Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 81

Though she had spoken confidently, Eden was now staring into a fog of uncertainty.

‘Raise divine power, huh.’

It had a different context this time, but this was a quest she’d encountered early on as well.

‘Back then, I raised my divine power by studying the scriptures.’

But now, simple actions like that wouldn’t cut it. So, then—how was she supposed to raise her divine power?

“We could go on pilgrimage!” (pilgrimage : religious journey)

Her fellow priest, Bedetton, said brightly.

“There’ve been lots of priests who went on a pilgrimage, found enlightenment, and returned with stronger divine power.”

But a pilgrimage would take at least a month—time Eden didn’t have.

“More than anything, it’s about learning. If you conquer all the sacred texts in the library, your divine power goes through the roof. Even the High Priest read every scripture in there!”

Herna’s point was fair. Eden herself had raised divine power that way before. That is, aside from the fact that the library’s collection contained several thousand volumes.

“Hey, I heard this rumor—if you sneak into the old chapel at midnight and pray in secret, your divine power goes up.”

Rita’s words made Eden’s ears perk up.

“The old chapel? Isn’t that place sealed off?”

Rita nodded.

“Exactly. That’s why it’s a rumor.”

Eden frowned.

‘A ghost story, maybe?’

But strangely, it was that most ridiculous tip that thrilled her the most.

‘The sealed chapel at midnight…’

Zing—her heart jolted. That name was just too perfect, too mysterious and eerie. It had to be a hidden spot with something secreted away!

Eden shoved her share of cookies toward Rita.

“Rita, the greatest stroke of luck I’ve had since coming to this temple is being your roommate.”

Startled by the sudden confession, Rita blinked, then pushed some of her own cookies Eden’s way.

“Same here.”

Interpreting Eden’s passion for the quest as a pure hunger for divine growth, Rita lit a lantern for her at midnight and saw her out of the dormitory with quiet cheers.

“Good luck! I’ll leave the door open for you!”

Waving back at Rita, who was whispering as if it were a spy mission, Eden made her way to the sealed wing.

The sealed wing, located behind the large northern rear garden, was the very first structure built when the temple was founded.

As the temple expanded and a grand new chapel was built, it had naturally fallen out of use. With no more visitors, it was sealed off and left as a symbolic relic.

‘It’s definitely creepy at night.’

Finally reaching the front of the sealed chapel, Eden swallowed dryly and looked up at the building.

Even by day, the place had a heavy, deserted air. By night, it felt like a world apart from the grand and majestic main sanctum.

“Well, it is beautiful though…”

Despite the atmosphere, Eden couldn’t help admiring the view. The chapel looked like something straight out of the medieval era—small, ornate, and hauntingly picturesque.

A ghost showing up wouldn’t even be a surprise.

“I wish a ghost would show up and boost my divine power.”

Murmuring under her breath, Eden lifted her lantern high and pushed against the large doors.

Clunk.

As expected, the door was locked. But that was within expectations.

“Let’s see…”

She examined the rusted lock, long neglected. Just as she was about to try picking it—

Ding!

『The door is locked! To open it, answer the following question.』

“Huh?”

Eden blinked at the system window in disbelief—then broke into a wide grin.

A prompt window! That meant this chapel was a secret spot!

Eyes gleaming with excitement, Eden read the question aloud.

『How many types of Oath Potions were created by the mages of the Tower?』

Eden’s eyes sparkled brighter. She knew the answer—because she’d personally consumed one of those potions!

She combed through her memory for the passage she’d read in the library:

Potions crafted by the mages of the Tower to bind unbreakable, unforgettable vows. The known types are:
– Oath of Promise
– Oath of Love
– Oath of Loyalty
– Oath of Destiny

Recalling it clearly, Eden grinned.

She never imagined she’d be grateful that Asmun had made her drink one of those potions.

“Four kinds!”

She declared her answer boldly, eyes gleaming in anticipation of the door swinging open. But then—

『Incorrect. Two attempts remaining.』

“What?”

The system message wiped the smile from her face in an instant.

“No way. It was four!”

『Incorrect. One attempt remaining.』

“You’ve got to be kidding! That one didn’t count, I was just talking to myself!”

