Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 52

“Secret of the Hunting Grounds?”

The hunting competition hadn’t even started yet.

But before Eden could spend another second pondering the quest’s title, something remarkable happened at her feet. From where she stood, a yellow arrow stretched forward in a long line, extending all the way out through the door.

“Wow…”

Moments like this always reminded Eden that she was still inside a game. That arrow could only mean one thing—Ivatan was at the end of it.

“At least I won’t get lost.”

Thinking positively, Eden cautiously stepped out into the hallway.

There were torches mounted here and there, but they were nowhere near sufficient. The corridor was drenched in gloom, save for the clear, glowing path drawn by the yellow arrow. Eden followed it carefully, step by step.

In the early hours of dawn, the detached palace was deathly silent. It was the sort of eerie stillness where the word ghost didn’t feel quite right—specter felt more fitting. A chill ran up Eden’s arms.

Occasionally, she passed dozing guards nodding off at their posts, but the clever path of light snaked around them expertly, guiding Eden forward.

She walked for about 30 minutes—just long enough for the novelty to wear off—when suddenly, the arrow ended.

“What? Don’t tell me it stops here?”

She froze, caught off guard, when suddenly a pale hand emerged from the darkness and grabbed her shoulder.

“……!”

Startled beyond speech, Eden collapsed in place. The person who had touched her swiftly caught her arm.

Looking up, she finally saw the face she’d been searching for.

“What are you doing here?”

The man holding her arm, his expression incredulous, was none other than Ivatan.

“…Chancellor.”

Relief and mild joy bubbled up inside her, and she nearly teared up.

Steadying herself, Eden glanced at him. Unlike his usual meticulously formal appearance, Ivatan was dressed simply tonight—an unkempt look that was entirely new to her.

If this were a real game, this version of him would surely be a rare collectible illustration.

“You shouldn’t be here. This isn’t the way to your room.”

Although, that stern expression of his could really use a little softening.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Eden offered a simple excuse with an awkward smile—but Ivatan didn’t return it. Like Asmun, he clearly disapproved of her participation in the tournament as Zephar’s aide.

“I must ask—why are you participating in the hunting competition?”

As expected, the interrogation began immediately.

“I’ve wanted to try it ever since I was a child.”

She threw out a casual answer, and Ivatan’s expression hardened further.

It was obvious he didn’t believe her. Still, she had no intention of telling him the truth.

She’d come to see Ivatan knowing full well he’d interrogate her. The only reason she’d accepted this event quest was to clear it.

“Then why are you out here, Chancellor? Couldn’t sleep either?”

If he answered yes, she’d slyly suggest they go for a walk together—but she’d forgotten something important.

Ivatan was a character who had never once done what Eden wanted him to do.

“I have no obligation to report to you. It’s dangerous. Return to your room. I’ll escort you part of the way.”

That curt reply stirred Eden’s defiance.

“Well, I’m not obligated to follow your orders either. I couldn’t sleep, so I think I’ll go for a little walk. Good night.”

Eden replied with a bright smile. She could practically see a vein twitch on Ivatan’s forehead. But this was an event quest—there was nothing to lose, even if she failed.

She turned away and began walking. Then, slowly, she counted to herself.

One… two… three.

She could feel his gaze behind her, and soon, the sound of irritated footsteps followed.

There it is!

Triumph bloomed in her chest, but she didn’t glance back. She played it cool.

Right now, the one who would lose the most if something happened to her was Asmun—and after him, Ivatan.

So Eden knew: Ivatan, just like Asmun, was acutely sensitive when it came to her safety.

“Where exactly do you plan to go?”

As expected, his voice came, tinged with barely restrained irritation.

“Not sure.”

“You don’t even know the way.”

“That’s why I’m just going to follow my feet.”

Still toying with words, Eden continued walking. Ivatan followed, clearly unwilling, but the quest window still hadn’t updated.

So just walking together isn’t enough?

Eden reconsidered the quest details.

“A Secret Night Stroll,” “Secret of the Hunting Grounds.”

Those two phrases must be the key.

“Are you participating in the tournament, Chancellor?”

Finally turning to look at him, Eden asked the question. Ivatan replied curtly.

“I’m not.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Unfortunately, I’m in charge of overseeing the entire event.”

