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“Wasn’t this supposed to be a strategy game?”

The book was titled “Exciting Egg Cookbook.” Yet, the content was completely unrelated to its bizarre title.

It contained instructions on how to trigger an Easter egg to meet Hamun.

So, this book itself was an Easter egg hidden within the game, and the colorful eggs were given as hints to catch on to that!

“Hah, me figuring this out is just…”

Eden shook her head in disbelief, marveling at her own wit and sense after such a long time.

Clearly, such an Easter egg would likely have been discovered by no one but her.

“Phew.”

Instead of summoning Hamun right away, she grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from her desk, carefully jotting down her list of questions.

The time to trigger the Easter egg once it activated was five minutes.

The opportunity for a greeting is once per person, and the cooldown period is limited to two weeks per individual.

“Seriously, what’s with the one-time deal? Am I the only player here?”

Regardless, according to the book, she could only use this Easter egg right then, and it would take two weeks before she could use it again.

That meant she had to figure everything out within five minutes.

“Are they out of their minds with this two-week nonsense?”

Eden sighed but diligently checked the book again, then stood before the statue of Hamun once more.

“Hoo…”

Taking a deep, serious breath as if bracing for battle, Eden recited the silly and embarrassingly childish spell she found in the book.

“Hamun’s game is the best game in the universe and the dream and hope of all gamers!”

Suddenly, Hamun stirred, coming to life just like when he tossed the colorful eggs, turning his head toward Eden.

“Of course!”

Hamun replied, evidently pleased with the incantation he created, bursting into a hearty laugh.

Eden shot him a cold stare, devoid of any amusement.

“Oh my! You even found that book, you’re really…”

“Wait!”

Eden interrupted him desperately, speaking firmly.

“There’s no time for small talk.”

“Huh?”

Holding up her list of questions high, Eden read them out loud enunciating clearly.

“I have a few questions, so, as a courtesy to the player who discovered the Easter egg, I kindly ask you to answer sincerely.”

Deprived of his chance to chat, Hamun glared at Eden with a frown.

“Okay, first question. What genre is this game? Wasn’t it a strategy game?”

“Well… that’s the main genre, right?”

“But what’s up with this affection system?”

“What’s it to you? It’s love, isn’t it?”

Eden exploded, unable to hold back, “No, why is there such a thing! In a strategy game!”

“Well, it could have not existed, right?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“In previous plays, it didn’t exist, did it?”

Eden furrowed her brows at his strange rebuttal.

She definitely hadn’t seen such a system in previous plays. So, does that mean these feelings stem purely from her own actions?

Hamun continued on, seemingly oblivious to Eden’s confusion, chatting excitedly.

“Listen to me. Does medical drama have love or not? What about historical dramas? Is there love in fantasy movies or not?”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

When Eden shot back coldly, Hamun shrugged, crossing his arms.

“Love is everywhere, especially if it’s real life. That’s my answer.”

What nonsense!

Eden barely managed to suppress her urge to yell again. There was no time to waste on such wordplay.

“Alright. Next question.”

Hamun, once annoyed, seemed to enjoy this chance to respond and brightened up, adjusting his posture.

“What about Sereman? Is that some kind of plot twist?”

That made Hamun chuckle bashfully.

“Isn’t that awesome?”

Oh, come on.

Eden’s gaze grew colder.

“So he wasn’t a Chancellor from the start? Was he a Dark Sorcerer from the beginning?”

“Hmm. Nope. I was originally a very devout Priest. Just fell from grace.”

Eden frowned at that.

“Fell from grace? Why?”

“That kind of thing happens. Devout folks betray or fall all the time. Let me tell you, back in the day, there was a Priest serving my friend…”

“I didn’t ask that. Next question.”

Hamun pouted at her curt interruption. Eden took a small breath. These next questions were really important.

“What happens if Hagen’ti goes berserk?”

“Why ask something like that? It’s obvious he’ll die.”

Hamun’s nonchalant answer left Eden breathless.

“…Then what happens to this world?”

“It’ll fall into the hands of the Dark Sorcerers.”

Eden’s brows furrowed.

“…It won’t be destroyed?”

In her previous play, the world perished simultaneously when Hagen’ti went berserk and the game ended.

“You kept Hagen’ti alive this far, so the point of destruction has passed. It’s just going to be an even worse hell unleashed.”

Hamun answered with a tone of intrigue.

What does that mean?

She had no more time to probe deeper.

“Okay. So to clear this quest, or rather, to clear the game, do I need to find Hagen’ti’s memories?”

“Well, that would make things easier. But as you now know, if it didn’t show up in the quest, it’s not necessary. Though if it doesn’t show, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.”

All of those answers were confusingly vague.

Eden exhaled a trembling breath and tossed the next question.

“If I clear all quests, do I go back to the original world?”

Hamun, instead of answering, countered with a question.

“Why? Do you want to stay? You’ve clearly wanted to go back.”

The way he asked was strange. Eden’s heart sank.

“If I wanted to stay, would you let me?”

But Hamun only flashed a puzzled smile, giving no answer to her inquiry.

Eden glanced at the clock. Time was almost up. In a rush, she asked,

“What happens to this world after I clear it?”

“It will be maintained, I suppose?”

That was what she expected. Eden’s heart thudded painfully again.

“Then what happens if I fail to clear it?”

In the tense silence, Hamun slowly spoke.

“You’ll go back to the beginning.”

“….”

“And if no player shows up to clear it….”

The tension in Eden’s eyes intensified.

If no one shows up…?

“It’ll be discontinued.”

Hamun’s voice held a trace of sadness, causing Eden’s heart to drop.

Discontinued meant the end of service, the complete dissolution of the game. This world would vanish.

“What?!”

“What can you do? That’s the fate of an unpopular game.”

Hamun sulked.

“But if you clear it, this world will get a chance to live forever!”

Somewhere deep in her heart melted away.

“…So I’m going back, right?”

“That is the original rule.”

Hamun scratched under his chin and suddenly clasped his hands together, his eyes sparkling.

“But you absolutely have to clear it, right? Promise? Huh? You’ve come this far; it’d be a shame. If you can’t clear it, no one else will.”

His voice grew pleading.

“I’m so excited about getting the clearing star that I can’t even sleep!”

The clearing star was the title only players who completed the game could hold. In Last Kingmaker, not a single clearing star had been awarded yet.

But that was hardly Eden’s concern. What mattered to her were the ones who would remain after she disappeared.

“Then, what about my traces? Will they be erased? Will everyone forget me?! Asmun, Hagen’ti, everyone….”

She shot the questions in a panic, but Hamun was already stone-faced.

“Aah! No, come back! I haven’t even asked about the Holy Sword’s password yet!”

Eden screamed, desperately grabbing at the hardening face of Hamun, but it was useless.

Hamun’s once vibrant eyes turned to stone in an instant as he reverted back into a statue.

“Damn it….”

Eden dropped the paper helplessly. The time for the Easter egg had run out.

“What the heck….”

In the end, there was no substantial gain. The only thing she learned was that finding Hagen’ti’s memories would make clearing easier.

Eden bit her lip. Ultimately, the only way to save this world was to clear the game, and when she did, she had to leave.

But what about Asmun, Hagen’ti, and everyone else who would hold onto memories of her in the world that remained…?

“….”

Thus, Eden found herself with one more quest.

After she returned, she had to make sure they wouldn’t despair and erase any memories of her.

A deep sigh echoed in the empty room.

Little did Eden know, she wasn’t the only one despairing at the thought of having to go back.

“….”

Asmun’s frozen face, who had heard every word of that unbelievable conversation through the crack of the door, reflected in the dim light.

 

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