Chapter 4
<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Episode 4>
“How am I supposed to convince him…?”
Her self-deprecating mumble caught the attention of her companion, who turned to her in surprise.
“Huh?”
“Isn’t it just spectacular? The Foundation Banquet.”
Eden quickly flashed a smile as she changed the subject, and her companion nodded in agreement.
“Right? It’s definitely the Imperial Palace!”
Eden nodded along, but as her companion’s gaze returned to the dazzling banquet hall, she sharpened her focus to spot her target characters.
Her eyes landed on a blonde man across from Ibthan.
‘Karon…!’
Her eyes lit up in delight upon discovering the second target for conquest.
Karon Sitriel.
That was the name of the man with the dazzling blonde hair and matching eye color. The head of the Holy Knights and the most powerful Sword Master in the Empire.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that half of the monsters attempting to invade the Empire would perish at the edge of Karon’s sword.
‘Wow…’
Eden let out a quiet exclamation. Perhaps the Archangel truly resided in this direction. With his golden hair and golden eyes, he had a divine beauty that even monsters would be mesmerized by, resembling an angel.
As befitting his position as a Holy Knight, Karon appeared much kinder than Ibthan, but Eden knew from experience that he wouldn’t be an easy target either.
“……”
Eden calmly shifted her gaze. However, she could no longer find any familiar faces in front of her. After a long struggle, she finally spotted a silver-haired man in the corner, casually spinning a wine glass while observing the situation.
“……”
Upon finding Jepar, Eden felt a heightened tension.
Jepar Yurien.
A founding minister, he had steadily inflated his power even as several emperors came and went, holding a position of authority that rivaled the imperial family.
‘They say he’s the person with the most power after the Emperor. Perhaps Jepar might be the most important target among them.’
Bringing him to her side might be the easiest way to ascend to the throne, as evidenced by his relaxed blue eyes.
But with that ease came a difficulty that Eden had realized upon beginning the game.
“Ha…”
Eden’s complexion slowly turned pale. The excitement of actually meeting handsome, glamorous characters was long gone.
This was a game, but simultaneously my reality, and at least here, they were real. As she faced those who had previously been mere characters, her mind went blank.
‘I couldn’t even clear a game that I played from an observing point of view. Can I really convince and use all of them…?’
As Eden wallowed in despair, she soon realized she had forgotten something very important and suddenly lifted her head.
“Asmun.”
At that moment, the massive doors of the banquet hall swung open, drawing the attention of everyone inside.
The cheerful atmosphere of the banquet hall turned silent in an instant. Eden also watched as a man stepped slowly into the light pouring in from the open door. Her heart sank at the instinctive premonition.
“……”
The man walked calmly through the suffocating silence. Eden couldn’t blink, watching him approach.
Jet-black hair and crimson eyes that seemed to burn everything like a setting sun. The chill that lingered in his quiet face.
The 3rd Prince, Asmun Decland, was my first quest and ultimately the only hope of sending me back.
Everyone started to whisper softly as they looked at Asmun. Merely being late to the noble Foundation Banquet was enough to get you in the gossip mill, but Asmun’s state was just bizarre.
‘The smell of blood…’
Eden unconsciously furrowed her brows. With every step Asmun took, a musty smell of blood wafted from the end of his flowing cloak.
“Asmun Decland, I present myself before Your Majesty. I apologize for my tardiness.”
Asmun politely bowed his head in apology upon reaching the Emperor.
The Emperor gazed at him with a face that showed a hint of displeasure and pity as he clicked his tongue.
“On such an important day, why are you late?”
“My carriage broke down on the way.”
Asmun casually made up an excuse. However, Eden knew that was a lie. Asmun had been ambushed on the way, and it was none other than the 1st Prince Kiris who orchestrated it.
Eden’s heart thumped slowly and fiercely.
‘The quest “Ambush Asmun Attending the Foundation Banquet” also appeared for me after choosing the 1st Prince. It wasn’t an attempt to kill him, but rather meant to keep him out of the Emperor’s favor.’
“I understand, go on in.”
Embarrassing the lacking prince publicly would be akin to spitting on the Emperor’s own face. The Emperor clicked his tongue again but refrained from scolding him further, and Asmun bowed and turned to leave.
