Chapter 93
“Wasn’t this a strategy game?”
The confession was so ambiguous it was hard to tell if it felt horrifying or heavenly.
Asmun gazed at Eden, who looked like she would crumble if touched even slightly, and smiled faintly.
His plan to make Eden a Saint had been in the works for a long time. It was meant to turn the coveted Eden into a Saint so nobody else could dare to covet her.
“……”
It was also to ensure she faced no more danger.
Asmun couldn’t shake the feelings from when Baint brought the news in Reblem that Eden had vanished into Eloch’s Ship.
“Y-your Highness…! Gasp… The Priest… Gasp… The Priest has entered the ship! Gasp, the Priest is inside Eloch’s Ship right now! Gasp…!”
The sensation of my foundation crumbling and my heart stopping, plummeting endlessly, was something he didn’t want to experience again.
If he hadn’t found Eden, he might have gone on a rampage, destroying and burning everything in sight.
He might have ruined all that he had built so far.
So Eden had to be safe and she couldn’t leave his sight. If Eden disappeared, he wouldn’t even be able to control himself.
“So I will become Emperor, and you will become the Saint to stand by me.”
Asmun’s eyes sparkled lazily as he devised this perfect plan, resolute to fulfill that noble resolve no matter what.
“I’ve located a place that might lead us to Silverstone.”
He spoke gently to the still-frozen Eden.
“I will definitely return, so please stay safe here.”
“……”
Stunned by the shock, Eden could only gaze at Asmun without uttering a word.
What did I just hear?
A proposal…? A proposal…?
It was only then that she fully understood Asmun’s words, causing her face to flare up in heat.
“Your Highness…”
“I will leave right after the Ceremony of the Saint.”
“Wait a minute…”
“So I should congratulate you in advance.”
Asmun stepped closer and kissed Eden lightly on the lips. It was just a brief peck.
Eden was so shocked, she couldn’t push him away or step back, frozen in place.
He pulled slightly back and looked into her eyes, so close that she could clearly see the deep threads woven within.
“Congratulations on becoming a Saint.”
He smiled warmly.
Eden couldn’t even breathe, simply staring back at him.
“So from this moment, the Great Temple hereby appoints Eden Rilliert as the new Saint and vows to honor her as the divine representative.”
When Sereman crowned Eden as a symbol of the oath, the applause erupted like a bomb.
After 200 years, and especially in these times with monsters rampaging, the birth of a Saint was wildly celebrated.
Even amidst the noisy cheers, Eden found herself lost in thought, staring blankly into space.
‘So the favorability was indeed that much…’
Right after reaching a favorability of 90, a proposal comes out of nowhere.
Only now did she clearly realize why Asmun had pulled off such a colossal act without a word.
That favorability had somehow condensed Asmun’s possessiveness to an abnormal level.
“……”
So Asmun seriously intended to propose to her.
Imagining the sweet, tender gaze that Asmun used to look at her made her spine chill and her face flush.
Perhaps she wanted to scream and throw the crown on her head.
The largest issue right now was.
‘This is crazy.’
She didn’t hate Asmun’s confession.
‘No, no…!’
Eden realized she was heading down a wrong path. She and Asmun were racing towards the end of the game side by side.
This meant, after clearing it, she would vanish.
Normally, that would be completely inconsequential to a world like this…
‘If I disappear in my current state, consider it tyrannical…’
The thought of Asmun losing his sanity after she was gone made her hair stand on end. Typically, the strongest trigger for a tyrant was the loss of their most cherished possession.
‘Damn it, it’s too late to pretend this has nothing to do with me…’
Eden had spent far too much time here, interacted with too many people, and poured out too many emotions.
It had become too late to dismiss all of this as just a game unrelated to her. Over-involvement had started long ago.
“Ah, jeez…”
When Eden couldn’t hold back and muttered a curse, Sereman raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Saint.”
When he gently cautioned her, Eden finally snapped back to reality and looked at him wide-eyed.
“You should greet the believers.”
He kindly reminded her of her duties. Eden nodded and turned to look down at the crowd cheering for her.
Countless people were throwing flowers at her, celebrating the birth of a new Saint.
Everyone likely hoped that this new Saint, who appeared amidst the chaos of dark sorcerers, would save their weary lives.
Eden couldn’t ignore them and waved back, forcing a smile.
