How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 732: Liyana’s Visit

"Sigh... well, ignoring this girl for a moment—thanks for coming, everyone," Reina said, lightly brushing her hair back, a faint flush still on her face. "I know you’re all busy. You didn’t really have to come."

"Hehe, what are you talking about?" Emilia leaned in right away, smiling like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Of course we’d come. It’s your match, after all~"

Vanessa nodded along. "Emmy’s right. And you didn’t miss anyone else’s matches either, did you?"

"That’s true, but—"

"Oh, just shut it and appreciate it already," Flamme cut in flatly. "We know you’re the weakest among our friend group, so at least appreciate the effort we put into worrying about you and cheering you on."

A small vein popped on Reina’s forehead.

For a second, it looked like she might snap back immediately—but instead, she exhaled slowly, like she’d already gotten used to this.

Then she smiled.

Not a soft one.

A slightly dangerous one.

"So you do consider me a friend~?"

"Gugh—!" Flamme choked on her own words, her face tightening. "T-That was a slip. Don’t get the wrong idea. And besides, what else am I supposed to call you?"

"Sure~ sure..."

Reina let it slide, the smirk fading into something more genuine as she looked at the others.

"...Anyway, thank you. Really."

This time, her smile was bright.

Emilia beamed right back at her, Vanessa gave a small, approving nod, and even Flamme looked away with a quiet click of her tongue—though she didn’t say anything else.

For a moment, things just felt... light.

"Oh—wait," Emilia suddenly blinked, looking around. "Reina, Senior Riley—where is he?"

Reina paused.

Vanessa let out a small laugh.

"Fufu, you were too excited, Emmy. You ran straight to Reina the moment the match ended—you didn’t even notice he already left."

"W-What?" Emilia puffed her cheeks slightly. "Why? I thought he was going to come congratulate her!"

"I’m not sure," Vanessa shrugged lightly. "But before he left, he asked me to pass along a message."

She looked at Reina.

"He said congratulations... and to give you his best regards. Something urgent came up, so he had to go. He also said he’ll apologize and congratulate you properly another time."

Reina blinked once.

Then relaxed.

"...I see."

There was no disappointment in her voice.

If anything, it sounded... expected.

"Well, it’s big bro after all," she said with a small, knowing smile. "He’s probably busy. I only just heard he got back recently too."

Even so—

Her fingers tightened slightly around her sleeve for just a second before letting go.

"...I’ll just hear it from him later."

"He’s only been back for a day... right~?" Flamme tilted her head slightly, her tone light, but her eyes carried a faint glint of suspicion.

"Still... Senior Riley really is as mysterious as ever. One moment he’s right there in the spotlight, the next he’s gone like he was never even around. A public figure and a ghost at the same time... don’t you at least find it a little strange?"

She paused for a second, glancing in the direction Riley had disappeared earlier, her gaze narrowing just a bit.

"The moment Reina’s match ended, he suddenly had something ’important’ to do and vanished. Doesn’t that feel a bit too convenient?"

It wasn’t like her suspicion came from nowhere either. Anyone who paid even a little attention would notice it—Riley’s track record spoke for itself. Out of everyone in the academy, he was easily the hardest one to pin down. Always involved in something, always connected to people that weren’t exactly... ordinary.

And with those kinds of connections, digging too deep usually meant trouble.

Most people understood that much and kept their distance.

Flamme wasn’t most people.

Still... even she knew where to stop. Poking into things that didn’t concern you could backfire fast. That didn’t stop her curiosity though—if anything, it just made it worse over time.

She hadn’t spent much time around him personally, but from what little she had seen, Riley didn’t look like someone living an easy life. There was always something behind his eyes—something heavy.

And that look he had right after the match...

Yeah. That wasn’t normal.

’Something definitely happened...’

Her fingers tapped lightly against her arm as she thought it over.

’Does it have something to do with Princess Snow again?’

The two of them had disappeared together not too long ago, after all. That alone was enough to raise questions. Flamme had even tried to dig a little through her spirits—just enough to satisfy her curiosity.

’They went north... but that’s all I got.’

After that, it was just a dead end.

"...Hm."

She exhaled softly, the tension in her shoulders easing as quickly as it came.

In the end, she just shrugged.

Too much effort.

"Big bro’s been like that lately, so I don’t really mind," came the casual reply beside her.

Flamme glanced over, then let out a small chuckle.

"Well, if you say so..." she said, stretching her arms a little before smirking. "Now that I think about it... you two siblings are pretty weird in your own ways~"

The conversation drifted into something lighter after that, the tension from earlier fading little by little. Laughter came easier now, small jokes passing between them as they walked together.

Naturally, the topic shifted.

"Since Reina won, we have to celebrate properly," Flamme said, stretching her arms as she walked. "There’s a café nearby, right? Let’s go there~"

A few of the girls nodded in agreement, the mood lifting almost instantly.

Reina gave a small, slightly embarrassed smile. "You guys don’t really have to go that far just because of me..."

"Oh, don’t start that again," Flamme waved her off. "We’re going."

Before Reina could respond—

"Junior!"

The voice cut cleanly through the chatter.

Reina blinked, turning toward it. "Hm... oh—Senior Lucas? Senior Janica as well."

