“Wasn’t this a strategy game, though? Episode 102.”

As soon as I lifted the slab, I feared the mine might collapse, so I looked around nervously, but just as he said, nothing happened. Clearly, I was way too relaxed.

‘I mean, who would even think someone would come this far to steal this?’

Finally, Eden let out a sigh, feeling a bit relieved.

If this slab were missing, the ritual couldn’t be performed, and that would definitely stop Kiris’s plan. The evidence was already compelling.

At that moment, a dazzling clear window popped up in the dark mine.

Eden glanced at the slab cradled in Chediak’s arms.

‘So that was the clue.’

Thanks to Chediak, I almost missed it after coming all the way here.

It was just the right timing. Eden had already decided on the reward for this quest.

Eden turned to Hagen’ti and Chediak.

“Let’s hurry out.”

The three quickly escaped the mine and returned to where the woman was, taking her along as they vanished.

The guards at Asmun’s castle were extremely vigilant, and getting through them would definitely cause a commotion, so Eden decided to act a bit rudely and head into the castle.

As expected, Hagen’ti’s skills remained flawless, and the four of them went to the room where Eden had stayed after the Leveim incident.

Eden stepped outside the room, grabbed the first employees she encountered, and asked them to call the highest-ranking knight left among them. It wasn’t long before Ronpell appeared.

“Saint?!

“Sir Ronpell! You stayed at the castle!”

As Eden joyfully greeted him, Chediak’s face froze in shock.

“S-S-Saint…? Edi, I mean… is that really you…?”

Chediak stammered, bewildered, while Ronpell furrowed his brow, looking at him.

“Who is this? And who are all these people…?”

Ronpell, just as flustered by the morning’s ruckus, surveyed the group Eden brought along and stopped his gaze on the man with pink hair.

“Huh? It’s that sorcerer from before!”

“Yes, Sir Ronpell. But there’s no time to explain everything. Where’s His Highness?”

“Uh…? Um… His Highness went to find Silverstone…”

“Right now, something much more important has come up.”

“Huh?”

Ronpell’s eyes widened at the mention of something more important than Silverstone.

How could such a thing exist…?

However, as one of Asmun’s closest aides, Ronpell knew Eden’s exceptional nature and had realized many times that her words could not be taken lightly.

“What do you mean…?”

“We need to see His Highness immediately. Please send a message for him to return to the castle as quickly as possible!”

Ronpell looked at Eden as if he’d just been slapped awake and quickly nodded.

“Yes, yes! Understood.”

After all, the reason I was guarding the castle in the first place was to prepare for emergencies like this.

To have a great mage and suspicious individuals rushing to find His Highness—this had to be reported to Asmun.

“And send one physician here, to this room!”

Eden hastily urged Ronpell as he was leaving, and he raised his hand to signal he understood without looking back.

‘I’m really glad Ronpell is here.’

Since Ronpell had been sent, Asmun would be back soon. Then everything would go smoothly.

Eden nodded and reopened the clear window that had appeared earlier to select the reward.

The chosen reward was, of course, the Prophecy Book.

Everything was solid based on the circumstances, but needing to involve no less than the Emperor demanded even clearer proof.

As expected, the Prophecy Book contained details related to the Anag’t Ritual.

But…

“What? What does this mean? A fake Anag’t slab?”

Eden’s bewildered voice echoed in her ears, as if it weren’t her own. Soon, understanding the words in the Prophecy Book, her expression hardened.

“…So the real slab is in Kiris’s castle.”

Eden dropped the Prophecy Book and covered her face with her hands.

“This is insane…!”

The situation was spiraling into a worst-case scenario again. Slowly, Eden turned to look out the large window in the corridor.

…

The radiant morning sun was mercilessly rising.

“Where could the Saint be?”

Asmun, having received Ronpell’s message, wasted no time and used the emergency scroll to return to the castle.

“She’s over here.”

Ronpell quickly led him.

“Saint! His Highness has arrived!”

At that, the door swung open, and Eden darted out as if she had been waiting for Asmun all along, her lips parched.

