How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 230: Sacred Art of the Saintess interlude ”Huff~! Huff~!”

Emiliaʼs breathing was shallow as she lay sprawled on the edge of the sofa, her face flushed and glistening with a thin layer of sweat.

I handed her a glass of water, watching as she shot me a half-hearted glare, clearly still recovering from the intensity of the spell. ”You were too intense, Senior...” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper as she tried to catch her breath.

Her cheeks were a deep shade of pink, and tiny beads of sweat traced down her face, giving her an almost feverish look.

Despite her glare, there was a softness in her gaze that hinted she wasnʼt truly angry

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. ”Sorry...” grabbing a cloth to help wipe away some of the sweat that clung to her skin. Her eyes narrowed at my apology, clearly unimpressed, but she didnʼt say more.

Instead, she made a small, adorable ”hmph!” and turned her head away, still catching her breath.

Under normal circumstances, touching her like this, even if it was just to help clean up after the ritual, could have landed me in serious trouble.

There were unspoken boundaries, especially with someone of her position and status, but in her current state, she was unable to move properly on her own.

The toll the spell had taken on her left her limbs weak, her body too drained to resist.

In this vulnerable moment, she had no choice but to rely on me, even if she wouldnʼt say it aloud.

Watching her, I felt slightly bad.

I hadnʼt expected the spell to be so taxing on her-or on me, for that matter.

It was my first time transferring mana directly, and every time I tried to adjust the flow, it only seemed to make her squirm more, sending an uncomfortable warmth spreading through me.

Her responses had only made things harder; each small shift, each soft, involuntary sound, left me struggling to maintain focus.

She was practically moaning at certain times.... And that definitely did not happen in the game... ”Are you feeling any better now?”

Emilia exhaled shakily, glancing up at me with a mixture of embarrassment and exhaustion. ”Iʼll... survive,” she replied, her lips twitching into a faint, teasing smile despite her weariness. ”But maybe next time... try not to be so reckless with your mana, Senior.” ”Iʼll keep that in mind.”

Ennaʼs gaze softened, her initial frustration melting away as she sank deeper into the sofa.

She let out a sigh, eyes drifting toward the magic circle that now lay quiet on the floor, then back to me.

Eventually, a small smile spread across her tired face, the exhaustion replaced by a soft glow of satisfaction. ”Hehehe~ Iʼm glad...” she said, beaming. ”The spell worked wonders. The darkness within you has completely dissipated, Senior.” ”I see... thank you,”

To be honest, I didnʼt feel any immediate change.

My mana still pulsed as usual, and physically, there wasnʼt any striking difference.

But if Enna-the saintess herself-said the curse had been cleansed, then it was hard to argue.

Still, a lingering doubt sat in the back of my mind.

Would this really be so simple?

Part of me wondered if this ”cure” might eventually backfire.

Curses placed by figures like Liyana or Erebil werenʼt ordinary; removing their effects could easily ripple into unforeseen consequences.

Liyana by now shouldʼve noticed something amiss with whatever curse she put on me...

Yet, no warnings had flashed, no ominous system messages looming over me.

If anything, the absence of the systemʼs usual red flags seemed like an assurance that what weʼd done didnʼt directly tamper with the core events.

My main scenario with Liyana-my unavoidable encounter with her-would continue unscathed.

It was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, realizing that todayʼs efforts didnʼt seem to lessen the impending threat from her in the slightest.

Even so, knowing that I can change certain things was good enough... at least until Liyana makes some kind of move. ”Then, I guess I better head out now, Junior... thank you for everything.” ”Hehe~ itʼs really no trouble, Senior,” she replied, a satisfied smile gracing her face. ”As a member of the Holy Church of Light, and one of the Goddessʼs blessed children, itʼs only my duty to cleanse the world of darkness, after all~” ”How diligent... It seems the clergy of the church are exceptionally devoted to their moral duties.” ”Fufu~ Of course! Itʼs what weʼre called to do.”

Her pride was undeniable, her cheeks flushing slightly as she basked in the acknowledgment. ”Hm... if a ʼmereʼ clergy member like you is this talented, I wonder just how incredible the Saintess herself must be. She must be even more exceptional, right?”

At that, her expression faltered for a second-just long enough to catch my attention. ”Eh...? Ah, yes... sheʼs very... very amazing. Hehehe~ Sheʼs the best, after all~”

I couldnʼt help the quiet chuckle that slipped out.

