Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 89

Year by year, the number of mages in Hesmoro continued to dwindle.

As magic was an undeniable facet of national strength, the construction of a second Mage Tower to cultivate new mages had long been discussed. However, due to lack of initial funding and manpower, the project had been continuously postponed.

Zephar had sought to seize this opportunity and establish a tower within the Duchy, but he knew full well that the Emperor and the nobility would fiercely oppose it. That’s why Eden’s suggestion was so enticing.

「Your Grace is the ruler of Yuren and has long devoted yourself to the Duchy. Though it is only right and proper, because of it, the people of the Empire have subconsciously drawn a line between themselves and those of the Duchy.」

It was a fair point. Though the Duchy was technically imperial territory, the presence of Yuren caused it to be subtly ostracized.

Of course, this was the fruit of the royal family’s long-standing efforts to prevent Yuren’s power from becoming excessive.

「That premature prejudice must be the first thing you overcome. And there is an opportunity.」

The opportunity Eden referred to was none other than the Festival of the Sun.

Eden had predicted that there would be a monster attack during the festival and proposed that Zephar mobilize his forces to personally save the people.

「If you win over the hearts of the people, His Majesty will have no choice but to permit it. He’ll come to see how loyal the Duchy is to the Empire, and that Your Grace is prepared to sacrifice for the sake of its people. He’ll come to trust you.」

It was indeed a convincing argument.

The Festival of the Sun was the most sacred and significant celebration in the Empire. If it were attacked, the protagonist of the festival—and the one who saved it—would be deemed a true hero.

Zephar knew all too well the power of public opinion. Even the Emperor’s stubborn will could crumble beneath the weight of overwhelming sentiment.

Perhaps, just perhaps, as she said, the Emperor might come to trust him.

That is, if what Eden said was true.

「But Priestess, His Majesty will surely suspect my intentions. Knowing in advance about an attack is certainly cause for suspicion.」

Zephar gave a faint smile.

「How exactly do you know the dark mages will strike during the Festival of the Sun?」

His voice was gentle, but brimming with suspicion. Of course, Eden had expected Zephar not to move easily.

「If you’re questioned about how you knew, just say it was a divine revelation.」

Eden said this and then pulled something from her robes. Upon seeing it, Zephar’s face went rigid.

「To reveal such a sacred revelation to Your Grace before even the temple… it’s because I wished to repay a personal debt of gratitude.」

Eden added, her face flashing with unease and guilt.

Zephar looked down at the fragment of the Holy Stone in Eden’s hand.

Veins like red blood ran through its gray surface—undoubtedly a genuine Holy Stone.

「If you seize this opportunity, then everyone will know that Hamun has chosen Your Grace.」

He could no longer refuse. For just a moment, Zephar had wondered whether Eden might truly feel grateful to him—perhaps even more than that.

“To offer the Holy Stone…”

Zephar murmured quietly.

Eden’s words had proven true. The Festival of the Sun was indeed attacked, and he had saved the people at just the right time.

The problem… was Leviathan.

“….”

Eden had never warned him about a monster of that magnitude, and it was Asmun who defeated it. The true hero Eden had chosen for the festival was not Zephar—but Asmun.

He had been thoroughly used.

“Hah…”

Zephar let out a bitter laugh.

Eden had used him—to ensure that Asmun could dispatch the dragon without hesitation, and thus rise unchallenged as the legitimate successor.

And to make matters worse…

「Didn’t the Duke of Yuren fend off a swarm of gargoyles? Could it have been under orders from Prince Asmun?」

「That would make sense. It seems the Duke has taken Prince Asmun’s side. He’s always had sharp foresight, after all!」

The cold smile vanished from Zephar’s face.

He clenched his jaw at the humiliation rising in his throat. What truly stung was that this gave the appearance that he was supporting Asmun.

And now, if he were to produce the Holy Stone, it would only serve as evidence that Hamun had compelled him to assist Asmun.

The Holy Stone would do nothing but glorify Asmun even further…

“….”

He had walked straight into the trap Eden laid.

「Your Grace, how did you know to prepare the troops in advance?」

As expected, the Emperor summoned Zephar and pressed him on how he had known.

