Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 40

Asmun was the first to bow before the emperor, his movements precise and fluid.
Karon followed, his voice strong and unwavering.
“Karon Sitriel greets Your Majesty.”
That left Eden.
Feeling the weight of every gaze in the room, she quickly stepped forward and lowered her head.
“Eden Lilliette greets Your Majesty.”
Finally, the emperor spoke.
“So, you are the priestess who can read monster information?”
His voice carried effortlessly through the grand chamber.
She could feel the sharp scrutiny bearing down on her.
Slowly, Eden lifted her head and met his gaze.
The sheer presence of the emperor was overwhelming—his eyes alone carried enough weight to make her chest tighten.
Still, she did not waver.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The moment she confirmed it, murmurs rippled through the gathered officials.
Eden could tell—despite already having heard the rumors, many of them still hadn’t truly believed it.
And now, faced with the truth, they were struggling to reconcile it.
‘Things are about to get troublesome.’
Her name would soon spread even further.
If she was going to be dragged into the political landscape, she might as well use it to Asmun’s advantage.
The emperor’s gaze flickered toward Karon.
“Is this true, Karon?”
Karon, ever composed, nodded without hesitation.
“It is, Your Majesty.”
With Karon’s confirmation, the emperor’s expression shifted slightly.
“I have already received word. A strange monster appeared in the Grand Duchy’s forest. Explain what happened.”
“You must have heard of the monster terrorizing the western border,” Karon began.
The emperor nodded. “Indeed. But I do not recall hearing that it was a dragon-type beast.”
“It wasn’t,” Karon clarified. “The creature Priestess Eden defeated was not the one from the rumors. It had only appeared ten days ago—news of its existence had not yet reached the capital.”
The emperor’s gaze sharpened. “And you claim the priestess was the one to defeat it?”
Eden knew this was her cue.
Karon glanced at her, offering a small nod of encouragement.
Taking a quiet breath, Eden stepped forward.
“Yes, Your Majesty. As you have heard, I possess a rather unusual ability. When I see a monster, I can immediately discern its information.”
Gasps arose from several of the gathered officials. Even the emperor’s usually impassive face showed a flicker of intrigue.
“The monster we encountered was called ‘Seruka.’”
“Seruka…” The emperor turned his gaze to Ivatan. “Do you know of this creature, Chancellor?”
Ivatan, who had been intently observing Eden, quickly straightened and bowed.
“I have not heard of such a monster before, Your Majesty.”
“The chancellor himself is unaware of it,” the emperor mused.
It was clear from his expression that this revelation only made him more impressed.
“Continue.”
Eden nodded.
“The monster troubling the western border is called ‘Chupi.’ The reason they were abducting humans—despite not being predators—was because they were offering them as sacrifices to Seruka.”
Shocked gasps echoed throughout the chamber. Even Ivatan’s brows furrowed in concern.
“Seruka preys on humans,” Eden continued, “but it cannot be killed with conventional weapons.”
The emperor’s gaze darkened. “Why?”
“If Seruka is wounded, it regenerates. If its neck is severed, it grows two more heads in its place.”
The silence that followed was heavy.
Eden recited the information effortlessly, having already reviewed it thoroughly before arriving.
Her words had everyone in the room stunned.
From the corner of her eye, she caught Kyris, who had been observing quietly, clenching his fist. His sharp gaze flickered to Asmun.
As for Asmun himself—
He simply watched Eden.
Not surprised. Not impressed. Just watching.
The emperor’s voice cut through the silence.
“Then how was it slain?”
“This may sound strange.”
“Speak freely.”
“The only way to kill Seruka is to attack it from the inside.”
Ivatan’s expression finally cracked as realization dawned.
He looked at Eden’s tattered state, piecing it together instantly.
“You entered its body,” he murmured.
Eden merely smiled, though it felt strained.
The emperor frowned. “How is that possible?”
Karon spoke up. “The priestess climbed into the monster’s mouth herself.”
The murmurs that followed were no longer quiet.
Ivatan let out an incredulous sigh.
“…That is madness.”
Karon’s voice remained even. “And yet, it was the only way.”
The emperor turned his full attention to Eden, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief.
Before he could speak, Eden quickly added,
“In truth, His Highness, the third prince, had intended to do it himself.”
The reaction was immediate.
Karon’s jaw tensed.
