How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 255: Tutorial 4

The sky stretched into an endless twilight, the stars and moons faintly visible, lingering on the horizon as though reluctant to fully reveal themselves.

The dim light bathed the surroundings in a soft, ethereal glow, making everything feel dreamlike, surreal.

The sweet aroma of freshly baked waffles and pies wafted through the air, teasing my senses and coaxing a rumble from my stomach.

It was an unexpected warmth in this strange setting, grounding me even as my thoughts swirled with uncertainty.

Hm~ Hm~

A soft, melodic hum reached my ears, tugging me from my reverie.

The voice was clear and soothing, tickling my senses like a gentle breeze.

I turned instinctively toward the source, my gaze landing on her. ”Hm? Is something on my face?” Liyana asked, pausing her humming to glance at me, her expression curious and faintly amused. ”No... nothing...” I muttered, averting my gaze as quickly as I could.

She tilted her head, clearly half-believing my answer, before shrugging lightly and returning to her task.

Her delicate hands moved with grace as she arranged the picnic spread-a small plate here, a neatly folded napkin there.

Knives, spoons, cups... every little detail was meticulously prepared, as though this moment was something she had envisioned for a long time.

The scene felt oddly serene, even domestic.

The soft rustling of grass under the evening breeze, the faint clinking of utensils, and the lingering hum of her voice created an atmosphere that was both peculiar and strangely -comforting.

At first, the idea of a twilight picnic seemed absurd.

Yet, the longer I sat there, watching her work with such focus and care, the more natural it felt -as though it was meant to be....

Like this whole situation was something Iʼm already quite accustomed to.

I found myself staring at Liyana again, unable to help it.

There was something captivating about her, something that felt off and yet perfectly aligned at the same time.

Her reactions, her movements, even the faint smile on her lips-all of it carried a strange duality.

For a fleeting moment, emotions I couldnʼt fully grasp stirred within me.

Happiness?

Satisfaction?

It felt so out of place, yet undeniably present, like a memory from a life Iʼd never lived. The longer I looked at her, the more the pieces began to fall into place.

My gaze shifted to our surroundings-the gentle sway of the meadow grass, the perfect stillness of the sky, the seamless harmony of every element in this strange little scene. This place... this moment...

This is probably another one of those dreams...

I donʼt know why Iʼm caught in another one of these fragmented visions, but itʼs clear that once again, fragments from what is likely a broken world are trying to show me something.

Honestly, I donʼt ever want to experience this again, especially considering how the last two ended-one more harrowing than the other.

But whatever the reason for me being here, itʼs probably important. Probably beneficial. Ever since I first found myself in one of these dreams-if you could even call them that-Iʼve been pondering the possibilities of alternate timelines and broken worlds.

Now, with this being the third time, Iʼm certain: alternate timelines do exist.

If thatʼs true, then this place... this serene yet oddly disconcerting scene... was likely another path Iʼd taken.

A path that diverged from my original scenario, splintering into its own narrative.

And if Iʼm here now, itʼs not a comforting thought. This is likely another world that ultimately ended in its downfall.

Another tragic epilogue.

The last time, it had been by Liyanaʼs hands-her beauty and warmth masking the darkness that had consumed everything.

And after that, Erebil had been the one to usher in the end, her darkness spiraling the world into the void.

So, this time... is it showing me the path where the White Queen was released?

A shiver coursed through me as grim thoughts clawed their way to the surface.

I recalled the devastation the White Queen had brought-the absolute ruin, the erasure of everything in her path.

But then-SLAP!

The sharp sting of reality pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.

My vision cleared as the haze dissipated, and I found myself staring into Liyanaʼs face.

Her cheeks were puffed in an adorable pout, her eyes glimmering with a mix of annoyance and concern. ”Now youʼre finally looking at me~” she huffed, her voice light yet scolding. ”Seriously, is something wrong? Youʼve been off ever since you woke up.”

She crossed her arms, leaning in slightly. ”I told you, you could get some more rest~”

The way she spoke was natural, almost affectionate, yet it felt like a sharp contrast to the dire thoughts Iʼd just been trapped in.

I blinked, unsure of how to respond.

Sigh- ”This is why I told you not to drink so much earlier in the day. I get that Kagami was there, but you really need to learn to hold back, you know? Even Lucas was restraining himself a lot,” she mumbled in a slightly annoyed tone, her voice carrying the affectionate scolding of someone familiar with my habits.

I wanted to ask her what she meant curios about the mention of those two familiar names.

But...

Before I could muster a response, she leaned closer and patted me gently, her warm smile spreading a soothing calm through my body. ”There, feeling better now?”

I wasnʼt sure what she did exactly-whether it was magic or simply her touch-but my body instinctively nodded, as if answering for me.

