<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Episode 16>

As Eden accurately recited the name of the monster, Ibthan’s brow furrowed.

“It weighs about 2,000 pounds. You must have had quite a struggle catching it.”

“……”

“It inhabits the deep forest and stirs up storms with its wings. It’s a devourer of flesh, and its favorite dish is infants less than a year old. Normal fire won’t do much, but the fire from a dragon-shaped monster can deal a fatal blow.”

At those words, Ibthan’s eyes widened. They were still studying how to eliminate Karsilande, and this was new information for them.

“It would be best to pluck plenty of Karsilande’s feathers since they can heal the poison of snake-shaped monsters.”

Eden casually finished speaking and turned to look at Ibthan. The disgruntled demeanor he’d worn just moments ago had vanished, replaced by a mixture of embarrassment and wariness as he looked at me with a serious expression.

“Am I mistaken, perhaps?”

Eden asked humbly. Of course, that was not the case. This world was meticulously designed, and I was merely reading the blueprint.

“…You can really see everything, can’t you?”

Ibthan asked, managing to keep his voice calm. Eden nodded. That much was true.

Ibthan stared at Eden, his face slightly confused. Karsilande was a monster that took over ten years to catch, and as far as anyone knew, there was only one witnessed so far—so it was unlikely that Eden would know anything about it.

Thus, the probability of Eden’s words being lies or some foolish scam was extremely low.

He paused as if pondering something and then blurted out.

“Is your real objective to eliminate the monster?”

Ibthan still looked at Eden with suspicion. He had picked up on the fact that Eden’s intentions lay elsewhere than just exterminating monsters.

My heart sank at his sharp question, but Eden replied gently.

“Of course.”

For a moment, their gazes met loosely. Ibthan turned his head first.

“I understand. For now, please stay here; I will contact you again soon.”

Eden smiled lightly at him.

“Sure thing.”

Using a trip to the restroom as an excuse to slip away from the soldier’s view, Eden hurriedly brought up the quest completion screen again.

Just like when reading the monster bestiary, all it took was a mental shout of “Quest Completed!” Eden was fully adapted to this unreal situation now.

“Alright.”

Without hesitation, Eden quickly chose the prophecy book. Immediately, a rolled-up parchment floated into the air, surrounded by a dazzling light.

“Ugh, I definitely can’t accept this in front of people.”

Eden chuckled as she snatched the sparkling prophecy book before her. The thrill of getting an awesome item felt exhilarating, like she was really playing a game.

As she quickly unrolled the prophecy book, Eden’s expression turned serious.

This part was already known to Eden. She let out a small sigh.

“Count Retton cabbaged it like that, and yet they’re still pushing through without revising their plans? That foolish Kiris. This is why I keep failing.”

Eden clicked her tongue.

Pasarham, owned by Asmun, was a worthless piece of land along the eastern coast of the Empire, left to him by his mother—his only inheritance. So everyone speculated that Asmun’s reluctance to part with it stemmed solely from his filial piety.

However, in reality, that insignificant plot was Asmun’s secret funding source. There was an unreported “Tevel” in Pasarham.

Tevel refers to land imbued with magical power, allowing anyone possessing magical power to use it twice as effectively.

The monster research facility where Ibthan had taken Eden was built right on top of Tevel. Tevel was managed by the Empire and mostly used for research or experiments for the public good, but the one in Pasarham was used differently.

Asmun had been leasing the Tevel to sorcerers and various groups in the underworld, raking in astronomical amounts of money in exchange.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t report it voluntarily either…….”

Eden completely understood Asmun’s position. For him, Pasarham, with its Tevel, was land that he absolutely needed to protect.

But Kiris had caught onto it, planning to take the land while Asmun was in confinement, intending to cut off Asmun’s funding stream and fill his own coffers in the process.

It was a misstep to confine Asmun, as it should have made him give up Pasarham, yet Kiris was relentless.

However, what mattered now was not Pasarham. As Eden continued reading, her eyes gradually widened. The next line revealed a fact unknown even to Kiris and Asmun—and Eden herself.

