Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 9

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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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9. Heuji’s Mausoleum(?) (1)

Lavenda’s face turned pale blue as she wrapped her arms around herself. Even sitting in front of the fire, she trembled uncontrollably.

“I’m from Vieta, you know.”

“Yes. I’ve heard it many times and seen your passport too.”

Wasn’t it even plastered all over her shop? Vieta-style massage.

“Do you know what the most famous tourist attraction in Vieta is?”

The small kingdom of Vieta at the eastern edge of the continent, opposite to Huji. Vieta was both the name of the kingdom and its capital.

Though it was a small nation with only one city, it was renowned across the entire continent as a must-visit tourist destination at least once in one’s lifetime.

The tourist city of Vieta. Emerald coastlines with white sandy beaches, outdoor hot springs that could be enjoyed alongside eternal snow, massive ports where ships from various nations came and went, fresh seafood, delicious venison, addictive goat cheese with its unique aroma, and theaters and casinos that had become the continent’s largest thanks to a king from several generations ago. Annual theater festivals held with great success.

But there was something even more famous than all the things mentioned above.

Namely.

“The Labyrinth.”

Vieta’s Labyrinth was the only labyrinth on the continent open to tourists. Vieta had built great fame through its labyrinth tourism business.

“Are you saying that the similar place you mentioned is, by any chance, a labyrinth?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing such words, she should have been startled awake, but perhaps because she was too tired, she still felt drowsy.

Serena bit her tongue to chase away the sleepiness.

In this fantasy world where Serena had been reincarnated, there existed natural dungeons called labyrinths.

Not just any dungeon could be called a labyrinth simply for being large and having complex paths. Only a very small portion of dungeons, very peculiar ones, were called labyrinths.

Dungeons of unknown origin that appeared suddenly without warning or had existed since ancient times.

For a dungeon to be called a labyrinth, it had to meet several conditions.

The most important condition was regenerative power.

‘In labyrinths, through mysterious forces, the internal traps, monsters, and treasures regenerate at regular intervals. This regenerative power is the core of labyrinths. And they’re places where all sorts of bizarre phenomena occur.’

For example, in labyrinths, even if you break down a wall to reach an adjacent room, you can’t actually get to that room. Endless walls just keep appearing.

‘When I first heard about it, I thought it was exactly like a dungeon in a game.’

Wondering if she had perhaps been reincarnated into a game world, she tried to learn more about labyrinths but failed.

In this world, labyrinths were recognized as precious national assets. Nations that owned labyrinths treated information about them as state secrets, sharing and monopolizing information only among labyrinth-owning countries.

‘I could have learned more in detail by spending money, time, and people, but it was similar to investigating another country’s mineral reserves, military training methods, or tax revenue, so I gave up.’

It would be one thing if she were simply a hobbyist interested in labyrinths, but if Serena, as royalty, were caught conducting detailed investigations, it could escalate into a diplomatic issue, so she gave up. That’s why Serena didn’t know much about labyrinths.

Entry to labyrinths was controlled, allowing only the owning nation’s military or licensed adventurers. In labyrinths, one could obtain magical tools or precious items that were difficult to acquire elsewhere. But they were equally dangerous.

This was about all Serena knew.

“Vieta’s Labyrinth is the only labyrinth on the continent open to civilians. It’s also the most popular attraction in Vieta. Though it gets crowded, the entrance fee is cheap for Vieta citizens, so you can visit if you save up a little.”

Lavenda wrapped her arms around herself.

“The labyrinth is an essential part of Vieta tourism, so I went there several times to keep up with my customers’ conversations. But this place!”

Lavenda, who had been trembling while hugging herself, contorted her face.

“You called it a mausoleum, Princess, but this place feels too similar to Vieta’s Labyrinth!”

‘So this is why she’s been in such poor condition.’

How she had been in particularly bad condition all along. It wasn’t because she was the only foreigner, but because she alone was considering a different possibility.

“How impudent! How dare you disregard Lady Serena’s opinion!”

“That’s right! A labyrinth! That’s nonsense!”

“Don’t scare people.”

It was already troublesome enough calling it a royal mausoleum, but when talk of a labyrinth came up, people became angry. They berated Lavenda, demanding she take it back.

“Stop.”

Serena raised her hand to calm the people.

“A mausoleum is a dungeon, and a labyrinth is also a type of dungeon, so they could have similar dungeon-like atmospheres. However, Lavenda is not a hasty person. She must have a solid reason for specifically telling me this. Isn’t that right?”

