<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Chapter 96>

“Your Majesty, I have received a new oracle and am setting out to fulfill it. Unfortunately, since you are not in the capital, please forgive me for not delivering the oracle personally. But I promise to return safely, so please don’t worry and focus on finding Silverstone.”

……What?

As Asmun’s breath finally ceased, the knights fidgeted and bit their lips. The last time Eden had disappeared, Asmun’s fearful expression was still vivid in their minds.

“Of course, you know I’m not betraying you and running away, right? The proof is that I’m still alive.”

The voice dripping with annoyance from the letter made Asmun crumple a part of the note tightly in his hand.

Asmun understood the implications of those words. Eden and I had formed a fateful pact, and if Eden betrayed me, she would die. That pact was still valid and would be forever.

It was audacious of Eden to turn that pact against me.

“You didn’t trust me and locked me up in the tower, but I will not betray you. So this time, please trust and wait for me. Patience is a virtue of a ruler, after all.”

“Then, may the blessings of the gods be upon you.”

—From Hesmor’s new Saint

Asmun’s gaze turned icy as he read every word. It felt like a punishment of sorts.

No, it literally was punishment. I had to pay the price for meddling with her fate.

“Ha……”

Asmun let out a cold chuckle, and the knights stiffened in nervousness.

“……”

Asmun recalled something I had momentarily forgotten. Eden was a woman who could never be easily conquered.

But how could I—

We had invested a massive amount of resources and manpower to turn Eden into a saint to prevent this kind of situation.

“Your Majesty……”

Baint finally mustered the courage to call out to Asmun, whose cold red eyes swiftly turned towards him.

“Priest Roman said that the Saint has disappeared with a certain sorcerer.”

At those words, Asmun’s eyes glimmered coldly.

Baint, resenting his fate of having to deliver such news, shut his eyes tightly and blurted out, “They say the sorcerer’s hair was pink!”

“Ha……”

Eden, moving outside the temple, felt a wave of freedom washing over her after what seemed like an eternity.

She had finally escaped the suffocating surveillance that had been tightening around her for days.

“Thank you, Hagen’ti. You’re the best.”

Eden turned to smile brightly at Hagen’ti, who looked at her with a piercing gaze. Despite the habitual indifference, there seemed to be a subtle pride sparkling in his eyes.

Now, it was hard to tell whether to call this determined gaze indifferent or something else.

“You can go anywhere.”

Eden chuckled at that boastful remark.

Either way, she was in high spirits. With Hamun popping up out of nowhere, a new quest in her hands, and a long road ahead, she felt liberated.

Besides, with Hagen’ti as her cheat code, she had nothing to fear. By now, Asmun would have learned of her absence, and the Great Temple might be in chaos, but what could they do?

This time, she had really received the ‘real’ oracle.

And……

“Have you found any memories yet?”

At Eden’s question, Hagen’ti gazed at her silently. Before he could respond, Eden spoke up first.

“You know, Hagen’ti. You don’t really have to find your memories.”

Her voice was as affectionate as ever.

“Thinking about it, I’ll be the one fixing things anyway, so it doesn’t really matter, right?”

Eden said that with a reliable smile.

Hagen’ti had disappeared suddenly, claiming he’d find a cure for her ailment, and since then, Eden had often thought of him.

Could he really regain his memories?

If he did, would they find a clue to cure the mysterious illness?

If so, she could clear one of the massive quests ahead of her.

With such expectations swirling in her mind, Eden suddenly realized she had been too harsh on Hagen’ti.

‘To someone who had been dying alone in that castle for 50 years……’

She couldn’t know what had happened to Hagen’ti, but if the result was suffering alone in that large castle for 50 years, it certainly wasn’t a good thing.

Pushing him to dig up the past just for her own clearing was a cruel act.

Even if he could remember and find a way to heal his sickness, she couldn’t guarantee that the healed Hagen’ti would find happiness.

And……

“But no matter how hard you try to remember and keep hold of them, the past will eventually be forgotten. It took me a long time to realize that’s just the way things are. All I can do is fill that emptiness with new life.”

“So Your Majesty, don’t let that emptiness go unfilled; find something more precious to fill it.”

It was unfair to tell Asmun to let everything go and seek a new life while pushing Hagen’ti to dig up his past.

So Eden made a vow.

When she met Hagen’ti again, she would tell him to stop looking for his memories and instead find a way to cure his illness together.

Ultimately, she had no doubt that the skill she would gain would be enough to heal him.

“So don’t just disappear like that anymore. I’m really worried; I’d be lost without you.”

“……”

“Let’s overcome this together. I’ll be by your side until the end.”

The incredibly sweet words caused Hagen’ti’s gaze to drop.

Whenever Eden spoke like that, she couldn’t quite grasp the small whirlpool that stirred inside her.

