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“Wasn’t this a strategy game?”

Success!

“Yes!”

Hagen’ti’s pupils widened dramatically, turning nearly crimson as his previously motionless eyes slowly began to regain their original color.

As the light of life filled those once unfocused eyes, tears welled up in Eden’s eyes as well. She held his face with her remaining hand, suppressing her tears.

“Hagen’ti. Listen closely.”

Eden finally realized the true value of this quest. It wasn’t just a simple event quest; it was a mandatory quest that had to be completed.

Even if I hadn’t found the diary, this quest would have unfolded in some form, and thanks to the pact made in this moment, I now had the authority to quell Hagen’ti’s curse.

It wasn’t a coincidence that Hagen’ti’s curse ceased under my touch. It wasn’t even due to some miraculous potion created by the priests.

‘It was because I saved Hagen’ti fifty years ago.’

The unexpected turn of events sent chills down my spine, alongside a crushing sense of guilt.

Now, Hagen’ti would have to endure a long, lonely fifty years until I could return.

What tormented him every fortnight wasn’t just a curse. It was the fierce battle between the demon king’s power, resurrecting from his heart, and Eden’s divine power.

This brutal mental game inflicted pain so severe that it erased all of Hagen’ti’s emotions and memories.

Thinking of Hagen’ti, who had to bear this pain alone in this place, made my heart ache unbearably. Truly, this game was far too cruel for him.

Hagen’ti’s pain was now my responsibility in this merciless life.

“I will definitely save you from this pain.”

Eden stifled her tears as she made this firm promise.

Despite his weakened state, it was hard to tell if Hagen’ti understood her words or not as he looked at her with an almost indifferent gaze.

It was unclear whether he recognized me, but Eden gazed directly into his eyes and made her solemn vow.

“I will definitely come back. So…”

Beep!

Eden stopped speaking, gasping as she noticed a notification window indicating the end of the event quest.

Seeing the notification, Eden urgently grasped Hagen’ti’s face and spoke in a hurried tone.

“You have to wait. Got it?”

At that moment, just as Hagen’ti was about to nod in response with his weary eyes, everything seemed to dissolve like a mirage.

Realizing the quest was over, Eden squeezed her eyes shut tightly, and her body sprang up like a feather, bouncing right out of the diary.

“Ugh….”

Eden, sprawled on the floor, hugged her aching arm and quickly got up, scanning her surroundings.

It felt like she had spent several days in Hagen’ti’s memories, but outside was still as dark as when she entered.

“Silverstone….”

Eden calmly reminded herself of what she needed to do first.

Silverstone was with Hagen’ti. So, she had to hurry and ask him where Silverstone was, then find him to settle this chaotic situation.

Eden kicked the door open and dashed towards Hagen’ti’s room. She arrived breathless, barely pausing to knock as she flung the door open.

“Hagen’ti!”

However, Hagen’ti’s room was completely empty.

“Hagen’ti…?”

Eden hesitated, glancing around the vacant room before calling out loudly for him again.

“Hagen’ti! Where are you? Hagen’ti!”

But no matter how many times she called, there was no response from Hagen’ti. A chill of unease crept over Eden. Hagen’ti had never not come when she called him.

Turning on her heels, she rushed out to search again. This time, it was to Chediak’s room.

But when she threw open the door to the room where he had been lying for days, her mounting apprehension became a reality.

“No way….”

Chediak’s bed was empty too.

The only difference was that while Hagen’ti’s bed was neatly made as if it had never been occupied, Chediak’s blankets were thrown about, as if he had gotten up on his own.

It finally seemed that Chediak’s magical power had recovered, and he had awakened. But where could he have gone in the middle of the night?

Had he gone with Hagen’ti? Where to? I couldn’t even begin to guess.

“Where has everyone gone….”

The overwhelming anxiety felt like it was clogging her throat. Of all times, why now…?

As Eden wandered aimlessly amid unexpected obstacles, an idea struck her.

“The special reward!”

At once, a reward window appeared before her.

“Yes! Give it to me quickly!”

As Eden hurriedly requested, the system window seemed to respond by quickly displaying a new message.

“Prophecy Book?”

