Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game?

Eden’s audacious confidence seemed almost laughable, yet Asmun’s cold expression remained unyielding. His piercing gaze, sharp enough to cut through steel, sent a shiver down Eden’s spine. It felt as though he might strike her down at any moment.

She knew it wouldn’t be easy to persuade him.

But behind his icy demeanor, there was no doubt his thoughts were in turmoil.

No matter what anyone else might say, she had saved him today. Kyris, ever short-sighted and one-dimensional, would likely blame his failed scheme on a novice priestess’s unfortunate blunder. However, Asmun was sharp enough to recognize that Eden had acted deliberately—and risked her life to do so. That kind of effort wasn’t something a mere pawn or an enemy would exert.

Still, it would be equally hard for him to believe that she acted without ulterior motives.

Taking a deep breath, Eden decided to play her final card.

“You’re planning to attend the banquet hosted by Count Retten in five days, correct?”

Asmun’s eyes narrowed dangerously at her whispered words, his gaze a clear warning:

Count Retten was a key figure in Asmun’s plans. Securing an invitation to his secret banquet had been a hard-won victory, and Eden knew the event was crucial. There was no way a mere novice priestess should have been aware of it.

“It’s a trap. Don’t go.”

“What do you mean by that? A trap?”

“The first prince has realized you need Count Retten’s support. It’s likely that the count has already sided with him.”

“…”

“If you attend the banquet, you won’t find Count Retten waiting for you. You’ll only walk into the trap laid by the first prince. I’d bet my life on it.”

Eden’s confident tone made Asmun’s expression harden even further.

Unaware of the storm she was provoking, Eden pressed on.

“If you fall into his trap, your reputation—”

That was as far as she got.

Asmun’s blade was drawn in a flash, stopping just short of Eden’s throat. She froze, wide-eyed, as the cold steel hovered perilously close to her skin.

Her breath hitched, and she instinctively stiffened.

“…”

Asmun’s eyes now brimmed with barely concealed menace as he gazed at her. His voice was calm, almost chillingly so, as he spoke.

“I will ask you one last time.”

His tone carried a finality that made it clear that sparing her life thus far was his last shred of mercy.

“Who are you?”

The sensation of cold steel against her neck sent a wave of fear down Eden’s spine. Her knees nearly buckled, but she clenched her fists tightly. She knew she couldn’t back down now.

Summoning every ounce of courage, she locked eyes with him, her resolve steeling.

“You heard me before, didn’t you? I’m the one who will make you Emperor.”

Asmun’s calculating gaze searched her, though the blade didn’t move closer.

Eden seized the opportunity to push forward.

“You’ll need me.”

And I need you, too.

Her fists clenched tighter, her knuckles turning white as she held her ground.

They stared at each other across the blade, the faint moonlight glinting off the sharp edge and reflecting on Eden’s determined face.

After a tense silence that felt like eternity, Asmun finally broke it.

“Why?”

His question was low and quiet, but its weight was undeniable.

“Why does it matter to you if I become Emperor?”

It was a fundamental question. Everyone who got involved in such schemes had their own motives. Eden was no different. To persuade him, she needed to provide an answer that satisfied him.

Unfortunately, her true reasons were far beyond his understanding. She had no choice but to give a more palatable explanation.

“I’m merely following divine will.”

Though she had little more than a passing childhood memory of attending church for Christmas presents, Eden delivered the line with unwavering conviction. A faint pang of guilt pricked at her, but she couldn’t afford to let it show.

Asmun let out a soft, dry laugh.

“Apologies, but I don’t believe in God.”

His dismissive remark instantly undercut all her painstaking arguments.

While he didn’t look like someone who would believe in God, it was still surprising to find a nonbeliever in this world’s setting.

Could she really win the trust of such a man?

For a moment, she doubted herself. Perhaps she wouldn’t even clear the first quest. The primal fear of facing death loomed large as Asmun spoke again.

“What are you willing to wager?”

“…What?”

“You said it was a trap. Let’s make a bet.”

Eden stared at him, startled. His icy demeanor had softened slightly, though the blade at her throat hadn’t yet moved away.

“What are you willing to wager?”

The calm question made her heart sink.

For the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps she could do it—win his trust.

But the path would be treacherous and fraught with risk.

It felt like gambling. To catch a big fish, you had to wager your most valuable possession. And in this world, Eden had only one thing of value to offer.

“My life.”

Asmun’s eyebrow arched slowly at her declaration.

“But if I’m right, you’ll have to trust me.”

“…”

“And you’ll have to let me help you.”

Her audacious demand made Asmun stare at her with an inscrutable expression.

After a long pause, he finally withdrew the blade from her neck. Even so, Eden felt as though the sharp edge still lingered.

For a brief moment, their gazes locked, the tension thick between them.

Finally, Asmun spoke in a cold, measured voice.

“Very well. I’ll look forward to seeing what you can do.”

Eden was eventually led out of the underground chamber.

The path, likely a secret passage, brought her to a small waiting carriage. The same men who had dragged her to the chamber now escorted her to the palace gates.

“The coachman will take you to the Grand Temple. Farewell.”

With that, the carriage door shut, and the vehicle began to move.

Eden kept a stoic face until the carriage had traveled some distance. Only then did she let out the breath she’d been holding and collapsed sideways.

“Hah…”

She felt utterly drained.

Dealing with Asmun was far more exhausting than any monster she had ever faced. The memory of his cold, lethal gaze sent another shiver down her spine.

“…But I did it.”

Her voice trembled slightly as she whispered to herself. Still, the tension wouldn’t leave her body, and she buried her face in her hands.

“I survived.”

The phantom sensation of the blade against her throat lingered. It was hard to believe, but she had survived an encounter with Asmun.

More than relief, she was overwhelmed with pride at having cleared such a high-difficulty quest. As if on cue, the familiar notification sound chimed.

Eden’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as she gazed at the glowing completion screen.

“I actually pulled it off.”

Any memory of her near-death experience vanished as she rubbed her chin, contemplating her choice.

“A prophecy… not yet.”

For now, she could still predict the general flow of events, so a prophecy wasn’t necessary.

“An item…”

Although her last item had been useful, she couldn’t think of anything she urgently needed at the moment. It would undoubtedly come in handy someday, but…

Eden, her smile now gone, studied the options carefully. After a moment’s thought, she made her decision.

“Stat boost it is.”

When she tapped the option, another window appeared.

“Wait… I can increase Influence too?”

Eden grimaced at her pitiful stats, deep in thought.

Which one would be the most useful?

As the carriage neared the Grand Temple, she finally made her choice.

“I can’t afford to collapse at another critical moment.”

She tapped Strength, and the notification chimed.

Eden immediately felt a lightness in her body. It was as though the energy drained by Asmun had been fully replenished.

“Hah…”

The sheer absurdity of the situation made her laugh.

As the carriage door opened and cool night air rushed in, the coachman announced, “We’ve arrived.”

Eden leapt from the carriage, her movements noticeably lighter.

“Thank you! Safe travels!”

The coachman watched as she—still covered in blood and looking utterly disheveled—happily skipped toward the temple, her spirits inexplicably high.

He scratched his head in confusion.