Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 79

“……”

As soon as Asmun was mentioned, Hegenti’s eyes turned cold in an instant. It was almost certain that the game’s developers had deliberately designed the characters to dislike each other for the player’s misery.

“Alright, forget that for now. You also need to help subjugate the monsters.”

Yet even the topic of monster subjugation didn’t stir Hegenti’s interest—his expression remained completely indifferent.

Darn it. Eden racked her brain for something that might motivate Hegenti, then opened her mouth again as an idea struck.

“And lastly, I’ll cure your illness.”

As expected, that made Hegenti’s eyes change.

“You remember what I promised, right? That I’d make you better. But to do that, I have to take care of all of this first. That’s how I’ll get the power to heal you.”

Speaking gently, almost coaxingly, Eden met his gaze.

“We can’t rely on medicine forever. You know that, right?”

Eden slowly reached out and wrapped her hand around Hegenti’s.

“No matter what, I’ll cure you. I will.”

Hegenti was about to open his mouth in response to Eden’s dangerous promise when—

Bang, bang!

A sharp knocking rattled the door as if someone meant to break it down. The identity of the intruder was soon revealed.

“Priest.”

A voice laced with heavy displeasure—it was Asmun.

Startled, Eden dropped Hegenti’s hand and quickly stood up. Hegenti’s eyes sharpened.

“Your Highness.”

When Eden opened the door, she found Asmun standing there with a glare just as sharp as Hegenti’s.

“I will grant your request.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll arrange a place for that man inside the castle.”

Asmun’s cold gaze flicked to Hegenti. In turn, Hegenti rose to his feet and walked toward Eden, staring back in open defiance.

“Really?”

“Yes. So you, Priest, don’t need to worry any longer. You should return to the temple.”

“If you would do that for me, then I…”

Relieved, Eden was just about to smile when Hegenti abruptly inserted himself into the conversation.

“If I get completely cured, that’s all that matters, right?”

Both Eden and Asmun turned their eyes to Hegenti at once. Hegenti didn’t even acknowledge Asmun’s presence, focusing solely on Eden.

“Huh…?”

“I’ll find a way.”

Asmun glared at Hegenti, clearly irritated by the cryptic conversation between the two. Eden, flustered, could only gape at Hegenti.

“Then after that… you’ll stay with me, Eden.”

At the sound of Hegenti calling Eden by name, Asmun’s eyes turned visibly glacial.

Eden was still stammering when Hegenti suddenly embraced her. No—it was more like he clung to her.

“Ah…”

The shocking move made the air in the room turn icy. Like a large beast curling up against its master, Hegenti enveloped Eden in a hug and whispered close to her ear.

“I’ll be back.”

With that parting line, Hegenti vanished before anyone could stop him.

What remained in the room was a terrifyingly cold silence.

“……”

“……”

Asmun soon let out a short, disbelieving laugh—one so cold it made the hair on Eden’s neck stand up.

Slowly, he turned his gaze back to Eden.

“…Did you perhaps make a promise to be with that man afterward?”

His tone was calm, but his eyes were not. In those crimson irises simmered a dangerous heat—boiling, murderous intent.

If Eden gave the wrong answer here, she felt like the game might end right then and there. Frozen with tension, she couldn’t say a word as Asmun took a single step closer.

“Priest.”

Then, in a voice that had suddenly turned calm again, he whispered low.

“I know very well… how skillfully you handle those who are useful to you.”

“……”

“I’m aware.”

Asmun’s eyes, though steady, were still simmering at a low temperature—like something tightly held back.

He extended a hand toward Eden’s shoulder, the one Hegenti had just touched.

Startled, Eden flinched, but Asmun didn’t even blink. Calmly, he picked a single strand of pink hair from her shoulder.

“So I’ll overlook things… up to this point.”

Eden swallowed hard, watching the strand of pink hair in Asmun’s hand. And then, in a flash—flames erupted from his palm and consumed it.

Gasp…!

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to keep that promise to him.”

“……”

“You did promise, didn’t you? That you’d stay by my side… even after I become Emperor.”

Saying that, Asmun gave her a smile that looked truly regretful.

Eden, before she could stop herself, gave a nod.

“Yes… of course.”

Satisfied by her response, Asmun let the ashes fall without hesitation and then looked at Eden with the same calm gaze he always wore.

