Chapter 37
<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Chapter 37>
“Priest!”
But it was already too late. Like a signal, Eden’s horse bolted forward, heading straight for Seruka, who was causing chaos.
“No! Come back!”
Asmun and Karon, flustered, chased after her, but Eden was quick and skilled.
“……?!”
Even Jepar and the soldiers, who were engaged in fierce battle until then, froze in shock as they saw Eden zip past them like lightning.
“Priest!”
Karon called out desperately, but Eden didn’t stop. The horse, guided expertly by Eden, climbed swiftly up the perilous cliff using the surrounding terrain. Everyone was agape at Eden’s showy horsemanship.
Angered by Eden’s sudden move, Asmun also called his horse and began to ascend the cliff just like Eden had.
Eden reached a point almost at eye level with Seruka, standing at the edge of the cliff. A new notification window appeared right in front of her.
‘You have obtained the “Sword of the Black Sun.” Your power increases by +30.’
As Asmun gripped the sword, he felt his strength surge. The magnitude of the increase was palpable, a powerful sensation radiating from the grip. Eden paused at the cliff’s edge, put her fingers in her mouth, and whistled.
Whiiip—!
Seruka turned at the sound, responding to Eden.
‘Wha….’
Facing the terrifying visage of Seruka, Eden couldn’t help but feel a tremor in her heart.
‘It’s a game, it’s a game, it’s a game….’
Eden repeated her mantra she had used whenever playing VR games and smiled nonchalantly.
“So, should I throw this?”
With that, she revealed what she had been holding onto.
Boo-OOoo! Boo-ooOoo!
A Chupi was jumping around on her palm.
“……!”
Karon finally realized that his Chupi had been stolen. Shock and horror spread across the faces of those witnessing Eden’s reckless act.
“I’m throwing it!”
Eden shouted and, without hesitation, threw the Chupi with all her might. The Chupi flew through the air like a baseball towards Seruka, who opened its enormous mouth wide to catch it.
Kraaah—!
‘Now’s my chance!’
Eden didn’t miss the moment and kicked her horse’s side vigorously. Her steed responded promptly, charging forward.
“Gah!”
“Is she insane?!”
Eden and her horse were leaping straight into Seruka’s monstrous gaping mouth. The horse jumped high as they neared the cliff’s edge.
“……Priest.”
Karon called out in disbelief. Eden and her horse had completely jumped into Seruka’s mouth.
Feeling something heavy enter its throat, Seruka groaned painfully and closed its jaws, plunging the forest into eerie silence.
“……”
Asmun, who reached the cliff a step too late, stared in disbelief as Seruka swallowed Eden. There was no trace of her left anywhere.
Jepar’s gaze, filled with incredulity, was fixed on Seruka, who looked like it had just burped.
Then it happened.
Seruka, momentarily satisfied from the meal, opened its eyes wide and began to thrash around.
“Everyone, back up!”
Everyone prepared for Seruka’s counterattack, but for some reason, it seemed stuck, its shoulders heaving.
“What’s going on?”
Someone exclaimed while pointing at the tip of Seruka’s neck, directing everyone’s attention toward its bulging throat.
“Aah, it looks like there’s a corpse stuck in there!”
As a horrified cry echoed, faces turned pale.
Kuuugh…!
Seruka started shaking its neck painfully. But the thrashing was in vain.
Kraaah—!
“That’s a sword!”
A long, sharp blade pierced through Seruka’s neck. Asmun, Karon, and Jepar stared, frozen in place.
Seruka finally convulsed, but it was too late. The blade that had broken through its tough skin was mercilessly tearing at Seruka’s neck. Clumsy as it was, the sword was so fine that it cut through the tough flesh with ease. The blade moved in circles, unrelenting in its task of severing Seruka’s neck.
Guhk…!
With the blade lodged deep in its neck, Seruka could no longer groan, its eyes wide open, paralyzed.
“Ugh…!”
A strained moan emanated from deep within Seruka.
