Chapter 83
<Wasn’t this a strategy game? Episode 83>
“…So that Apprentice Priest is the last Priest?”
Kiris let out a cold laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, thankfully it seems like the Solar Festival will proceed as planned.”
Upon hearing his subordinate’s words, the smirk on Kiris’s face vanished. He rose slowly from his seat and angrily threw a glass at the wall.
Crash!
As the glass shattered upon impact, his subordinates fell silent, half terrified.
“Thankful? You stupid fool. Can’t you grasp the situation!”
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness!”
“Damn it, what is that girl’s true identity? Such a damned nuisance!”
Kiris, unable to contain his rage, tossed things around before slumping back onto the sofa, raking his hands through his hair.
“I should have killed her back then.”
A glint of murderous intent shone in Kiris’s eyes.
His connections to the Reblem incident ran deep, so he had spent several sleepless nights trying to cut off ties.
Not to mention, the merchants and associates who had been providing him with resources were also being caught left and right, putting his finances in jeopardy.
This was yet another scheme orchestrated by Asmun, and that pesky Apprentice Priest was involved too. Ever since that Priest appeared, Asmun had been riding high.
And now that irritating Priest had been chosen as the new Priest.
Anger surged through Kiris, making his head feel hot.
“Alright, well, this works out. It was bound to happen eventually anyway.”
Kiris ran a hand across his flushed face. At least he was relieved that no Dark Sorcerers had been caught.
He didn’t care what happened to Reblem. Eloch was deeply connected to him, but he had covered his tracks well enough that he hadn’t been noticed. It was pure luck that he hadn’t had to visit that filthy Tumagrave that day.
If he thought about it, perhaps the heavens were looking out for him.
“You’re ready, right?”
His anxious subordinate stepped forward quickly and answered.
“Yes, Your Highness. They’ve finally succeeded in summoning that monster. We have all the weapons you’ll need. They’re setting up a big group in the square, so you don’t have to worry. Should we proceed with the Solar Festival as planned?”
Kiris, gradually regaining his composure, stared blankly into the air and then added.
“That won’t be enough. Tell them to release a horde of gargoyles at the festival.”
“Huh… Your Highness? But… that would complicate things too much. The Solar Festival is a celebration for the Priests, and most Sorcerers won’t participate.”
His subordinate hesitated, trying to persuade him.
Sorcerers weren’t particularly close to the Priests and had little interest in politics, so aside from the palace sorcerers, there would be hardly any sorcerers present.
If monsters like gargoyles showed up in that kind of setting, it would be tough for just the knights to handle. The square would be packed, leaving no room to move.
“Exactly! The more complicated, the more it benefits me.”
“But… Your Highness, the layout of the square has its limits, and it could end up endangering you…”
“You foolish idiot. As if they couldn’t handle a pack of gargoyles? Their skills are beyond what we think. Just let them create a mess and then take them down when the time comes.”
“…”
“If that Asmun ever becomes Emperor, the ones in trouble will be them. So no matter what, I’ll become Emperor.”
Kiris smirked broadly.
“Tell them. No matter what, we must protect the Emperor.”
Kiris let out a slow sigh and continued.
“The people of the Empire can die by the dozens.”
His eyes gleamed with a sticky light.
“It would be better if lots of blood flows in the square. The greater the sacrifice, the deeper the impression it will leave.”
A vile smile slowly crept onto his face as he regained his former self.
“I’ll take that one.”
Eden pointed decisively at a necklace hanging prominently in the gift shop.
“Priest, you really have an eye for these things! That’s the last magic stone necklace we have. It’s a low-grade magic stone, but the craftsmanship is exquisite!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! It was really hard to obtain. It’ll look amazing with your fair skin!”
Eden merely smiled sweetly at that.
However, she was actually buying that necklace as a gift for Rita. Since Rita also had clear, beautiful skin, it would undoubtedly suit her well.
“Please wrap it nicely.”
Thanks to Rita, not only did she meet Karon in the Abandoned Hall and increase her Divine Power, but she also learned how to enhance it, compelling her to spend money on a great gift. Plus, she had received way too much help.
While waiting for the gift to be wrapped, Eden’s gaze was caught by something small.
“Hmm…”
Just then, she overheard an enticing conversation next to her.
“The Reblem incident was entirely thanks to the 3rd Prince.”
