<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Chapter 138>

“……”

On the day Hagen’ti’s life was extended, Eden took the risk and returned to Sereman’s Chancellor’s Office to explore his secret study.

As a result, she discovered several hidden dark magic books in the corner of a bookshelf that she had never properly examined, worried that Sereman might arrive during her delay.

This meant that Sereman was indeed using dark magic in secret, and for the Chancellor, who should have been opposing dark magic the most, to dabble in it was corruption beyond justification.

Sereman must have been absolutely certain that Eden couldn’t break through her barriers. So, it was only natural that doubts about Sereman couldn’t be shaken.

“Your Highness, while I’m away, please keep an eye on the Chancellor.”

With enough suspicion gathered, Eden made a discreet request to Asmun before leaving for the Grand Duchy.

“It seems the Chancellor is related to dark magic.”

Considering the worst-case scenarios, she finally grasped the elusive connection between Hagen’ti and Sereman.

Eden recalled the information about Hagen’ti she had obtained after raising his favor to 90.

‘Victim of a fraudulent contract.’

The second piece of information was crucial for the character Hagen’ti, just as it had been for Asmun, and was the key to stopping Hagen’ti’s rampage. And connecting him to Sereman made it ridiculously simple to conclude why she hadn’t made that connection earlier.

Hagen’ti had made a deal with Sereman. A fraudulent contract, at that.

‘To turn a human into a Kalek requires the host’s immense magical power.’

Thus, if Sereman was the one who turned Patriar into a Kalek, it meant he had tremendous magical power, and he must have used that to forge some sort of contract with Hagen’ti.

The fact that Patriar called out Sereman’s name in his moment of crisis and that Sereman sought to eliminate Patriar to steal Asmun’s achievements was proof of that.

‘So that’s why it was like that all along.’

Thinking about it made all the lackadaisical barrier management make sense. The fact that Sereman had been so busy, barely showing his face, was understandable too.

Sereman played the part of a pitiful Chancellor hiding a weakened divine power for the sake of the Empire, but in the end, he got caught by Eden.

Meanwhile, while Eden was away in the Grand Duchy, Asmun found a clue about Sereman.

Thanks to his consistent tracking of dark sorcerers, he had discovered one of their hideouts.

The captured dark sorcerers either committed suicide or remained silent under torture, but there were important leads inside the hideout.

“We found pacts created in the Great Temple there.”

Ironically, the pacts made with the priests’ divine power had also been used as materials for dark magic.

The fact that the temple’s pacts were in the hideout of dark sorcerers indicated that there was someone inside the temple colluding with them.

“We also discovered their purpose.”

Items and dark magic books in the hideout all pointed to a single goal.

“They are trying to resurrect the Demon King.”

As Asmun’s calm voice hit Eden, her head went blank, and the words of Kiris, who had appeared at the National Founding Day banquet, echoed in her mind.

“Foolish humans… you will face the judgment of the Demon King…!”

Was that ridiculous, absurd statement actually real?

‘Not only worshipping the Demon King but also wanting to resurrect him?’

Even amid the absurdity, a deep anxiety tightened around her heart.

‘Then, could it be that Hagen’ti is closely related to the resurrection of the Demon King? Did Sereman turn Hagen’ti into this?’

As that thought crossed her mind, the last shred of understanding she had for Sereman vanished.

If Sereman was the one touching Hagen’ti, it was unforgivable.

Cheers of ecstasy erupted behind her. But Eden couldn’t join in on the joy.

The man in front of her was hardly dealt with at all.

“Long time no see, Chancellor.”

When Eden quietly greeted him, Sereman glared at her fiercely.

The mysterious deep violet of Sereman’s eyes harbored a chill like nothing she had seen before, indicating that he must have guessed Eden had figured everything out.

“I assume you didn’t wish for my return, but it seems you’re disappointed.”

However, Sereman quickly erased his murderous intent and replied with a soft smile.

“……Of course not. I have eagerly awaited the return of the Saint.”