Thud!
At the same moment, over half of Seruka’s neck toppled, revealing Eden, covered in that filthy slime, through the gaping wound.
Seruka ceased to move, and its severed neck showed no sign of regeneration. Everyone realized that the nameless Apprentice Priest had succeeded in defeating Seruka.
The scene that was once the chaos of battle fell into a strange silence. Asmun looked at Eden with an incredulous gaze, his mind racing to comprehend her return.
“……”
Eden, covered in sticky slime, took a deep breath of fresh air and let out a long sigh.
“Phew….”
Checking the severed neck of Seruka, Eden realized her plan had worked. The neck she had butchered showed no signs of healing.
“Ha….”
Laughter eluded her now. It had been an audacious plan, and her whole body still trembled from the thrill. She had nearly…
‘I almost really died…….’
Just then, a notification chime rang out.
Ding.
Ding. Ding.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
‘Six times?’
Startled by the excessive notifications, Eden looked up at the prompt.
『【★】Basic Quest Completed!
: Defeated 30 monsters in the West! Choose your reward.
<Prophecy Book/Item/Stat>』
『【★】Event Quest Completed!
: Successfully dealt with the nuisance of the Yuren Grand Duchy, ‘Seruka’! You will receive a ‘special reward.’
Would you like to receive the special reward now?』
『【★】Congratulations! You leveled up to 3. Special skills will be unlocked as your reward.』
『【★】As a level-up reward, you’ve gained the special skill ‘Lower Monster Eradication.’ You can now eradicate monsters of lower rank.』
『【★】Congratulations! You leveled up to 4. Special skills will be unlocked as your reward.』
『【★】As a level-up reward, you’ve gained the special skill ‘Basic Healing.’ You can now heal all wounds.』
“Wow….”
Eden marveled while still clutching at Seruka’s neck. So, by defeating this beast alone, she had jumped up two levels! Moreover, she had completed both Event and Basic Quests.
The rewards were satisfying, but even more thrilling was the exhilaration of having taken down that massive monster all on her own.
A sensation coursed through her that she had never felt in any game before. It was the joy of hunting; it seemed combat really suited her nature.
‘I should have downloaded the combat game from the start.’
As she beamed with pride, Eden spotted Asmun looking at her fiercely and promptly closed her mouth. His glaring red eyes looked as though they could erupt at any moment.
“……”
Feeling guilty, Eden subtly glanced away, only to meet Jepar’s gaze. Though not as terrifying as Asmun’s, his stare was unmistakably direct and embarrassing.
Turning her gaze once again, she saw that everyone was still frozen, gazing at her in a mix of awe and shock.
The realization hit her hard that she had indeed done something crazy.
“Priest, please wait just a moment!”
The first to snap back to reality was Karon. With a strong swing of his sword, Seruka’s body fell back effectively. Karon and the soldiers climbed up its body to help Eden and her horse down.
“Are you alright?”
As Karon asked, still incredulous, Eden wiped the slime off her face with her sleeve and smiled. Her clothes were just as dirty with the goo, so it didn’t do much.
“What can I say? I failed at capturing it alive.”
Eden joked, but Karon didn’t laugh along.
“Priest……”
Seeing his expression, Eden’s weak smile faded away.
“I thought my heart was going to drop. You must never do something like that again.”
Karon murmured softly, sighing.
“I’m sorry.”
Eden apologized awkwardly, and Karon gazed at her intently. Soon, he gave a breezy laugh.
“What I meant was that your safety is far more important than my heart.”
Karon’s reassuring words came as Asmun descended the cliff and strode over. He halted right in front of Eden, causing her to stiffen.
“……”
Summoning her courage, she looked up at Asmun’s face, still as expressionless and ominous as before. Yikes, a jolt went through Eden.
“……”
Asmun bent down, reaching his hand out. Though the gesture was not threatening, Eden flinched, but he simply took the sword she still clutched tightly. Then, without uttering a single word, he turned away.
