How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 82: Surprises are Shit !!! ”Wow!” Janica exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as she took in the festival-like atmosphere of the commercial district.

The sights, the sounds, the smells, and the joyous expressions on everyoneʼs faces created an air of celebration that felt timeless. ”Hehe~ arenʼt you glad I dragged you along with me?” ”Well... I guess so,” Lucas replied skeptically. He watched the bustling scene unfold around them, still slightly annoyed.

Just before they arrived here, he had been diligently training his sword skills in his private training room.

That was, until his red-headed childhood friend had burst in and forcibly dragged him to this bustling district.

Despite feeling slightly irritated by Janicaʼs antics, he decided to let it slide for now. He knew from experience that complaining would only encourage her to create even more trouble for him.

Janica spun around to face him, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ”Come on, Lucas! Lighten up! This place is amazing, donʼt you think?”

Lucas sighed, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. ”Yeah, itʼs not bad. I just wasnʼt expecting this, thatʼs all.” ʼTaking a break once in a while isnʼt too bad....ʼ Lucas thought, feeling the tension ease from his body.

The constant drive to achieve his goals, including his future battle with Riley, could wait. Dwelling on it now would only drain his energy.

For the moment, he allowed himself to be in the present, letting go of his relentless pursuits.

Janica grinned and grabbed his hand, pulling him further into the crowd. ”Well, now that youʼre here, letʼs make the most of it! Look, thereʼs a stall over there selling skewers. They smell amazing!”

As they made their way through the throng of people, Lucas couldnʼt help but be swept up in the festive atmosphere.

Lanterns hung above them, casting a warm glow on the lively streets, and the air was filled with the mouthwatering scent of various street foods.

Musicians played lively tunes, and children ran around, their laughter mingling with the chatter of the crowd.

Despite his initial reluctance, Lucas found himself relaxing and even enjoying the lively scene. Janica, always the life of the party, was in her element, greeting people and sampling various treats from the stalls. ”Doesnʼt this remind you of the festivals back at home?” Janica mumbled, her eyes reflecting the nostalgia of their small hometown. ”Yeah,” Lucas agreed, his voice softening with a hint of reminiscence. He could vividly recall the bustling village festivals, the sense of community, and the shared joy that came with them. This city festival, though grander, carried the same essence.

They approached a barbecue stall, and the vendor greeted them with a wide smile. ”Welcome! Care to try some of the best skewers in the district?”

Janica nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation. ”Yes, please!”

Lucas watched her with a fond expression.

Even though she could be a handful, her enthusiasm was contagious.

He was starting to understand why she had insisted on bringing him here.

The festival was a welcome break from his rigorous training routine.

As they enjoyed their skewers, Janica nudged Lucas with her elbow. ”See? Isnʼt this better than being cooped up in that stuffy training room?”

Lucas chuckled. ”Alright, you win. This is pretty nice.”

Janica beamed at him. ”I knew youʼd come around! Now, letʼs go check out that stall over there. I heard they have some amazing sweets!”

With Janica leading the way, Lucas found himself being pulled into one adventure after another.

The night was filled with laughter, delicious food, and the joyous spirit of the festival.

For the first time in a long while, Lucas felt like he could relax and enjoy the moment, thanks to his spirited friend.

They wandered through the various stalls, sampling sweets and playing games.

Lucas even won a small stuffed animal for Janica at a ring toss booth, much to her delight.

They watched a group of performers juggle and breathe fire, their act drawing a large crowd of fascinated onlookers.

As the night went on, so did their time at the festival.

Finally, the two walked across the bustling streets, holding hands to avoid getting lost in the -crowd.

Janica was licking a candy apple Lucas had bought for her, while Lucas munched on the cotton candy she had brought for him.

Amidst the throng of people, the two looked like your average couple, enjoying the time of their lives. ”...So, are you okay now?” Janica asked, giving a subtle glance at Lucas walking alongside her. ”What do you mean?” Lucas replied, raising an eyebrow. ”You know... since youʼve been so focused on a certain someone recently...~” ”Huh?” ”Come on, you know you canʼt lie to me. You do realize your obsession with Riley is pretty obvious, right?” ”Iʼm not obsessed with Riley,” Lucas protested, shaking his head.

Janica sighed. ”If only your words and actions matched, then we wouldnʼt be having this conversation. Youʼre practically hanging around doing who knows what, trying to impress him almost every day. And if that wasnʼt enough, all you ever talk about since class started has been about ways of trying to surpass him. Why are you so obsessed with him anyway?”

Janica understood that Riley was Lucasʼs drive to get stronger, but his behavior was approaching borderline obsession.

She felt a tense form of worry she didnʼt want to think about, but it was becoming increasingly hard to ignore.

Lucas took a deep breath, looking down at the ground as they continued walking. ”Itʼs not an obsession, Janica. Itʼs... itʼs more than that.”

Recalling the first time he ever saw Riley, Lucas was sure the two of them were connected by some kind of fate.