She smiled softly at my reaction, then stood up and returned to the bonfire nearby.

She worked deftly, tending to what appeared to be bread baking atop a flat rock.

The glow of the flames highlighted her features, casting a gentle warmth that seemed to match her demeanor. ʼShe looks... more mature,ʼ I thought to myself, the realization settling in as I observed her.

It wasnʼt just her mannerisms or the calm confidence she carried-it was the subtle changes in her appearance.

Her presence felt slightly older, more refined, and somehow even more striking than I remembered.

This subtle shift further solidified my suspicion: this was not my reality. This was another path-a different fragment of existence.

And then I noticed the ring.

We both wore identical bands on our left hands, glinting softly in the twilight.

My breath hitched at the sight, my thoughts catching on the implications.

It was unmistakable.

Memories of a life that wasnʼt mine- or perhaps one that couldʼve been-rose to the surface, their vividness cutting through the haze.

Moments so bittersweet they brought small tears trickling down my face. ”I love you, Darling~”

Her voice echoed in my mind, clear and warm.

It was the day she confessed her love to me-the day she willingly let go of the chaos within her, choosing me instead of destruction.

Her eyes, usually fierce and unyielding, had softened as she spoke those words. ”Hehe~ weʼll be together forever from now on~”

The memory shifted, and I saw her again-standing before me in her white wedding dress, her veil framing her radiant face.

The day we tied our eternal bond, sealing our love with a kiss beneath that delicate veil. ”Hm~ you promised to take me with you!”

I could feel the weight of her words again, spoken with playful insistence during our countless adventures.

We never left each otherʼs side, always together, always holding on. ”What should we name her?”

Her voice turned gentle in my mind as I recalled her cradling her growing belly, the two of us imagining the child that would soon join us.

The indescribable warmth of that moment was etched deep into my heart. ”Papa! Itʼs unfair! Take us with you as well...”

The memory shifted again, and now saw their faces-three small children with features that blended hers and mine so perfectly.

Their laughter rang out, their innocent voices tugging at something deep within me as they clung to me, protesting my departure.

This world...

This fractured, forgotten future...

It was a reality where I had taken Liyanaʼs hand and built a life with her.

A shiver run down my spine as the passing memories hazed once more.

Whether this was another nightmare or a dream was still a mystery. ”Hehe~ itʼs done darling~ youʼre favorite~”

But one thing was clear... whatever doom was laid ahead for this reality...

I had to stop it. .... ʼIs this a dream?ʼ

Liyana couldnʼt help but wonder as she observed her strange situation.

Her hands moved as if guided by another will, her lips spoke words that felt natural yet unfamiliar, and her body acted entirely on its own accord.

Despite the clarity and decisiveness of her actions, a foreign sensation lingered-a peculiar awareness that this wasnʼt quite like anything she had ever experienced.

It felt like she was herself and yet not. ”Here, darling. Ahm~!” The words slipped out playfully as she held out a forkful of freshly baked pie.

Across from her sat Riley, her beloved-his gaze warm and genuine in a way that pierced through her usual guarded heart.

He took a gentle bite, his smile softening into something that felt almost sacred.

A gaze so pure, so unguarded, that it felt entirely new to her. ”Now~ why are you so clumsy-?”

Her voice carried a teasing lilt as she dabbed at his lips with a napkin, their casual intimacy something she had never truly experienced, even in all her games of seduction and playful manipulation.

Thump!

Her chest tightened, and an unfamiliar, almost painful, warmth spread through her. Watching herself move and speak, all while caught in the throes of emotions she didnʼt fully understand, filled her with a wretched sense of contradiction.

She liked it.

She hated it.

She couldnʼt reconcile the chaos growing inside her.

Thump!

Thump!

And then- ”Smooch~!” ”D-Darling?”

Her voice trembled as she felt his lips brush against her cheek, leaving a faint warmth in their wake. ”There was cream on your cheek,” he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Her heart stuttered, a strange vulnerability overtaking her for the briefest moment before she blurted out, ”S-Still! You canʼt just lick... haah...”

Her words trailed off as a new sensation swept over her-one of raw, unfiltered emotion. ”Even though I wanted to take this a bit more slowly and romantically...” she murmured, her cheeks flushed, ”...youʼre the one who started it, okay?”

And then she watched, powerless yet entranced, as her hands-her own hands-moved of their own accord.

Her fingers grazed Rileyʼs collar, undoing it with a deliberate slowness that felt foreign and deeply personal all at once.

Her body leaned closer, her breaths quickening, her lips curling into a soft, genuine smile that contrasted the chaos in her mind.

Her toy, her darling, her everything...

Thump!

Thump!

The rhythmic pounding of her heart grew louder, faster, and more insistent, each beat carving itself into her very being. ʼWhat... is this?ʼ