Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 93

It was a confession—one that Eden couldn’t tell if it was chilling or intoxicating.

Asmun gazed at Eden, who looked as though she might shatter to pieces at the slightest touch, and gave a faint smile.

The plan to make Eden a saintess had long been in motion. It was meant to make her untouchable, someone no one could dare covet, by elevating her to the status of a saintess.

“……”

And also to ensure she would never again be placed in any danger.

Asmun still couldn’t forget the moment in Lebeim when Vaint had brought him the news that Eden had disappeared onto the Eloh ship.

「Y-Your Highness…! Haa… the priestess… huff… the priestess has gone inside the ship! Haa… the priestess is inside the Eloh right now! Huuuh…!」

It had felt as though the ground beneath him collapsed, and his heart stopped functioning altogether as he plummeted endlessly.

He never wanted to feel that dizzying terror again. If he hadn’t found Eden then, he might have cut down and burned everything in sight.

Everything he had built up until now might have been ruined completely.

That was why Eden must remain safe, and she must never leave his sight. If Eden were to disappear, even he himself would become uncontrollable.

“So I will become Emperor, and you, Priestess, will become Saintess. We will walk together.”

His eyes shone languidly, but firmly with unshakable resolve—as if declaring that no matter what happened, he would see this noble vow fulfilled.

“I’ve found a lead on Silverstone’s whereabouts.”

Asmun’s voice was gentle as he spoke to the still-frozen Eden.

“I will bring it back without fail. Priestess, you must remain here in safety.”

“……”

Eden, struck too deeply by shock, could only stare at Asmun without uttering a single word.

What… what did I just hear?

A proposal…? A proposal…

The realization struck, and her face flushed scarlet.

“Your Highness…”

“I will leave immediately after the saintess ceremony.”

“W-wait a moment…”

“Then I must congratulate you in advance.”

Asmun quietly stepped closer and pressed his lips to Eden’s. It was only the briefest of kisses.

Eden was so startled she neither pushed him away nor stepped back. She just froze.

When he pulled away, his face was still far too close. She could see the tangled threads in his eyes as though they were right in front of her.

“Congratulations on becoming Saintess.”

He smiled faintly.

Eden couldn’t even breathe, staring back at him in silence.

***

“And so, from this moment forth, the Great Temple appoints Eden Lilliette as the new Saintess and vows to follow the divine will through her as God’s representative.”

As High Priest Serman placed the wreath upon Eden’s head, a deafening cheer erupted.

A Saintess, after 200 years—born at such a difficult time when monsters ran rampant—was fervently welcomed.

Even amidst the roar, Eden remained dazed, staring blankly into the void.

‘So the affection gauge really was that affection gauge…’

A proposal right at 90 affection.

She finally understood why Asmun had committed such a reckless act without a word of warning.

That affection gauge had condensed his possessiveness into something utterly abnormal.

“……”

He really does intend to propose to me.

The memory of Asmun’s dangerously tender eyes and gentle smile sent a chill up her spine even as her head burned with heat.

Somehow, she felt like ripping the wreath from her head and screaming.

But the biggest problem was—

‘This is insane.’

—that she didn’t dislike Asmun’s confession.

‘No, no, no…!’

Eden knew she was heading down the wrong path. She and Asmun were running straight toward the game’s ending.

And once it cleared, she would disappear.

In the original setting, it wouldn’t have mattered—this world wasn’t supposed to care about her existence anyway. But now…

‘If I vanish like this, it’ll trigger his tyrant route…’

Just the thought of Asmun losing his sanity after she disappeared made her hair stand on end. A tyrant’s strongest trigger was always the loss of what he cherished most.

‘Damn it, it’s too late to shrug this off as “not my problem.”’

She had spent too much time here, interacted with too many people, poured in too much emotion.

It was far too late to dismiss this as “just a game.” She had been over-immersed for a long time already.

“…Shit.”

When Eden muttered a small curse, Serman raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Saintess.”

He gently admonished her, snapping her back to her senses.

“You must greet the faithful.”