Serena decided to hear Lavenda’s opinion first. It felt too ominous to dismiss as the speculation of a frightened masseuse.

‘She’s almost certain about it.’

If she had been certain from the beginning, wouldn’t she have voiced her opinion when Serena called it a mausoleum?

She might not have spoken due to the burden of Serena’s status and being mentally scattered right after the fall, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

‘Her complexion kept getting darker, and at some point, the light in her eyes died.’

“Tell me. There’s another reason besides the atmosphere, isn’t there?”

“Yes! There is! The reason I became certain was because of the rat!”

Lavenda presented the rat that had become the group’s daily meal as evidence.

“That rat! It looks exactly like the labyrinth rats running on wheels in Vieta’s Labyrinth! Even the size!”

She had made an effort to present a different opinion from the princess and even provided her reasoning. Despite Lavenda’s earnest effort, people’s reactions were lukewarm.

“All rats look the same.”

“That’s right! They all look the same.”

“You disrespected Lady Serena over just that! How rude!”

“Just that, Countess! Such large, vicious rats can’t be common! That’s a labyrinth rat! I heard the explanation when I entered Vieta’s Labyrinth. They said it was an aggressive rat species that only inhabits labyrinths.”

Lavenda became increasingly excited as she spoke.

“This is definitely a labyrinth! We’ve been swallowed by a labyrinth! They say that in labyrinths that swallow people, the corpses of those who were swallowed are found… We’re all going to die! We’ve been devoured by the labyrinth!”

“Lavenda, stop.”

Lavenda’s beautiful lavender-colored eyes lost their light. With hollow eyes, she began spouting whatever came to mind. Serena tried to calm her, but she wouldn’t settle down easily.

“We’re all going to die! Right, the earthquake. What if that wasn’t an earthquake but the scene of being swallowed by a labyrinth? If all of Heuji City was devoured by the labyrinth, then what level is this labyrinth…”

“Stop it!”

Lavenda barely came to her senses at the princess’s sharp rebuke. She looked around at the people with fear-consumed eyes, then bowed her head in apology.

“I’m sorry. I got too excited.”

“A labyrinth. Yes. Thank you for bringing up a possibility I hadn’t considered. But getting so excited won’t help, and also.”

‘A labyrinth? Really?’

Serena frowned. She desperately hoped it wasn’t true.

“There’s insufficient valid evidence to accept your opinion. I don’t know much about rats so it’s hard to make a definitive judgment, but animals of the same species do look similar. There’s a possibility you’re mistaken.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Everyone listen. Whether this place is a mausoleum or a labyrinth, the fact that we need to find a way to escape doesn’t change. Let’s cherish and help each other while finding a way out of this place. I will definitely reward your efforts.”

Lavenda slumped down onto the floor as if drained of energy. The other people calmed down too.

The statement that what they needed to do hadn’t changed seemed to reassure people. Or perhaps they were relieved that the princess promised rewards.

“I’m too tired, so let’s rest now. We’ll need to set up night watches.”

“We’ll do it.”

“That’s right, Lady Serena should rest. How tired you must be.”

“Please lie down here.”

Krom brought a blanket from the cart and made a sleeping place for Serena.

How to decide the night watch order, and how to know when to change shifts when there wasn’t even a clock.

‘There’s still work to do. Right, I need to think about what to do with the map too.’

Serena was half-forced by Philia to lie down on the blanket. This morning she had run away because she didn’t want to work, but now she was refusing to sleep because she had work to do. Life was truly absurd.

‘I need to wash my face too. My million-gold skin!’

Even the pressure of a million gold couldn’t overcome the drowsiness that rushed in once her head touched the ground.

Serena fell asleep.

***

Was it because she slept in a bright place? Or because she was too tired? Serena had a lucid dream.

‘How empty.’

Serena woke up in a strange space with nothing in it. There was no floor, but somehow she could stand, and the surroundings were thick with fog. Though she had awakened, she knew this was still within a dream.

“A pointless lucid dream. They say you don’t sleep properly when you have lucid dreams. Won’t I be more tired when I wake up?”

Knowing this was a dream, Serena grumbled without restraint. Since it was a dream, she didn’t need to maintain her dignified and graceful princess demeanor.

Serena stirred the surroundings a few times, unable to tell if it was fog or just blurry and unclear, then gave up and sat on the ground.