After all, she couldn’t just focus on Asmun’s confession at this moment. There were still countless quests left for her.
‘Well, so what if I’m not a true Saint? Ultimately, it’s my job to save this world.’
Finding justification for this deceitful act, Eden clenched her fists.
‘Not now, let’s put Asmun’s issues aside. For now, the next quest is what’s important.’
The new Saint waved energetically and confidently, bringing smiles to the faces of the imperial citizens.
After the long and challenging Ceremony of the Saint concluded, Eden was guided to a new location.
“Come this way.”
Sereman kindly led her.
The place was far from the quarters where the apprentice priests had stayed, located in a tower that had been tightly closed for 200 years—Eden’s Room.
“200… years…?”
In an instant, images of dust piles settled everywhere and cobwebs hanging around flooded Eden’s mind.
Noticing her expression, Sereman replied softly.
“Don’t worry. The Saint’s Room is imbued with divine power, so it always remains clean, no matter how much time has passed.”
At his words, Eden recollected Sereman’s always spotless office and Hagentii’s castle, where there wasn’t a single cobweb after 50 years.
This world sure was convenient.
“Here it is.”
Eden sighed at the sight of the priests waiting outside the room. Even in this place, it looked like she wouldn’t dream of venturing out without permission.
Thinking that this was all part of Asmun’s scheme made her blood boil.
‘He must’ve tossed me in here while he rushed off to hunt for Silverstone…?’
It was absurdly amusing. The prince who initially threatened her life was now agitated that she might suffer even a scratch.
Deciding he needed to rein in that wicked possessiveness if he wanted to marry her, Eden suddenly gasped in shock.
“Ah!”
Startled by Eden’s sudden outburst, Sereman turned to her, looking quite alarmed.
“…What’s wrong, Saint?”
“Oh, it’s nothing… I just had a chilling thought…”
Eden made an excuse and tightly clenched her fists.
What on earth was she thinking…!
“Can I go in? I’d like to rest a bit.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll open the door for you.”
Finally, the door to the Saint’s Room swung open. She thought she’d go in alone, but Sereman followed right behind her.
As the two entered, the sound of the door closing echoed behind them.
‘Why is Sereman following me?’
Eden hastily glanced at him, then she gasped in awe at the scene inside the room.
“Wow….”
The interior of the room was breathtaking.
It was much larger than she had anticipated from the outside, filled with warm, sun-like lighting. It seemed to be maintained by divine power.
Thanks to that, the spacious room felt as cozy as a five-star hotel suite.
Indeed, just as Sereman had said, there wasn’t a speck of dust inside; everything was clean and pristine like new. All the items were elegant and sophisticated, just as she had seen in Hagentii’s grand castle.
White stone pillars stood around, white marble floors, and beautiful flowers radiating eternal life filled the space.
In the center of the room was a silently flowing fountain, and atop that fountain…
“That’s a statue of Hamun.”
Eden now used to seeing the statue of Hamun murmured in wonder. Sereman replied while gazing at it.
“Yes, it’s a reminder that Hamun is always by our side.”
What a very Sereman-like answer; Eden couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh. Realizing she had committed a faux pas, she quickly zipped her lips and turned to Sereman.
But Sereman remained focused on the statue of Hamun.
“The Priest, or rather… now that you’re a Saint. I’m glad that you have become the Saint.”
He turned to Eden, wearing a gentle smile. A hint of fatigue always lingered on his handsome face.
Seeing him made her feel a bit complicated. The capital had been attacked several times, leaving Sereman with doubts and scars like never before.
“Oh, I’m glad you’re still here, Chancellor. Although I’m a Saint now, everything is still overwhelming.”
“Don’t worry, Saint. You’ll do great.”
That encouragement made her feel slightly guilty. Considering the Chancellor’s position, he would have felt relieved to have a Saint at his side, yet she wasn’t a true Saint.
“…Oh, by the way, Saint.”
“Yes?”
“It’s about the dream you mentioned during the last Sun Festival.”
Last Sun Festival? What did I even say?
“You mentioned you had a dream about the Empire’s downfall…”
Gasp, that’s right.
A chill ran down Eden’s spine.
“Have you perhaps had a prophecy regarding the Empire’s downfall? I had a nightmare yesterday about the Empire meeting a terrible end. Haha, surely that won’t happen…?”
