Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 86

hunderous chime rang through the plaza, loud enough to make one’s ears buzz. Drawn to the majestic sound, all eyes—including the dragon’s—turned toward its source.

The sound came from the tallest structure in the square: the bell tower. And standing atop it—

“Is… is that Asmun?”

Even the emperor’s face showed astonishment, as did everyone else’s. But Eden, finally locating Asmun, smiled brightly.

“Why is he there…?”

Kyris stood frozen in place, stunned. But when he saw the dragon shift its attention toward Asmun, his eyes widened like someone struck in the back of the head.

“No way…”

Kyris began to tremble with unease, wondering if Asmun somehow knew how to defeat Leviathan. Even as he felt a shred of relief at no longer being in the dragon’s sights, he kept his eyes fixed on Asmun.

“No, that’s impossible. Even if he does know, there’s no way he could defeat a dragon… ha ha…”

After all, Leviathan’s fatal weakness wasn’t something someone like Asmun had the power to exploit. In fact, if Asmun were to die fighting it, the outcome might be even better for Kyris.

Though Kyris let out a sneering laugh at such a notion, his face remained ghostly pale.

“The Third Prince! His Highness is on the bell tower!”

“The dragon’s going for him!”

Those within the square quickly grasped the situation.

Asmun had successfully drawn the beast’s attention and was now sprinting swiftly across rooftops.

He’s heading somewhere that everyone can see him…!

Eden understood Asmun’s intentions at once. As expected, he was making his way to the highest rooftop visible from every angle of the plaza.

Kyaaaargh!

Leviathan fiercely pursued him. In a flash, the dragon surged forward, flew over Asmun’s head, and landed directly in front of him—effectively cutting off his escape. As expected from a monster with such high intelligence, as noted in the bestiary.

Trapped, Asmun skidded to a halt and looked up at the towering Leviathan.

“……”

Slowly, Asmun raised his hand and prepared to face the dragon. In his grasp was a rugged sword.

“That’s… the Sword of Hesromo!”

The emperor, recognizing the blade, held his breath.

Even Eden, who had trusted Asmun completely, couldn’t help but tense up. Her palms were drenched in sweat.

Kyaaaaaaaargh!

With its patience worn thin, Leviathan opened its jaws wide.

And in the next instant—it happened. A torrent of black fire erupted from the dragon’s mouth and engulfed the rooftop where Asmun stood.

“Kyaaaah!”

Blood-curdling screams broke out from every direction. Eden stared, breath held, at the place where Asmun had just been standing.

Not a trace of him remained amidst the blazing inferno.

“He… he killed the Third Prince…!”

Cries of horror and sobs echoed from all sides. Eden didn’t scream like the others, but unconsciously, her fingers clutched the hem of her robe.

“Ha…! What a fool…”

Kyris, seeing his prediction come true, let out a trembling moan of cruel satisfaction.

Karon, Ibtan, and Zephar all watched the grisly scene in silence.

The fire that had poured from Leviathan’s mouth slowly began to fade, as though affirming its own triumph.

“No…!”

Everyone imagined Asmun’s body reduced to ashes and began to cry or cover their mouths in disbelief.

And then—

“Gasp…?”

The stunned onlookers gasped one after another.

Where the flames had raged—stood Asmun, completely unharmed. Not a single hair on his head had been singed.

“Ha…”

Only then did Eden finally release her breath and break into a trembling smile.

It worked!

With the plan succeeding so magnificently, there was no need to see the rest.

“His Highness the Third Prince… he survived the flames…!”

“How is that possible? But the fire—!”

“But we saw it!”

Confused voices rose from every direction. And Asmun moved to answer them.

As Leviathan reeled from its failed attack, Asmun seized the opportunity and launched a counterstrike.

“Look!”

His counter was something no one could have anticipated.

“F-fire!?”

“The dragon is burning!”

The situation reversed entirely. Flames now rose from beneath Leviathan, engulfing its massive body.

Eden recalled the intel she’d long since memorized:

『

– Length: 50 ft / Weight: 4,500 lbs
– Dragon-type / Supreme-tier
– A dragon with black wings and red eyes, said to be created from a fragment of the Demon King’s own magic. Legends claim that the Demon King will be reborn if Leviathan reincarnates.
– Highly reactive to the sound of bells, it breathes black fire that incinerates anyone who offends it.
– Ironically, its greatest weakness is also fire—especially magical fire, which can deal fatal damage.』

Eden had studied Leviathan thoroughly and passed all that information to Asmun. They had even tested everything by hunting lesser monsters that used black fire, ensuring their plan would work.