She was trying so hard to hide it, yet the slightest mention of her own achievements made her blush like a child caught in a fib.

If she wanted to keep her identity as the Saintess hidden, she still had some work to do on her poker face.

At this rate, she might as well wear a sign; every subtle compliment-especially those directed toward herself-seemed to set off her nerves. ”Why are you laughing, Senior? I-itʼs true, you know-the Saintess is very amazing!” ”Itʼs nothing,” I replied with a small grin. ”I just remembered something funny.” ”I-is that so?” She looked at me, her expression softening.

As I moved to leave, she attempted to get up, but I gently pushed her back down onto the sofa. ”What are you doing?” she protested. ”Take some rest, Junior. Youʼre already exhausted, arenʼt you?” ”N-no, at least let me escort you out-” ”No means no.” I gave her a look, pointing to her wobbly legs. ”You can barely stand properly. How exactly are you going to escort me? Besides, if your guards see you collapse in front of them, theyʼll probably kill me first and ask questions later.”

She paused, biting her lip as she considered. ”... I guess itʼs true...” She sank back into the sofa with a little sigh, giving in at last. ”Well then, goodbye for now, Senior. Iʼm glad I could help with your troubles,” she said, her voice dropping slightly as she narrowed her eyes. ”And remember, not a single word of what happened here better slip out, alright? Or else...”

She raised her hand in a mock-threatening gesture, tracing her finger across her neck with a stern look that was meant to intimidate but only made her look like a feisty little hamster trying to look fierce. It was cute enough to be disarming.

Smiling, I gave her a gentle nod and, on impulse, reached out to pat her head. She squirmed, her cheeks flushing a deeper red, but she didnʼt pull away. ”S-Senior...?” She glanced up, momentarily startled but still too shy to protest. ”Once again thanks for everything, Junior. Really,” I murmured, ruffling her hair lightly.

She blinked up at me, her blush deepening even further. ”Hehehe~” She looked down, biting back a shy smile, clearly pleased.

Why is this girl so innocently cute?

Heading out, I gave Emilia one last wave. She smiled and waved back, her tired face brightening for a moment.

As I opened the door, I half-expected Anna and Amon to be waiting with their usual glares and a parting threat.

But... whatʼs going on with these two?

Outside, Anna and Amon were standing near the doorway, looking unusually shaken.

They were breathing heavily, and their faces were pale as if theyʼd seen a ghost.

They both struggled to even stand straight, gripping their chests as they tried to catch their breath. ”Are you two alright?”

Amon ignored me entirely, still clutching his chest, his gaze distant and unfocused.

Anna, however, shot me a quick glare, as if I was the source of her troubles. Before I could say more, she grabbed my hand, shoving me away from the door. ”If youʼre done with your business, then get out!” she hissed, her voice unusually harsh as she pulled Amon inside Emiliaʼs room and slammed the door behind her with a sharp bang.

Seriously... whatʼs going on with those two?

Shaking my head, I left them to whatever was going on and made my way back to my dorm as discreetly as possible.

If only I could use Seoʼs [Shadow Step] technique or Lucasʼs [Phase Shift] ability right now; slipping into the shadows or bypassing obstacles would make sneaking around so much easier.

But, unfortunately, you have to make do with what you have.

Tomorrow... well, tomorrow I should probably get out for some dungeon hunting.

I recalled Aliceʼs scenario-the one involving that library dungeon.

If my timing is right, I could clear the place before it causes havoc in the library.

ZZZZT-!!!

A jagged red arc of lightning sliced through the air, its eerie crackling accompanied by a faint, whistling hiss.

The strike cleaved through two white-armored knights as if they were mere paper.

Their bodies split cleanly, each half shimmering with a fading glow before their forms shattered like fragile glass, their mana dispersing in flickering wisps that dissolved into the air.

Alice exhaled, watching the scene with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. ”Thereʼs even more of them this time...” she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow as she gently glided back down toward the ground, her breathing slightly ragged from the effort.

