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<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game Episode 45>

Asmun slowly sheathed his sword and made a deadpan joke that didn’t sound like a joke at all. When Eden didn’t laugh, Asmun promptly got to the point.

“What brings you here? Did you receive a prophecy?”

His voice was annoyingly relaxed. Eden strode over to Asmun, and just then, the sound of a stone wall closing behind them echoed.

The study, neat and devoid of any clutter like its owner, was eerily quiet. It seemed Asmun was busy reviewing documents. How could he be so calm when he had just done something like that?

“Is it true that you’ve given up on Reblem?”

Asmund remained unmoved even at such a blunt inquiry.

“Word travels fast.”

Eden’s face stiffened at his affirmative reply.

“Why? Don’t you understand what Reblem means? Are you that foolish?”

Even with such a crossing of lines, Asmun simply gazed at the angrily relaxed Eden without a trace of displeasure.

“It’s an erroneous perception; naturally, I can’t accept that.”

“Erroneous? It’s a fact that His Majesty faced monsters alone for you, and that he went west to subjugate them!”

“But it was you, Priest, who taught me how to kill Golems and dealt with the monsters in the west.”

Asmun smiled lazily while looking down at Eden. Eden glared at that infuriating face.

“What I did is part of His Majesty’s achievements. You gave me the pact potion for that reason, didn’t you?”

Asmun wiped the smile off his face and silently stared at Eden.

“I see you’ve misunderstood.”

His low, soft voice was paradoxically cold.

“The reason I made a pact with the Priest was—”

“……”

“To blackmail the Priest.”

Eden was speechless at such a straightforward answer. Asmun continued to gaze solely at Eden.

“But it seems that such shallow tactics wouldn’t work on the Priest.”

Eden clenched his fists, looking dumbfounded. She knew very well that her not cooperating with Asmun had annoyed him. But in the end, everything benefited Asmun.

She couldn’t comprehend why he was being so twisted while fully aware of that.

“…… So what is it that you want?”

Asmun tilted his head slightly.

“I’m thinking.”

Eden’s face fell further into incredulity at his carefree words. Asmun, unchanging in his bland expression, seemed to enjoy her bewilderment.

“What am I wanting from the Priest.”

It was an unexpected answer, leaving Eden a bit lost for words as she looked at him.

What could he want, anyway?

Asmun had only one goal. To become Emperor. All she had to do was contribute to that goal.

“Don’t you want to be Emperor?”

“Of course not.”

His quiet reply was calm. It seemed only Eden was getting angry.

“Then take Reblem! If you succeed in leading and reforming Reblem, His Majesty’s status will rise significantly. It won’t compare to subjugating a few monsters! I will help you!”

“I’m not really inclined, though.”

“……. Are you really going to do this?”

Asmun caught Eden biting her jaw out of frustration and smirked before reverting to his indifferent expression.

“Just go back for now. I’ll contact you again once I find out what the Priest desires.”

Eden clenched her fists as she watched Asmun turn his attention to the documents, as if he had no intention of discussing further. His lack of cooperation was unexpected and infuriating.

‘What the heck is wrong with him?’

She felt at her wit’s end, but couldn’t turn Asmun’s heart around immediately.

“Fine. I’ll go back for now.”

“……”

“But do think it over. Reblem is important to His Majesty. Even if you avoid it now, you’re bound to pass through it someday.”

Of course, that was true. Game mechanics dictated as much.

“Then, excuse me.”

Eden turned around, suppressing the urge to shake Asmun by the neck and shout for him to take Reblem. The wall adorned with an unknown masterpiece moved aside, revealing a portal. Without looking back, Eden stepped onto the portal.

In the blink of an eye, Asmun faded away.

Listening to the serene yet grand chime, Eden stared blankly into the void. Waking up at dawn to pray had become a routine and wasn’t difficult for her anymore.

The real challenge was dealing with Asmun.

“He will rather put the Empire in danger.”

Ibthan’s assertive voice sent chills down her spine again, followed immediately by a fleeting image of Asmun.

“As per the Priest’s words, we returned the mine to the Empire.”