Even that wasn’t enough to ease her anxiety, so Eden had chosen her quest reward item accordingly.

First-Class Defense Scroll.

It was the reason Asmun had survived Leviathan’s breath without a scratch.

And miraculously—or perhaps by intentional game design—Asmun’s fire just so happened to be the exact type that countered Leviathan’s black flame.

At this moment, Asmun’s ability to wield fire had become everything.

“It’s the Third Prince… His Highness wields fire…!”

“Oh gods, blessed be Hesmo…!”

Just as legends told of the First Emperor founding the Empire through magic, a royal who could wield magical power was, without question, the embodiment of true legitimacy.

In contrast, neither Kyris nor Patrian had ever properly used magic.

“This… this is insane…! This is utter bullshit! He’s faking it!”

As expected, Kyris’s complexion turned even more deathly pale than before as he watched.

But no amount of denial would change the truth. Asmun’s power wasn’t some trick—it was entirely and unmistakably his own.

Kyaaaaaaaaah!

Leviathan thrashed violently in the flames, bringing down half of the rooftop beneath its feet.

Asmun seized the opportunity and charged at the dragon. As soon as his feet touched the base of its massive form, the flames that had enveloped it vanished in an instant, as if drawing closed.

“The fire’s gone!”

Sensing the sudden end of the searing pain, Leviathan tried to flee by spreading its wings—but Asmun’s blade was faster.

It pierced directly into the beast’s heart.

Graaagh!

With the blade embedded deep, the dragon’s glowing red eyes dulled and froze over.

“……”

An impossible silence fell across the vast plaza.

Everyone, breath held, stared in awe at the prince who had driven a sword through the heart of the dragon.

“The wielder of Hesromo’s Blade shall save the Empire from the clutches of evil!”

Someone cried out, voice trembling with emotion, invoking the ancient prophecy of the Sword of Hesromo.

At that very moment, Leviathan’s lifeless body came crashing down into the plaza.

KUUUUUUNG!

The earth-shaking impact thundered like the heavens splitting open, followed by a shockwave akin to a massive quake. As the dust began to settle, the stiff corpse of the dragon came into view.

Charred black, Leviathan lay dead, eyes open wide in death.

Seeing it with their own eyes, the people of the Empire finally released the breath they’d been holding and erupted into joyous cheers.

“Long live Prince Asmun!”

“His Highness has slain the dragon!”

“Prince Asmun!”

Voices of reverence and awe poured forth from every direction. A surge of euphoria welled up in Eden’s chest.

Ding, ding, ding.

Amid the plaza’s ecstatic roar, notification windows popped up in succession.

『【★】Congratulations! You have reached Level 6.
A special skill has been unlocked as a reward.』

『【★】You have obtained the special skill “Intermediate Healing” as a level-up reward. You can now heal all internal injuries.』

『【★】Due to acquiring “Intermediate Healing,” your divine power has increased.
Divine Power +10.』

Eden smiled, overwhelmed with joy. With such a monumental enemy defeated, a level-up was more than expected.

“Intermediate Healing”!

“Last time it was ‘Intermediate Purification of Magical Beasts’—just two more levels and I’ll unlock ‘Advanced Healing’!”

Eden lifted her gaze to the sky, where Asmun stood beneath the brilliant sun. The light bathed him in awe-inspiring radiance.

It was a perfect, flawless victory.

Asmun…!

Choosing him before entering the game had been an absolutely perfect decision.

Just as Eden’s heart brimmed with triumph, an attack suddenly came at her from a black mage who had been hiding behind a wall.

She hadn’t noticed it at all—and it would have struck her squarely had it not been for—

“……!”

Hagenti appeared out of nowhere, shielding Eden in his arms and deflecting the incoming blow in a blink. The black mage’s eyes widened in shock as his own attack was reflected back and drove into his chest.

Kugh!

Blood burst from the mage’s lips. Confirming the hit, Hagenti pulled Eden into his cloak and vanished instantly.

Still coughing blood, the black mage staggered and disappeared into the crowd, which was still cheering in celebration.

“……”

Someone nearby, who had witnessed the entire exchange, froze, their eyes locked on the scene.

“Hagenti!”

Far from the plaza now, Eden finally realized what had just happened. She was stunned—but then she saw Hagenti right before her eyes and screamed.

Only then did she realize he had teleported her away with him.

It had happened far too suddenly.

“How did you… Where have you been all this time?!”

Her voice, a mix of panic and confusion, gave way to raw relief. Unable to help herself, Eden grabbed Hagenti’s face and searched his gray eyes, one after another.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

At her voice, full of concern for him, Hagenti’s eyes softened and melted quietly.