He kindly reminded her of her duty. Eden nodded quickly and turned to the crowd cheering for her.

Countless people showered her with flowers, welcoming the birth of a new Saintess.

In this age, when black magicians ran rampant, the faithful surely believed this new Saintess would save them from their hardships.

Unable to ignore them, Eden forced a smile and waved.

She couldn’t focus solely on Asmun’s confession now—there were still too many quests left to clear.

‘So what if I’m not the real Saintess? In the end, my job is to save this world.’

Clinging to that justification, Eden’s hand grew firmer.

‘Asmun’s matter can wait. What matters now is the next quest.’

As the new Saintess waved proudly, the faces of the Empire’s citizens lit up with joy.

***

When the long and exhausting ceremony ended, Eden was led to a new place.

“This way, please.”

Serman personally guided her.

The place, far removed from the trainee priests’ quarters she used to stay in, was none other than the Saintess’ chamber—a room that had been sealed for 200 years.

“Two… hundred years…?”

For a moment, Eden imagined piles of dust and spiderwebs covering every corner.

Serman, noticing her concern, reassured her gently.

“Do not worry. The Saintess’ chamber is imbued with divine energy. No matter how much time passes, it remains clean.”

Eden thought of Serman’s ever-pristine office, and of Hegenti’s castle, untouched by cobwebs despite fifty years passing.

Convenient setting indeed.

“Here we are.”

Seeing the priests guarding the entrance, Eden sighed inwardly. Of course, sneaking out was impossible here too.

Knowing this was all Asmun’s scheme made her bristle with anger.

‘So he’s locking me away here while he goes to find Silverstone himself?’

It was absurd. Once, he had threatened her life, and now he was frantic at the thought of a single hair of hers being harmed.

She was even thinking she’d have to curb his twisted possessiveness if he truly intended to marry her—when suddenly, she froze.

“Aahh!”

Her shriek startled Serman, who turned with wide eyes.

“…What is it, Saintess?”

“N-no… just a sudden creepy thought…”

She made an excuse, clenching her fist tight.

What on earth was she thinking just now?!

“Shall we go in? I’d like to rest.”

“Of course. Open the door.”

Finally, the chamber’s doors opened. Eden thought she’d be alone, but Serman followed her inside.

The sound of the doors closing behind them echoed.

‘Why is Serman following me?’

She glanced at him nervously, then turned—and gasped in awe.

“Wow…”

The room was breathtaking.

It was far larger than expected, filled with a warm, sunlight-like radiance—likely divine light.

It felt like stepping into a luxury suite of a five-star hotel.

Not a speck of dust, everything clean and pristine, elegant and noble like what she had seen in Hegenti’s castle.

White stone columns, marble floors, ever-blooming flowers and plants.

And in the center, a fountain that flowed in silence. Above it—

“A statue of Hamyun.”

Eden muttered, gazing up at the familiar statue.

“Yes,” Serman replied. “It is to remind us that Hamyun is always with us.”

A very High Priest-like answer. Eden gave a faint, awkward laugh, then quickly shut her mouth, realizing her rudeness.

But Serman only kept looking at the statue.

“It is fortunate that you, Saintess, became the Saintess.”

He turned to her with a gentle smile. His neat face was, as always, tinged with quiet weariness.

Seeing him stirred mixed feelings. The capital had been attacked too many times, and Serman had suffered suspicion and humiliation like never before.

“Ah… and I’m glad you are the High Priest. Even as Saintess, I still feel overwhelmed.”

“Do not worry. You will surely do well.”

His encouragement made her feel guilty. From his perspective, having a Saintess would lift a heavy burden from his shoulders. Yet she wasn’t a true Saintess.

“…Ah, by the way, Saintess.”

“Yes?”

“That story you mentioned at the Sun Festival.”

The Sun Festival? What had she said back then?

“You said you dreamed of the Empire’s destruction…”

Ah—right.

Eden’s spine tingled.

「Have you perhaps ever received a revelation about the Empire’s fall? I dreamed yesterday, a terrible nightmare of the Empire’s destruction. Haha, of course that won’t happen… right?」