How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 225: Light and Curses..

Light and darkness, white and black.

If someone were to ask what color dominates the souls of others, most would find it difficult to answer.

After all, people canʼt be so easily categorized into two distinct shades.

The world isnʼt divided into simple absolutes like good or evil; humans are more complicated than that.

Life, as it turns out, is far more gray-an ever-shifting spectrum of morality, circumstance, and intent.

But for Emilia-things were far simpler, if not stark.

She had been born with a divine gift, a blessing granted by the great goddess herself, that allowed her to see the world in a way no one else could.

To her, the souls of people were laid bare, stripped of their pretenses and illusions.

In her eyes, the world was divided into light and darkness, good and evil.

The brighter a soul, the more righteous and blessed its bearer.

The darker it was, the more corrupt, vile, and beyond redemption.

This ability-this blessing-was not simply a passive perception; it was an inherent part of who she was. It shaped the very essence of her being.

Born with the sight to judge others, Emilia had grown up in a world of constant scrutiny, where everything was measured by the balance of light and shadow within a soul.

And as the Saintess of the Holy Church of Light, her judgments were not only absolute, they were sacred.

Her every action was guided by the belief that she was the herald of divine justice, a vessel through which the goddess would cleanse the world of sin and corruption.

She was not just any mortal; she was the chosen one-the beacon of light meant to banish the darkness from the world. ʼHis soul is too pure...ʼ

The thought flashed through Emiliaʼs mind as she made contact with Rileyʼs hand.

It was supposed to be a simple gesture-an innocent touch-but the moment her fingers brushed against his skin, something far more profound stirred within her.

A gasp escaped her lips, soft yet filled with awe.

She could feel the overwhelming warmth of his soul, the radiant light that seemed to emanate from deep within him.

It was unlike anything she had ever encountered.

Rileyʼs soul wasnʼt just bright-it was blinding, its purity almost unreal.

It felt... foreign, as if it didnʼt quite belong to this world.

Yet, at the same time, it was as if it should belong, as though the very essence of his being was meant to exist in perfect harmony with the world around him.

There was a serenity, a balance, in the light that exuded from him, so potent that it left Emiliaʼs heart pounding in her chest.

In all her years, never had she seen a soul like this.

In this world, no matter what race or background, souls were always the same size, the only difference being the quality of the light or darkness that they carried within.

But Rileyʼs?

His was different-so utterly, beautifully different.

The sheer magnitude of it was enough to make her question everything she had come to understand about souls. ʼHe is loved by the goddess above.ʼ

It was the only conclusion that Emiliaʼs mind could arrive at, and yet... something unsettled her.

She had never witnessed such an extraordinary brilliance, but there was something that didnʼt fit.

Something that clashed violently with the purity she saw.

Beneath the ethereal light, there was a shadow-no, more than a shadow.

A darkness, vast and consuming, swirling like an endless abyss around the core of his soul.

Her breath caught as her gaze delved deeper into that darkness, and a shiver ran down her spine.

This was not ordinary darkness. It was something primal, ancient, and incomprehensible.

The light inside him was so pure, yet it was suffocated, strangled by the all-encompassing void that surrounded it.

And that void... it wasnʼt passive.

It seemed to have a life of its own, pulsing with malevolent intent as if waiting for the perfect moment to snuff out the light entirely. ʼWhat... is this?ʼ Emiliaʼs heart pounded faster, each beat filling her chest with a growing sense of dread.

She had seen darkness in souls before-souls tainted by sin, by cruelty, by greed-but this? This was different.

This wasnʼt the usual corruption that came from a personʼs actions or thoughts.

This was an external force, an alien presence that clung to Rileyʼs soul, threatening to devour it whole.

It was as if two forces were waging a silent war within him.

Emiliaʼs fingers trembled as she kept her hand on his.

The purity of the light was undeniable-it was strong, resilient, and radiated a divine protection, like the embrace of the goddess herself.

And yet, the darkness... it was suffocating, like a black hole that consumed everything it touched.

