Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game?

“Pardon me.”

A gentle yet firm voice interrupted the conversation.

Both Ivatan and Eden, who had been staring at each other, turned their attention toward Karon.

“Isn’t that a bit too disrespectful, Chancellor?”

Karon’s voice remained calm, but his gaze was sharp.

“Priestess Eden is already a servant of the divine. Even an apprentice priest holds the same status before Hamyun as any other priest.”

Ivatan, expressionless as ever, met Karon’s gaze.

Karon, as usual, maintained his composed smile.

But despite his smile, the air in the room had turned noticeably cold.

“And yet, you suggest she abandon the faith?”

Karon’s voice remained polite, but the warmth in his eyes had completely vanished.

“Faith is not something light or easily discarded, Chancellor. Not in the way you seem to believe.”

Though he continued speaking in a soft tone, the accusation in his words was clear.

Even so, Ivatan did not waver in the slightest.

“I think you may have misunderstood me,” he replied flatly. “I never suggested abandoning the faith. Is it impossible to maintain one’s faith without being a priest? I wasn’t aware that Hamyun was so… narrow-minded.”

Gasps filled the room.

Ivatan’s words were shockingly bold, and Eden instantly stiffened.

She quickly glanced at Karon’s expression.

Sure enough, Karon’s eyes had turned ice-cold at Ivatan’s words, which could be interpreted as blasphemy.

“…Of course, Hamyun is merciful enough to embrace even those as disrespectful as you, Chancellor.”

Karon’s voice was still gentle, but his words carried an unmistakable sharpness.

“Then that settles it,” Ivatan replied smoothly. “Hamyun will understand.”

“It’s unfortunate,” Karon said, his smile still in place, “but it seems you don’t understand at all.”

This time, Ivatan’s brow twitched slightly.

“…And what exactly do you believe I don’t understand?”

Karon’s voice remained polite, but his words were as sharp as a blade.

“Where Priestess Eden’s power comes from.”

Karon’s golden eyes gleamed as he spoke.

“Hamyun chose her. He gave her this power to save the people. And yet, you would have her abandon the priesthood?”

Karon chuckled softly.

“Perhaps we should be careful that this conversation doesn’t leave this room. It would be quite troubling if word got out.”

His warm smile did nothing to mask his clear contempt for Ivatan.

It was written all over his face—“A man who cannot even comprehend the will of the divine.”

Ivatan, of course, understood exactly what Karon meant.

His own expression turned noticeably colder.

“Priestess Eden’s ability is unheard of in the empire,” Ivatan said. “No one knows when such a power might ever appear again. Are you truly suggesting we let such a power go to waste? Faith is important, but so is practicality.”

“Thank you for your concern, Chancellor,” Karon replied smoothly. “But I am very much aware of the difference between faith and duty. Why do you think I willingly throw myself into monster-infested territories?”

Ivatan narrowed his eyes.

“…I just hope you didn’t do so

because you thought it was the will of the gods,” he said dryly. “Even a man who only wields a sword instead of his head should have enough common sense to understand that.”

Wow.

Eden felt cold sweat trickling down her back.

This was no longer just an argument—it was a full-on war between the faithful knight and the pragmatic chancellor.

She had known Ivatan had little faith in the gods, but Karon’s devotion was far stronger than she had expected.

Eden quickly calculated her options.

Truthfully, Ivatan’s offer was tempting.

Securing a position of power in the palace would make it far easier to ensure Asmun’s rise to the throne.

However…

“Excuse me for interrupting.”

Eden suddenly spoke up.

Both men, who had been glaring daggers at each other, simultaneously turned their gazes to her.

“…I’m afraid I cannot accept the chancellor’s proposal.”

Karon’s expression eased, while Ivatan’s face hardened even further.

“I have dedicated my life to becoming a priest, and I must fulfill that duty.”

Half of that was true.

There had to be a reason why the hidden character’s job was set as a priest. Until she figured out why, she couldn’t carelessly abandon it.

“It will be inconvenient, but I wish to continue working between the temple and the palace.”

Ivatan exhaled sharply.

Clearly, he had already considered the possibility of her rejecting his offer.

“…I understand.”

Something about Ivatan’s calm response made Eden uneasy.

Karon, on the other hand, glanced at Ivatan disapprovingly.

But Ivatan didn’t even spare him a glance.

“Then, for now, we will proceed that way. Of course, Priestess Eden, I trust you’ll take time to… reconsider your position.”

