Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 57

Eden scanned the cluttered icons moving about the map.

Karon was locked in battle with a high-grade beast somewhere far away, while Marens Madam had stopped moving at one spot. Most likely the magic had worn off and she had collapsed. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any nearby monsters.

Eden’s eyes darted across the map until they found where she and Asmun were marked.

As expected, their names were standing all alone in the most remote and rugged corner of the high-grade hunting ground. Seeing that, Eden finally felt a rush of relief.

With this, I can complete the quest!

“Your Highness!”

Excited all of a sudden, Eden lifted her head—and immediately froze when she found an absurdly handsome face up close, right in front of her. Eyes wide, she held her breath again.

Asmun stared at her, not even glancing at the map in her hands.

“Priest.”

His quiet voice slipped in far too close. Eden, frozen, could only stare at the surreal face in front of her.

His breath touched her skin—it was too close.

“You exist for me.”

It was a line that couldn’t have been more out of place under the circumstances. And yet, Eden found herself unable to refute it. She just stared at the man who was so adamantly claiming ownership over her.

Asmun didn’t seem angry, but his red eyes were sunk deeper than ever, casting a chill deep in her chest.

“And so…”

His unwavering eyes stared solely at her—clean, decisive, like someone who had finally resolved something.

“You’re not allowed to have any other thoughts.”

His steady gaze traced her face and then settled—unmoving—on her cracked, dry lips.

“I won’t tolerate any of it.”

With that gaze, her heart started to beat—slowly, deeply.

Eden understood exactly what Asmun’s words meant.

He needed her now. He had realized that she was essential to ascending the throne—that this world was rigged to guide him, and her, toward that destiny.

That was all this blind obsession was. It wasn’t affection or attachment, just ambition—raw and innate. To him, she was nothing more than a means to the throne.

And even knowing that…

 

Thump, thump.

 

Her heart pounded out of rhythm in her throat, and Eden panicked at herself. She must’ve lost her mind from everything that had happened.

How can I feel like this about a game character…?

No matter how she tried to deny it, the man in front of her now was undeniably real.

Her one salvation—her only hope.

With trembling eyes, Eden met Asmun’s, who was so close she could feel his breath.

What Asmun said was wrong. It was Asmun who existed for Eden.

For her to clear the game. To send her back to her original world.

Looking into the red eyes burning with unwavering determination, Eden slowly parted her parched lips.

“…Then Your Highness must promise to become Emperor.”

Despite the bold condition, Asmun’s expression didn’t change. He simply answered with eyes that were somehow more relaxed.

It was his destiny—his mission.

“I promise.”

“And that you’ll win this tournament.”

At that, Asmun’s brows twitched slightly. He must have realized it was likely too late for that now.

But Eden’s resolute gaze didn’t falter for a second.

“You must.”

****

Ivatan quietly looked up at the sky, now slowly flushing red. The sun would soon set, and with it, the hunting tournament would come to a close.

“……”

There were always incidents—big and small—at the Imperial Hunting Tournament. When the empire was embroiled in political tension, or when succession was uncertain, it became the perfect cover for assassinations and sabotage. Ivatan was fully aware of that.

“Hmph. That’s why I warned them how dangerous the high-grade hunting ground was…”

Which is why it wasn’t surprising that Kyris, now back safe and watching from the sidelines with amusement, had planned something. Even if Ivatan hadn’t overheard that conversation the night before, it wouldn’t have been hard to guess.

And yet he hadn’t stepped in to prevent it.

Because I have no intention of involving myself in the succession battle.

Kyris was clearly targeting Asmun, but Ivatan didn’t plan to support either of them.

If Asmun was to fall for one of Kyris’ tricks and lose his place as a contender, then that would simply mean he lacked the merit.

The Emperor seemed to think similarly. That was why he had allowed the three princes to engage in their silent war.

A ruler must know how to triumph in shadowed power plays. That’s the essential quality of an Emperor.

“If he’s not found before nightfall… what then? Maybe he was taken by a beast. The monsters this year are unusually savage.”

Kyris murmured, pretending to muse aloud—but Ivatan’s gaze sharpened.

