Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? – Chapter 102

Author: B0ucha

Just in case the mine collapsed the moment he lifted the tablet, Eden glanced around nervously. But just as he had said, nothing happened. It seemed they had truly let their guard down.

‘Well, who would’ve thought someone would come all the way here just to steal it?’

Only then did Eden let out a sigh of relief.

Without this tablet, the ritual couldn’t be performed, and that meant they could indeed block Kyris’s plan. The circumstantial evidence alone was already compelling.

At that moment, a brilliant [Clear] window lit up in the darkness of the mine.

『【★】Basic Quest Complete!

You helped Chediak obtain a crucial clue!
Choose your reward:

<Prophecy Book / Item / Stat>』

Eden glanced at the tablet held in Chediak’s arms.

‘So that was the clue.’

If not for Chediak, they might’ve come all this way only to miss it. Thanks to him, the quest was safely cleared.

And the timing couldn’t have been better. Eden had already decided on the reward.

Turning toward Hegenti and Chediak, Eden said,

“Let’s get out of here.”

The three of them swiftly escaped the mine and returned to where the woman waited, taking her with them as they vanished.

The security around Asmun’s castle was exceptionally tight. If they tried to break through it, a major commotion was inevitable, so Eden made the slightly rude decision to teleport inside the castle instead.

As always, Hegenti’s skills were flawless. The four of them arrived directly in the same room Eden had stayed in after the incident in Lebeim.

Eden stepped out and immediately grabbed the first servant she came across, asking them to summon the highest-ranking knight remaining in the castle. Before long, Ronpel arrived.

“Saintess?!”

“Sir Ronpel! You’re still here!”

Eden greeted him with emotion, while Chediak’s face froze over.

“Sa… Saintess…? Edi—no… Y-You’re the Saintess…?”

Chediak stammered in shock. Ronpel furrowed his brows as he looked at him.

“Who is this man? And the others…?”

Ronpel, just as confused by the early-morning chaos, scanned the group Eden had brought and paused when he spotted the pink-haired man.

“Oh? You’re that mage from before!”

“Yes, Sir Ronpel. But there’s no time to explain. Where is His Highness?”

“Eh…? Ah… His Highness went to search for Silvestone…”

“This is more urgent than Silvestone.”

“Eh?!”

Ronpel’s eyes widened at the suggestion that something could be more urgent than Silvestone.

That couldn’t be true…

But as one of Asmun’s closest confidants, Ronpel also knew how extraordinary Eden was—and he had learned through experience not to take her words lightly.

“What do you mean…?”

“I must meet with His Highness immediately. Please send a message and tell him to return to the castle at once!”

Ronpel stared at Eden blankly, as if slapped awake, then quickly nodded.

“Y-Yes! Understood.”

This was exactly why he had remained behind to guard the castle in the first place—for emergencies like this.

A Saintess showing up at dawn with a grand mage and suspicious individuals, urgently asking for the prince—there was no doubt this had to be reported to Asmun immediately.

“And send a physician to this room as well!”

As Eden called out to Ronpel’s retreating figure, he raised a hand without looking back to signal his acknowledgment.

‘Thank goodness Ronpel stayed behind.’

Since she had sent Ronpel, Asmun would return soon. Then everything would proceed smoothly.

Eden nodded and pulled up the system window to select her reward.

She chose the Prophecy Book, of course.

Though the situation was already clear enough, they needed undeniable certainty—especially to confront none other than the Emperor.

Just as expected, the prophecy book contained details about the Anaght Ritual.

However…

『They will soon realize that the fake Anaght Tablet has been stolen.

Aware of the situation’s gravity, they will begin the Anaght Ritual tonight, when the full moon’s energy covers the sky.

The location of the ritual is the underground prison beneath the castle of First Prince Kyris Declend.』

“What? What the hell is this supposed to mean? A fake Anaght Tablet?”

Her own bewildered voice echoed in her ears, sounding foreign. As Eden fully grasped what the prophecy said, her expression hardened.

“…So the real tablet is in Kyris’s castle.”

She dropped the prophecy book and covered her face.

“This is insane…!”

The situation was spiraling toward the worst once again. Slowly, Eden turned her gaze toward the large window in the corridor.

“…”

The brilliant morning sun was rising, indifferent and merciless.

“Where is the Saintess?”

As soon as he received Ronpel’s message, Asmun used an emergency scroll and returned to the castle without wasting even a second.

“This way, Your Highness.”

Ronpel quickly led the way.

“Saintess, His Highness has arrived!”

The door burst open, and Eden rushed out from within, lips parched as if she had been anxiously waiting all this time.

“Your Highness…”

That earnest call made all the anger, betrayal, and turbulent emotions that had risen within him melt away in an instant, leaving him powerless.

He had come fully intending to scold her, to threaten her so she would never do such a thing again, to bind her tightly so she could never leave him again…

“…”

But Asmun could only gaze helplessly at her, at that annoyingly serene face that made it impossible to stay angry.

What would he do if Eden truly decided to leave him after he lashed out?

An unfamiliar fear stabbed at his throat.

What remained was a massive wave of relief crashing down upon the ache in his chest—he was just glad to see her again.

“I apologize for acting without permission, but I had to do this to deliver urgent news.”

“…Where did you go?”

Asmun glanced inside the room.

A strange mage, a woman who didn’t look well, and Hegenti.

Hegenti stood by the window with arms crossed, making cold, direct eye contact with Asmun.

All this time… with him…

Just as the familiar dry resentment was about to rise again, Eden grabbed Asmun’s hand, pulled him out into the corridor, and shut the door behind them.

“…”

Asmun looked down at her in silence. Eden glanced around and, confirming that only Ronpel was present, began to speak.

“You must listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Her voice was unusually serious.

“You must go see His Majesty the Emperor immediately.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Ronpel looked to Asmun in alarm. Even a prince needed permission to see the Emperor—and now, of all times?

What could possibly be so urgent?

“You must inform His Majesty of Kyris’s treason.”

Asmun’s eyes hardened instantly.

Ronpel’s own eyes bulged in shock as he clapped a hand over his mouth, but Eden didn’t stop.

“And you must stop the rebellion and claim the credit.”

Her lips were dry with tension, but the gaze she fixed on Asmun was as steady and resolute as ever—just like whenever she had overcome a crisis before.

Asmun and Eden headed straight to the Imperial Palace.

Since teleporting anywhere near it without permission was a high crime, the two of them had to travel by horseback, which meant it was already midday when they arrived.

“We must see His Majesty. This is urgent. Please inform him immediately.”

But what they heard was like thunder from a clear sky.

“His Majesty is not currently at the palace.”

“What?”

Eden couldn’t help interrupting, and the royal secretary looked at her in surprise.

“Are you the Saintess…?”

In response, Eden removed the hood of her robe, clearly revealing her identity.

“Yes, I am. I’ve received a divine oracle and must see His Majesty at once. Please tell me where he is!”

The word “oracle” made the secretary flinch—but his expression soon turned troubled.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose His Majesty’s whereabouts without authorization. If it’s urgent, I’ll make a report upon his return and schedule an appointment…”

“There’s no time! I told you—it’s an oracle!”

“Still… there has been no such report from the Temple…”

No…

As despair clouded Eden’s face, a savior appeared.

“What is going on here?”

Eden and Asmun turned around at once.

“…”

With an expressionless face, Chancellor Ivatan was walking toward them.

“Chancellor!”

Eden’s face lit up with emotion as she rushed toward him.

“I must see His Majesty immediately. There is something I have to tell him before the sun sets!”

“What are you…”