As soon as Asmun’s name came up, Eden’s eyes widened. She pretended to be indifferent while straining to listen.
“How could we have captured those monstrous thugs without the 3rd Prince?”
“Right, I admit it. I’ve seen a different side of the 3rd Prince this time. Plus, isn’t Reblem making a swift comeback? Surprising, to say the least.”
Hearing the shift in public opinion towards Asmun, Eden felt an uncontainable swell of pride.
To become Emperor, winning over not only the Emperor’s heart but also the people’s sentiment was crucial.
“I wasn’t too pleased thinking the 2nd Empress seemed to have lost both her will and ambition.”
“Indeed, the 2nd Empress was a good woman.”
When the topic shifted to the 2nd Empress, the smile on Eden’s face faded.
“…”
She had forgotten while facing the deadly Asmun, but his backstory was quite clear.
He had lost his mother and, along with her, his stable home, growing up tormented by his half-brothers.
Perhaps that nickname ‘Asmun’…
“So are you suggesting that we should switch our support to the 3rd Prince becoming Emperor?”
“Ugh, not quite yet! As if we could now that the 1st Prince is still around…”
At that, Eden arched an eyebrow sharply.
“Didn’t you just say that without the 3rd Prince, they would never have caught them?”
“Ah, that’s that, and this is this! Just because they dealt with Reblem doesn’t mean the 3rd Prince can be Emperor. How many monsters has the 1st Prince slain, and how many people has he cared for?”
“That’s precisely the point. There’s no way the Emperor would make the 3rd Prince his heir, right? In terms of legitimacy or anything else, the 1st Prince is unbeatable.”
“It’s a bit disappointing, though. The 3rd Prince has only just started to show his potential. For the sake of the Empire, it’s preferable that the legitimate 1st Prince becomes the heir…”
The chattering men stopped talking as soon as they noticed Eden glaring at them menacingly.
Just then, the shopkeeper approached with the wrapped gift.
“Here you go, Priest.”
Without even glancing back, Eden pointed at the item that had caught her attention earlier.
“Wrap this one too, please. Nicely.”
She crossed her arms, waiting for the next gift. This time, the wrapping was completed quickly, and the gift was before her.
The men were put off by Eden’s piercing aura and fell silent, sneaking glances at her.
“Priest, you really made a fantastic purchase. You won’t regret it.”
Eden took the wrapped gift from the shopkeeper, deliberately avoiding eye contact as she approached the dumbfounded men.
“If you want to win the bet.”
Eden narrowed her eyes menacingly at the two men, then broke into a bright smile.
“It’s better to bet everything on a Prince with real skill rather than some silly legitimacy and whatnot. Well then!”
Leaving the stunned men behind, Eden stepped lightly out of the shop.
As she wandered through the expansive square towards her next destination, her expression grew heavier.
‘I still lack impact.’
Eden sighed quietly.
No matter how much Reblem or anything else was discussed, the struggles of the people living day to day were not something she could truly understand, and even if Asmun caught the bad guys, it wouldn’t change much.
Ultimately, the most crucial factor was impact.
Something that could leave a lasting impression among everyone about Asmun’s ambiguous position.
“Welcome.”
Upon arriving at her meeting place, Eden was guided to her reserved table.
The restaurant Eden reached was the priciest in the capital, and as soon as she sat down at her reserved spot, she instantly understood why.
“Wow.”
She marveled quietly, taking in the vast square laid out before her.
The restaurant was situated atop a high tower, offering a panoramic view of the square.
It was a magnificent sight, far beyond what she had envisioned through illustrations.
Towering columns were arranged in a circle, and the sky above was vast with nothing to obstruct it.
It was such an expansive space that, with a crowd, it could easily accommodate hundreds or even thousands of people.
‘Even now, there are plenty of people.’
Below in the square, nobles, commoners, men, women, the elderly, and children strolled about, each living their own daily lives.
‘If something were to happen here, it would be truly horrific.’
Eden felt a shiver at merely imagining it and quickly scanned her surroundings again.
Although the square was much larger than expected, if Ibthan kept his promise, a major incident could be avoided.
A heavy sense of responsibility, along with contempt for Kiris who was planning such things, washed over her. Regardless of Asmun, Kiris was not Emperor material.
‘I must obstruct this.’
Just then, as Eden was firming her resolve, a voice called out.
“Priest.”