Clutching her head in frustration, Eden groaned. This was an unexpected roadblock.

‘Not four? Damn it!’

She had only one attempt left.

‘Okay, four are confirmed. So it’s four plus something. Four plus n.’

Her throat burned with tension. Biting her lip, Eden panicked briefly, then shut her eyes tight and took a guess.

“F-Five!”

Then, after a second of silence—ding! A clear system chime rang out. Eden cautiously cracked one eye open and checked the notification window, heart pounding.

『Correct answer! The door will now open.』

Clunk.

A heavy sound echoed as the lock disengaged, and Eden stood there in a daze even after getting it right.

“That… was the answer?”

It was five? Then what was the fifth one? Why hadn’t it been listed in the book?

Still reeling, Eden quickly pulled herself together—this wasn’t the time to stand around dazed.

She pushed against the heavy door, and it opened surprisingly easily. As she stepped inside, the cold dawn air that had wrapped around her vanished, replaced by a solemn and hollow stillness.

“Ugh…”

It was clear no one had entered this chapel in a very long time. Dust and cobwebs draped every surface as if they belonged there.

Eden made her way to the center where the statue of Hamyun stood and looked up at it.

Bathed in moonlight filtering through the old stained glass, the holy statue of Hamyun seemed almost divine enough to stir real faith in her heart.

If she didn’t know this world was a game, she would have probably prayed to Hamyun with all her heart every moment.

Even knowing this was a game, Eden now desperately needed Hamyun’s power. She clasped her hands together and offered a simple prayer.

“Grant me divine power, Hamyun.”

She even ad-libbed a name into her prayer and then fell silent, waiting. But no system chime came from anywhere.

“Guess that wasn’t it.”

Feeling awkward, she scratched her chin—when suddenly, a dazzling shaft of light pierced through the darkness, illuminating the chapel.

“…!”

Eden snapped her head up, eyes wide. The radiant beam was emanating from the outstretched fingertip of the Hamyun statue, pointing toward something specific.

Knew it!

Without hesitation, Eden walked toward where the light pointed.

At the end of the beam lay a small, dust-covered rock.

“Ugh, the dust—why is this one so bad?”

Everything in the chapel was dusty, but this rock was something else entirely—like someone had lovingly piled dust on top of it for years.

Touching something like that might make her hand rot…

“Damn it.”

Still, the light clearly marked this rock, so Eden crouched down and cautiously began brushing the dust away.

After a while, the true surface of the rock was revealed. Eden lifted her lantern for a better look.

“What the… it’s just a rock?”

The drab gray lump had no special features. Eden frowned, disappointed.

She’d expected some kind of rare mana stone. Instead, it looked like a lump of broken stone, chiseled and gouged in places.

“What is this even supposed to be?”

Grumbling, she reached out and touched the stone. A tense silence settled over the chapel.

“……”

She was about to pull her hand away, thinking it a bust—when a system message appeared.

『【★】You have received the Sacred Stone. Divine power +10.』

Gasp.

Eden’s eyes widened, freezing in place as another message popped up.

“S… Sacred Stone…?”

She stared at the rock in disbelief. The divine beam from Hamyun’s statue had vanished.

This was the Sacred Stone?

A breathy gasp of awe escaped her lips.

“…Hah.”

She really had to give Rita a great gift later.

A Sacred Stone hidden in a place like this… But wait. Sacred Stones only appear alongside divine revelations… don’t they?

Her brows furrowed in suspicion—then she suddenly remembered: the quest hadn’t been cleared despite the divine power boost.

“What? But my divine power went up!”

By 10 points, no less! Was that not enough?

Panicked, Eden reached out again and desperately touched the Sacred Stone, but it no longer responded.

The divine light was gone. The chapel had returned to being dark, still, and completely ordinary.

“Calm down, Eden. It’s probably a daily quest. If I come back tomorrow, it should reset.”

Daily quests were designed to reset every 24 hours so players could attempt them again.

Trying to calm her racing heart, Eden stood up. There was still time. Just finding the Sacred Stone had been a huge gain.

Okay. I’ll come back tomorrow.

She turned to leave, resolved.

But just then—

Shhhk.

A sharp blade slid in beside her neck.

Eden froze, body going rigid.

“…Who goes there?”