How could these two opposing forces coexist inside one person?

Her mind raced with questions.

How was he even alive? The clash of these energies-one of divine origin and the other of unfathomable darkness-should have torn him apart. ʼHow did such a pure and bright soul.... Receive this level of curse....?ʼ ....

After spending the day giving the girls a thorough tour of the academy grounds, the evening crept in before any of us even realized it.

The sun had begun its slow descent, casting a golden hue over the campus as the vibrant energy of the day mellowed into a more relaxed atmosphere.

We had decided to take a well-earned break at Panda Café, a cozy spot that offered warmth and comfort away from the hustle of the academy.

As we settled in, the girls quickly fell into conversation, their voices bubbling with excitement and curiosity.

It wasnʼt long before all their attention had predictably shifted toward Rose and Seo, who were both struggling to keep up with the unrelenting enthusiasm of their juniors. ”Senior Seo, is it true that your sword is so fast it canʼt be seen?” ”Probably...?” ”Wait Senior Rose... Big bro saved you from thugs when you first met him?” ”Yes, he did. He was really cool back then~” ”Hmm.... I never knew that...”

As their conversation continued, the group exchanged more stories, questions, and laughter, the bond between them growing naturally.

Yet, despite the camaraderie unfolding in front of me, I found myself sitting off to the side, distanced from their conversation.

It wasnʼt that I didnʼt enjoy their company-far from it—but I had positioned myself at the edge of the group deliberately. I needed some space for the sake of my sanity. Being in the middle of a group of such lively and beautiful girls wasnʼt exactly a peaceful experience, and more than that, the attention it brought from every other student around us was starting to wear on me.

From my vantage point, I could feel the weight of countless eyes.

The males around the café were casting not-so-subtle glances in my direction, some filled with curiosity, others with what I could only describe as barely contained envy.

Even all the girls around gave me no filter with their disgust and murderous glares...

Fuck...

I shouldʼve realized it earlier.

Walking around campus with seven goddess-like beauties was bound to draw attention.

As I focused my senses, the whispers around us became painfully clear. ʼI thought he was already dating Princess Snow?ʼ ʼWait, wasnʼt he seeing Seo?ʼ ʼHeʼs the enemy of all humanity!ʼ ʼI heard for sure he was secretly dating senior Alice.ʼ ʼNo, no, itʼs definitely Rose, right?ʼ ”That scum!ʼ ʼDonʼt tell me heʼs cheating on all of them... right?ʼ ʼMaybe heʼs dating all of them?ʼ ʼSeriously, just how many is he going to add to his list...?ʼ ʼHeʼs even targeting his own sister now...ʼ ʼWhat a creep. Heʼs the worst.ʼ ʼHe deserves to die.ʼ With every whisper, the web of lies and assumptions tightened around me like an invisible noose.

My already low social standing at the academy seemed to be on the verge of plunging even further into disgrace.

I wasnʼt exactly expecting a heroʼs reputation, but the way things were shaping up, I was starting to look more like the academyʼs resident villain. ʼJust how absurd can rumors get in such a short amount of time?ʼ I mused with a bitter smile.

It wasnʼt really my first time being subjected to such absurdity, but even still I couldnʼt help but find it all too ridiculous...

Nobles really do have a talent for creating chaos out of thin air.

Sigh... Anyways...

Instead of letting the weight of their scrutiny bear down on me.

With a slow, deliberate sip, I let the warm coffee I ordered slide down my throat, its comforting bitterness grounding me amidst the storm of gossip swirling around. The warmth of the cup in my hands offered a strange sense of calm, and I focused my attention instead on the scene in front of me.

She was on her third cup of tea by now, and I watched as she absentmindedly sipped from it while devouring the last slice of cake she had ordered.

Her wide, nervous eyes darted to me and then quickly away, as if she were afraid that meeting my gaze for too long might turn her to stone. ”Arenʼt you going to join them?”

I asked, raising an eyebrow as I gestured toward the group of girls animatedly chatting at the next table.

