How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 489: 2nd Year 2nd Semester

Morning.

My dorm room at Killian Hall.

Leaning against the cool frame of the window, I quietly watched as snowflakes drifted down from the cloudy sky, their slow descent almost meditative.

The academy grounds, lightly dusted with fresh white, stretched out in familiar silence.

It hadn’t been that long since I left for vacation—barely a few weeks—but somehow, everything looked both unchanged and subtly different.

The grand spires of the academy still pierced the horizon, and the walkways bustled with returning students, but beneath that surface, something had shifted.

The walls had been cleaned.

Cracked stone tiles were freshly repaired.

The faint scent of wood polish and fresh plaster lingered in the air.

Small details—quiet renovations, new signposts, enhanced barriers.

It was clear the faculty had finally taken time to patch up the literal and figurative damage this place had endured from all the chaos, scandals, and near-destructions.

Made sense.

After everything the academy had been through last semester, they needed this reset.

Still leaning against the glass, I took a sip of the warm morning tea that Yui had carefully brewed for me.

A soft herbal scent filled the air, offering temporary peace. I closed my eyes, hoping for a moment of clarity to organize my thoughts—

”...Shit.”

My hand stopped mid-sip. My thoughts—no, my entire mind—went blank.

Or maybe not blank. Maybe it was too loud.

”I’m pregnant~”

Liyana’s voice echoed in my head like a curse that refused to fade.

That sing-song tone.

The way she smiled like she’d just gifted me a new pair of gloves instead of—whatever this was.

She really said it. That wasn’t a dream. Not a hallucination.

It had only been one day since I’d returned to the academy... one.

And yet, it already felt like an entirely new storm of problems was gearing up to swallow me whole.

A deep sigh escaped me as I sat down on the edge of my bed.

This was supposed to be the beginning of Act IV.

A narrative arc meant for steady progression.

A chance to regroup, to level up, to hone skills and prepare for the chaos looming ahead. Growth. Stability. Focus.

But instead of mental clarity and physical discipline, it seemed like what I really needed...

...was therapy.

I could already tell—this arc wasn’t going to be about stat growth or combat milestones.

No, this was shaping up to be a training arc for my sanity.

Tch...

I clicked my tongue in frustration and let out a long, tired sigh.

There was a really, really big chance that Liyana was just teasing me.

That her words—”I’m pregnant~”—were nothing more than one of her typical outrageous jokes, a playful jab meant to leave me reeling and breathless.

And yet...

After spending nearly two full weeks with her over the vacation, closer than ever before, I wasn’t sure anymore.

I used to think I had a solid grasp on her antics, that I could read through the layers of performance she wrapped herself in—but now?

Her actions no longer matched the Liyana I thought I knew.

That same girl who once looked at me with distant amusement now acted like a genuine partner—affectionate, even endearing at times.

So... was that all an act? A game?

Or had something changed?

There was always a good chance she was just playing around, keeping me on edge, twisting the knife the way she loved to do.

But what if she wasn’t?

What if she was being serious?

Should I tell the other girls?

Then what?

All the precautions I made—the cautious emotional walls, the quiet plans in place for when she inevitably became the final boss and my doom...

Would all of that become meaningless?

If her heart truly beat for me now...

If her love was real...

If she wasn’t the person destined to kill me...

’Should I just let go of everything?’

The fact that I couldn’t even tell anymore was infuriating.

I couldn’t read her, couldn’t even hazard a proper guess. And it wasn’t just the ambiguity that annoyed me—it was the way it chipped away at the certainty I built around her role in the story.

Everything was going well lately. Too well. So for her to suddenly drop that bomb—

A child.... Makes sense I guess.... My luckless self could never leave me alone.

Having a child was something in an entirely different league of trouble.

That wasn’t a lighthearted prank—it was the kind of consequence that tore storylines apart.

But still... she probably was just joking, right? The way she said it—light, playful, and quiet enough that the other girls didn’t even hear her properly—it had to be a joke.

...Right?

Or was that exactly why she said it like that?

Damn it.

I shook my head, forcing myself to clear my thoughts before I went deeper into that spiral.

No point. It would get me nowhere now.

I needed to redirect my focus—away from her, away from the hypothetical bombshells, and back toward what mattered.

Progress.

Mine—and the other main characters’.

This act, this new Chapter, was all about growth.

Growth that would decide the future. If I kept getting distracted by emotional noise, I’d only slow down.

And if Liyana truly was serious...

Then I’d just have to cross that bridge when it comes.

Until she meets Lucas, everything about her future remains uncertain.

And until then—

No rash decisions.

Haah...

’How many times have I had this exact same thought about Liyana now?’

That same frustrating loop of uncertainty, second-guessing myself over whether she’s serious, toying with me, or setting something into motion far beyond what I can see.

But before my thoughts could spiral again—

”Young master, I’ll take my leave now.”

Yui’s soft, composed voice brought me back. I turned slightly to acknowledge her.