Since this was her first lucid dream and she didn’t know how to wake up from it, she decided to organize her thoughts instead.

“So it’s a labyrinth.”

When Lavenda first mentioned the possibility of a labyrinth, Serena was very surprised. She didn’t show it, but she was really very surprised.

“I thought it could only be a mausoleum.”

There were so few labyrinths and so little known information that I was certain it was a mausoleum. But hearing Lavenda’s story made my heart waver.

“Sigh. I can’t let my protagonist syndrome relapse here.”

Those who know the current lazy Serena wouldn’t believe it, but young Serena was a diligent and hardworking child. She was energetic, motivated in everything, and proactive.

Young Serena believed there must be a special reason why she had been reincarnated into a fantasy world with her memories intact. Even without a mission, she expected life wouldn’t be smooth and that incidents and accidents would come rushing at her.

Why?

Because she was the protagonist.

Why was she the protagonist?

Because she had reincarnated with her memories.

Originally, reincarnators, even if not protagonists, are usually used as major supporting characters or important plot devices. Sometimes there are novels with so many reincarnators that they’re treated like street extras, but usually they were used importantly.

So young Serena studied hard.

Since it’s a fantasy world, would it be a fun adventure story with companions?

Since she was born into royalty, it could be a political power struggle or territory development story.

Maybe it’s a romance fantasy where I’m the villainess? A romance starting with an arranged marriage?

Or perhaps a BL story where my brother is the main character?

Not knowing what genre her life would become, Serena built up her physical strength and accumulated knowledge. She gave up on the territory development route since she didn’t know how to make soap, good soap already existed in this world, and she couldn’t cook either.

Then when she learned about the existence of labyrinths, thinking it might be a labyrinth conquest story, she tried to gather information but gave up, and other things became lackluster too.

“I came to realize reality.”

Serena is indeed a reincarnator, but she’s not the protagonist. This wasn’t about dreams and hopes—it was reality. Serena’s actual reality.

Her father was a drug addict, her mother a serious mental patient, her brother an affection-starved pretty boy. Her grandfather? Her grandfather was an old man who had lost his entire family overnight and survived alone. He was a living corpse who couldn’t die because he was a nation’s ruler.

Quite pathetic, wasn’t it?

If she truly had protagonist qualities, she would have disciplined herself even in such a lax environment, but Serena wasn’t the protagonist.

Her willpower wasn’t that strong, then or now. Having lived while aware of reality, she grew up to be a pathetic adult to match her pathetic upbringing.

“Ah, seriously. It can’t be a labyrinth conquest story. Surely I’m not the starting point of the main quest?”

A quest given to the protagonist! Save the princess trapped in the labyrinth! But what the protagonist discovers after all that hardship is just the princess’s skeletal remains!

“Ugh.”

“You seem to have many worries.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly an unfamiliar voice was heard. Serena turned her head toward where the sound came from.

A person wearing a robe was standing next to Serena as if they had been there from the beginning.

“Ah, you startled me.”

Their hood was pulled so deeply that their face wasn’t visible. Serena was bewildered, wondering what kind of dream this was.

“I’d like to help, but I cannot extend my hand without compensation, so what am I to do.”

“Do NPCs normally appear in lucid dreams?”

“What will you do, child? Will you offer a sacrifice?”

A white hand emerged from between the parted folds of the robe.

“What kind of ridiculous dream is this.”

Serena laughed in dismay. She swatted away the hand that the hooded figure had extended. It was quite rude, but since it was a dream, she thought it didn’t matter.

“Hehe.”

Perhaps because it was a ridiculous dream, the robed figure didn’t seem angry at Serena’s rude behavior. They smiled warmly like someone watching their grandchild’s antics.

‘What a nice voice.’

She thought it was an incredibly beautiful voice, but strangely, the gender was unclear. Gender wasn’t the only unclear thing.

Gender, age, health condition, and so on.

All information that could be inferred from the voice was perfectly excluded. She could only think that it was a beautiful voice that touched the heart.

“I hope I can help next time.”

With those words, Serena realized that this dream space was scattering.

‘I guess I’m waking up.’

Except for being a lucid dream, it was just an ordinary ridiculous dream. Serena didn’t attach any particular meaning to it.

However, there was one impressive point.

The eyes of the mysterious stranger she met in the dream were a burning crimson color. Even though she couldn’t see their face, only that remained strangely memorable.

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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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