<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Episode 41>

Finally riding back to the Great Temple in a carriage prepared by the Emperor, it was already evening.

After a quick wash, I returned to my room, but the Apprentice Priests were all busy, so Rita was nowhere to be found.

Maybe it’s for the best. Eden flopped onto the bed like a sack of potatoes.

“Hah…”

Since I knew this place was a ‘strategy game,’ I had expected hardships and challenges, but I never thought it would be this physically exhausting.

Plus…

“But if this happens again, it’ll all be over.”

The trust I thought I had gained from Asmun crumbled like a house of cards.

Everything felt meaningless, and all I wanted was to go home now, game or not.

Even though I was prepared for rough times, just thinking about Asmun trying to chop off a horse’s head in the woods chilled me to the core.

Could I really turn Asmun into a righteous king?

My initial confidence was waning like the morning mist.

“Priests do not fear death.”

That felt a bit unfair.

Sure, it was a game, but the reality I was experiencing was so vivid it sent shivers down my spine. Sometimes I even forgot I was in a game.

The sting from the wound on my hand felt too real to ignore; how could I not fear death?

“What really happens if I die…?”

The question I had been pushing away surfaced again, thanks to Asmun.

Death… even in a game, I really didn’t want to face it.

Suddenly, I recalled Hagen’ti’s attempt to take his own life, and Eden’s heart raced. I was so exhausted that I just wanted to forget everything and fall asleep, but there were still things left to do.

Gritting my teeth, I decided to check what I had been eagerly waiting for.

“Achievement window.”

As soon as I said it in a tired voice, a flood of delightful achievement notifications popped up in mid-air, filling the tiny room with transparent windows like confetti.

『【★】Basic Quest Achieved!

: Defeated 30 monsters in the West!

Choose your reward.

<Prophecy Book/Item/Stat>』

『【★】Event Quest Achieved!

: Successfully defeated ‘Seruka,’ the nuisance of the Yuren Grand Duchy!

A ‘special reward’ is waiting for you.

Would you like to claim it now?』

『【★】You have gained the special skill ‘Lower Demon Extermination’ as a level-up reward.

You can now exterminate lesser demons from now on.』

『【★】You have gained the special skill ‘Basic Healing’ as a level-up reward.

You can now heal all external wounds from now on.』

『【★】Your Divine Power has increased by +10 after obtaining the ‘Basic Healing’ ability.』

Eden’s gaze fell on the skill acquisition window. I never expected to level up twice, what a sweet surprise!

Given that my current job was Priest, I thought there might be healer skills among them, but a demon extermination skill was completely unexpected.

“How do I exterminate them, though?”

Eden frowned.

With magic? Or with a weapon?

After pondering various methods, I quickly gave up and closed the ‘Lower Demon Extermination’ acquisition window.

There was really no point in worrying; if monsters appeared like before when checking the Bestiary, I’d figure it out as I went along.

The other skill—‘Basic Healing’—was what I needed to focus on.

“Very practical.”

Even if it was just external healing, this was an essential skill in this world.

Although healers existed here, they were few and far between—a high-demand resource.

If it became known that my Bestiary included healer abilities, my standing would skyrocket.

“But how do I use it?”

This game… the explanations are so lacking.

Rubbing my left hand, I noticed a likely scratch from the forest.

Thinking of how the healers treated injured knights in the woods, I followed their lead and started to rub my left hand with my right.

“Surely this won’t work…”

However, apparently, it was exactly the simple thing that was needed.

Eden’s eyes widened in shock.

From my hand, a faint white light started to glow—

“…!”

The scratch on my left hand was healed before my eyes. Once the lingering sting vanished, I couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Wow…”

Eden marveled at the now pristine hand. It felt like I had become a deity. Just as I was about to heal the blister on my cheek, I stopped short.

“…No.”

Since I didn’t know when I’d meet Asmun again, removing the injury carelessly could lead to unnecessary suspicion if I ran into him tomorrow.

‘The wound is gone. Did Hamun take care of it?’

‘Uh, it was the healers from the Temple?’

‘It’s astonishing that the healers from the Great Temple are so free that they pay attention to the scratch on a mere Apprentice Priest’s face. Are you responsible for that statement?’

“Eek!”

The vivid prediction of Asmun’s voice sent Eden into a panic.

“Just let it be.”

Eden left the stinging cheeks as they were and turned to the next achievement window.

『【★】Basic Quest Achieved!

: Defeated 30 monsters in the West!

Choose your reward.

<Prophecy Book/Item/Stat>』

Defeating thirty monsters felt unbelievable; tears welled up in Eden’s eyes.

“Did I really just do that…?”

Now I was on the verge of being impressed by myself.

Just yesterday, I thought the quest was absurd, but here I was, feeling proud of having cleared it.

The thrilling rush of leveling up completely wiped away my earlier longing to go home.

Going back meant being a job seeker again, and even if I became employed, it would just be the same boring life. If I had to return to that mundane routine, I might as well enjoy this before I went.

“Ah, there’s no one to boast to about this.”

When I returned, I planned to summarize this epic tale and post it stunningly in the review section, and with that thought, Eden selected the Prophecy Book.

In a situation where I couldn’t predict what would happen next, I had no luxury to raise my stats for strength or pick items in preparation for possible scenarios.

Eden quickly grabbed the Prophecy Book that appeared in front of her and opened it.

With anticipation dancing in her eyes, they darted side to side before slowly freezing in place.

『The Imperial Royal Hunting Competition will occur soon. The hunting competition is a great opportunity for major figures to forge connections, so be sure to participate!』

“…”

Eden stared at the Prophecy Book, which ended in just two lines, with a blank expression before yelling out in frustration as she crumpled it up.

“Damn it!”

The cheerful wording made Eden even angrier. What’s so important about the hunting competition that it warrants a prophecy!?

“I should have picked the item!”

Eden regretted it with tear-filled eyes but eventually calmed down and tossed the crumpled prophecy aside.

“Yeah, it’s about time for a dud.”

In this game, prophecies were practically cheat codes, so it wasn’t uncommon to come across such useless information.

It was likely to balance the gameplay, but getting worthless information about a hunting competition after all that struggle was infuriating. I felt a flaming rage boiling just above my head.

With a stiffened face, Eden looked at the last achievement window.

『【★】Event Quest Achieved!

: Successfully defeated ‘Seruka,’ the nuisance of the Yuren Grand Duchy!

A ‘special reward’ is waiting for you.

Would you like to claim it now?』

Surely the special reward couldn’t be a dud too, right?

“Yes!”

When Eden cheerfully yelled yes, something plopped down onto her palm as a notification window appeared.

『You have received the special reward ‘Key to the Chancellor’s Office Study.’』

What?

Eden’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words.

She looked down at the key resting on her palm. It was made of silver and had a rather gothic design, but it was otherwise just an ordinary key.

Eden pictured the tightly closed inside study of the Chancellor’s Office.

“…”

The fact that such a reward appeared here surely meant that finding Hagen’ti and persuading him was also part of a quest.

Flipping him over meant I was steadily following a clear route for a hidden character.

With this realization, my exhaustion faded away like mist, letting a new energy surge through my tired body. The negative emotions from the useless prophecy dissipated like flipping a hand.

I still had a quest left. Getting Hagen’ti, who had been cooped up in the castle for fifty years, out and about.

“…What was the date today again?”

Slowly closing my eyes to gauge the date, Eden suddenly jolted upright.

Today was the day I decided to clean the study one last time. What perfect timing!

My heart, now filled with vitality, began to race again.

“Let’s go. Time to convert the Great Mage.”

With a determined face, Eden grasped the key tightly.