“Your Highness…”

At that affectionate call, all the pent-up anger and feelings of betrayal vanished in an instant, leaving her powerless.

She had definitely planned to scold him the moment she saw his face, to threaten him so he’d never pull this again, and to bind him so he could never escape her again, yet…

…

Asmun gazed at her annoyingly charming face, utterly unable to muster even an ounce of anger.

But if I did that and Eden really left… what would I do then?

A fear unlike anything he had ever felt before clawed at his throat.

All those feelings faded, leaving only a massive relief holding onto his racing heart. Just grateful to see Eden again.

“Your Highness. There’s something urgent I need to relay, so I took the liberty of acting.”

“…Where have you been?”

Asmun cast a quick glance at the scene inside the room.

What with a sorcerer and a not-so-well-looking woman, plus Hagen’ti.

Hagen’ti, arms crossed, leaning by the window, met Asmun’s gaze without flinching and returned it coldly.

With that insufferable author…

Just as the anger was about to flare up within him again, Eden took Asmun’s hand and stepped outside the corridor, closing the door behind them.

…

Asmun quietly looked down at Eden. After checking that only Asmun and Ronpell were around, Eden finally spoke up.

“You must listen to me carefully from now on.”

Eden’s voice was unusually serious.

“You need to find His Majesty immediately.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

Ronpell too looked startled, glancing at Asmun. Even a prince needed prior permission to meet with the Emperor.

And all of a sudden, the Emperor?! What on earth was going on?

“You must go see His Majesty regarding Kiris’s rebellion.”

At those words, Asmun’s eyes hardened.

Ronpell’s eyes widened as he gasped tightly, but Eden didn’t hold back.

“And you must act to prevent that rebellion.”

Her lips were parched, anxious to reach a conclusion, yet her gaze was as firm as ever, just like every crucial moment before.

Asmun and Eden headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Since teleporting near the Imperial Palace without permission was a grave crime, they had to ride horses instead. By now, it was already midday.

“We’ve come to see His Majesty. It’s vital to meet him today, so please let him know.”

But then came an earth-shattering response.

“His Majesty is not currently at the Imperial Palace.”

“What?”

Eden couldn’t restrain herself and interrupted, causing the Emperor’s secretary to gasp in surprise at her.

“Is that not the Saint?”

At those words, Eden quickly removed the hood of her robe, confirming her identity.

“Yes, it’s me. I have received a divine message and must see His Majesty immediately, so please tell me where he is!”

The mention of a divine message shocked the secretary’s face, turning it awkward.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot simply disclose information regarding His Majesty’s whereabouts. If it’s urgent, I can have someone report to him once he returns, but please schedule an appointment…”

“We don’t have time! It’s a divine message!”

“But there were no such reports from the Great Temple…”

No…

Just as despair began to wash over Eden’s face, a savior appeared.

“What seems to be the problem?”

Eden and Asmun turned around simultaneously.

…

With an expressionless face, it was Ibthan looking at them.

“Chancellor!”

Eden rushed to him, her face ready to burst into tears.

“We need to see His Majesty right now! We have something urgent to relay before sunset!”

“What’s going on…?”

Ibthan looked at Eden, confused, before glancing at the approaching Asmun.

Asmun stepped up before Ibthan.

“It’s about the rebellion.”

At that, Ibthan, along with the secretary eavesdropping, gaped in shock.

“If we delay any longer, we won’t be able to stop it. So please tell me where His Majesty is!”

“…Do you understand what His Highness is saying?”

“I do know. This is to protect His Majesty, no, this Empire, so please join us.”

Ibthan looked at Eden, dumbfounded, as her face had grown haggard without him realizing it, yet her eyes gazed up at him desperately.

“You have to believe His Highness. I can guarantee it.”

Ibthan’s eyes flickered slightly. While he could dismiss Asmun’s words, he could no longer disregard Eden’s; she knew what would happen to the Solar Empire.

After a brief silence, Ibthan’s dry lips moved slowly.

“…His Majesty went hunting with Duke Pierre.”