Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 37

“Priestess!”

But it was already too late.

As if the call had been a signal, the horse carrying Eden surged forward, bolting straight toward Seruka.

“No! Come back!”

Asmun and Karon shouted in panic, immediately giving chase.

But Eden was too fast.

“…?!”

Even Zephar and his soldiers, who had been locked in battle, froze in shock as Eden flashed past them like lightning.

“Priestess!”

Karon called out desperately, but Eden did not stop.

Her horse galloped nimbly, using the terrain to leap onto a precarious cliff edge.

Everyone watching gaped at her extraordinary equestrian skills.

Even Asmun, despite his fury, immediately mounted his own horse and began climbing after her.

Eden had reached the very edge of the cliff, where her eyes were level with Seruka’s massive gaze.

A new notification window had appeared before her.

[You have obtained ‘Black Sun’s Blade.’ Your Combat Ability has increased by +30.]

The moment she gripped Asmun’s sword, she felt a surge of power.

A strength worthy of the +30 boost pulsed through her hands, radiating from the blade.

Standing at the cliff’s edge, Eden brought her fingers to her lips—and whistled.

Whiiiiik—!

Seruka’s massive head snapped toward her.

‘Whoa…’

Now that she was face to face with the monstrous creature, fear clawed at her chest.

‘It’s just a game. Just a game. Just a game…’

Repeating the mantra she always used while playing VR games, Eden forced a smile.

“Hey, want this?”

She held up her hand, revealing a trembling figure.

“Kyuuuk! Kyuuuuuuk!”

A Chupi was convulsing in terror in her palm.

“……!”

Karon finally realized that Eden had stolen his Chupi.

The watching soldiers wore horrified expressions as they witnessed her apparent suicide attempt.

“I’m throwing it!”

Eden shouted and hurled the Chupi forward.

The small creature soared through the air like a baseball—

Straight into the gaping maw of Seruka’s central head.

“KRAAAAH—!”

‘Now!’

Eden kicked her horse’s flank.

The horse surged forward.

“What the—!”

“She’s insane!”

The place she was charging toward—

Was directly into Seruka’s open mouth.

At the edge of the cliff, the horse leaped high into the air.

“……Priestess.”

Karon could only whisper in disbelief.

Eden and her horse disappeared—

Swallowed whole.

Seruka’s jaws snapped shut as it swallowed its unexpected meal.

A deathly silence fell over the forest.

“…….”

Reaching the cliff a second too late, Asmun froze.

His unbelieving gaze locked onto Seruka.

There was no trace of Eden left.

Even Zephar, usually composed, looked completely dumbfounded.

Seruka let out a satisfied belch.

And then—

The monster’s body stiffened.

“Back up!”

The hunting party braced for another attack—

But something was wrong.

Seruka was not moving properly.

Instead, its shoulders twitched.

“What’s happening?”

One of the soldiers pointed at its throat.

Everyone’s eyes followed.

A grotesque bulge was forming in Seruka’s neck.

“Oh, gods—it’s choking on the body!”

Horrified gasps echoed through the group.

Then—

“Kreeuuugh…!”

Seruka let out a pained groan.

It shook its massive head, struggling to breathe.

But it was too late.

“Look! A sword!”

A gleaming blade pierced through Seruka’s throat.

Asmun.

Karon.

Zephar.

All of them stared.

Seruka thrashed violently—

But the sword kept slicing.

With an unsteady grip, someone was hacking from the inside.

The blade cut deeper, carving a circle.

Then—

Slice.

Seruka’s throat split open.

And from within—

A shadow emerged.

With the sword still embedded in its throat, Seruka could no longer even let out a proper cry.

Its dilated pupils trembled.

Then—

Thud!

More than half of its severed neck collapsed backward.

And from the gaping wound, drenched in thick mucus, Eden emerged.

Seruka did not move.

Its severed throat did not regenerate.

