Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 100

The moment those words were spoken, silence heavier than the crackle of burning firewood fell upon the quiet forest.

Eden’s mind raced.

Chediak’s “operation,” the black mages, the illegal mine owned by the family of Kyris’s fiancée…

At last, she began to glimpse the true intent hidden in this quest. Her heartbeat turned erratic.

“I came to a single conclusion after learning all this.”

As Eden leaned toward Chediak unconsciously, Hegenti shifted to press right up against her side, glaring at Chediak.

He clearly disliked how much attention she was giving the other man.

“Please, tell us your conclusion, Mr. Chediak. I want to hear it.”

“Well then…”

Chediak’s face grew grave.

“They are preparing a ritual.”

***

Meanwhile, far from the capital, Asmun had not gone to the northern snowy mountains where rumors of Silverstone abounded, nor to the vast eastern coasts.

Instead, he arrived in the modest barony of Baster.

“Y-your Highness… what brings you here…?”

Rolando Baster, lord of the house, was utterly bewildered.

A prince visiting this remote territory was shocking enough, but to do so without warning, and with an escort of heavily armed knights?

“I have questions for you, Baron Baster.”

But what unnerved him most was the prince’s cold, lethal air.

Rolando had of course heard of the talent Asmun had displayed at the Solar Festival. Now, one of the leading heirs to the throne had come secretly to his doorstep, demanding answers?

“It concerns matters of utmost importance. I expect you to speak honestly.”

His words were polite, but his eyes cut like blades. Refusal seemed tantamount to courting bloodshed.

Rolando swallowed hard. What could a prince possibly want to ask him? Had he committed some offense? None he could think of touched the imperial family.

“Wh-what… would you ask of me…?”

“About the massacre that occurred in the House of Baster eighty years ago. Tell me everything.”

Rolando froze, breathless.

He turned his eyes aside awkwardly.

“I-I… don’t know what you mean…”

Asmun’s brow twitched upward. He had not expected easy honesty, but he had no patience for evasions.

“Ah. Too long ago, then? You must not know the details.”

“Y-yes, eighty years… I wouldn’t know…”

“Very well.”

Relief washed through Rolando—until the next words made his blood run colder.

“Then I shall ask about something more recent.”

“R-recent…?”

“Two years ago. The purchase of a mid-tier monster, a Rectos, from the Elloh Trading Company.”

Rolando’s face went rigid.

“That beast killed ten villagers of Sorvachel, didn’t it? And still unruly, you turned to Elloh’s aid again.”

“Haha, Y-your Highness, I don’t know what you’re—”

The crimson eyes fixed on him like iron.

“Baron Baster. I did not come all this way for such lies.”

Though Asmun’s voice remained courteous, his gaze promised blood.

“I will give you one more chance. Know that I already possess the contract of that transaction.”

“…”

“Now. Speak of what happened in this cursed estate eighty years ago. Every detail.”

Rolando’s lips quivered as his face drained of color.

“M-my lord prince…”

***

“They are preparing the Anaght Ritual.”

At Chediak’s words, Eden frowned.

“The Anaght Ritual? What’s that?”

She looked to Hegenti. He answered quietly.

“…Black magic to enslave souls.”

“Enslave… souls?”

Chediak supplied the rest.

“Yes. To dominate a soul, and use the body like a puppet. It is extremely dangerous, extremely complex—and they intend to attempt it. The magic circles and materials all prove it.”

“Materials?”

“You recall the woman in that cage?”

Eden remembered the dying woman sprawled inside.

“She is being kept alive with black magic. She won’t last three days as she is.”

Eden winced at the cruelty, then asked suspiciously:

“So they keep her alive to use her as a sacrifice? But why not a healthy one? Why go to such trouble?”

“She must have holy power. Using someone blessed with holy power as a sacrifice amplifies the ritual’s strength.”

Eden’s jaw dropped.

“Holy power outside the clergy is rare. Priests are hard to seize, after all.”

“…”

“And I saw them hiding a massive stone slab carved with Anaght runes inside the mine. There is no doubt—they are preparing the ritual.”

“…Why do you know so much? You’re not a black mage yourself, are you?”

“What a slander! I’ve only studied their patterns to predict their moves!”

“It was a joke. You need to lighten up, Mr. Chediak.”

Eden sighed.

“The darker the world, the more we need jokes. Anyway, I understand. They want to control someone.”

Chediak nodded. A chill stirred in Eden’s chest.

If Kyris’s in-laws were behind this, the most likely target…

‘This is tied to Kyris. Could this quest be guiding me to uncover his scheme?’

But who was the target? Asmun? …Or me?

She remembered Marens, driven mad by black magic, trying to kill her. That had only been temporary. This ritual promised far worse.

“Do you know who they plan to control?”

Chediak’s reply was utterly shocking.

“…I suspect the Emperor.”

“What?!”

“W-wait, what do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. I believe their aim is to enslave His Majesty.”

Her heart dropped.

“The Emperor… my father?”

“Such magic requires immense power. Only the most skilled black magi could attempt it. The resources alone cost tens of thousands of dricks, and they need rare living sacrifices.”

His tone brimmed with conviction.

“The Milstein family is one of the richest ducal houses. They could bribe anyone. And if they would go to such lengths—who else would be worth controlling?”

“…”

“Besides, the black magi have been raving of the Demon King’s resurrection. They want to swallow the Empire whole.”

Eden felt ice crawl up her neck. His reasoning was too sound.

Chediak wasn’t meddlesome at all. He was a patriot, risking himself to block treason.

‘Kyris… you bastard. You’ve truly lost your mind.’

He was desperate. Asmun was rising too quickly. If Asmun really found Silverstone, he could secure succession.

So Kyris would enslave the Emperor’s soul with Anaght, seize the throne, and ascend easily.

“This is treason…”

Eden whispered, voice shaking. Hegenti glanced at her. Chediak nodded grimly.

“A vile rebellion. And so it must be stopped.”

Eden snapped her gaze back to him.

“You have a way?”

“…A temporary one.”

“Tell me.”

“First, free the captives. Then steal the slab. They will eventually replace it, but the Anaght Ritual can only be held within three days of a full moon.”

At the words “full moon,” Eden glanced at Hegenti. His face was blank.

‘Damn that full moon…’

She was sick of it by now.

“When’s the next one?”

“Tomorrow, at sundown.”

“…”

“If we thwart them this time, they cannot try again until the next full moon.”

“That buys time. A good plan… but…”

Eden bit her lip.

“We need a permanent solution.”

“I agree. But this is all I can manage…”

Chediak bowed his head in frustration. Eden breathed deeply, then said firmly:

“Don’t worry.”

He looked up. She smiled.

“I told you, didn’t I? We came here to help you.”

Helping him was the way to clear this quest.

Since no completion screen had appeared yet, the only path forward was clear:

Aid him. And bring down the treasonous prince.

Eden’s heart pounded—half from excitement, half from fear.