Enna, who was seated directly across from me, let out a nervous little laugh, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her teacup. ”Eh-hehe... I already had my fill of getting to know the seniors earlier.”

I guess thatʼs true..., recalling how sheʼd been the most eager out of all the juniors to engage with Rose and Seo during the campus tour.

While the others had kept a respectful distance-likely more out of formality because I was Reinaʼs brother-Enna had been full of questions and bubbling enthusiasm, especially toward Rose and Seo.

I could still see how she hovered near them, captivated by their reputations and stories. In contrast, the others-Vanessa, Stacia, and Flamme-had maintained a polite curiosity, addressing me and the girls with the kind of detached respect one gives to someone of higher standing but without much personal investment.

Stacia and Flamme, though, had given me a bit more attention and familiarity than the rest, but I knew it wasnʼt purely out of interest in who I was, but rather their own interest and agenda... especially Flamme.

Though...

Her attempts at a lighthearted conversation with me all this time didnʼt quite mask the subtle tension in her voice.

Her eyes darted me before quickly shifting back to her cup.

Whatever it was she saw within me, it was probably enough to keep her captivated for the rest of the day.

I could see it in the way her eyes flickered every time she glanced my way-subtle, but the glow of power behind them was unmistakable.

Itʼs not like she can see the whole truth though...

I had taken the precaution of wearing the [Item: Ring of Light] earlier in the day.

As long as that ring stays on, she shouldnʼt be able to detect any unforeseen darkness personally inside me.

Which was a relief.

One less thing to worry about, especially given her ability to judge people based on the light and darkness within their souls.

Without the ring, there was no telling what she mightʼve seen-how deep the shadows actually went. Afterall I canʼt be too careful with her... especially considering she was the type to straight murder anyone on the spot once she saw darkness within them.... [Note: Foreign influence of divinity is currently scanning user...] [Note: User astral defenses cannot be activated. User soul level too low.] Sheʼs really taking everything onto account before starting any conversation huh....

The nervous way her eyes glowed every time she looked my way wasnʼt just nervous energy. It was her power at work.

Although my experiment with her worked, now I couldnʼt help but feel a little bad for her.

Emilia was probably doing this out of genuine curiosity—and even concern.

Still, I couldnʼt ignore the reality of the situation. Sheʼs the only one who can help me deal with this.

Emilia, with her divine blessing and ability to see the light and dark in others, was the only one with the power to get rid of whatever influence Liyana had placed on me... probably...

It was risky-I knew that.

Afterall this was Liyana we were talking about, sheʼs sure to detect something a-miss if she really did something to me.

But there wasnʼt another option.

She was my best chance.

In the game, Emilia had been the key to Lucasʼs winning the battle against the evil god Erebil.

She had been the one with enough divine power to match, and in some cases, surpass, the forces of darkness that threatened to consume the world.

Without her, Lucas wouldʼve never stood a chance in defeating the ancient evil.

In fact, she had even played an instrumental role in restraining Liyana, using her divine abilities to hold her in place long enough for Lucas to land the finishing blow.

If she was the same Emilia I knew from the game, then whatever she saw within me was something she couldnʼt just ignore.

Sheʼs probably already piecing things together. ”Uhm... Senior Riley...” ”Yes?” ”Are you... perhaps by any chance busy later?” ”No, not really,”

She bit her lip, glancing around as if to make sure no one else was listening. The cafeteria was bustling, but no one was paying us any mind at the moment. ”T-then...”

She trailed off, her hands clenching tightly around the edges of her sleeves, fidgeting nervously. The pink blush that colored her cheeks deepened as she seemed to struggle with her words.

Then, leaning in closer-so close that I could feel the warmth of her breath brush against my neck-her soft voice soon followed as it entered my ear. ”Can you please meet me in my dorm room later...?”

Her voice was barely audible, but it sent a shock of surprise through me nonetheless. ”D-donʼt worry, itʼll be just the two of us... Please?”