Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game?

Before the golem’s fist could strike Asmun, someone tackled him, wrapping their arms around him and rolling them both to the side.

Boom!!

By a fraction of a second, the massive fist slammed into the ground where Asmun had just been, leaving a deep crater as the earth shuddered violently.

Shards of stone from the impact scattered in all directions. One of them landed on the shoulder of the person lying on top of Asmun, prompting a sharp gasp of pain.

“Ugh!”

Still frozen in shock, Asmun blinked down at the person clutching him tightly—his mind struggling to process the situation.

“…Priestess?”

Finally recognizing who had just tackled him, his expression shifted into bewilderment.

Eden snapped her head up to look at him.

Fortunately, he was unharmed. At least, for now.

“Hah….”

She had almost been forced to watch him die before her eyes. Seeing him alive filled her with so much relief that she nearly burst into tears—but there was no time for that.

“Its weak point is the soles of its feet!”

She shouted suddenly, catching Asmun off guard.

Still dazed, Asmun stared at her in confusion.

But then—the enraged golem raised its fist once more, preparing to strike.

Quickly snapping back to reality, Asmun grabbed Eden’s hand, pulling her to her feet as he sprinted forward.

“KRAAAAAAH!”

The golem, now furious, began stomping after them—each step shaking the earth like thunder.

“Not its hands—its FEET!”

Even as she was being dragged along, Eden continued yelling.

“The fists are a trap!”

The moment she said it, Asmun understood everything perfectly.

There was no time to doubt her words.

Trusting her instinctively, Asmun flung Eden backward, pushing her out of harm’s way, before turning to face the golem head-on.

Thud, thud, THUD!

The monster charged at terrifying speed.

To minimize movement, Asmun dropped to one knee, firmly gripping his sword as he locked onto the golem’s foot.

“……!”

Just as Eden had said—a glowing blue magic circle was carved into the center of its sole.

Gripping his sword with both hands, he aimed precisely at the target.

The golem’s foot came crashing down toward him.

“Hngh…!”

Even though she knew her information was correct, Eden instinctively covered her mouth in fear.

For a split second, her mind was filled with horrifying doubt—what if Asmun was crushed beneath that massive foot?

But he didn’t close his eyes.

Even as the shadow loomed over him, he never flinched.

And at the exact moment of impact—

Asmun’s blade pierced through the magic circle.

“……!”

The golem, which had been moving with unstoppable force, suddenly froze mid-motion.

Holding her breath, Eden stared at the scene, as if time itself had stopped.

The golem’s massive foot was suspended just inches above Asmun’s head.

Then, in an instant—

The golem’s entire body crumbled into dust.

A cloud of dirt and debris exploded outward, filling the canyon with a dense fog of dust.

“Ugh…!”

The air was so thick with debris that she could barely see.

Raising her arm to shield herself, Eden refused to close her eyes.

She had to see if Asmun was safe.

A heavy silence blanketed the canyon.

For the first time since the attack began, the battlefield was completely still.

“…….”

Holding her breath, Eden watched through the fading dust.

Finally, Asmun’s silhouette emerged from the haze.

“…….”

Still holding his sword upright, he stood there—completely unharmed.

Only the slight rise and fall of his shoulders indicated that he was still breathing.

Eden let out a deep, shaky sigh of relief.

“Ha….”

The bestiary had never been wrong.

Eden had saved Asmun—again.

The tension that had been suffocating her finally unraveled.

Her knees felt weak, and she nearly collapsed on the spot.

Ding.

Above Asmun’s head, a golden system window appeared—a sight that almost made her cry with relief.

“…….”

Asmun, covered in dust, slowly turned his head to look at Eden.

Eden, who had been reading the system notification, met his stare.

She wanted to smile at him, to brush it off lightheartedly—

But she had no energy left.

As her body gave out, she collapsed sideways.

Asmun rushed forward, catching her before she hit the ground.