Everyone realized at once—

The unknown novice priestess had killed Seruka.

A stifling silence fell over the battlefield.

Even more shocking than Eden disappearing was the fact that she had returned.

Asmun stared, unable to believe it.

His throat tightened.

For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

“…….”

Drenched head to toe in thick slime, Eden inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with fresh air.

“Haaah….”

She turned, confirming that Seruka’s mutilated throat had stopped regenerating.

Her plan had worked.

“Ha…”

She let out a breathless laugh.

But there was no satisfaction in it.

Her body was still trembling uncontrollably.

She had barely survived.

‘I really almost died…’

Then—

A long-awaited notification sound rang.

Ding.

Ding. Ding.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

‘Six notifications?’

Startled, Eden lifted her head and checked the messages.

[★ Basic Quest Complete!]

You have exterminated 30 monsters in the western forest!
Choose your reward: [Prophecy Book] / [Item] / [Stat Boost]

[★ Event Quest Complete!]

You have successfully completed
<The Grand Duchy of Yuren’s Nuisance: Exterminate Seruka.>
You have earned a ‘Special Reward!’

Would you like to receive it now?

[★ Congratulations! You have reached Level 3!]

A new special skill has been unlocked.

[★ As a Level-Up Reward, you have acquired the special skill ‘Lesser Monster Eradication.’ You can now instantly eliminate all lesser-ranked monsters.]

[★ Congratulations! You have reached Level 4!]

A new special skill has been unlocked.

[★ As a Level-Up Reward, you have acquired the special skill ‘Basic Healing.’ You can now heal all external injuries.]

“Wow…”

Still half-stuck inside Seruka’s neck, Eden let out a genuine expression of awe.

Because she had killed it alone, she had jumped two entire levels.

She had completed the event quest and the basic quest all at once.

It was a satisfying reward.

But more than that—

She had done it herself.

The thrill coursing through her veins was unlike anything she had ever felt in any game before.

It was the exhilaration of the hunt.

Perhaps—she was suited for battle.

‘I should’ve just downloaded a combat game from the start.’

Eden smirked.

Then—

She froze.

Because Asmun was staring at her.

His sharp crimson gaze, brimming with pure rage, bore into her.

“…….”

Eden immediately averted her eyes.

Then she caught Zephar’s gaze.

Though not as terrifying as Asmun’s, his expression was uncomfortably intense.

She turned away again.

And found that everyone was staring at her.

The soldiers, stiff and silent, were looking at her with a mixture of shock and reverence.

At that moment, Eden fully realized—

She had done something insane.

“Priestess, please wait!”

The first to break the silence was Karon.

With a mighty swing of his sword, he forced Seruka’s corpse backward.

He and the knights quickly climbed onto the fallen body, reaching Eden and freeing her from the monster’s remains.

“Are you alright?”

Even as he asked, Karon’s face remained dumbfounded.

Eden wiped some of the slime off her face with her sleeve and grinned.

It made no difference.

Her clothes were already soaked in filth.

“Oops. Guess we failed to capture it alive.”

She joked.

But Karon did not laugh.

“Priestess…”

His tone was heavy.

Seeing his expression, Eden’s smile faded.

“My heart nearly stopped.”

Karon exhaled deeply.

“Never do that again.”

Eden, slightly sheepish, murmured:

“I’m sorry.”

Karon stared at her for a moment—

Then let out a wry laugh.

“My life is far less important than yours.”

He spoke lightly, but his words held weight.

Before Eden could respond,

Footsteps approached from behind.

The moment Asmun stopped in front of her, Eden stiffened.

“…….”

Gathering her courage, she looked up.

As expected—

His face was unreadable, yet terrifyingly blank.

Eden swallowed hard.

“…….”

Without a word, Asmun bent forward slightly.

His hand reached toward her.

Eden flinched in surprise.

But—

He simply retrieved his sword from her grasp.

Then, without saying a single word,

He turned and walked away.