Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 80

This game was far more intricate and tightly woven than Eden had anticipated. Everything she’d figured out through previous playthroughs barely scratched the surface.

‘There wasn’t even a hint of dark mages before.’

From the Founding Festival, to the Hunting Tournament, the Reblum episode, and now the Solar Festival—it all seemed disconnected at first glance. But when examined closely, there was one clear common thread.

“Dark mages are involved in all of them.”

Maybe, to clear this game, she would eventually have to confront them—those dark mages who hid in the shadows of this world and subtly controlled its unfolding events.

Last time, they’d been able to win the people’s trust and the Emperor’s favor without issue. But this time, there was no way that would happen again.

As if responding to her resolve, a crisp system chime rang out.

Ding.

Eden lifted her head and checked the quest window. Her expression hardened momentarily—then settled into determination.

Just then, Herna came running to her.

“Eden! There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you!”

“What is it?”

“The Chancellor is here! He’s asking for you.”

At that, Eden’s eyes brightened. She stood up and nodded.

“Got it. Thanks, Herna!”

“No problem. He’s in the audience chamber. Go on, quickly.”

Sunlight glinted off Herna’s hairpin—reflecting from the one Eden had given her as a gift—as she smiled brightly.

Eden was about to head to the audience chamber when Herna seemed to remember something and grabbed her arm.

“Oh, right. Eden, do you want to switch temple office cleaning duty again?”

A month ago, she would’ve jumped at the offer. But Eden simply glanced back, briefly recalling Hegenti, then turned and met Herna’s gaze with a soft smile.

“No, that’s okay. Thanks for asking.”

Just as Herna had said, Ivatan was waiting in the audience chamber. His expression was far from pleasant.

Understandable. Ivatan’s expectations had completely missed the mark, and Asmun had successfully uncovered Reblum’s key point of reform.

Eden calmly took a seat across from him. After all, she was the one who had summoned the Chancellor to the temple.

“What is it that you want?”

Ivatan, dutifully answering her summons, skipped any greetings and got straight to the point. Eden already knew exactly what he meant.

“I won, Chancellor.”

She aimed straight for the sore spot with a sly smile, clearly knowing how to get under his skin. Ivatan’s face stiffened.

But soon, he regained his composure and spoke again.

“Yes, you’ve won, Priest. My congratulations.”

His face showed anything but congratulation.

Though she’d expected he wouldn’t be pleased, solving the Reblum case had benefits for Ivatan as well. Eden was starting to feel a little hurt that he still showed no warmth toward Asmun, despite all her efforts.

“You still don’t think His Highness Asmun is fit to be Emperor?”

At her question, Ivatan stared at Eden for a moment—his gaze an unspoken affirmation.

“Why not?”

“Does my opinion even matter at this point?”

“It matters to me.”

Of course it did. Ivatan was still one of the capture targets, and Eden hadn’t given up on him.

He was young, capable, and essential—not just to the Empire after Asmun’s ascension, but to her own plans as well.

“I want to know why you still can’t trust His Highness Asmun.”

After a long silence, Ivatan finally parted his lips, his voice low and serious.

“…Because the Priest continues to put herself in danger.”

Eden’s expression stiffened slightly. She already knew Ivatan was annoyed that she kept getting dragged into risky situations, especially those tied to the monster compendium quest.

But there was something different this time in the way he turned his gaze away after saying it, as though uneasy about expressing genuine concern.

“I can’t help but feel that without you, none of those accomplishments would’ve been possible.”

“……”

“I heard you stayed in Reblum the whole time. Even that you personally rescued the kidnapped children.”

Hearing this had only deepened Ivatan’s disapproval of Asmun. Once again, Eden had risked herself for Asmun’s sake.

Of course, he acknowledged Asmun’s decisiveness, his judgment, and his swift political actions in dismantling the criminal network.

Those abilities had come as a surprise even to Ivatan. But that was all. The fear that Asmun would be uncontrollable once he became Emperor remained strong—in fact, it was only growing stronger.

“But if.”

His words carried weight, and Eden instinctively held her breath.

If?

“If His Highness the Third Prince manages to prove himself without your help—then I’ll reconsider.”