Eden frowned in confusion. Isn’t the prophecy book something you can receive as a reward for regular quests?

Until now, the special rewards obtained from completing event quests were unique items that couldn’t be acquired through regular quests.

‘Why this of all times…?’

As Eden sighed in disappointment, a flash of realization hit her.

‘Could it be that the Prophecy Book holds the whereabouts of Silverstone…?’

Without further hesitation, Eden snatched the Prophecy Book that appeared before her and opened it up.

However, what was written in the Prophecy Book wasn’t the whereabouts of Silverstone.

“Resurrection…?”

Eden was of course familiar with this skill. It had appeared in countless games.

It was a skill that resurrected the dead, which meant that obtaining it would make her a Saint who fulfilled all the conditions necessary to become the Great Saint.

But what use was it now? Even if she became the Great Saint, reaching level 100 would end the game.

“No.”

Eden shook her head vigorously, snapping back to her senses.

“I need to find Hagen’ti.”

Eden lifted her head and tried to recall where Hagen’ti might be.

‘Maybe, just maybe?’

Feeling an ominous and strange premonition, Eden turned around and sprinted back.

With no time to catch her breath, she dashed to the door leading to the basement connected to Sereman’s Chancellor’s Office.

Though she didn’t see Hagen’ti around, something else greeted Eden instead.

“……!”

Eden spotted the arrow indicator she had seen many times before, now becoming familiar.

As if waiting for Eden’s arrival, a bright fluorescent arrow extended from her feet down the floor.

If she followed this arrow, it would lead to the portal heading to Sereman’s Chancellor’s Office.

Even though a strange discomfort settled over her like a weight, she had no other choice. Eden pushed open the basement door and stepped down the stairs.

She quickly descended the long stairs and arrived at the familiar portal she had traversed multiple times to reach the Chancellor’s Office.

And when she opened the door to the study, which no longer had a lock, she came face to face with the embodiment of that ominous discomfort.

“You’ve arrived.”

With a calm and friendly voice, as if welcoming a guest still in his room, Eden’s feet froze in place.

Turning to greet her was Sereman, who seemed to have been waiting for her.

“How….”

Eden struggled to keep her voice steady, trying not to tremble.

Since there was a significant chance Sereman might invade the Great Temple again, troops from Asmun had been stationed near and inside the Great Temple.

So how was Sereman here? Looking perfectly fine.

Noticing the confusion in her eyes, Sereman smiled slyly and replied.

“It seems you’ve already forgotten. This room belongs to me. Many things hidden here have yet to be discovered by the investigators of the Imperial Palace, including the Saint.”

His voice dripped with overconfidence.

“The new Emperor surprisingly launched an attack on the place I was. It almost caused a major incident.”

Despite his words, Sereman showed no anger or alarm, simply sporting an absurd smile.

Yet, with his words, Eden’s heart sank.

Asmun had attacked Sereman. Despite saying that to me, he hadn’t ignored my warnings after all.

A rush of doubt and affection for Asmun surged through her as her mind cleared. She had to gather her thoughts. Eden clenched her fists and glared at Sereman.

“So, you had no choice but to come back here. It’s the safest place for me… and where I can meet Hagen’ti and you.”

“Where is Hagen’ti?”

“Don’t worry. You’ll see him soon. He will be reborn shortly.”

At his words, a surge of anger welled up within her. So, it was indeed Sereman who had taken Hagen’ti. He couldn’t have lost to that author. It must have been because of that contract.

“Did you take Chediak as well? That person has nothing to do with this.”

Eden pretended to be composed and asked leisurely. She had to avoid falling into Sereman’s cunning trap.

“Chediak, ah, you mean that Mage? Is he missing or something?”

His response was devoid of any interest. It seemed like Chediak’s fate had nothing to do with him. So, it looked like Sereman wasn’t the one who had taken Chediak.

‘Where could he have gone?’

But for now, it was more crucial to ensure Hagen’ti’s safety and confront Sereman. Finding Chediak could wait until later.

“What do you want?”

Eden asked to stall for time, but she knew what Sereman desired. That crazy cultist was trying to resurrect the Demon King.

“What I want is a new world.”

 

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