Chapter 19
<Wasn’t this a Strategy Game? Episode 19>
The gatekeeper stepped aside, and Eden pushed the door open and walked in.
The Chancellor’s Office was accessed through a door watched over by a gatekeeper, leading to a small circular staircase. Today, the staircase felt unexpectedly long, as if it dragged on forever simply because there was someone inside.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Eden caught sight of Chancellor Sereman, who was just pulling a book from the shelf of the study. His flowing lavender hair was familiar to her. He was indeed the Chancellor.
‘Feels like I’m looking at a celebrity.’
Eden was struck by the popularity of the Chancellor in Hesmor as she stepped into the game world. Everyone praised him as capable, kind, and reliable, with even some trusting him more than the Emperor himself.
Citizens in the capital claimed they could sleep soundly at night, all thanks to the Chancellor. It was no wonder his presence was treated like that of a god.
After taking a small breath, Eden spoke up.
“Hello, Chancellor. I came to clean.”
As Eden nodded politely, Sereman turned to her. Soon, a warm voice reached her ears.
“Ah, it’s Sister Eden.”
Startled by her name being called out of the blue, Eden looked up to see Sereman smiling kindly at her.
“Oh, hello.”
Eden replied with another greeting. Although she found it surprising that Sereman knew her, it made sense upon reflection. If even Karon knew who she was, it’s no wonder the Chancellor recognized her, especially since he had been the one to facilitate her meeting with Ibthan at the founding banquet.
“By the way, how’s your health?”
At those words, Eden’s face went blank without her even realizing it.
Health? Had she hurt herself?
Sereman, immediately noticing her reaction, chuckled softly and added, “At the last banquet…”
Oh. It seemed that it finally clicked. The Chancellor had indeed been present at the last founding banquet.
He had also given orders to stay at the Imperial Palace for a day or get her a carriage if she wanted to return, which was also his doing.
“Ah, yes… I’m fine, thanks to you.”
“That’s a relief.”
Sereman smiled gently. As before, he looked young, dignified, and gentle.
His hair, resembling silver at a glance, held a mystical quality, and his oddly purple eyes exuded a peculiar power. He truly embodied the Chancellor from the game or a fantasy novel.
He was even handsome enough to make one wonder why he wasn’t one of the main characters in the game.
I mean, if you pulled the Chancellor into this, that would really make it a solid game.
“Well, it’s a good time. I just received news from the Imperial Palace.”
Eden’s eyes widened at Sereman’s words. He walked over to his desk and picked up a letter resting atop it.
“This is for you, Sister.”
Smiling brightly, he extended it to her, and Eden quickly composed herself and stepped forward.
“Thank you.”
Eden took the letter and hastily read the contents written on it. It was addressed to Eden, Priestess of Haelbr Temple. It was indeed meant for her.
She had learned about her orphan status in this world and how she had grown up in a rural temple until coming to the Great Temple, but this letter hadn’t come from the countryside. If it had, it wouldn’t have reached the Chancellor first.
That left only one place remaining.
“……”
Eager to rip it open, the timing wasn’t right. As Eden battled her urge to open it right there and stuffed it into her pocket, Sereman offered a kind suggestion.
“Feel free to read it.”
“Huh?”
“Important letters shouldn’t be delayed, after all.”
Ah. At his words, Eden fumbled and took the letter out again. Maybe it was due to his impressive title, but Sereman had a way of making people tense even while standing still. She had never felt such a strange tension even with Asmun.
‘Must be his age. He looks older than any other character aside from the Emperor.’
With that thought in mind, Eden tore the envelope and took out the letter inside.
“……”
Her eyes flew over the content of the letter. As expected, the sender was none other than Ibthan.
He was formally requesting a meeting with Eden, assuring her that he would handle all necessary procedures, while also letting her know the date of her next visit to the Imperial Palace. He even mentioned sending a carriage.
‘Of course.’
A smile crept onto Eden’s face at the prospect of passing through Ibthan’s strict procedures.
“Sounds like good news.”
Hearing a friendly voice from beyond the letter, Eden suddenly remembered the Chancellor was right in front of her. She quickly composed herself and looked at Sereman.
“Ahaha… yes.”
Eden neatly folded the letter and put it in her pocket while smoothly changing the topic.
“Well, it seems I’ll be able to work a bit more for Hamun. Thanks to the abilities he granted me.”
Sereman must have already been informed about her abilities. At her words, he nodded knowingly.
“Sister, the special ability you’ve been granted undoubtedly carries a profound meaning from Hamun. Acknowledging it instead of turning away from it is commendable.”
“It was only possible because the Chancellor didn’t overlook my request.”
Eden flattered him deftly, and Sereman smiled back. It was a courteous gesture, but it didn’t feel insincere.
In truth, Eden was impressed by the Chancellor, someone of his status, who had readily accepted the plea of an Apprentice Priestess without hesitation. Sure, with his title, extreme kindness and equality might come as a standard feature, but still.
“If you need any help or run into difficulties, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’ll lend my strength to your courage.”
“Yes, I will. Thank you.”
“As for the cleaning…”
As Sereman looked around the near-empty office, contemplating, Eden quickly interjected.
“I’d like to finish the cleaning by the set date.”
Sereman’s eyes returned to Eden. His gaze was firm.
“You can do it enough. This is also something I have promised. Ultimately, my duty is as a Priest of Haelbr Temple, and I believe I need to fulfill that duty before taking on later tasks.”
Of course, that was a lie. This was just a game, and her real occupation wasn’t that of a priestess. In her mundane routine of eating, cleaning, and praying, any reduction in cleaning duty sounded good, but for some reason, Eden wanted to present her best side to Sereman too.
‘Even if I’m not the main character for this, it feels like it might be useful someday.’
Well, the cleaning period wouldn’t last much longer anyway.
As Eden firmly asserted her point, Sereman gazed at her for a moment before breaking into a soft smile.
“Then, so be it.”
“Yes!”
Eden replied energetically and immediately began her cleaning. Sereman watched her for a moment before sitting at his desk to get back to work, leading to an awkwardly prolonged cleaning session.
Sereman focused like no one else was in the room, and Eden glanced at him as she finished her cleaning and exited the office.
“Hah. It felt like the teacher’s lounge…”
Remembering the days cleaning the teacher’s lounge filled with teachers, Eden shivered slightly. While Sereman was a kind person, it was inevitable that she hoped not to encounter him during the next cleaning.
As Eden headed back to her accommodation, she pulled out Ibthan’s letter again and began to read.
“In four days…”
Repeating the date of her next visit to the Imperial Palace in her mind, Eden looked up at the evening sky, where the sun was setting.
Whether this flow was smooth or not, she couldn’t tell, but at any rate, there was no turning back now. It would be much easier for her to establish connections at the Imperial Palace than to continue being just an Apprentice Priestess.
“I wonder how Asmun is doing.”
If Asmun had successfully taken over Leveim from Kiris, he would have arrived there by now. And he’d surely be digging through Redville just as she had instructed.
The contents of this prophecy book would be of great help to Asmun going forward. So, as long as he properly executed everything she had told him.
Eden envisioned Asmun’s eyes. Those eyes that seemed about to explode at any moment yet felt eerily empty and cold.
“…I guess I have no choice but to believe.”
Taking a small breath, Eden resumed walking.
