Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 95

“Wait…! You mean I can only go back if I clear it?!”

“Mm… let’s just say, for now, yes.”

For now?

Eden’s fists itched to smash into that cult-leader-like face. But she knew it would only hurt her own hand.

“Then what if I can’t clear it? If I fail?! And why is this game balance such garbage?!”

“What’s wrong with the balance!”

Hamyun bristled at the insult to his game.

“Even rock-paper-scissors gives you at least three tries! How can one failure be game over?!”

“Hey, life is the real deal. You want three lives in reality too?”

“Ha! Then at least give me a hint! You hid an Easter Egg, didn’t you?!”

“God isn’t for that. God is the one who reveals truth.”

Hamyun’s smug answer left Eden hollow.

This was God? God was this frivolous?

“Then go on, tell me the truth. Why am I here? What’s my mission?!”

“Your mission is to clear.”

“……”

“No one has ever cleared this game. You must clear it and save the Empire. That’s your mission.”

A broken record.

Eden stared at him, speechless. She couldn’t argue—because right up until now, her own thoughts had been consumed with saving the Empire.

Making Asmun Emperor, stopping Hegenti’s rampage, finding Silverstone…

“And besides, if I told you everything now, where’s the fun in that?”

Hamyun pouted, then straightened, puffing his chest as he returned to his original position.

“Wait, where are you going?!”

“Oh, didn’t I say? Easter Egg time limit: five minutes.”

Eden froze at the absurd declaration.

“Don’t worry. Anytime you want advice, just wake me.”

What kind of “advice” was that supposed to be?!

“Wait—how do I wake you? Throw another egg? Does it have to be an item?”

Hamyun smirked.

“This is a game. You figure it out. I hate cheat codes. They’re unfair.”

You—!

“Well then, good luck!”

Cheerfully shouting, Hamyun returned to his stiff pose. His body was already turning back to stone.

Just before his face froze—

“Hmm, if it goes like this, you’ll drop my rating, so I’ll give you a hint. This quest… let’s see… first was entering the Saintess’ chamber, then next… ah, Mavellios, right. Yeah, that’s it.”

“……”

“Eden! This quest, go with Hegenti. Okay? Fighting!”

…What?

Before Eden could ask, Hamyun’s body hardened completely.

The faint aura of life she’d felt from him vanished, leaving only a solemn statue above the fountain.

“……”

Eden stared blankly, then clutched her head.

“Aaaaagh!”

Outside, a flurry of anxious voices rose.

“Saintess! What happened? Shall we come in?”

Cursing her fate that she couldn’t even scream freely, Eden quickly forced her voice calm.

“No. Just a bug. I killed it. It’s fine.”

“A… bug? In the Saintess’ chamber?”

Impossible, but Eden’s composure was too convincing. The priests asked no more.

Left alone, she looked back at Hamyun’s silent statue and let out a hollow laugh.

***

For several days afterward, Eden remained shut away in the Saintess’ chamber.

It was partly Serman’s consideration—that she’d need time to collect herself after such upheaval—but mostly because she had too much to think about.

The shock of Hamyun’s existence, yes, but also unraveling his words.

「No need to overthink it. I’m God. To you as well.」

「Why can’t God make a game?」

「Tsk. Broaden your mind. You’ve already experienced so much.」

「Clear this game that no one has ever beaten, and save the Empire. That is your mission.」

His claim of being “God” was irrefutable. Eden had lived through the impossible, was still living it, and whoever designed it all was indeed akin to a god.

But why her? Had others experienced this too? Was this world truly nothing more than a game? Those answers remained out of reach.

The one thing that was clear…

「Eden! This quest, go with Hegenti. Okay? Fighting!」

…was that she had to clear the game.

“Damn it, I don’t even know where Hegenti is…”

She regretted not asking him last time where he stayed. Hamyun’s advice about taking Hegenti along had sounded far too convincing.

Surely with his power, no obstacle would be a problem. And besides, Hegenti was…

“……”

Eden’s face heated at the arrogant thought.

Next time she saw Hamyun, she’d have to ask if this was really a strategy game—or if other genres had wormed their way in.

If it was all deliberate design, maybe her turmoil would ease.

“It’s just a game…”

She muttered the now-useless mantra while racking her brain for a way to meet Hegenti.

But no matter how she turned it, sneaking past the guards outside was impossible. She didn’t even know where Hegenti was.

How did he always manage to find her? Was it simply because he was a Grand Sorcerer?

“……”

As she paced restlessly, she stopped before Hamyun’s statue and glanced around the chamber.

Even unseen, it surely brimmed with divine power—naturally forming barriers. The Great Temple itself would be layered with wards.

Could Hegenti… pierce even these barriers?

It was absurd, but still… nothing to lose by trying.

“Hegenti…?”

She called hesitantly. Of course, no answer came.

“Haha…”

Awkward and embarrassed, she laughed weakly.

What am I thinking. Like this would ever—

But then, light flared before her, and Hegenti appeared right in front of her eyes.

“Eden.”

She blinked at him, stunned. In his detached face, she glimpsed the faintest joy.

“Hegenti…”

At her breathless whisper, he smiled faintly.

“How…”

How was this possible…

Even more than seeing Hamyun, having Hegenti inside her chamber shocked her.

How did he always find her so unerringly? This world couldn’t possibly have GPS.

“…You heard me call you?”

Hegenti only looked at her, silent.

Despite the intruder in her room, outside remained utterly calm. No one had sensed him.

Eden tried to measure the limits of his magic, failed, and exhaled.

“Where have you been?”

“……”

Again, no answer.

‘This guy… really has too many secrets.’

But that wasn’t the point. She decided to probe him.

“You must’ve been busy. Fine, I get it.”

“……”

“Then I suppose going somewhere with me is out of the question. Too busy?”

At once, his relaxed gaze sharpened. He answered without hesitation.

“I can go.”

So easy. Too easy. It made her uneasy how simple it was to sway him.

‘Not even asking where…’

But better this way.

“Really?”

He nodded firmly. There was even, perhaps, a trace of expectation in his living eyes.

“But there’s a problem.”

“……”

“As you can see, I… became the Saintess.”

Saying it herself made her squirm. Saintess.

But Hegenti didn’t even flinch. His face suggested he already knew. Of course—after such a public ceremony.

“So now there are too many eyes on me. We have to leave without anyone noticing.”

“……”

“And I want it to be just the two of us.”

At that, his gaze flickered. Without a moment’s pause, he extended his hand.

“Don’t worry. We can leave unseen.”

His voice was calm, confident. Eden no longer doubted his ability.

“Good. Before that, there’s a place I need to stop by. Can we go there too?”

Again, he didn’t even ask where—just nodded.

Eden grinned at last and took his large, outstretched hand.

“Then let’s go. To Priest Roman’s office.”

***

“Your Highness!”

The urgent, trembling call made Asmun turn.

There, pale-faced, Vaint came running. The look on him dragged up unpleasant memories, chilling Asmun’s gut.

“What is it.”

“J-Just now, a letter came from Priest Roman. About the priestess—no, the Saintess—!”

The instant that name left his lips, Asmun’s eyes turned sharp. Before Vaint could continue, he snatched the letter from his hand.

The knights held their breath. Asmun ripped it open and scanned the writing inside.

【To my dear As.】

His eyes narrowed at the neat script spelling out his intimate nickname.