He saw a golden aura deep inside Rileyʼs heart-an aura he had only ever seen in two people: the hero who had saved him from monsters when he was very young, and the masked hero who had guided his morals and ways towards his journey here.

Ever since he was young, Lucas had the ability to see past someoneʼs exterior and into their essence, for reasons unknown even to him.

Deep inside people, colors, shapes, and even fragments of oneʼs being always manifested in his mind whenever he saw or met someone for the first time. ”Riley feels like the masked hero,” Lucas admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. ”You mean the one who gave you guidance?” Janica asked, raising an eyebrow. ”Yes...” Janica sighed, her expression softening. ”Look, Lucas, I get that your eyes see more than what mine can, but associating someone based on speculation is wrong, you know? Besides, does he even seem like the masked guy who helped you out in town that day?” ”Well... not really?” Lucas admitted, recalling Rileyʼs personality.

Riley was more of a prideful and arrogant prick compared to the selfless and wise masked hero he had met before. ”See?” Janica said, giving him a gentle nudge. ”You canʼt just assume things based on your visions. People are complex, and just because Riley has a similar aura doesnʼt mean heʼs the same person. You need to judge him based on his actions and who he is now.” ”Ok...” Hearing Lucasʼs nonchalant answer made Janica a bit annoyed, but she decided to let it go for now.

Seeing his disrupted face, she knew pushing him further might ruin the mood of their ʼdate.ʼ

Sighing heavily, Janicaʼs hands moved and grabbed onto the handsome face of her childhood friend, squeezing his cheeks playfully. ”Whashh... Ar,... yuu doissng?” Lucas mumbled, his words muffled by her grip. ”Nothing... Anyways, forget about the things we talked about! For now, letʼs just enjoy the rest of the night, shall we?” she said, smiling brightly.

Lucas nodded, his expression softening. As they walked through the festival, Lucas thought about Janicaʼs words.

His ability to see auras and essences had always guided him, but it was also important to ground himself in reality.

People were more than just their auras-they were shaped by their actions, decisions, and the paths they chose to follow.

The festive atmosphere around them was a reminder of the joy and complexity of life.

Lanterns cast a warm glow over the streets, and the sounds of laughter and music filled the air. ”Thank you, Janica...” Lucas said softly, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him. ”Well, if you understand, then itʼs fine... But I didnʼt do it because I was worried for you, okay?” Janica replied, her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. ”Yes, yes,” Lucas chuckled, looking at Janicaʼs embarrassed expression. He knew he had probably burdened her with his actions all this time, and he silently vowed to cherish his dear friend more. ”Hey, why donʼt we get something proper to eat first?” Janica suggested, trying to change the subject. ”Didnʼt we just eat earlier?” Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow. It hadnʼt been that long since theyʼd indulged in all those street foods and sweets, and now Janica was hungry again. ”Youʼll get fat, you know.” ”Wha-what? Iʼm not fat!!!” Janica exclaimed, her face turning red with anger as she started lightly punching him. ”I didnʼt say you were fat,” Lucas said, raising his hands to shield himself from her playful onslaught. ”You might as well have!” Janica retorted, her punches unconsciously infused with mana, making them faster and heavier than usual. ”O-ow, I get it, Iʼm sorry, please calm down-” Lucas pleaded as he stumbled backward under the force of Janicaʼs attacks, ultimately bumping into someone behind him.

Smack! ”Ah~” came a cute yet seductive yelp from right behind him.

Lucas slowly turned around, reaching his right hand to help. ”A-are you alright-” But his words were cut short as he held his breath for a second.

With hair as gold as the halos of the sun above and shimmering blue eyes like the open seas, the beauty in front of him mesmerized him. ”I-Iʼm so sorry,” Lucas stammered, trying to help the girl to her feet.

But she brushed off his help and stood up on her own, straightening her dress and looking at him with a kind smile. ”No, itʼs fine...” she said, her voice beautiful yet commanding. ”Please be careful next ti-” Her words stopped abruptly as her eyes met his.

A subtle look of nervousness became evident on her face, as if she recognized something in him. ”Ah~!!! Iʼm so sorry, please forgive us! It wasnʼt this guyʼs fault, I promise!!!!” Janica, who had quickly come into the scene, apologized frantically.

However, her words seemed to be lost in the background as the two continued to stare at each other. ... ”Ah~!!! Iʼm so sorry, please forgive us! It wasnʼt this guyʼs fault, I promise!!!!”

Janicaʼs frantic apologies echoed in the air, but they seemed distant to me.

My focus was entirely on Lucas, whose gaze was locked onto mine. ʼAfter all this time.... Why is he here now?ʼ how did I not even sense him for the matter?

As his golden eyes kept gazing at me... It felt as if the world around us had stopped.

My heartbeat spiked in worry. ʼHe doesnʼt recognize me, right....?ʼ

The thought kept circling in my mind as I tried to keep my composure. Embarrassment threatened to rise inside me, knowing that those eyes of his might soon tell him the whole truth. ʼHaha... fuck me! I shouldʼve gone straight back to the dormsʼ