<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Episode 94>

Back then, I could dismiss it as a nightmare since I was just an Apprentice Priest, but now the situation had changed. I had publicly become a Saint, and that nightmare was no longer just a dream.

“Ah, right. Thinking back, it really was a dream. Absurd, wasn’t it? Since then, I haven’t had even a single dream like that.”

As Eden rushed to justify himself, Sereman stared at him with narrowed eyes.

“I see.”

He smiled kindly.

“But, Saint, if you happen to hear any prophecies regarding the Empire’s misfortunes or anything similar in the future, you must tell me immediately.”

His tone was softly pleading.

“If you do, I will do my utmost to assist you in your mission, since you and I are practically in the same boat now.”

His usually calm gaze carried a hint of melancholy, which made Eden’s heart ache slightly. At the same time, the thought of Hagen’ti resurfaced, which was unavoidable.

Given his actions thus far, Sereman was indeed a priest striving for the safety and peace of the Empire, which likely confirmed my suspicion that his Chancellor’s Office was connected to Hagen’ti’s castle.

‘So he was keepin’ an eye on things to prevent Hagen’ti from going on a rampage, huh?’

Suddenly, the urge to confide in Sereman about Hagen’ti’s existence and his recent activities rose up in Eden, but he bit back that desire and forced a smile.

I couldn’t let my guard down until I had solid proof.

“Yes, of course. I will definitely do that.”

Sereman gave a warm smile, seemingly grateful for the response.

“Ah, I must have been blind to the fact that you’d be tired after such a grand event. I’ll take my leave now, so please rest well. You’ll have plenty to do moving forward.”

Sereman bowed politely and turned to leave.

With Sereman gone, it was finally true alone time for Eden.

“Hah…”

Only then did Eden let out a deep sigh and look around the room with a weary face.

The space was incomparable to the spartan quarters of the Apprentice Priest, which had only two beds and two side tables crammed into a tiny room; this one felt overwhelmingly empty.

“Well, this is nice…”

The room had three more separate spaces, one presumably a reception area, one a study, and one a bedroom.

With such a big room, I’d wish Rita could stay here with me.

“…Being a Saint isn’t so bad.”

I almost missed the chance to experience this mystical space, and that would have been a bit regrettable.

“But what do I do? I can’t just wander around freely.”

I knew there was a mix of concern for my safety in Asmun’s unilateral decision, but being safely cooped up in a place like this wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.

Joining in the quest to find Silverstone would have been way more fun.

Just as Eden was mumbling in a sigh-laden voice, waiting for adventure to break through the monotony—

Ding!

The notification sound that he had been waiting for suddenly lit up his eyes. Eden instantly perked up, raising his head.

Finally!

But instead of a quest screen, what appeared before him was an achievement screen.

Eden’s face went blank.

“A hidden quest…?”

Entering the Saint’s Room…?

As soon as he registered it, chills ran down his spine.

“What the…”

While Eden was in a daze, another window popped up.

Ding!

This time it was a new quest screen. Eden hastily looked around, but he was still all alone in the room.

With his eyes widened, Eden read the quest and his face quickly darkened.

“This is crazy.”

Three priests were stationed just outside, and here I was facing a dark forest?

Moreover, the mention of ‘last destination’ was downright infuriating; it was clear that this quest would be as convoluted as the quest to find Ella.

“Calm down, Eden. Let’s get the reward first…”

Holding onto his fading composure, Eden took a deep breath and decided to claim the hidden quest reward first.

Since it was a hidden quest, the reward must be something enormous. A level 1 summoning scroll, or something like that.

With high hopes, Eden shouted “Yes!” at the hidden quest window, and a new window appeared.

“?”

Right before Eden’s eyes floated a truly ‘colorful’ egg. It looked like something crafted with great care by someone for Easter.

Eden blinked several times. Yet, no matter how many times he blinked, what was in front of him was still an egg.

“Ha… What is this…”

Eden grabbed the egg in his hand. Yep, still an egg. A completely ordinary egg with no distinguishing features.

“…”

Because I ended up becoming a Saint against my will, I was being watched even when I went to the bathroom, spent the whole day doing the Ceremony of the Saint, received a confession from the prince, and now this moment where the direction of the game might change handed me…

“An egg.”

