“Uh-oh…! It’s coming this way!”

“Everyone, move!”

Finally spotting Karon, Eden dashed towards him with all her strength.

Seeing Eden rush towards him, Karon didn’t try to dodge like the others. Instead, he gripped the sword he’d been holding for a while, ready to face Tannir.

Eden leaped into the fray, using every ounce of her energy.

“Ugh…!”

Karon quickly hid Eden behind him and swung his massive sword at the oncoming Tannir.

“!”

Eden, who had jumped in with all her might, turned her head quickly to look at Karon. Indeed, Karon perfectly lived up to the title of the Empire’s greatest sword master.

At the precise moment, his sword cleanly sliced through Tannir’s neck, splitting it in two.

Tannir’s body and head parted ways, spraying black blood everywhere.

The vast amount of blood drenched both Karon and Eden.

“Hah… hah…”

Thud.

Eden, having barely pulled off the plan, collapsed from exhaustion. Before her lay Tannir’s body, now severed in half, its jagged teeth visible in its gaping mouth.

‘That was a close call…’

Honestly, I felt like I’d just lost ten years off my life.

Then, ding!

As Eden lifted her head, she noticed notifications flashing in the air now familiar to her.

ding!

ding!

Eden’s eyes widened in surprise as she hurriedly read through the notifications floating in the air.

‘Monster Bestiary?’

Eden paused, momentarily holding her breath, blinking in disbelief.

Of course, she had known that leveling up provided skills, but she had never seen a “special” skill in nine plays before.

In a world swarming with such terrifying monsters, a skill like the Monster Bestiary? Just hearing the name hinted at its immense power!

‘This is insane… So this is why it’s a hidden character.’

As a wave of joy spread from her core, Eden couldn’t help but smile, while Asmun, who had been watching over her, and Karon, who turned to check if she was okay, exchanged puzzled glances. Even Ibthan and Jepar, who had observed everything without missing a beat, were visibly perplexed.

“Hah…”

Eden exhaled, unaware that all eyes were on her.

She had managed to uphold Asmun’s honor, kept everyone safe, and taken down the monster.

The tension that had been gripping her for days seemed to dissolve instantly. At the same time, she felt her body grow heavy, as if drenched in water.

‘Wait, this character had a fighting power of 5, right.’

What a complete joke…

Letting out a hollow laugh, Eden passed out.

When she finally opened her eyes again, the banquet was over.

With monsters crashing the holy founding banquet at the very heart of the capital, the event had ended in chaos.

The Emperor was furious, trying to hunt down the culprit behind this absurdity, but the man who had brought the monster in was already dead by his own hand.

No matter how hard he searched, there was no way to know how that man had gained access to the palace. After all, it had been orchestrated by none other than the 1st Prince, Kiris.

“You’re awake.”

Eden startled as she focused on the unfamiliar ceiling, then sat up at the sound of a nasally voice beside her. It suddenly dawned on her that she was still in the palace, in the medical room.

The physician who seemed to have treated her spoke kindly.

“The other priests have already returned to the temple. I thought it best not to move you, so I kept you here.”

“Ah… th-thank you.”

Eden noticed the physician was holding his breath.

Only then did she realize a terrible smell was emanating from her. Feeling embarrassed, she hurriedly got out of bed, prompting the physician to politely catch her.

“You can stay here today and return to the temple tomorrow, or if you want to leave now, I can summon a carriage for you.”

“A summons?”

“Yes, it’s a request from Chancellor Sereman.”

The Chancellor?

Eden looked at the physician with a dazed expression. She hadn’t expected the Chancellor to concern himself with a mere apprentice priest like her.

This incident would likely reflect poorly on the Great Temple.

There had been a large barrier preventing monsters from entering the capital, and the Great Temple was responsible for it. And it was Chancellor Sereman who had set up that barrier in the first place.

No matter how much of a Chancellor he was, there was no way he could catch a monster brought in by a scheming Prince like Kiris, but either way, this incident would surely implicate him.

Even that alone would make things complex, yet he still cared for her. What a kind Chancellor indeed.

“What will you do?”

Eden tested her muscles slightly. Though she had a bit less stamina than usual, she felt nearly recovered after her rest.

After all, she hadn’t been hurt in a direct way.

And surely…

“I’m going to head back. I still need to make the morning prayer.”

The physician’s expression brightened slightly at that.

Eden’s face turned sheepish at her embarrassment. It really was a horrendous smell.

“Then I’ll summon a carriage for you.”

“Ah, no. I’ll walk.”

“…… Huh?”

“My body feels a bit stiff, so I want to walk.”

As Eden said this with a cheerful smile, the physician looked at her in disbelief.

Even though the Great Temple and the palace were both in the capital and relatively close, that was only when using a carriage or riding. Walking to the Great Temple would take until the morning, even if she set off right away. Especially in her frail state.

“Priest, you shouldn’t overdo it right now. Besides, it’s already very late…”

“Haha, not at all. I really want to walk. I tend to be quick on my feet, so I’ll be there in no time.”

Eden reassured the physician with a casual laugh.

“But…”

“Don’t worry, just take care of your work! Well then!”

Eden quickly left the medical room, leaving the still confused physician behind.

The sun had already set, and the dimly lit corridors of the palace were quiet. Naturally, the medical room she had been in was not positioned in a very favorable spot.

“Hmm…”

Eden looked around with a slightly puzzled expression.

‘I forgot that I didn’t know the way.’

Thinking about going back into the medical room to ask for directions, Eden promptly gave up and stepped out randomly.

After all, she wasn’t looking for a way out of the palace just yet. If her guess was right, it wouldn’t matter which way she took. He would come to find her.

Eden strolled through the moonlit corridors of the palace, feeling akin to taking a night walk.

The fact that she had safely passed the first episode flooded her with exhilaration.

Plus, leveling up! Even just contributing to defeating a monster was enough to reward her!

“This is quite a reasonable game.” Eden recalled that the only way to level up in the game was by defeating monsters.

In reality, while playing the game, she had been too focused on the Prince to encounter many monsters. However, to obtain that special skill, she’d have to take down monsters more often in the future.

The future looked bleak, but the thought of the special skill brought a smile to her face.

“Now this is how a hidden character should be.”

Oblivious to her fate, Eden stupidly grinned.

Just as she eased into the relaxed mood, turning the corner of the dark corridor—

“…!”

As she stepped into the shadowy spot, someone grabbed Eden, pulling her into the darkness in an instant.

Eden was dragged to a dark basement, her eyes and mouth covered.

Once they seemed to reach a destination, the ropes binding her hands were loosened. Before she could even take off her blindfold, rough hands shoved her into a room.

“Ah…!”

Thud!

The sound of a heavy door closing behind her was heard, and only then did Eden quickly remove her blindfold.

As she swallowed hard, she surveyed the room lit by flickering torches.

The air against her cheek was cold. Eden looked at Asmun, standing right in front of her, with eyes just as cold.

Just as I thought…!

It was exactly as she had suspected.

Unlike Kiris, who trusted everything and everyone, Asmun was naturally suspicious and cautious about every little detail, which meant he wouldn’t fail to notice her conspicuous appearance.

Therefore, the only way for a nobody like her, with no money, power, or connections, to meet Asmun was by appearing suspicious enough for him to come looking for her.

The plan was an enormous success. Eden cheered silently while pretending to look bewildered.

Inside the room were only Eden and Asmun. His subordinates who had dragged her here seemed to be waiting outside. Given they had pulled her here for quite some time, it was likely a far distance from the central palace, despite being inside it.

Then it happened.

ding! A transparent window appeared right next to Asmun, visible only to Eden.