Clap! Clap! Clap! ”Good job, Master~ Would you like some water, perhaps?” Cheshireʼs lilting voice floated in from above. The mischievous grin on his whiskered face was only amplified by his leisurely clapping. Alice shot him a glare, crossing her arms as she eyed the floating, smug-looking cat. ”Cheshire... did you even do your job properly?” Her voice was sharp, a clear warning that she wasnʼt in the mood for his usual games. ”Why, of course! I made sure none of the strays you missed survived,” he replied proudly, his small feline paw materializing with a flourish. He twirled a phantom mustache with his whiskers, looking every bit the self-satisfied trickster. ”None... survived?” Aliceʼs eyes narrowed, and she arched an eyebrow at him, clearly skeptical. ”Yes, none! You wound me, Master,” Cheshire purred, giving a mock bow as his ears twitched with amusement. ”I have my pride too, you know. Itʼs not just about looking fabulous.” Alice sighed, rubbing her temples. It was hard to tell what Cheshire meant half the time, but as long as no enemies slipped past, she supposed that was what mattered. ”That energy earlier... you felt it too, didnʼt you, Cheshire?”

Cheshireʼs playful demeanor shifted slightly, a glimmer of seriousness in his eyes as he replied, ”Yes... seems the White Queen is feeling rather active today~” ”Any idea why?” Aliceʼs voice was tense. Just a month ago, theyʼd decimated an entire pawn wave in the fantastical realm, dealing a serious blow to the White Queenʼs forces. Typically, it took her three weeks-sometimes even months-to replenish and muster up another army.

Yet this time, not only had she sent a massive wave in the fantastical realm, but there were also high-ranking pieces, like knights, now breaching the real world.

A gnawing sense of unease began to settle in Aliceʼs chest; something about this felt disturbingly unnatural.

Cheshire floated closer, the playful gleam entirely gone from his face. ”Unfortunately, I donʼt have a clear answer for you, Master... but if thereʼs one thing we can be certain of, itʼs that the White Queen isnʼt idling anymore. Sheʼs serious now~” He flicked his tail thoughtfully. ”If we intend to keep up the stalemate weʼve held so far, we might need to shift our approach. Or, perhaps... even strike first. An all-out assault before she can gather her full strength.” ”We canʼt afford that...” Alice muttered, her gaze darkening.

As the only one capable of sealing the fractures between the fantastical realm and the real world, she and Cheshire were the sole defense holding back the relentless waves the White Queen sent forth.

To make a direct move, to leave their posts, would invite disaster on a scale beyond the academyʼs destruction-perhaps even the end of everything. Cheshire floated close, his usual playful aura shadowed with concern. ”You really are too kind for your own good, Master- being a bit selfish isnʼt exactly such a big sin you know?” He didnʼt like it, not one bit. Cheshire knew about Aliceʼs unyielding promise to the White

Queen, a pledge that had become a heavy chain tethering her to a fate laced with danger.

Yet, Cheshire also knew his loyalty had limits. If that promise meant Aliceʼs end, heʼd defy her orders without a second thought.

Alice cast a glance up at the starry sky, the weight on her body steadily increasing, exhaustion seeping into her bones.

She wanted to make sure everythingʼs clear one more time but it seems exhaustion has already gotten the better of her.

She hated the idea of resting in a random forest clearing, but this time, she had no choice.

Her legs gave out, and she sank against the rough bark of an old tree, barely holding herself up. ”Cheshire, watch over me... please.” ”Of course, Master~”

Cheshire replied, his grin widening, a hint of mischief gleaming in his eyes.

Despite a flicker of concern at his expression, Alice knew he wouldnʼt let any real harm come to her.

Her trust in him unwavering, she closed her eyes, finally surrendering to the much-needed rest her body demanded.

As she drifted off, Cheshireʼs grin widened even more. ...

Ok... what exactly happened last night?

Did I cross some line, or maybe... did something actually go right? ”Hnn-”

The soft murmur brushed against my ears, pulling me sharply awake.

My heart raced as I felt arms tighten around my chest, holding me close, her grip firm and warm.

This isnʼt a dream, right?

No, the clear sunlight streaming in through the window was real, the gentle morning warmth on my skin, and even the sweet sound of birds outside-everything was undeniably real. I turned my head, cautiously glancing to my side.

All I could see was a cascade of pink hair spread across the pillow, soft and silky, framing her beautiful, peaceful face.

It was Alice, fast asleep right next to me, her body nestled up to mine like a koala clinging to its tree.

Carefully, I tried to edge away, hoping to slip out without waking her.

But- ”Wheerre... dooo you think youʼre going, JUNIOR~~~”

She mumbled, sounding half-asleep and a little like she was drunk, her arms pulling me even closer.

Her soft mountains pressing against me, at dangerous levels.... ʼMy arm is sinking....ʼ

Seriously, what the heck is going on?