He was overlooking something important. Kyris might be petty and cruel, but behind that crude exterior was a beastly instinct. Surprisingly perceptive.

What Kyris had targeted in this hunting tournament wasn’t Asmun.

It was Eden.

「-”Deploy soldiers immediately to search the forest.”」

 

Ivatan recalled the image of Zephar returning suddenly with a hardened face, demanding a search.

Upon hearing the situation, Ivatan had immediately deployed soldiers to begin the search, but even by sunset, Eden had not been found.

Nor had Asmun or Madam Marens.

“What do you mean, Asmun and Marens are missing!”

The Emperor, who had been staying at the detached palace and rushed over upon hearing the news, exploded with fury.

Asmun was his son, above all else, and Madam Marens had been his long-time friend. The Emperor’s face was deeply troubled.

“We’re in the middle of a search. I’ve increased the number of troops—we will find them,” Ivatan said, bowing his head to calm the Emperor.

Kyris, noticing the Emperor’s arrival, put on a worried act, even offering to go assist in the search himself.

Ivatan clenched his jaw. He was furious with himself for failing to realize sooner where Kyris’s scheming had been directed.

That strange devotion couldn’t have gone unnoticed by him alone.

Kyris must’ve instinctively understood that Eden wouldn’t be easily swayed. And if persuasion wouldn’t work, there was only one option.

Elimination.

But Eden was not someone who could die in such a meaningless way. That idiot First Prince didn’t understand even a quarter of Eden’s value.

Just then, Karon came riding fast on horseback and halted before Ivatan.

“Still nothing?”

He had joined the troops searching the mountains and returned empty-handed. At his serious tone, Ivatan simply gave a short nod.

“Yes.”

Karon’s face grew even more grave. The sky was now burning red like fire.

“Seems we need to go back in—”

Just as Karon turned his horse to head back—

“There! Over there! Someone’s coming!”

One of the soldiers shouted, and everyone gathered at the base of the mountain simultaneously turned to look in the same direction. Two large black silhouettes were rapidly approaching.

Ivatan held his breath, locking his gaze on the shadows.

Soon, the red hue of sunset revealed their true forms.

“Priest!”

Karon cried out, and Ivatan’s tightly coiled chest dropped in shock.

Even Kyris, disbelief etched on his face, stared as the two horses approached.

On one was Eden, and on the other, Asmun—along with the unconscious Madam Marens.

“Asmun! Marens!”

The Emperor, recognizing them, shot to his feet with a face full of relief.

The two horses galloped to a stop before the crowd.

“Bring Madam Marens,” Ivatan calmly ordered the soldiers.

The soldiers, who had been frozen in place, snapped into motion and carefully helped the madam down from the horse.

Ivatan watched as Eden nimbly dismounted.

Gone was the neat, pristine appearance from before their departure. She looked as though she had rolled through the wilderness, a complete mess. Yet her face showed no exhaustion—rather, it radiated confident triumph.

Asmun also dismounted after handing over Marens and led his horse to the Emperor, bowing in greeting.

“What happened? Why are you with Marens? And that young lady is…?”

The Emperor frowned as his eyes landed on Eden. Then his expression cleared as he remembered where he’d seen her before.

“Ah, not a lady. You’re Priest Eden, aren’t you?”

Ivatan’s gaze settled on the magic crystal pendant hanging from Eden’s neck. The crystal’s color had faded slightly.

The only time the hue of a magic crystal infused with protective enchantments changed… was when its wearer’s life had been in danger.

Eden bowed deeply in greeting, and Asmun smoothly gave the pre-prepared explanation.

“Yes. The priest’s horse had an issue and left her behind. I happened to find her. On our way back together, we discovered Madam Marens collapsed.”

“What? Marens? That’s absurd! And what happened to you, Asmun?”

While the Emperor spoke, Ivatan—who had been fixated on Eden—now noticed that Asmun’s condition wasn’t much better. His hunting attire was soaked in blood.

Yet despite that, he didn’t seem the least bit tired or injured.

“I got this way while hunting. It’s not my blood,” Asmun answered nonchalantly.

At that, Kyris’s face twisted with displeasure.

Asmun’s gaze shifted to Ivatan.

“The tournament hasn’t ended yet, has it?”