“Thank you,” Eden said quickly, eager to end the tense discussion.

Karon also refrained from pressing further, allowing the matter to settle for now.

“Then, please visit the palace once every seven days. I will inform the temple and arrange your schedule accordingly.”

“That works for me,” Eden agreed.

After all, her current duties were nothing more than praying and cleaning—it wasn’t exactly a huge sacrifice.

“…And one more thing,” Ivatan said, staring at her intently.

“Yes?”

“How exactly do you read monster information? Is it only possible when you see the monster directly?”

Sharp.

Eden smiled at his perceptiveness.

“No, I can also read the information if I know the monster’s exact name.”

Karon raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

“…Even just knowing the name allows you to see the information?”

“Yes,” Eden nodded. “It feels as if… someone is whispering the answers to me.”

Of course, that “someone” was actually the game developers.

But to them, it would be easier to believe it was divine guidance from Hamyun.

Ivatan studied her closely, trying to gauge whether she was telling the truth.

Karon, on the other hand, seemed deep in thought.

“…Understood,” Ivatan finally said.

Then, turning to Karon, he asked,

“Have you found the name of the monster plaguing the western border? The damage to civilians is significant.”

Karon immediately refocused and replied,

“Unfortunately, not yet. We plan to depart in ten days to capture one. Once we do, we will have its name.”

Karon then turned to Eden with a warm smile.

Unlike Ivatan, he seemed far more accepting of Eden’s ability.

Eden returned the smile.

But then, her mind froze.

Western border?

A quest flashed in her memory.

Eden’s eyes widened in realization.

If the same game mechanics applied, she could complete this quest just by participating in the extermination—just like when she helped Karon defeat Tannir at the Founding Banquet.

“…When is the departure date?”

“In ten days,” Karon replied.

Without thinking, Eden jumped to her feet.

Ivatan and Karon immediately turned to her in surprise.

“I’ll go too!”

A stunned silence filled the room.

Eden, completely unfazed, confidently placed a hand over her chest.

“I will discover that monster’s name.”

Finding out a monster’s name was no longer a difficult task for her.

However, contrary to her expectations, Ivatan’s expression was less than pleased.

“That is not allowed.”

His refusal was as sharp as a blade.

Eden, who had been so sure he would accept, suddenly looked flustered.

“…What? Why? I can really do this well!”

“From now on, Priestess, you must not be placed in any danger.”

Ivatan’s tone was cold and unwavering, without a shred of hesitation.

At first, his words seemed protective, but Eden understood their true meaning.

She was no longer just an apprentice priestess—she was now an indispensable asset to the Hesmore Empire.

But Eden could not back down.

If she stayed locked away safely in the temple, she wouldn’t just fail to clear the quest—she would completely fail the game.

‘Last Kingmaker’ was a game where progress was impossible without completing basic quests.

“But if I am to help you both in monster extermination, shouldn’t I gain some real combat experience? Please let me come with you. I am confident.”

As Eden persisted, Ivatan’s face showed a faint trace of coldness.

He was clearly irritated, as if she was being stubborn without understanding the situation.

“That is unnecessary. Your work will be done from the palace—”

“That is a valid point.”

Karon suddenly cut him off.

Because of that, Ivatan’s expression became even colder, but Karon’s focus remained solely on Eden.

“If the priestess accompanies us, we can save a significant amount of time.”

“The risk is far too great to justify a mere time-saving measure. We are talking about high-level monsters, and we don’t even know their names.”

Ivatan’s tone remained steady, but there was a subtle chill beneath it.

It was clear that he was frustrated by having to debate with two religious figures over something he saw as a simple, logical matter.

But Karon did not back down either.

“As the priestess herself said, she will be working with us for a long time. She should experience the field firsthand.”

“…Think rationally. She is the only person in the Empire with this ability. Are you really suggesting that we send her into battle without properly utilizing her talents first?”

Ivatan’s words were so cold and blunt, they bordered on cruelty.

Finally, Karon turned to him.

“Chancellor.”

“Speak.”

“You should choose your words more carefully. The priestess is not an object—she is a person.”

Karon’s smile remained gentle, but his words pierced directly at Ivatan’s logic.

Ivatan’s face hardened.

He seemed to realize his mistake but showed no signs of regret—nor did he appear even slightly flustered.

‘Wow. What an absolute bastard.’

Eden silently marveled, watching the tense standoff between the two men.