Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game?

“Oh no… it’s coming this way!”

 

“Everyone, get back!”

 

Finally spotting Karon, Eden sprinted toward him with all her might.

 

Seeing Eden running toward him, Karon didn’t flinch or move aside like the others. Instead, he tightened his grip on the sword he’d been holding, ready to face the Tannir.

 

Eden staggered to a stop next to Karon, barely able to keep herself upright.

 

“Ugh…!”

 

Karon quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her as he swung his sword in a powerful arc aimed at the charging Tannir.

 

“!”

 

Eden, having collapsed to the ground from the effort, lifted her head to watch Karon. As expected of the Empire’s top sword master, he moved with flawless precision.

 

With perfect timing, Karon’s sword sliced cleanly through the Tannir’s neck, severing its head from its body in one swift motion.

 

The creature’s head and body separated, spilling dark, black blood in every direction.

 

A vast amount of the foul-smelling blood splattered over both Karon and Eden, drenching them.

 

“Hah… hah…”

 

Thud.

 

Eden, her strength spent, collapsed to the floor, panting heavily. In front of her lay the Tannir’s two-part body, its head and fangs still terrifying even in death.

 

“I… I nearly died…”

 

It felt as though ten years had been shaved off her life expectancy.

 

And then, suddenly—

 

*Ding.*

 

Eden looked up, and the now-familiar notification window popped up in front of her, messages filling the screen in quick succession.

 *【★】You contributed to defeating the monster ‘Tannir.’ You have been awarded experience points.* *Ding.* *【★】Congratulations! You have reached level 2. A special skill has been unlocked as your reward.* *Ding.* *【★】Level-Up Reward: You have obtained the special skill ‘Monster Compendium.’ You can now access information on all monsters on the continent.* 

Eden’s eyes scanned the windows rapidly, then froze.

 

“Monster Compendium?”

 

She blinked in disbelief.

 

She had known that leveling up could grant skills, but she’d never encountered a “special” skill in her nine previous playthroughs.

 

In a world crawling with terrifying monsters, a skill like “Monster Compendium” was invaluable. The mere name hinted at its potential.

 

‘Unbelievable… So this is what it means to be a hidden character.’

 

As a sense of exhilaration spread from deep within her, a faint smile crept onto her face. Asmun, Karon—who had turned to check if she was alright—and even Ivatan and Zephar, who hadn’t missed a single moment of the action, all wore subtle, curious expressions as they watched her.

 

“Hah…”

 

Unaware of the attention she was drawing, Eden finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

 

She had managed to protect Asmun’s honor and his secret, no one had been harmed, and the monster had been vanquished.

 

The tension that had gripped her for days finally unraveled, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion that weighed her down.

 

“Ah, right… this character has only five in Strength.”

 

Truly, what a pitifully weak build.

 

With a faint, defeated laugh, Eden promptly passed out.

 

—

 

When she finally opened her eyes again, the banquet was long over.

 

The sacred Founding Day banquet, tainted by the appearance of a monster in the heart of the capital, had ended in chaos.

 

The Emperor was furious and ordered an investigation to find the mastermind behind this incident. But the man who had brought the monster into the palace had already taken his own life.

 

Thus, they’d have no way of discovering how he had managed to infiltrate the palace. After all, the person behind it all was none other than Kyris, the first prince.

 

“You’re awake.”

 

Still dazed as she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, Eden jumped slightly at the sound of a stuffy, nasal voice from beside her. She realized she was lying in a medical ward within the palace.

 

A physician who seemed to have tended to her gave her a gentle smile.

 

“The other priests have already returned to the temple. It seemed unwise for you to move too soon, so we brought you here.”

 

“Oh… Thank you.”

 

Eden noticed the physician holding his breath slightly.

 

Only then did she become aware of the overpowering stench emanating from her own body. Embarrassed, she climbed off the bed as quickly as possible. The physician, out of courtesy, made a move to support her.

 

“You’re welcome to rest here for the night and return to the temple tomorrow. If you wish to go now, I can arrange a carriage.”

 

“A carriage?”

 

“Yes, by request of High Priest Serman.”

 

The high priest?

 

Eden blinked, taken aback. She hadn’t expected the high priest to concern himself with a mere novice priest like her.