Just when she thought she finally earned some trust. Eden felt empty, as if she had returned to square one. Yet, regardless of her feelings, a new episode was about to begin.

The Hunting Tournament.

Eden recalled the Hunting Tournament.

Held annually, the Hunting Tournament of Hesmor held special significance that exceeded merely being a noble’s leisure.

Primarily, because the hunted monsters used in the imperial tournament had been captured prior.

The Imperial Family had put control magic on the monsters through research, effectively sealing half their strength and magical power to use them as game.

This way, the nobles could safely enjoy their entertainment while showing off their skills, and for the citizens, it reassured them that the Imperial Family could completely control the monsters each year.

‘As much as it is politically utilized, it’s quite a big event.’

Eden’s eyes sparkled with ease.

The hunting tournament was also an episode she had experienced while playing as Kiris.

In other words, even without the Prophecy Book, it meant Kiris knew what kind of tricks to pull during the hunting tournament.

Given that it was an event using monsters, safety had to be ensured, and thus, the hunting tournament was among the largest events in the Empire.

The larger and crazier the event was, the easier it was for Kiris to stir things up, and there was no way he would let go of this opportunity.

Additionally, if Eden remembered correctly, this was the time when Asmun, who had been exiled to the north due to Count Letton’s work, had returned.

‘After achieving merits in the north, he returned, making Kiris all the more sensitive.’

Eden sank into contemplation for a moment.

That being said, Asmun was a figure who survived continuously without her help, gradually ruffling Kiris’s feathers and becoming a threat.

He was fundamentally different from Kiris, who relied only on luck without talent.

Thinking of Asmun’s red eyes filled with ambition, Eden puffed out a little huff of air.

‘But ultimately, the player is me.’

No one could ascend to the throne without her help. That’s just the game’s story. So she needed to keep figuring out how to make Asmun the Emperor.

Remembering the Prophecy Book urging her to participate in the Hunting Tournament, Eden fell into deeper thought.

A hunting ground filled with all kinds of rampaging monsters was, of course, not a place anyone could enter, and it was an event that the Chancellor wouldn’t participate in, meaning the priests of the temple would have even less chance of entering.

There were only two ways to get in. Either become a participant or be a servant serving a participant.

Even if the monsters’ strengths were halved, they were still monsters, and the hunting tournament inevitably posed a risk. Hence, participants could bring one servant with them, limited to certain individuals.

That setup was likely meant for game progression, and thanks to that, while playing Kiris, she could participate as a servant, but…

‘Asmun wouldn’t allow that.’

With his feelings twisted so much due to Seruka, participation in the hunting tournament seemed impossible.

But then again, asking Ibthan wasn’t an option either. Both men were unwilling to let Eden get into danger for their own purposes.

‘What about asking Karon…?’

However, convincing Karon would undoubtedly be even harder than persuading Asmun or Ibthan.

It would be faster to become a participant, but there was a chance she could die before even clearing. After all, there would be no one willing to register her as a participant, someone lacking in magical power, divine power, and strength.

“The Imperial Family Hunting Tournament is just around the corner! This tournament is a wonderful opportunity for all prominent figures to participate and build friendships, so make sure to join!”

But as it was written in the Prophecy Book, the hunting tournament was a vital point, so she had to participate no matter what.

“Eden, it’s over. Let’s go eat.”

At Rita’s whispered voice close to her ear, Eden realized the service had concluded.

Her stomach growled, leaving her no choice but to set aside all her thoughts and rise from her seat.

Without daring to bring it up with either Asmun or Ibthan, time passed as Eden shuffled about aimlessly.

The hunting tournament was now just three days away, and Eden was still brain-buried in finding a way to participate directly in that episode.

“……Should I just pass this time?”

The hunting tournament was a major episode, and while the Prophecy Book also recommended participation, it hadn’t popped up as a quest, so Eden figured there might not be a pressing need to take part in it.

Since she was already aware of what would happen at the tournament, she had pondered just passing on participating directly and simply relaying precautions to Asmun, but that shallow thought shattered into pieces with a new quest that popped up.

“【!】Basic Quest:

Participate in the hunting tournament and deal with one low-level monster. (0/1)”

 

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