Chapter 95
<Wasn’t this a strategy game? Episode 95>
“Wait…! So I really have to break it to go back?! ”
“Well… for now, let’s pretend that’s the case?”
“Pretend?”
Eden’s desire to punch that cult-like guy in the face grew stronger. But even if she did, it would only hurt her own hand.
“So what happens if I can’t break it? If I fail! No, why is the game balance like this!”
“What’s wrong with balance?”
Hamun fired back angrily at the accusations towards the game.
“Rock-paper-scissors has to be at least three rounds! Does it make sense to lose and be done in one shot?”
“Hey, life’s the real deal. Are you saying you should have three lives in reality too?”
“Hah, then at least give me a hint! If you’ve planted easter eggs!”
“Gods aren’t like that. They’re there to enlighten you to the truth.”
Hamun’s smug retort made Eden feel hollow inside.
This is what god is? So frivolous!
“Then why don’t you enlighten me? What am I doing this for? What’s my mission?”
“Your mission is to clear it.”
“…….”
“You have to clear this game, which no one has ever cleared, to save the Empire. That’s your mission.”
It was like a broken record.
Eden looked at Hamun with a speechless face. The reason she couldn’t refute those words was that until just now, she had indeed been thinking only about how to save the Empire.
Making Asmun the Emperor, stopping Hagen’ti’s rampage, finding Silverstone, and saving the Empire.
“And if I tell you everything already, it won’t be fun.”
Hamun laughed again and puffed out his chest, looking as if he had just wiped away all the egg yolks and returned to his original position.
“Where are you going!”
“Oh, did I not mention? The Easter egg has a time limit of 5 minutes.”
Eden’s eyes went wide in disbelief at those frivolous words.
“Don’t worry. If you ever want advice, just wake me up.”
No, what kind of advice can you give or whatever!
“Wait, how do I wake you? Do I just throw an egg? Does it have to be an item?”
Hamun smirked.
“It’s a game, so you have to figure it out yourself. I hate cheat codes. That’s just unfair.”
Hey!
“Then good luck!”
Hamun shouted cheerfully and resumed his earlier stance. He was really turning to stone.
Just as his last facial expression was hardening again.
“Hmm, if it stays like this, I feel like my star rating will drop, so let me give you a hint. This quest… right, if it’s about entering the Saint’s Room, then the next should be Marbellius? Yeah, that’s right.”
“…….”
“Eden! This quest is with Hagen’ti. So, fighting!”
What?
Before Eden could even ask back, Hamun’s entire body turned to stone.
The faint life force that was barely felt from him completely vanished, and he stood there, just a statue in a solemn pose above the fountain.
“…….”
Eden stared blankly at him, then cupped her head in her hands.
“Aaaaah!”
Then, a hurried voice from outside soon followed.
“Saint! What’s going on? Should we come in?”
Eden lamented her situation where she couldn’t even scream freely and quickly put on a calm voice.
“No. I saw a bug. I’ve caught it. It’s fine.”
“A b-bug?”
A bug in the Saint’s Room? No way…
But because Eden’s voice was so calm, the priests didn’t ask anymore.
Eden chuckled as she looked at the now unresponsive Hamun statue.
For several days after that, Eden remained holed up in the Saint’s Room.
This was partly due to Sereman’s consideration that sudden events might require time to gather her thoughts, but it was also truly because there were now so many things to think about.
The shock that Hamun actually exists, of course, and trying to interpret the words he had left behind made her feel dizzy.
“Don’t think too hard. I’m a god. You too.”
“Can’t gods make games?”
“Oh dear, broaden your perspective. You’ve already experienced a lot.”
“You have to clear this game, which no one has ever cleared, to save the Empire. That’s your mission.”
There was no disagreement with his claim that “he is a god.” Eden had indeed had nonsensical experiences, and those experiences were ongoing, and if he was the one who designed it, then of course he would be a god-like existence.
However, she still couldn’t understand why it had to be him, whether others had experienced such things, or whether this world was truly just a game.
But one thing was still certain…
“This quest is with Hagen’ti. So, fighting!”
That she must clear the game.
“Damn, I don’t even know where Hagen’ti is…”
Eden regretted not asking where Hagen’ti was the last time she saw him.
Hamun’s advice to go with Hagen’ti was so convincing.
