, Count Randy appeared.’

The person they wanted had been drawn, so let’s enjoy the moment. Most importantly, the couple hadn’t reunited yet.

“My beloved wife. I was really worried. The communication device didn’t work, so I was terrified. I’m glad you’re safe.”

Count Randy stood before Philia and confessed his terrible feelings until they met. It was more agonizing than losing light and air, or something like that.

“I really missed you too.”

Count Randy spread his arms wide, waiting for his beloved wife to come. Philia hesitated instead of immediately embracing him.

“My dear? Are you disappointed that I was too late?”

“For several days, I couldn’t wash properly and couldn’t change clothes…”

“That’s fortunate. My nose happens to be blocked so I can’t smell anything.”

It was an obvious lie that even Philia wouldn’t fall for. Philia seemed pleased with her husband’s lie and jumped like a rabbit into Count Randy’s arms.

“Honey! I was so scared!”

“Now that I’m here, don’t worry anymore!”

If someone else had said it, they would be accused of showing off too much in front of his wife. But since it was Count Landriole speaking, it was surprisingly trustworthy.

‘Brilliant.’

Look at the number of stars above Count Randy’s head. Five stars, 5-star rating.

After seeing transparent or gray stars due to equipment shortages or unknown reasons, seeing five stars filled with yellow made Serena’s heart proud.

“Wow, how passionate.”

“They really seem to love each other.”

“It’s nice to see.”

The others also smiled warmly watching the reunion of the loving couple.

***

After his touching reunion with his beloved wife, Count Landriole greeted Serena.

“I’m glad Lady Serena is also safe. When the earthquake suddenly occurred and we fell into the labyrinth, I was worried about my wife, but hearing that Lady Serena was with her gives me such relief.”

“Hmm. I’m also pleased to join with the Count.”

“I heard from my nep— ahem. I heard from the nephew child that this is a labyrinth. I will serve Lady Serena and my wife with utmost care so you won’t be uncomfortable.”

Olive, still lying down, interrupted the harmonious conversation between master and servant.

“Hey, I have questions! Lots of questions! Tons of them!”

“What’s the matter?”

“Is it real that the Count came because the Princess called his name?”

“Didn’t I tell you? It seems the labyrinth overlaps with other people, so I wished strongly.”

“Ah~ you don’t want to talk about it. Then let’s skip that and next question! Is Randy of Count Randy the Landriole of the Empire? Really? For real? Truly?”

“Didn’t Philia explain it properly from the beginning?”

“I did explain properly. It’s Landriole, but I call him Randy for convenience.”

“Since it’s a different country, I thought it was a different noble with a similar surname. So being a rich family’s wife means…”

Olive, who had been roughly calculating the prices of Landriole Workshop potions she knew, stopped calculating and stuck out her tongue.

“You weren’t just any rich family’s wife.”

“You can look forward to the labyrinth escape reward.”

“Oh my, thank you~”

Olive deliberately made a sly expression and rubbed her hands together. Doing that while lying down made her look exactly like a dung fly.

“Then Count Randy, I have something I want to ask.”

“Uncle, I have something to say for a moment.”

Serena and Grey’s words overlapped. Their business was also the same. When Count Randy was confused about which one to choose, Serena yielded.

‘He must be scared.’

Since it wasn’t urgent, it was right to yield to the young child. When Serena nodded, Count Randy moved to a corner of the lobby with Grey.

‘It’s roughly finished, so I should save now, right?’

Serena considered slapping the statue’s head with resentment but gave up, fearing divine punishment.

‘Please make sure to let me know in advance next time. Okay?’

It was probably Serena’s imagination that the expressionless statue seemed to smile mockingly. Her tired single eye must have seen things.

“To summon him for me… Lady Serena is truly kind.”

“To be able to summon people too. Amazing!”

“If you’re favored by the Labyrinth God, you’re omnipotent in the labyrinth. I really converted, so why don’t I receive any grace?”

The party members who witnessed Serena’s miracle seemed to firmly believe that the Princess had summoned Count Randy.

‘It’ll be convenient not having to make excuses later.’

Since they would continue drawing while conquering the labyrinth, it was good not having to make excuses every time people increased.

‘This should be fine.’

Serena pondered for a moment, then touched the statue.

***

“Uncle, why didn’t you come to the palace? I told you to come quickly.”

“There was no reason in the letter… I was afraid you’d make me work… I’m a newlywed…”

“You originally went to Huji to work anyway. I was so surprised when you suddenly said you were getting married. And that’s too much, Uncle. I always wrote reasons. I always stated my business, but if I suddenly told you to come without reason, couldn’t you think that something special happened that couldn’t be conveyed by letter?”

“If it was really urgent, there’s also the communication device…”

“Uncle?”

“Sorry, I’m sorry. Now I see… I think I know why you told me to come. I’m really sorry.”

It wasn’t particularly a secret conversation, so everyone in the lobby could hear the uncle and nephew’s dialogue.