An exceedingly ghastly smile veiled his beautifully divine face. Then, before anyone could react, Sereman hastily chanted a spell.

Just as a mysterious something was about to descend upon Eden, a flash erupted, and she vanished from right above him.

“……!”

As Sereman sprang to his feet, suddenly Asmun, who had managed to pull Eden close to him, narrowly avoided the curse.

Once he confirmed Eden’s safety, Asmun lifted his gaze to face Sereman.

His red eyes bore a predatory glare far exceeded by that of Patriar’s.

As Sereman raised his hand again in urgency, a startled Eden yelled out.

“Your Highness!”

Asmun quickly hid Eden behind him and drew his sword.

The dark energy unleashed from the tips of Sereman’s fingers lunged towards Asmun and Eden, but it was split in half by Asmun’s blade.

Boom—!

The split energy spread sideways, causing more of the already damaged temple to crumble, startling everyone present as they turned to see the commotion.

“What is that?”

“Oh my God…! More dark magic!”

“Wait, isn’t that the Chancellor…?”

“No way!”

The citizens of the Empire, priests, and even the Emperor, who had taken refuge in a high and safe place, were all aghast at the sight of Sereman casting dark magic.

“…….”

Karon looked down at Sereman facing off against Asmun with a bewildered expression.

While he had sensed that the Great Temple had been corrupt for a long time, to see the Chancellor, who should be the most sacred and righteous, practicing dark magic was a betrayal that couldn’t even be described with the word corruption.

After a fierce battle that lasted for a short time, towering flames surrounded Sereman, trapping him.

“Capture the Chancellor…! Capture the Chancellor!”

As the Emperor finally regained his senses and issued a booming command, the knights, initially frozen by the unexpected situation, quickly snapped back to reality and rushed towards the Chancellor.

As Asmun’s flames surged higher, ready to engulf Sereman, the Chancellor’s figure wholly vanished amid the flames.

“Hah….”

The last sound of astonished breaths fell silent, and an eerie stillness descended upon the temple.

“……”

Eden finally exhaled the breath she had been holding and bit her lip.

In the place where Sereman had vanished, a quest completion notification and new quest notification appeared one after another.

With the once-believed 2nd Prince transforming into a monster before the citizens of the Empire and the beloved Chancellor being linked to dark magic, the Empire was thrown into an uproar like never before.

Indeed, the scenario became more severe as the Emperor, unable to bear the shock, collapsed and lay bedridden, deepening the despair of the Empire’s citizens.

“How could the Chancellor do such a thing?”

“You still maintain that level of respect? That despicable traitor!”

“With the Emperor incapacitated in shock, what should we do?”

“At least we have 3rd Prince here; thank goodness for that.”

Asmun, who had become the last hope for the citizens in the blink of an eye, skillfully began to manage the entire situation in place of the Emperor’s authority, meeting their expectations.

First, starting with Reblem and Phileden, he sprinkled holy water throughout the areas plagued by the Hulda-beasts to subdue them, and unleashed the magic users to lift curses disguised as plagues.

Furthermore, a large-scale investigation into the Great Temple, where the traitor Chancellor had dwelled, was initiated, seizing even the Chancellor’s unique powers in the process.

Karon’s support was crucial in revealing the priests’ corruption.

“I have evidence that could be of help.”

Having sensed the corruption of the priests long ago and resolved to eliminate them all, Karon generously provided the evidence he had gathered, while Asmun granted him investigative authority to handle it perfectly.

The transfer of authority over the Great Temple was a crucial matter for Eden.

“Hagen’ti!”

This allowed her to freely come and go without worrying about Sereman’s Chancellor’s Office any longer.

Once everything was settled, Eden requested authority over the Chancellor’s Office from Asmun and immediately dashed to Hagen’ti through the secret study.

There was no need to search for Hagen’ti; as soon as she opened the underground door and set foot inside, he embraced her tightly.

“Hagen’ti……”

Eden let out a heartfelt sigh, burying her face in Hagen’ti’s embrace.