“Are you kidding me?!”

Ultimately exploding, Eden hurled the egg toward the statue of Hamun.

Splat!

The egg smashed against Hamun’s chest with a satisfying sound.

At that moment, a brilliant light began to emanate from the statue that was just struck.

“What’s this now…”

Eden was in the midst of disbelief when the rock-solid statue of Hamun shifted and turned its head to look at him.

Eden’s eyes widened in shock as Hamun opened his mouth.

“Wow.”

Hamun exclaimed, clapping his hands in excitement.

“Goodness. To come into the Saint’s Room and find an Easter egg right away.”

Eden was gaping at what felt like a horror show.

The statue was speaking… and that rock was… could it be Hamun…?

‘There really is a Hamun…?’

Eden’s entire body froze in a mix of fear and wonder at the unexpected development. The fear of a statue moving paled in comparison to the reality that he was a god…

No, wait…

An Easter egg?

“D-Did you just say… Easter egg…?”

Hamun burst into peals of light laughter.

“No need to speak so formally. Yep, Easter egg.”

At that, Eden’s mind snapped back to reality. An Easter egg? That meant a hidden device created for fun by the game’s developers.

Typically, it was something that wouldn’t affect the game’s progression, just for pure amusement, and the conditions for triggering an Easter egg varied; maybe right now…

“…”

Eden looked at the egg rolling off Hamun’s chest. So the condition to trigger the Easter egg was to throw the egg at Hamun.

With thoughts racing in his head, Eden quickly realized what he needed to do. He lifted his gaze to find Hamun cleaning the egg off with a fountain of water.

“Who are you?”

“Wow. Asking me not to speak formally and then switching right to casual. Bold move!”

Eden had now forgotten his fear and marched right up to Hamun. The word Easter egg on his lips as he regarded the statue before him—no, Hamun, or whatever he was.

In any case, this being was clearly not just a mere setting of the world.

He knew this world was within a game.

“Who are you?!”

“Hamun.”

“Not just that! What else?” Eden nearly yelled.

Hamun added nonchalantly, “An entity humans call a god, and simultaneously the game’s creator.”

Eden had to take a moment to process that statement.

Humans? What humans? The ones outside the game? Inside the game? Me? Or these characters here?

As if sensing his confusion, Hamun smirked.

“Don’t overthink it. I am a god. To you too.”

Suddenly, everything clicked in Eden’s mind.

Ah, he’s a god. Ibthan, here you are, a disreputable god. Asmun, you see there really are gods. Karon, did you know the god you were searching for is such a weirdo?

He truly was a god. Nothing else could have led to all this happening to him.

Eden finally understood why so many humans sought truth and begged for answers from gods.

The one holding all the answers was a god.

“So you’re the one who made this game, no, a god, and… wait a second…”

“A god.”

“Right, a god! But wait, why would a god make a game?”

“Can’t a god create a game?”

“That’s not what I’m saying!”

“Oh dear, try to think outside the box. You’ve experienced plenty already.”

“Enough! I’ve got something I want to ask you! Why am I…”

“Why did you end up inside the game?”

Eden nodded vigorously.

Hamun grew a bit serious and furrowed his brow while stroking his chin.

“Uh, maybe… people called it a mission? Or fate? Maybe it was coincidence, but…”

Eden’s face twisted at the unsatisfying answer.

Basically, it meant there was no reason!

Seeing Eden’s face, Hamun looked a bit dejected and asked,

“Why… is my game not fun…?”

He looked incredibly anxious, as if he was really waiting for a review.

Hah, Eden could only stare in disbelief before managing to reply.

“It’s… fun…”

That was true. It was thrilling to the point of being nerve-wracking every moment.

Hamun’s face instantly lit up.

“Right? It’s fun, isn’t it? Ha, I put so much effort into it! Those primitive humans give me a 1-star rating and such, but you won’t do that, right?”

Eden’s heart sank.

I was ready to give it 1 star. I was going to leave a nasty comment.

“They just can’t clear it, so they lash out. But I think you can clear it. You’ve made it this far, after all. I really have high hopes for you!”