 

But the temple might indeed bear some of the blame for this incident.

 

A large protective barrier encircled the capital, preventing monsters from entering, and the temple oversaw its maintenance. The one who had erected the barrier was High Priest Serman himself.

 

Although Serman couldn’t possibly have anticipated that Kyris would go to such lengths to smuggle in a monster, he might still face repercussions.

 

He must have enough on his plate without worrying about me. He truly is a merciful high priest.

 

“What would you prefer?”

 

Eden moved experimentally, feeling a bit weakened but otherwise mostly recovered.

 

She hadn’t sustained any direct injuries, after all.

 

And besides…

 

“I’ll return now. I don’t want to miss the dawn prayer.”

 

The physician’s face brightened slightly at her decision.

 

Eden’s cheeks flushed with slight embarrassment, fully aware that she reeked.

 

“I’ll arrange a carriage then.”

 

“Oh, no need. I’ll walk.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“I feel a bit stiff, so a walk would do me good.”

 

Eden smiled cheerfully, attempting to reassure the physician, who was now staring at her in disbelief.

 

“Priestess, you really shouldn’t overexert yourself. Besides, it’s terribly late…”

 

“Not at all, really! I enjoy walking. I have a quick pace—I’ll be back in no time.”

 

Laughing lightly, Eden waved off his concern.

 

“But…”

 

“Don’t worry about me, go about your work! I’ll be on my way now.”

 

Leaving the still-confused physician behind, Eden exited the medical ward.

 

The palace hallways, now dark with the night’s deepening, were quiet. The ward where she’d been staying was, unsurprisingly, in a less prominent area of the palace.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Eden paused and glanced around uncertainly.

 

Right. She had no idea where she was going.

 

For a moment, she considered returning to ask for directions but quickly shrugged it off, moving forward at random.

 

After all, she wasn’t actually looking for the palace exit. If her hunch was correct, it didn’t matter which direction she took. He would find her soon enough.

 

With a strange sense of calm, Eden wandered down a shadowed corridor, feeling almost as if she were on a nighttime stroll. The realization that she’d cleared her first episode filled her with a thrill.

 

And a level-up on top of that! Just for “contributing” to the monster’s defeat.

 

“This game is surprisingly generous.”

 

Eden recalled that, in the game, leveling up required killing monsters.

 

When she’d played in the real world, focusing on the prince had left her few chances to fight monsters. But with a special skill now in hand, she’d need to face them more frequently.

 

The road ahead was uncertain, but thoughts of her new skill brought a smile to her face.

 

‘Now that’s what it means to be hidden.’

 

Unaware of what lay in store, Eden grinned foolishly to herself.

 

Just as she rounded a darkened corner, however—

 

“…!”

 

In an instant, a hand seized her and yanked her into the shadows.

 

Blindfolded and gagged, Eden was dragged through several corridors until she was finally brought to a dark, torch-lit underground chamber.

 

Upon arrival, the rope binding her wrists was released, and rough hands shoved her into the room. 

 

“Ah…!”

 

Thud!

 

As the heavy stone door closed behind her, Eden quickly tore off her blindfold.

 

Her eyes scanned the room, swallowing nervously as she took in the cold, torch-lit space.

 

The air was icy, but the gaze of the person standing before her was even colder.

 

Asmun.

 

So, my guess was right.

 

Unlike Kyris, who schemed from the shadows, Asmun’s character was deeply distrustful and always on guard, so it was only natural he would be suspicious of her sudden appearance.

 

Without power, wealth, or influence, there was only one way for her to meet Asmun.

 

By making herself appear suspicious enough to provoke his curiosity, forcing him to seek her out himself.

 

The plan had been a complete success. Eden cheered inwardly while feigning a look of startled confusion.

 

They were alone in the room—Eden and Asmun. His men, who had dragged her here, seemed to be waiting outside. Judging by how far they’d traveled, they were likely far from the central palace.

 

Just then—

 *Ding.* A transparent notification visible only to Eden appeared beside Asmun. *Asmun Declend* *Intelligence: 80* *Strength: 80* *Influence: 50* *Magic: 80* *Faith: 0* *Trait: Third Prince of the Hesmore Empire. 90% chance of becoming a tyrant.*