Saying that, Ivatan looked at Eden with composed and measured eyes.

“If there’s anything you want, tell me. I’ll honor my word.”

It was clear he already knew exactly what kind of request she would make. Naturally, Eden’s wish once again concerned Asmun.

‘Ugh, this irritating guy.’

Even in victory, Eden felt like she’d lost as she finally spoke.

“Very well. Then here’s my request: I want the plaza secured for the Solar Festival.”

Ivatan’s eyebrow twitched at her words. Using her wish on the Solar Festival—it was clear this was, once again, for Asmun’s political benefit.

So much for her supposedly letting the Third Prince prove himself “without Eden’s help.” Still, her request to control the plaza was a strange one.

“The plaza? But the plaza is the centerpiece of the Solar Festival.”

“Yes, it’s where the most people gather.”

As Ivatan said, the plaza was the festival’s climax—the ending point of the procession and the place where the highest number of people congregated. It was also where the blessings of the High Priest and the attending priests were bestowed.

“There must not be a large crowd in the plaza that day. Please limit the gathering as much as possible. That is my wish.”

Ivatan’s face hardened, then shifted to one of unease—her words clearly implying she planned to do something again.

“…What exactly are you planning?”

“I’m afraid I can’t share that. Not until I’m sure you’re on our side, Chancellor.”

Her composed voice made a vein twitch on Ivatan’s forehead. Eden was equating herself and Asmun far too much.

So he wasn’t “on Eden’s side,” was he?

Perhaps that was technically true—but what about everything they’d worked on together until now?

Ivatan’s voice turned glacial.

“You’re asking me to help without knowing what I’m aiding?”

“You made a promise, didn’t you? Or is the Chancellor of Hesmore in the habit of breaking promises?”

Her jab made a flush of anger rise visibly in Ivatan’s face. Eden clicked her tongue inwardly with amusement.

“Very well. But you should know something.”

Ivatan regained his composure and looked at her evenly.

“This Solar Festival…”

“You’re going to say it might be canceled, aren’t you?”

Ivatan’s expression froze.

“How did you know?”

Eden simply smiled, recalling the quest notification she’d received earlier.

[【!】Main Quest

The Solar Festival, the Empire’s grandest celebration and a symbolic flower of Hesmore, is in danger of being canceled.
Raise your divine power to acquire the skill ‘Flower of Hamyun,’ necessary for the festival to proceed! ]

The flower of the festival was the priests’ blessing ceremony held in the plaza. The High Priest and six other priests would use divine energy to bloom sacred flowers that blanketed the square.

That was the so-called Flower of Hamyun, a divine event symbolizing Hamyun’s blessing that could not be omitted from the festival.

‘I’ve seen it before in Kyris’s route—it was even featured in one of the main illustrations. It was gorgeous.’

Of course, this wasn’t a power granted to just anyone. Only seven priests per year were selected to bloom the Flower of Hamyun, and their abilities were revealed up to one month before the festival.

‘So if I got this quest, it means… one of the seven is missing.’

If even one priest was missing, the flower wouldn’t bloom. And if the final priest didn’t appear before the festival, it would be canceled.

The real problem was what would follow—if the festival was canceled, it would be seen as a sign of Hamyun’s wrath, throwing the entire empire into chaos.

“If the Solar Festival proceeds as planned, please don’t forget to fulfill my request.”

Ivatan looked at her, seemingly at a loss for words.

Eden checked the time. It was almost time to study the scriptures.

“Then I’ll be going. Thank you for coming all the way here.”

She gave a polite bow and turned to leave—but then paused and looked back at him. Ivatan, still visibly shaken, noticed and turned to meet her gaze. She smiled, this time free of any teasing.

“Chancellor.”

At her gentle tone, Ivatan quietly clenched his hands on the table.

“Do you remember what I said the day before the hunting tournament?”

The unexpected question made his brows tighten slightly.

“I said I’d return alive and help fulfill your mission.”

His eyes wavered slightly as the memory resurfaced.

“That promise still stands. So in truth, you and I are on the same side.”

“……”

“If… you’re willing to accept that.”

With those words, Eden gave him a brief, respectful nod and turned to leave.