Janica raised her hand in a small wave, her expression softening as she approached. "Congratulations, Reina."

"Junior, congratulations," Lucas added, walking up beside her.

"Yes, thank you, Senior Lucas... Senior Janica," Reina said politely, then tilted her head slightly. "But... why are you two here?"

Lucas scratched the back of his head, letting out a small, awkward laugh.

"Well... I actually wanted to watch your match," he admitted. "But due to my own foolishness, I lost track of time during training."

He paused, then looked at her more directly.

"I would’ve liked to see your swordsmanship for myself... but from what I hear, you’ve gotten stronger."

Reina blinked, caught a bit off guard.

"Haha... I-I see... thank you, Senior. But you didn’t really have to go out of your way to come..."

Lucas frowned slightly, like that idea didn’t sit right with him.

"Hm? What are you talking about, Junior?" he said without hesitation. "Of course I’d come watch. You’re my most precious junior, after all."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The world seemed to pause for a second.

Every single person there went completely still.

Reina froze.

Flamme froze.

Even Janica’s expression stiffened ever so slightly.

"...U-Uh, everyone?" Lucas glanced around, clearly confused by the sudden silence.

Reina was the first to react, coughing lightly as she forced a casual smile.

"O-Oh... is that so, Senior?" she said. "Well, I appreciate the sentiment... honestly, you have my thanks."

"Haha, don’t mind it," Lucas replied easily, completely unaware of the atmosphere he had just created. "You deserve it, after all."

The group slowly moved again, the conversation picking back up—but something had definitely changed.

Or rather... two people couldn’t let it go.

—

Janica walked quietly beside them, her eyes drifting toward Lucas for a brief moment before narrowing slightly.

’This muscle brain...’

She let out a small, silent sigh.

’I know he can be dense... even when someone practically spells things out for him. But that just now... wasn’t that a bit too open?’

Her gaze shifted toward Reina.

’Don’t tell me... does he actually really have a thing for blondes?’

A pause.

’...Or is it just because she’s related to Riley?’

Her thoughts lingered there, uncertain.

—

Flamme, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as calm.

Her smile stayed in place, but her eyes had sharpened.

’Senior... considers Reina his most precious junior...’

Her fingers twitched slightly at her side.

’I knew he paid attention to her, but... that open? Seriously?’

Her gaze slid toward Reina, slowly, carefully.

’Tsk... looks like I underestimated stupid Reina’s charm.’

She crossed her arms lightly.

’Now that I think about it objectively... she is pretty.’

A short pause.

’Looks like she’s my rival in more ways than one.’

—

Meanwhile, completely unaware of the storm brewing around her—

Reina felt a chill run down her spine.

"...?"

She glanced left.

Then right.

’...Why do I feel like I’m getting judged...?’

Two very different gazes were locked onto her.

Reina stiffened slightly, forcing a small, awkward smile as she shrank just a little under the pressure.

"...Did I... do something wrong...?"

....

Meanwhile.

Far from the academy colosseum—far from the noise, the cheers, and the celebration—

Riley moved.

No, rushed.

He cut through the commercial district without slowing, weaving past crowds, slipping between narrow gaps, his steps sharp and precise. One building after another blurred past him, his usual calm completely gone.

For the first time in a long while—

There was sweat on his face.

’Why...?’

His breathing stayed controlled, but his thoughts weren’t.

If anyone who knew him saw him now, they’d think something had gone terribly wrong. Like the worst possible outcome had already happened... or was about to.

’Why is this happening now...?’

His jaw tightened.

Everything had been accounted for. He had prepared. Adjusted. Planned ahead. Strengthened not just himself, but the people around him. There weren’t many situations left that could truly catch him off guard.

He had made sure of that.

But—

When it came to her...

Everything fell apart.

’Why is she already here...?’

He stopped abruptly in front of a grand building, its presence towering and quiet, guarded yet welcoming only to those who belonged.

The royal hall.

Without hesitation, he stepped inside, his pace never slowing as he made his way deeper—past decorated corridors, past watchful eyes—until he reached a door reserved only for the highest of status.

His hand paused for the briefest second.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

Click...!

The door opened.

Riley stepped in.

And there she was.

The same face he knew too well.

The same presence that had followed him across every path, every choice, every ending—

The one person tied to all of it.

[Warning... Mentality destabilizing... it is recommended for user to calm down.]

"...Fuuu..."

A slow breath left his lips.

"I know..." he muttered quietly under his breath. "I was just surprised."

The system’s voice grounded him—barely—but it was enough. The sharp edge in his thoughts dulled just a little.

Enough to stand straight.

Enough to look at her properly.

She turned.

As if she had been waiting.

Silver-white hair flowed gently over her shoulders, catching the light like threads of moonlight.

Crimson eyes met his the moment he stepped in—soft, warm... filled with something that never changed.

Something dangerous.

Familiar.

"...Darling~"

The word left her lips so naturally.

So easily.

Like no time had passed at all.

Like everything between them was still the same.

Riley froze.

For a split second, it felt like something slammed into him—dragging him back, pulling at memories he had no intention of revisiting.

Cold sweat slid down his spine.

His fingers twitched slightly at his side, his expression tightening just enough to show it—