Ivatan’s face went rigid.
Kyris’s sharp glare snapped toward Asmun.
And Asmun—
For the first time since arriving, his gaze visibly hardened.
“…Asmun?”
“Yes. Upon hearing my explanation, His Highness intended to deal with Seruka himself. He refused to let anyone else take the risk.”
Eden spoke with confidence, fabricating the truth without hesitation.
She could feel Asmun’s gaze turn cold.
“But as the third prince of the empire, he is far too valuable to risk. I could not simply stand by and let him throw his life away. So, I acted first.”
Murmurs spread through the hall as Eden delivered her well-crafted lie.
“The only reason I was able to slay Seruka was because I wielded the third prince’s sword. I took the blade from his hand to do it.”
The emperor, looking both surprised and somewhat pleased, turned to Asmun.
“I have long recognized the third prince’s devotion to the empire. It seems that dedication has only deepened.”
Though Asmun bowed slightly in acknowledgment, his face remained rigid, his expression unreadable.
Karon’s brows furrowed slightly as he considered whether Asmun and Eden had even had time for such a conversation.
Ivatan, however, had caught on much quicker. His sharp eyes lingered on Eden, clearly seeing through her deception.
Meanwhile, Kyris clenched his jaw so tightly his entire body seemed to tremble with restrained fury.
The emperor, seemingly satisfied, addressed the room.
“If not for Priestess Eden, this could have ended in disaster. A priestess who can see a monster’s information… has anyone ever heard of such a thing?”
A voice spoke up.
“Your Majesty, there are theories that the author of the Monster Codex possessed a similar ability.”
“But that was over two hundred years ago,” Ivatan cut in smoothly. “And even now, the identity of the codex’s author remains unknown.”
The man who had spoken quickly lowered his hand, looking embarrassed.
“Yes… that would explain how the codex was compiled.”
The emperor fell into thought.
The Monster Codex did exist, but after the Demon King’s sealing, it had been scattered across the continent. The imperial palace only possessed fragments of it, not even half of the full work.
Lately, with monsters appearing even at the founding festival, it was clear that some force was behind their growing aggression.
If a new codex could be compiled, it would be invaluable.
“Your Majesty,” Karon interjected, “I regret to inform you that we were unable to retrieve Seruka’s corpse.”
The emperor looked confused.
“But Grand Duke Yuren was supposed to send it.”
At those words, Karon and Eden exchanged glances.
Asmun, however, remained unmoved, as if he had anticipated this exact scenario.
“Well,” the emperor mused, “since we now have all the necessary information, there is no need to study the body further.”
His gaze fell back on Eden, his expression turning to satisfaction.
Karon, having just realized how Zephar had played them, let out a soft, bitter chuckle—a reaction only Eden noticed.
“I will grant great rewards to this hunting party,” the emperor declared. “And Priestess, if you have any special requests, speak freely.”
Every gaze turned to Eden once again.
She hesitated, feeling the weight of their attention, before cautiously speaking.
“I don’t have any special requests… but may I be excused to take a bath? As you can see, I am not exactly presentable.”
She smiled tiredly.
The entire room went silent.
Then the emperor let out a booming laugh.
“Of course.”
With that, the meeting was dismissed.
Karon left with Ivatan, while Asmun and Eden exited the chamber together.
As they walked through the long palace corridors, Asmun spoke—his voice low, edged with quiet amusement.
“You’re quite the liar.”
Eden scowled at his mocking tone.
He was referring to how she had dragged his name into her story.
And yet, who had benefited from that lie the most?
Eden shot back sharply, “Well, I can do even worse if it means making you emperor.”
Asmun suddenly stilled.
She had overstepped.
Before she could backtrack, he abruptly turned, blocking her path.
Startled, Eden glanced around. Thankfully, no one was nearby.
When she looked back at him, she found herself trapped beneath his piercing gaze.
“Understand this well,” he murmured.
“If I had known beforehand—”
His voice was so low, so measured, that it made her breath hitch.
“I would have thrown every single person in that chamber into a monster’s maw before I ever let you go inside.”
His words sent a chill down her spine.
For a long moment, he simply stared at her.
Then, as if he had nothing more to say, Asmun turned and walked away.
Eden stood frozen, watching his retreating figure.
Then, she let out a deep sigh.
More than anything… she just wanted a bath.