<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Chapter 20>

“…If you say to trust you, I guess I have no choice.”

“Huh?”

Ronpell furrowed his brows.

Trust?

As Asmun let out the unbelievable words, Ronpell was baffled.

He had sensed that his lord was a bit off lately… but who? Especially after Retton’s betrayal, he must have been on higher alert than ever.

“Who… are you talking about?”

But Ronpell couldn’t hear the answer. A massive shadow loomed over his lord.

“Your Highness!”

Ronpell shouted loudly as he tried to rush towards Asmun, but Asmun was faster; in an instant, he drew his sword and cut down a charging Monster.

Crrrraaack—!

With a scream that tore through the air, the massive Monster split in two.

Thud—!

As the Monster fell in two, the ground shook as if the world were splitting apart. Ronpell and the knights stared in shock at the bisected carcass. It was clearly a mid-level Monster they had never seen before.

Asmun casually sheathed his blood-stained sword after cleaving the mid-level Monster in one swift strike, his face showing no sign of distress. Blood also smeared his face.

Ronpell was trembling in shock.

“We need to be on guard. A place where such monsters appear…”

Just then, someone in the distance shouted with gleeful excitement.

“I-I found it!”

At those words, Ronpell’s head snapped around. Asmun, wiping the blood from his face, also stared intently toward the source of the sound. A fully armed man burst forth from the scattered trees, shouting excitedly.

“Your Highness! We found it! It’s definitely a mine!”

Ronpell’s eyes widened in surprise at the near-screaming cheer, while Asmun’s crimson gaze deepened.

As he pulled on the reins, his horse immediately responded, and Ronpell along with other knights scrambled after him.

As they pushed through the fallen trees, a strange light emerged in the distance. It was the entrance to the mine. Everyone around was in awe, staring dumbfounded at the mysterious glow.

One man, barely regaining his composure, approached Asmun and extended both hands politely.

“Your Highness!”

Asmun picked up what lay on the man’s palms.

“…”

The ore glowing with an enigmatic blue light atop dragon leather gloves was undoubtedly a Magic Stone.

“This is indeed a Magic Stone! And it’s from a top-grade Magic Stone mine!”

Gasp, the sound of Ronpell gasping echoed.

“Magic Stones like this are a rare grade that only comes out in small amounts from the Runmirt Mine, Your Highness!”

Asmun gazed at the mine and recalled Eden’s voice.

“There should be a mountain called Redville in Leveim. Inside that mountain, a Magic Stone mine is hidden. It’s likely a mine filled with top-grade Magic Stones. It should be vast enough not to fall behind the Runmirt Mine.”

Once again, Eden’s words came true. The Runmirt Mine was the Empire’s best mine located in the Yuren Grand Duchy.

“Thus, its value cannot even be compared to Tevel. You cannot let this opportunity slip away.”

It was the truth. While the unofficial Tevel had brought me considerable gains, it couldn’t hold a candle to the Magic Stones.

Magic Stones were used in countless ways, but the most popular use was for scrolls created in the Magic Tower, and those scrolls were the only way for those without magical power to deal with Monsters, making them incredibly important.

With Monsters coexisting now, life without Magic Stones was unimaginable for the Empire’s citizens, yet there were only four existing Magic Stone mines in the Empire, and only two produced top-grade Magic Stones.

And I had just unearthed the fifth mine.

Ha, Asmun let out a cold laugh in disbelief.

“Your Highness, what shall we do?”

Ronpell, barely regaining his senses, approached and asked quietly. He looked more tense than ever at this monumental turn of events.

Just managing the unofficial Tevel had been exhausting enough.

A sharp wind blew, and Ronpell shivered.

“It seems it’s better to keep quiet…”

“No.”

“Huh?”

Asmun clenched the Magic Stone tightly in his palm and turned to Ronpell.

“We’re heading straight to the Imperial Palace.”

“…Huh?”

The unexpected development left Ronpell and the knights wide-eyed. Among the shocked faces, only Asmun remained unfazed.

“Now that we’ve discovered a Magic Stone mine, I must report to the Emperor.”

The knights gaped at his subsequent words. Yet Asmun, with a stoic expression, began preparing for departure, gathering the Magic Stones.