Eden strained to move forward a little more while trying to catch a glimpse of Asmun. As illustrated, his beauty was indeed extraordinary.
With dark, slightly red-tinted hair and crimson eyes, he was strikingly well-matched. His sharp features, appearing both refined and somewhat rebellious, were enough to make all the women gathered there’s hearts flutter.
“……”
However, more than his beauty, she was overwhelmed by the unsettling gaze he bore.
As she observed Asmun’s unshakeable eyes, perhaps showing not even the slightest hint of emotion, Eden regretted selecting him while simultaneously feeling a strange thrill of satisfaction.
Convincing him would surely be a tough task, but if only she could gain Asmun’s trust.
‘He definitely has better odds than the 1st Prince and 2nd Prince, who look like mere side characters at first glance.’
This certainty, which ignited her passion, was an emotion she would never have felt had she not dove into this game and faced the vibrant life and reality of these characters.
Asmun’s strange aura was completely different from the lifeless and stiff illustrations. He was the protagonist of this game.
‘Sorry for not realizing you until now.’
Eden silently apologized as she slowly steadied her breathing.
The banquet resumed, and soon the 1st Prince’s plans would commence.
And then, like a signal, things escalated.
“Ah!”
A maid carrying the banquet food let out a short scream.
“Wh-what do I do… I’m so sorry!”
Everyone murmured as they turned towards the commotion, and there stood Asmun, broad shoulders drenched in wine. The maid had accidentally poured the wine she was carrying onto Asmun, who was standing behind her.
As the event unfolded flawlessly, Eden’s tension deepened, and her gaze hardened.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
Asmun replied briefly before taking the handkerchief handed to him by his subordinate to wipe away the spilled wine.
The maid flustered quickly ran away, and as the incident ended without consequence, everyone lost interest and returned to the banquet.
“Are you alright?”
Asmun’s subordinate asked subtly, and Asmun held out the blood-stained handkerchief as though it were normal.
“Aside from the foul smell, it’s fine.”
His nonchalant reply left his subordinate looking awkward.
“Your new clothes…”
“No.”
“…Yes, then.”
The subordinate received the handkerchief respectfully with both hands and stepped back. Asmun surveyed the room as if nothing had happened.
Everyone was wary of the 1st Prince, who had the highest chance of becoming Emperor, and didn’t approach Asmun, the 2nd Prince. But Asmun didn’t seem to care at all.
“……”
Eden glanced nervously towards the direction of the 1st Prince. Sure enough, the 1st Prince was fixated on Asmun while quietly issuing orders to someone.
Upon seeing that, Eden instinctively checked what she had brought in her pocket.
And it didn’t take long for things to escalate. The peaceful banquet hall turned into chaos in an instant.
“Who is that?”
A man draped in a black robe, appearing from nowhere, approached the Emperor, who was receiving congratulatory ambassadors from neighboring countries, drawing everyone’s attention.
His suspicious attire caught the attention of the head of the Imperial Knights, who quickly blocked his path.
“Who are you?”
“……”
The suspicious figure didn’t answer, but Eden recognized his identity. He was someone the 1st Prince had hired under the conditions of wiping their family’s mountain of debt and securing their safety. Today was likely a one-time use before being discarded.
Eden bit her lip as she looked at the trembling man’s shoulder.
“I asked who you are. Show me your invitation.”
The head of the knights unsheathed his sword menacingly and questioned him. The trembling man quickly pulled something from inside his robe with shaking hands.
The knight’s eyes widened, and his voice rang loudly throughout the banquet hall.
“Protect the Emperor!”
At that command, the knights quickly formed a protective barrier around the Emperor.
From a distance, the Emperor, who had been receiving congratulatory gifts, turned towards the commotion.
“What’s all this noise?”
Those gathered, deep in conversation, also turned in surprise to look at the man holding the black orb.
As the man hesitated, the 1st Prince narrowed his eyes, and upon seeing his expression, the man finally squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
“You… ignorant creatures… you will… face the Demon King’s judgment…!”
From his trembling voice, the only word that resonated clearly was “Demon King,” and the eyes of those who heard it widened in shock.