Having read through the prophecy detailing Leveim’s astonishing secret, Eden slowly lifted her head.

It felt rewarding to cause a ruckus for Ibthan.

Eden’s mouth curled into a pleasant smile.

Back in the Great Temple, Eden went to find the Priest Roman as Asmun had instructed.

Priest Roman was a fairly high-ranking priest, so it was unusual for an Apprentice Priest like Eden to meet with him, but it wouldn’t be too peculiar for an Apprentice Priest to seek out a priest. It was just surprising that Asmun had managed to plant a trusted ally even in the Great Temple for such occasions.

“I have been waiting for you, Sister. Please come this way.”

Priest Roman genuinely seemed like Asmun’s person. If not…….

“……”

Sitting in the small room connected to his Chancellor’s Office, Eden’s jaw dropped as she spotted Asmun walking toward her.

“Has the oracle come down?”

Asmun asked nonchalantly. Eden was at a loss for words, staring up at him. He casually took a seat in front of her.

“It was just connected recently. We can’t afford to waste time in meeting the priests, can we?”

“……”

“I can’t keep bringing the antidote every time.”

Asmun had installed a portal in the Chancellor’s Office. Eden was beginning to understand the setting of this game, or rather, this world.

In a place where magic existed, portals were also a reality. However, setting up a portal required thousands of expensive magic stones and a sorcerer with enough magical power to operate it. That wasn’t all.

“Isn’t the installation of portals forbidden in the Great Temple?”

When Eden cautiously asked, Asmun gazed at her intently.

“That should be the case.”

“……”

Eden felt a moment of confusion. It was clear now that she had underestimated Asmun’s capabilities. To have planted an ally in the Great Temple and even set up a portal required boldness and resources.

“Where does this portal connect to? Please don’t tell me it’s to Your Highness’…….”

“It connects to my study.”

“……Your Highness, that seems too dangerous.”

At that, Asmun smiled faintly. It was an indifferent smile.

“Don’t worry. As long as the priests don’t betray me, there’s no chance of being caught.”

Eden was left speechless by those words. It seemed like he still didn’t fully trust her yet.

Such ungrateful scoundrel.

“Has the oracle come down?”

Asmun asked once more. The only reason I was here was that pressure hung in the air, urging me to get to the point. Finally, Eden cleared her mind of other thoughts and nodded.

“Yes, the oracle has come down.”

At her words, Asmun’s red eyes glimmered slowly. Eden straightened up, took a deep breath, and spoke.

“The 1st Prince Kiris is going to try to seize Pasarham soon.”

Asmun’s gaze remained emotionless. He seemed vaguely aware of it already. He probably wouldn’t plan to let it go.

“Please give Pasarham to him.”

When Eden spoke decisively, Asmun’s expression changed. Just as she had anticipated, his gaze turned lethal.

“What do you mean by that?”

His questioning tone seemed polite on the surface, but it sent chills down Eden’s spine. She stood firm against his piercing stare, determined not to back down.

“I mean exactly that. Please hand over Pasarham to Prince Kiris.”

For a moment, a suffocating silence blanketed the Chancellor’s Office. Asmun stared at Eden with a terrifying gaze.

Ugh, Eden felt cold sweat trickle down her back while she held herself erect, challenging his glare. No matter how fiercest he glared, this was the right answer.

“……Did the deity say that? To sell the land and become an emperor?”

His softly asked question was twice as chilly now. If a deity stood before him, he would most likely want to chop off its head immediately, and without a second thought, shred the remains.

She had expected a reaction, but Eden was somewhat puzzled. She knew that the land was important to Asmun, but his response seemed excessively sensitive for that alone.

It felt like he was treating it as a cherished last inheritance from a beloved mother. Judging by Asmun’s character, he was likely merely spreading rumors.

“Yes, the oracle came down just like that.”

Eden replied back without faltering, causing Asmun to let out a cold laugh. Soon after, he parted his dry lips again.

“How unfortunate. I was hoping for a more productive oracle.”