“I’ll finish tying things up in Reblum. You should return to the temple.”

In any case, there was nothing more Eden could do in Reblum, and she needed to prepare for the next episode back at the temple. So being able to return early was a relief.

However…

‘There was never any mention of an affection system… definitely not.’

Even after returning to the temple, Eden couldn’t rest. She was plunged deep into agonized contemplation. An affection system? She’d never encountered such a feature in previous playthroughs or in any of the game reviews.

Was this another mechanic only unlocked by hidden characters?

‘Victim of a fraudulent contract? What’s that even supposed to mean?’

Moreover, Hegenti’s newly revealed trait—victim of a fraudulent contract—was a phrase far too cryptic. But it was likely a hint regarding his illness.

‘So… he ended up like that because of some fraudulent deal? With whom?’

She wanted to summon Hegenti right away and ask him, but then remembered—Hegenti had lost his memories.

“Damn it.”

Eden cursed under her breath and pressed her temples, trying to soothe her throbbing head. The more she cleared the game, the deeper she seemed to sink into its mire.

Despite the chaos, one thing was now unmistakably clear—both Asmun and Hegenti were displaying a special attachment toward her.

‘What am I supposed to call this…?’

Remembering Asmun’s obsessive gaze that said she couldn’t go anywhere, and the way Hegenti had embraced her, Eden felt her face flush.

Anyone with half a brain could tell that “attachment” wasn’t entirely devoid of romantic undertones.

The faces of Karon, Zephar, and Ivatan briefly flashed through Eden’s mind, and her expression twisted in awkward realization.

“…Don’t tell me this system applies to all the characters?”

If it were just Asmun, she could dismiss it. But since it had been confirmed to affect Hegenti as well, it was highly likely the other strategy characters were subject to it too.

“Haa…”

If she’d possessed a character in a dating sim, she would’ve been mentally prepared to enjoy it properly. But… was that even allowed in a game like this? Or was she supposed to use even those emotions as part of her strategy?

『I know very well… how skillfully you handle those who are useful to you.』

Recalling Asmun’s pointed remark, her ears began to feel hot for some reason.

『So I’ll overlook things… up to that point.』

The obsession of a man who could easily become a tyrant.

And then—

『I’ll find a way. Then afterward… you’ll stay with me, Eden.』

—The attachment of a man set to bring about the empire’s downfall in a berserk rampage.

“This is… seriously dangerous, isn’t it…”

Only then did the gravity of her situation start to dawn on her, and cold sweat formed on the back of Eden’s neck.

If one of them exploded…

“Ugh, no thanks.”

The more she thought about it, the more her head felt like it might burst. Eden squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head to clear away the intrusive thoughts.

“Later. I’ll think about it later. Right now, the Solar Festival comes first.”

She took a deep breath with her eyes closed, and once she’d calmed herself, she opened them again. The Solar Festival would begin soon.

****

The Solar Festival.

A celebration to commemorate the day Saint Haila defeated the Demon King—Hesmore’s grandest and most sacred festival. It was a pivotal event that had solidified the people’s faith in Hamyun.

And this day was what Eden had been waiting and longing for all along.

The Solar Festival had to be the perfect day for Asmun, and for that, it needed to be meticulously built up.

Eden recited to herself the contents of the prophecy scroll she had obtained as a reward for clearing the quest involving the Tumajang list.

『First Prince Kyris Declend’s funds have been cut off due to the Reblum incident, and his reputation has taken a blow. Cornered, Kyris Declend is planning to use the Solar Festival as a springboard to strike back. Kyris Declend’s plan is…』

‘Just as I expected.’

Seeing her prediction confirmed brought a mix of irritation and satisfaction.

When playing as Kyris, none of these underhanded schemes had come to light. There had been no mention of him being involved with dark mages—only that he received assistance from magicians.

‘Same during the Solar Festival episode.’

Back then, Kyris had discovered the Tebel of Reblum, and was granted the Sword of Hesmore.

Then, during the festival, he had suddenly appeared to vanquish the monsters with that sword, earning the people’s admiration and fame. But now Eden couldn’t help but suspect that even that sequence had a filthy, conniving backstory.

“So the sudden monster appearance during the Solar Festival was Kyris’s doing all along…”

Hah. The mixed sensation of being backstabbed and the thrill of uncovering it in advance surged through her at once.

“You conniving little snake.”