Surely, with Hagen’ti’s abilities, no challenge would be too difficult. Besides, Hagen’ti is currently…
“…….”
Eden felt embarrassed by her overconfident thoughts.
Next time she meets Hamun, she needed to confirm whether this game was truly a strategy game or if other genres were mixed in at all.
Rather, if all of this is designed, then her mind wouldn’t be so troubled.
“It’s just a game…”
Eden continued to mutter the now ineffective spell and thought of how to meet Hagen’ti.
But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t think of a way to sneak out and meet Hagen’ti past those strict guards.
If she knew where Hagen’ti was, it would be different, but she had no clues at all.
How did Hagen’ti find her every time? Because he’s a Great Mage?
“…….”
In her daze, Eden stood in front of Hamun’s statue and glanced around the Saint’s Room.
Even if it wasn’t visible, this room must be filled with tremendous divine power, and that divine power would naturally be setting up barriers.
Not just this room, but the Great Temple likely has all sorts of barriers as well.
Could Hagen’ti… break through these barriers too?
So, as absurd as it sounds…
“Hagen’ti…?”
Eden cautiously called out for Hagen’ti. But, of course, there was no answer.
“Haha…”
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and awkwardness, Eden let out a dry laugh.
I’m crazy. There’s no way this could be solved like this…
But at that moment, a small flash of light shone in front of Eden, revealing Hagen’ti’s figure right before her eyes.
“Eden.”
Eden gazed at Hagen’ti with blank eyes. There was a faint hint of joy on his nonchalant face.
“Hagen’ti…”
At that breath-catching call, Hagen’ti offered a faint smile.
“How…”
Really, how…
It was even more surprising that Hagen’ti was in her room right now than seeing Hamun.
Last time was the same, how does Hagen’ti find where she is right away?
There shouldn’t be a location tracker in a world like this.
“Did you hear me calling…?”
Hagen’ti just stared at Eden without answering.
Despite the intruder having entered in an instant, the outside remained calm. No one had undoubtedly noticed this uninvited guest’s presence.
Eden failed to gauge just how far Hagen’ti’s magical power extended and took a deep breath.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“…….”
Hagen’ti didn’t answer even to that question.
This guy has quite a few secrets, doesn’t he.
Nonetheless, that wasn’t what was important right now. Eden decided to subtly assess Hagen’ti.
“You must have been busy. Okay, got it.”
“…….”
“Then going somewhere just for a bit with me won’t be possible. You’re too busy.”
At that, Hagen’ti’s relaxed eyes instantly sharpened. As expected, he responded immediately.
“I can go.”
Handling Hagen’ti was so easy that it felt strangely out of place.
“You didn’t even ask where.”
But that was better.
“Really?”
Hagen’ti nodded firmly. In his lively eyes, there seemed to be a hint of expectation.
“But there’s a problem.”
“…….”
“As you can see, I’ve become a Saint.”
Saying those words herself was unbearably ticklish. A Saint, really.
But Hagen’ti didn’t smile at all. He looked as if he had already known.
Of course, after such a grand ceremony for the Saint.
“So there are more eyes on me now. We have to leave without being noticed by the people outside.”
“…….”
“I want it to be just the two of us.”
At Eden’s words, Hagen’ti’s eyes wavered slightly. Without hesitation, he immediately extended his hand.
“Don’t worry. We can go without being caught.”
His indifferent voice was relaxed. It was the voice of someone certain of his skills. Eden could no longer deny that confidence.
“Okay. But first, I need to stop by a place, can you go there too?”
Hagen’ti nodded once again without asking where.
Only then did Eden smile and grasp the large hand that was still extended towards her.
“Then, let’s go to the Chancellor’s Office of Priest Roman.”
“Your Majesty!”
At the urgent call filled with alarm, Asmun turned around.
In his view, Baint was running over with a pale face, looking like he was lost in thought. The sight of Baint’s horrified expression brought cold memories to Asmun’s mind.
“What’s going on?”
“A letter just arrived from Priest Roman, and the priest, no, the Saint…”
As those words escaped his lips, Asmun’s eyes sharpened. He snatched the letter from Baint’s hand before he could finish.
Baint and the knights held their breaths, glancing at one another. Asmun quickly tore open the letter and began reading the contents inside.
【To my dear As.】
Seeing his nickname written in neat handwriting, Asmun’s eyes narrowed.