“Half will remain here to guard the mine, and only the vanguard will follow.”

Ronpell, snapped from his stupor, quickly straightened up, gripping the reins.

“Yes! Understood!”

“Long time no see, Priest Eden.”

On the promised day, Eden arrived at the Imperial Palace in the carriage sent by Ibthan, only to unexpectedly encounter someone.

A man with a warm smile greeted her first—Karon. Eden looked back and forth between the expressionless Ibthan and the smiling Karon. Ibthan glanced at Karon, who was greeting Eden, and asked.

“Do you two know each other?”

“Of course.”

Karon beamed at Eden. When their eyes met, Eden awkwardly smiled and nodded.

Karon’s presence brought a peculiar tension that tightened Eden’s posture without her realizing it.

Both Ibthan and Karon were critical characters I needed to entice or utilize for my side, but I never anticipated the three of us would meet so soon.

“I’ve called the Captain because it’s about Monster extermination.”

“Ah, I see.”

Eden nodded at Ibthan’s explanation.

If Ibthan is in administration, then Karon is in the field. They would likely have to collaborate a lot.

“Let’s get to the point. I would like your assistance with Monster research.”

At those words, Karon looked at Eden, confused. It seemed he hadn’t heard yet of her abilities. Ibthan, having anticipated Karon’s reaction, added.

“Priest Eden has the ability to read information about Monsters. This is a verified fact within our circle.”

Ibthan explained in a calm voice, gazing intently at Eden.

As she had said, the skin of Karsilande had burned away from the fire spat by a dragon-type Monster, while the feathers of Karsilande had healed the poison from a serpent-type Monster. Thanks to Eden, the research time was cut down unbelievably.

Ibthan still didn’t believe Eden’s abilities were a gift from the gods, but he was clearly aware that real hope had emerged for the Empire in Hesmor.

Eden was that hope.

“Did you just say Monster information?”

Karon, still unable to confirm Eden’s ability, frowned, somewhat flustered. He’d met countless priests as a Paladin but had never heard of such a talent. No, not just priests—no one had such abilities.

“They say when you look at a Monster, you can see the information it possesses—its weaknesses and uses.”

As Ibthan calmly delivered this unbelievable line, Karon’s face looked even more bewildered. Without realizing it, Karon stared at Eden.

Eden felt a bit awkward and managed a smile.

“How…”

Karon still seemed in disbelief but hesitated to add more, fearing it might be rude. Ibthan resolved his doubts.

“The priest previously told the Captain how to deal with the Karsilande that you caught.”

Upon hearing this, Karon’s head whipped back to Ibthan.

“The Karsilande? How did she know?”

“Yes. The answer was that the dragon-type Monster’s fire was the key. If you don’t believe, I can take you underground right now to confirm.”

Accepting everything, Ibthan regained his rational and calm demeanor. Karon stared at Ibthan.

Ibthan wasn’t the type to boldly assert something unverified. The fact that he would say such a thing made Karon unable to doubt Eden’s abilities any longer.

“…”

Karon’s gaze turned back to Eden, now mixed with admiration and confusion.

Eden smiled gently back at him. In truth, Karon was even partly responsible for her abilities; her level had gone up because he had taken care of Tannir.

“So what should I do?”

Eden asked cautiously, and Ibthan looked at her. His face showed that he had been waiting for this question.

“Just assist us as you did that day. And you’re still an Apprentice Priest, not a proper Priest.”

“Yes.”

Eden nodded, her face puzzled by the irrelevant question.

“I want to make a proposal to you, Priest.”

“What…”

Ibthan briefly looked at her before speaking in a resolute tone.

“I’d like you to give up the path of a Priest and stay at the Imperial Palace to devote yourself entirely to Monster extermination.”

At that, a suffocating silence fell over the conference room. Both Eden and Karon stared at Ibthan with frozen expressions, while Ibthan, having said such an enormous thing, simply awaited Eden’s response, not blinking an eye.

“Y-Yes…?”

Eden couldn’t hide her shock and opened her mouth wide in disbelief. She had never anticipated such a development.

“Of course, I will provide ample compensation. If you wish, I can even create a position for you. You’ll find it more satisfying than life in the Temple.”

Ibthan’s offer was unilateral. Before Eden could respond, Karon spoke up first.