Watching the nephew and uncle whose hierarchical relationship seemed reversed, something flickered in Serena’s memory.

‘What was it?’

“Is he angry that he became the 5th Prince Mido and didn’t stop it?”

Even the insensitive Philia seemed to sense something and whispered a question in her master’s ear. Serena thought that wasn’t it while watching the uncle being scolded by his nephew.

‘What is it? I feel like I’ve heard or seen a similar situation.’

“That doesn’t seem to be it. And never mention Mido to Count Randy. Don’t let Grey notice either.”

“Yes.”

It would only cause trouble. When Serena earnestly requested, Philia smiled confidently as if to trust only her.

“Grey Young Master really wanted to see the Count, but there was a reason he wouldn’t go… Ah.”

Ralph, who was recovering the slowest from his neck bite, looked at Philia and understood. Leave such a pretty wife and go to the Empire? Even Ralph would decline.

“They could go together, right?”

“What are you talking about? I’m Lady Serena’s maid. Where Lady Serena is, that’s where I should be.”

Philia linked arms with Serena, showing off their close master-servant relationship.

“After the National Foundation Day ends, I’m planning to travel with the Princess, so I was thinking of stopping by then. I thought if it was urgent, you’d call me through other means.”

“How urgent must it have been for me to stubbornly join the delegation and come to Huji. Thanks to that, I got separated from His Highness the 5th Prince and even fell into the labyrinth.”

“I truly committed a mortal sin. I’m sorry…”

‘Wasn’t it the 5th Prince who forcibly brought him along?’

The nobles choosing Serena’s potential husband had been furious about bringing Mido when they came to see the prospective fiancé, but in fact the child had volunteered to come?

‘If he could forcibly participate in the delegation, he must have some influence.’

Was that influence the 5th Prince’s favor, or something else entirely?

While Serena was pondering, her arm grew cold. Philia, who had been linking arms with Serena, approached Count Randy, perhaps feeling sorry for her husband who kept apologizing.

“Adults have adult matters, so don’t be too unreasonable.”

“Dear, that’s not it. I’m the one who did wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Aunt. I was just too frustrated…”

“What on earth is so important that you couldn’t even write it in a letter and had to find Mark?”

Grey’s eyes welled up with tears like the most wronged child in the world.

“Actually, Grandfather is sick.”

“If he’s sick, you should find a doctor or priest.”

“It’s difficult to tell others about his illness. It’s not seriously bad, but it’s kind of…”

“Hemorrhoids.”

Olive, who had been listening to Grey’s words, declared definitively.

“No! It’s not that!”

“It hurts, it’s uncomfortable, it feels urgently terrible, but you don’t want to show it to strangers. That’s hemorrhoids.”

“That’s not it…”

“Now that I think about it, isn’t Count Landriol’s magic tutor the Empire’s Grand Mage Payne? The Empire’s labyrinth supervisor. That unlucky old geezer Duke Lloyd Payne.”

“That’s right.”

Ying, who hadn’t said a word since collapsing from poisoning, opened her mouth.

“So that old geezer is sick enough to urgently seek Count Landriol?”

‘This is a betrayal.’

Before the genius alchemist, the Empire had a genius Grand Mage.

The Grand Mage, said to rewrite the history of continental magic, consecutively conquered the Empire’s uncleared labyrinths, earning the trust of the previous emperor and rising to the position of the current emperor’s tutor.

Such a Grand Mage is sick? Naturally, it’s top secret. Since information leaked from what Grey said, there are only two choices Grey can make here. One is to insist his grandfather is someone else.

“Ugh. That’s right. Grandfather has hemorrhoids.”

Acknowledging the Grand Mage hemorrhoid theory. Grey chose the latter.

Olive clutched her stomach and laughed. She’d heard the Empire forces unfair contracts on labyrinth explorers, so she probably had strong feelings about the Grand Mage who was responsible.

“It’s not just hemorrhoids. He has anal fistulas, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures all overlapping. Grandfather is suffering so much but Uncle won’t come. Uncle is mean. This is all Uncle’s fault.”

Grey revealed the shocking details of the Grand Mage’s illness that no one was particularly curious about. Perhaps feeling frustrated and upset, he kicked Count Randy’s leg.

“Sorry! I’m sorry! Ack! Stop it!”

“To think hemorrhoids could be that serious… You really are in the wrong.”

Philia sympathized with her husband’s teacher whom she’d never even met, and stepped aside so Grey could beat him comfortably.

Serena watched the nephew happily beating his uncle and became certain.

‘It’s not Mido. It was just a rumor.’

If the relationship with the 5th Prince was real, it would be mutually consensual. Even this looked quite unpleasant to Serena.

‘In the end, he’s still a pedophile. Even if Grey likes him, the proper response would be to tell him to confess when he becomes an adult.’

The Empire has many princes, so wouldn’t it be fine if one of them died screaming in the labyrinth?

Though the victim of dirty power was a misunderstanding, the pedophile still existed. Serena did not cancel the curse she had cast on the 5th Prince.

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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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