Eden stole a glance at him.

Chancellor, monster subjugation commander, and now the one running the entire hunting competition. She found herself wondering what Ivatan’s daily schedule looked like, then abruptly asked:

“Why are you so devoted to the monster subjugation efforts?”

It was a light question—but Ivatan stopped dead in his tracks.

Eden also stopped, turning to face him—only to see him staring straight at her.

His expression was unexpectedly serious.

Eden was caught off guard—but she couldn’t deny she was genuinely curious about Ivatan’s answer.

He wasn’t driven by religious faith like Karon, nor did he possess the kind of saintly compassion for the suffering commoners that some others in the Empire did.

So why was he so devoted?

Soon, a quiet yet weighty response came.

“Because it’s my duty.”

A predictable answer. As if he were merely following a programmed setting.

But watching him speak of that “duty” with such graceful conviction, Eden felt strangely unsettled.

If he ever found out that this noble “duty” of his was nothing more than a pre-coded directive… what kind of face would this logical man make?

“…I see.”

Still, that wasn’t something she wanted to know. Because that face would undoubtedly be far too human.

This was just right—the distance between herself and this world.

Eden tried not to get too emotionally attached to this place.

As the air between them grew stiff, Eden quickly turned her head and resumed walking. At that point, even if she failed the quest, she just wanted to return to her room.

But just as she turned a corner, eager to go back, Ivatan grabbed her arm and yanked her back so firmly she couldn’t take another step.

“What are you—”

Shh.

Ivatan silenced her with a warning look. Understanding the gesture, Eden held her breath.

From around the corner where she had been about to step, she heard low voices drawing near.

“Is everything prepared?”

“Yes, just as I reported earlier.”

Eden’s eyes widened.

She recognized one of the men’s voices—it was Kyris.

Pressed flush against the wall, Eden and Ivatan listened in as the two men continued their hushed exchange.

“Make sure there are no mistakes. Especially—no witnesses. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Arrogant bastard. He’s gotten too full of himself, strutting around like he owns the sky.”

Both Eden and Ivatan knew exactly who Kyris meant by “that arrogant bastard.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore whether or not he’s aiming for the Crown Prince’s seat. We’ve decided—it’s better to just kill the rat who dares to climb out of the gutter.”

Eden turned sharply to look at Ivatan, eyes wide in horror—but he didn’t look surprised at all. In fact, he gazed at her with a ‘See?’ expression, as if disappointed she hadn’t figured it out sooner.

He clearly thought Asmun was a fool for losing control and escalating things to this point.

Eden hated that assumption, but she had nothing to say to refute it.

“The mind control—are you sure it’ll work?”

“Of course. Once the spell is cast, they lose all reason. Their physical abilities increase fivefold and they won’t let the target escape.”

The second man’s eerie voice echoed quietly through the corridor.

Eden clenched her fists.

So it was true—Kyris was planning to enchant Marquis Ogden and set him on Asmun.

It was the worst of all the potential scenarios she’d considered.

“It won’t wear off on its own?”

“No, it’s an advanced control spell. That won’t happen.”

“Good. I’m counting on you.”

Their conversation ended, and the two men began walking again—thankfully, in the opposite direction from where Eden and Ivatan were hiding.

Only once their footsteps had completely faded into the distance did Eden exhale the breath she’d been holding.

“You heard that, right?”

She turned urgently to Ivatan—but his expression remained frustratingly indifferent. For someone who’d just overheard such a filthy, vile conspiracy, he looked far too calm.

“I did.”

Even his reply was lazy. Eden frowned.

“Something’s going to happen during the competition. We have to stop it!”

“And how do you propose we do that?”

Ivatan crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, watching her.

“W-what do you mean ‘how’? We investigate what we just heard!”

“What I heard just now was that there’s a spell that causes someone to lose their reason, and that it also amplifies physical strength—nothing more.”

“Exactly!”

“There was no mention of who the spell would be cast on, nor who the target would be.”

What?

His rational, ice-cold tone left Eden momentarily speechless.

“The hunting competition starts tomorrow. Based on that conversation alone, if you go and accuse the First Prince of a plot—and it turns out he’s the one being enchanted, and the enchantment just happens to enhance hunting ability slightly—will you take responsibility for that fallout?”