She had forgotten far too much.

“Got it?”

After a moment of silence, Hagen’ti nodded in agreement.

Eden felt lighter now that she had conveyed her intentions and broke into a smile. Having Hagen’ti by her side felt immensely reassuring, like strength was returning to her.

“Alright, first we need to solve this dilemma. Hagen’ti, do you know of a place called Mabelios? The Dark Forest?”

At Eden’s question, Hagen’ti nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Great. There’s someone we need to find there. Apparently, that person is also a sorcerer.”

Eden momentarily reflected on the new quest.

Find Chediak, assist him in his operation, and obtain new leads.

What operation, and what leads, were completely beyond her guess.

Could it be a lead on Silverstone?

No matter what it was, she had to find him.

“What does the Dark Forest mean? It doesn’t just refer to a simply dark forest, does it?”

Eden muttered without realizing it, and Hagen’ti, who had been watching her all along, quietly replied.

“It’s a forest made of ancient magic.”

Eden looked at Hagen’ti in shock.

“Ancient magic?”

She unfolded Hesmor’s Map, which she had taken from Priest Roman’s Chancellor’s Office. Scanning the map carefully, Eden found ‘Mabelios’ and frowned.

“It’s located near the Grand Duchy.”

Mabelios, located in the southwest, lay beneath the Grand Duchy on the map. Judging by the area marked on the map, it was certainly no small forest.

But whether the forest was big or small, Eden still had no choice as always.

‘But this time, I have Hagen’ti with me. There must be a reason why Hamun told me to go together.’

Eden took a deep breath as if to prepare herself and looked at Hagen’ti.

“Alright. Let’s go find Chediak!”

Her determined shout was instantly tempered by a solid resolve. Hagen’ti watched Eden’s shining eyes, which were brimming with newfound energy.

“I heard Asmun has left the capital.”

Kiris looked at the transparent crystal glass filled with wine as Patriar spoke.

“He must be looking for Silverstone, right? Did he get some clues?”

“Who knows? Probably.”

Patriar was a bit taken aback at seeing Kiris unexpectedly calm.

“By any chance, brother, have you already found Silverstone?”

Kiris only sipped his wine thoughtfully in response.

Patriar smiled, his face beaming.

“I knew if anyone could find Silverstone before Asmun, it would be you! So this means we’ve already won this game.”

“……”

“I’m so relieved. I was worried the throne might pass to Asmun as it is.”

At that, Kiris chuckled softly.

“Do you think I would just let that happen?”

“Ha ha, indeed.”

Kiris placed his crystal glass down and looked directly at Patriar.

“I haven’t found Silverstone.”

Patriar’s previously relaxed expression turned into one of shock.

“……What?”

“Asmun probably won’t be able to find it either. It’s been missing for over 200 years; there’s no way he could find that rock.”

“But brother, the Emperor……”p>

“But he might pull a fast one and bring something similar. That’s kind of his special skill, isn’t it?”

As he spoke, Kiris’s expression turned increasingly fierce. Patriar cautiously observed Kiris’s demeanor and asked carefully.

“So the new Saint must be part of his scheme too?”

Patriar knew full well that the new Saint was the priestess who had always annoyed Kiris by being involved with Asmun.

Having that priestess become a saint at such a time was no small coincidence. It was enough to make him regret having underestimated Asmun’s actions until now.

“Yes, the Holy Stone hasn’t been a definitive proof of the oracle for a long time now.”

“Ha, I don’t know whether to be impressed or surprised. Honestly, I’m a little shocked that that incompetent, quiet guy…….”

“He’s completely unaware of his own standing.”

Kiris glared at the air as if Asmun’s face was floating before him.

“But the fact that he used magical power was shocking. Even now, people are still gossiping outside about his abilities.”

When Patriar casually prodded that sensitive issue, Kiris’s gaze sharpened immediately.

“You know that any royal family that can use magic is regarded as special. That makes me feel incredibly uneasy.”

The clueless chatter continued. Kiris raised his brows angrily and shot a fierce glare at his dull-witted brother.

“So you’re saying that he should be the Emperor now?”

“What? That can’t be! Absolutely not, you know that.”

Though Patriar stammered out his apologies, Kiris’s expression remained tense.

“If magic is about legitimacy, then when I become Emperor, I’ll cut out the tongues of all those who spew such nonsense.”

“Yes, of course. Magic should only be used by sorcerers; that nonsense!”

Patriar, well aware of Kiris’s temperamental nature, hurriedly tried to appease him and butter him up.

Kiris, still unsatisfied, drank from his glass again, grimacing.

As he glanced at his brother, Patriar cautiously asked the question that had been on his mind.

“Um, brother, if Silverstone can’t be found, do you have any other plans?”