***

Eden, who had been unconscious for a long time, finally opened her eyes the next day.

The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

“…….”

Blinking absentmindedly, she slowly recalled the events in the canyon and immediately shot upright.

That was when her overworked body screamed in protest.

“Ahh….”

How much strength did she need to stop fainting all the time?

Her frail body was starting to frustrate her.

Grimacing, Eden took in her surroundings.

The room was elegant, with a high ceiling, but it was neither the Grand Temple nor the Imperial Palace.

As she tried to piece things together, a knock came at the door.

“If you’re awake, may I enter?”

The low voice was familiar.

Soon, the door opened, and Asmun stepped inside.

Eden instinctively tensed, studying him carefully.

Unlike yesterday—where he had been covered in dust—Asmun now looked immaculate.

She glanced down at herself and realized she was no longer in her filthy priest robes. Instead, she was wearing a clean, comfortable white garment.

Her eyes widened, but Asmun spoke before she could ask.

“I had a maid wash you. If left untreated, your wounds could have festered.”

Eden, feeling awkward, quickly looked up again.

“Wounds?”

“You were injured by the falling debris.”

Ah.

Now that she thought about it, she did feel sore all over.

But compared to saving Asmun’s life, these minor injuries were nothing.

“Where… am I?”

“This is my estate.”

Eden’s eyes widened further.

As she tried to process this, the Emperor suddenly popped into her mind.

“His Majesty—!”

“He’s safe.”

Ah…

At Asmun’s calm reply, Eden finally relaxed completely.

So Asmun was alive.

And the Emperor was unharmed.

Which meant that Kyris’s assassination attempt had completely failed.

“That’s… a relief.”

Letting out a genuine sigh of relief, Eden smiled earnestly.

Asmun, however, stared at her silently.

That the Emperor was safe?

Or that he was?

“…….”

Asmun thought back to yesterday’s battle.

The shock he had felt when he had turned and seen Eden’s face—it still hadn’t faded.

He knew he had come dangerously close to death.

And yet… he wasn’t the only one who had been at risk.

His gaze lowered to the small scratch on Eden’s cheek.

“By the way…”

His voice broke the silence, drawing Eden’s attention.

“…How did you get there?”

Eden froze instantly.

Asmun was looking at her intently.

It was only now that she realized how suspicious her actions had been.

Of course, she had no choice—but still…

“Um… I received a divine revelation.”

Even as she spoke, she knew how flimsy the excuse sounded.

“Even so,” Asmun said flatly, “the deity wouldn’t have transported you to Lebeim.”

His unwavering voice struck directly at the truth.

“Well…”

Eden hesitated, then gave in and confessed.

“I had a teleportation scroll.”

But that only made things worse.

Asmun’s expression darkened further.

“…You had a teleportation scroll?”

Teleportation scrolls were extremely rare and expensive.

Only a limited number were produced by the Magic Tower, and even the wealthiest nobles couldn’t acquire them at will.

And yet, a mere apprentice priest had one in her possession?

Of course, he wouldn’t believe her.

Eden’s mind raced for an excuse, but she couldn’t come up with anything convincing.

“Uh… I just happened to get one.”

Avoiding his gaze, she mumbled a weak response.

Naturally, such a vague and shady answer wouldn’t convince someone like Asmun.

Just as she was frantically thinking, Asmun—who had been silently watching her struggle—finally spoke again.

“I see.”

…What?

Caught off guard, Eden instinctively looked up at him.

He was still staring at her, but—to her surprise—there was no suspicion or wariness in his gaze.

Instead, he simply said:

“Understood.”

Eden blinked, confused.

His expression was relaxed—as if he was letting it slide.

It felt like he was deliberately choosing not to press further.

“…….”

It was a relief, but at the same time, thanking him for it would have been strange.

So she remained silent, unsure of what to say.

The unexpected consideration made the atmosphere awkward.

Then, breaking the silence, Asmun walked forward, approaching her bedside.