”Also, a reminder,” she continued, placing a gentle hand to her chest as she bowed respectfully. ”The opening ceremony will be held at nine o’clock sharp this morning. Although second-years and above are not required to participate, you are free to enjoy your time however you please, young master.”

”I see,” I said, nodding faintly. ”Thanks, Yui.”

With another silent bow, she turned and exited my room, the soft click of the door closing behind her marking the return of silence.

I leaned again on the windowpane, my fingers lightly tapping the ceramic teacup Yui had prepared earlier.

Outside, snow continued to fall—endless, lazy flurries blanketing the grounds of the academy.

Opening Ceremony, huh...

As if triggered by the phrase, the image of snowy monsters flickered through my mind.

[Act 4, Chapter 1: Winter Golems] — that should be the current active event now.

If my memory served me right, and if Evelyn’s guide on Lucas was still on track, then the first act of his arc should have already wrapped up.

Which meant the current scenario installed for today, the dungeon break at the ceremony, should be over.

But as I looked outside once more, at the thick, unmoving clouds layered like sheets of frost above the academy skies—something about it all made me pause.

The clouds didn’t seem to thin.

The air felt too still.

It looked just like the beginning of the scenario in the game.

If there was going to be a dungeon break, and if Ice-type Winter Golems started rampaging...

...I suppose I should be glad?

With Reina and the other first-year heroines already present on school grounds, I wouldn’t need to personally intervene.

It’d be a perfect opportunity for them to grow.

The script didn’t include any casualties either—at most, some injuries.

Besides...

If things really spiraled, Lucas’s protagonist aura should activate like always, letting him swoop in at just the right moment to protect and impress the girls.

That’s what usually happens in this arc. Let him carry that burden. It’d help cement his bonds with the others.

Still...

Should I watch?

A casual thought, but not a meaningless one.

Keeping tabs on their growth—especially Emilia’s—was a necessity.

Her progress as one of the key pieces in the upcoming arcs was vital.

And even though I’d like to ignore the chaos for now, that wasn’t exactly a luxury I could afford in this world.

Now that I think about it...

Ever since I returned, Evelyn has yet to contact me.

It’s unusual.

Lucas and Janica and Evelyn.

If the timelines are aligned, they should’ve all returned to the academy around the same time I did. So why the silence?

Did something happen during their return?

Or... is Evelyn planning something?

I rested my chin on my hand, thoughts swirling in speculation. Just as I was about to piece together a few possibilities—

A shadow moved in front of me.

A delicate, beautiful face suddenly leaned into view, catching me completely off guard.

Perfectly symmetrical features.

Crimson red eyes that held a quiet storm of emotion.

Pale skin framed by sleek black hair, a few strands loosely falling across her face.

A face I knew all too well.

”...Riley.”

”Seo?”

Before I could say anything more, she smiled faintly.

And the next moment—

She leapt down from the edge of my window railing and stepped into my room.

I instinctively stepped back, surprised by her sudden entrance, but Seo moved faster.

She closed the distance in an instant and wrapped her arms tightly around me, pressing her body against mine.

I stumbled slightly, and we both ended up falling to the floor, her still clinging to me like a lost kitten finding warmth.

”...Sorry,” she murmured softly.

”It’s fine,” I said, my voice calmer than I expected.

My gaze met hers as I looked up—Seo now sitting comfortably on top of me, her soft weight pressing gently against my chest.

Her cheeks were faintly flushed from the cold or maybe something else, and the morning sunlight peeking through the curtains brushed over her pale features, making her look almost ethereal.

She really is incredibly beautiful.

”I missed you, Riley...” she whispered, her voice so quiet it almost got lost in the air.

I smiled faintly. ”I missed you too, Seo.”

Seo chuckled lightly, glancing at the odd position we found ourselves in.

I didn’t mind.

There was a strange peace in this moment—like the world had slowed down to let us simply exist beside one another.

And then, in her usual reserved tone, she said something unexpected.

”Let’s train, Riley.”

I blinked. ”...Huh?”

She smiled slightly more.

There was a flicker of playful mischief in her tone, but it was genuine. ”I want to train with you.”

I laughed, unable to help myself. It seems my obsessive training habits have rubbed off on her.

Even in her shy, introverted way, she was starting to express herself more honestly now.

For Seo, asking to train was like asking to spend time... to bond in the way she was most comfortable with.

She likely talked to Master Beon as wel....

Nodding in response to her request, I gently pushed myself up, and we both stood.

She quietly reached for my hand.

I took it.

Our fingers naturally intertwined, the way they always did—an unspoken ritual between us.

There was no awkwardness, no tension. Just warmth.

As we stepped out of the dorm room and into the snowy morning of the academy grounds, several students turned their heads to watch us pass.

But we both ignored it as usual.

Hand in hand, we walked through the white-dusted paths.

The second semester of my second year at the Academy had officially begun.

[Notice: Demonic or Evil-Aligned Entity Detected in Proximity to the User.]

[Automatic Pre-Activation of Ultimate Skill: Divine Will.]

[Prepared to react upon any hostile behavior.]