Zephar did not present the Holy Stone.

「As Your Majesty is aware, the evil of the Dark Mage Order has affected even the Duchy. While tracking traces of them, I stumbled across the intel. As there was no concrete proof, I did not report it, but simply made preparations in case something happened.」

At the vague reply, the Emperor looked at him with suspicion, but did not press further.

「I will recognize your merit and let it be. But if such an incident occurs again, I’ll have no choice but to reassess Your Grace’s intent.」

Thus, despite having dispatched his troops, Zephar gained nothing—and had only deepened the Emperor’s mistrust.

“…Ha.”

A cold fury churned inside him.

Zephar stared into the air with eyes like frozen steel.

It was strange. He should be furious at Eden for having used him so thoroughly, but deep in his gut, beyond the betrayal and anger, something else was beginning to rise.

“Your Grace, Priestess Eden has come to visit.”

At that, Zephar let out a small sigh, swallowed his turmoil, and answered with his usual calm.

She had requested the meeting right after the incident.

“Let her in.”

The door opened, and in stepped Eden, hands clasped tightly, her face apologetic.

“Good day, Your Grace.”

Zephar did not smile, even as he looked at her.

“Come in.”

Yet, his voice showed not the slightest hint of anger.

‘But he must be angry. And very much so.’

Eden timidly stepped forward and sat before him.

“You… you weren’t hurt, were you?”

It was an odd thing to say as a greeting. Zephar gave a faint smile.

“No. Thanks to you, I’m fine.”

Ugh. Guilt stabbed at Eden’s conscience like daggers.

“It’s thanks to you that I’m safe, Your Grace. You saved the people of the Empire that day. I’m truly grateful.”

Eden bowed deeply, offering a formal expression of gratitude.

“That’s unnecessary. I wasn’t the one who saved them, was I?”

Zephar smiled kindly as he delivered the pointed words. And with that, a cold sweat ran down Eden’s back.

“Please don’t say that. If it weren’t for you, it would’ve been disastrous. Thanks to your presence, everyone made it out safely.”

Zephar’s gaze fixed intently on her, his expression still as if smiling.

Under that stare, Eden felt as if she were sitting on needles. Then, at last, he called to her softly.

“Priestess.”

His voice was low, impossibly gentle, and kind.

“I just wanted to ask… purely as a possibility.”

“……”

“Did you… use me?”

The tender question struck Eden right at her core.

Of course. Zephar was not someone easily deceived. Eden realized then that vague answers would no longer suffice.

“I didn’t, Your Grace. Though I know it may sound like an excuse… I simply chose the best course of action.”

“……”

“There was always going to be an incident during the Festival of the Sun. If not for you, half of the people gathered in the plaza would have been lost. I didn’t tell you about Leviathan because I judged that only His Highness Asmun would be capable of defeating it.”

Eden calmly laid out the justifications she had prepared.

“I didn’t want to burden you with additional worries by telling you about Leviathan.”

All of it was true.

Had Zephar known about Leviathan, he would have hesitated to dispatch his troops. If he’d known Asmun would defeat the creature, he likely wouldn’t have offered aid at all.

And making Zephar appear as though he were supporting Asmun had been a calculated move. Using that, Eden had ensured that the Emperor would grow wary of Zephar and thereby cut off his chance to build a Mage Tower.

‘It was a regrettable move, but a necessary one.’

Eden did harbor a unique sense of camaraderie and affection for Zephar because of the time they had spent entangled. But she couldn’t welcome the expansion of his power.

‘If that happened, even after Asmun becomes Emperor, he would be impossible to control…’

So yes—Eden had used Zephar thoroughly. And she regretted it. But it was something that simply had to be done.

This cold world was a game, and yet at the same time, it was reality.

“But… if that’s how it felt to you, then I sincerely apologize.”

Eden bowed deeply, her tone full of remorse.

Zephar looked at her for a long moment before speaking again, slowly.

“You support the Third Prince, don’t you?”

Eden bit her lip and couldn’t answer right away. At this point, denying it would be pointless.

“I won’t hold it against you, Priestess. After all, I’m the one who fell for it.”