[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game":3,"chapter-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-270":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1218762,1604,"Chapter 270: Choose your price..","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-270",270,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor of the Empire, Leopold Luvenitia White Germonia Leven, was a man of unparalleled renown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ruler of boundless ambition and vision, he was hailed as the harbinger of a new era for the Empire, a figure whose leadership ushered in prosperity and strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To some, he was a symbol of unwavering justice and benevolence; to others, a ruthless despot who would stop at nothing to secure the Empire's future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His qualities seemed endless-a leader of extraordinary gifts, a protector of his people, a father of unmatched kindness, and yet a man whose path was fraught with the duality of divine blessing and hidden curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all the grandeur and mystique that surrounded him, none of it mattered to Luther.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Luther Heavens, Leopold was not the Emperor adorned in the trappings of power or cloaked in divine light. He was simply a friend-a brother in all but blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man Luther had sworn to protect with every ounce of his strength, not because of his titles or his destiny, but because of the bond they shared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bond was why Luther understood better than anyone the importance of the Emperor's weakness being kept hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just a vulnerability; it was a secret so dire that Leopold himself had gone to unimaginable lengths to ensure it remained buried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had eliminated anyone who might exploit it, a grim necessity that weighed heavily on the Emperor's soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean by that, Father?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley's voice cut through the tense air, laced with cautious defiance. The question lingered as Luther observed the boy, his crimson eyes narrowing ever so slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He's not lying...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luther's instincts told him the truth of Riley's words, but instinct wasn't always enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a world rife with deception and illusion, certainty was a luxury he could never afford. The blade of aura that hovered near Riley's throat began to fade, its sharp edges dissolving into nothingness as Luther dispelled the manifestation with a thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a deep sigh, he turned his gaze toward Riley, his expression unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive me, son,\" Luther said, his voice steady but solemn. \"Matters such as this demand directness, even when dealing with family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As much as Luther didn't want to harm Riley, everything ultimately hinged on the truth behind the boy's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because right now, Riley was anything but ordinary. He was suspicious, a puzzle with pieces that didn't quite fit, and that unsettled the ever-cautious Duke Heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's alright, Father. I understand your suspicion,\" Riley said, his voice calm but laced with subtle determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luther's stern gaze softened slightly at Riley's composed response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy's demeanor had always been an enigma to him, and this moment was no exception. He allowed himself a faint smile, though it carried with it a weight of unresolved doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Luther had first heard of the situation from the Shadow Knight-one of the most trusted operatives under the Emperor-he had struggled to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The claims seemed outlandish, almost laughable. And yet, the unwavering truth in the knight's report had forced him to confront the matter head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flickered with faint doubt as they lingered on Riley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all the time Luther had known his future son-in-law, he had always found him to be peculiar perhaps even a touch enigmatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley was undeniably intelligent, with a sharp mind and a respectful demeanor that earned him favor among those who met him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his physical weakness in the past, Luther had always seen a spark of potential in him, something buried deep beneath the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even with that potential, Riley had always seemed... insufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone whose status, power, and influence paled in comparison to Liyana's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stark disparity between them had always made Luther question their compatibility-not because Riley lacked merit, but because the gap in their standing was a chasm too vast to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, here they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite everything, there was one irrefutable truth: Riley was the man his daughter had fallen in love with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liyana, his precious daughter, cared for him deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That fact alone carried immense weight in Luther's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had spent his life protecting his family, and he wasn't about to let anyone or anything jeopardize his daughter's happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was hard to shake the feeling that Riley was hiding something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden changes-the strength, the knowledge, the confidence-were too drastic to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, the trail Riley had left in his wake led directly to the Empire's most sacred and dangerous secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a small sip of the warm tea on the table, Luther let the soothing flavor wash over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a fleeting moment, it calmed his mind, allowing him to push aside the cacophony of thoughts swirling in his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reports he had received—the tales of Riley beating up an entire academic staff, defeating\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a Shadow Knight, and even invoking the sacred Trails of Light-could all come later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were grandiose, yes, but they weren't the heart of the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, there was a far more pressing question, one that demanded an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you know about the Emperor's-no, how did you know Leo was cursed, son?\" Luther's voice was low and firm, each word weighted with suspicion and authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just saw it in a dream,\" Riley finally replied, breaking the tense silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A dream?\" Luther repeated, his brow furrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes... a very peculiar yet vivid dream. It felt real, like I was experiencing someone else's life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luther's sharp eyes narrowed as he analyzed the young man before him. Riley's tone was calm\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and unshaken, his gaze steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Luther was no ordinary man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a swordmaster whose senses had reached the absolute peak, and as a seasoned political figure accustomed to navigating a world of deception and intrigue, Luther had honed his ability to detect lies to near perfection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his line of work, seeing through falsehoods was a basic survival skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subtlest shift in tone, a flicker of unease, or the faintest inconsistency in speech could\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>reveal a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a master manipulator's facade wouldn't last long under Luther's scrutiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all his expertise, Luther found himself at an impasse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't comprehend why Riley's statement—a blatant absurdity about learning a deeply\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>guarded imperial secret from a dream-felt so unnervingly true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What makes a good lie?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it a meticulously planned one, where every possible angle and consequence has been\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>accounted for?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lie so well-concealed that no one, no matter how perceptive, could ever suspect it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps it's a lie blended skillfully with just enough truth to blur the lines?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was simple. It was all of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A good lie wasn't merely a fabrication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a lie to truly succeed, it had to feel indistinguishable from the truth. It needed to weave\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>itself seamlessly into reality, becoming a factor at least, a version of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trick wasn't just to tell the lie convincingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was to believe it yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could you carry it with the conviction necessary to deceive even the most\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>scrutinizing of eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've been experiencing symptoms of Weaver's Dream... since when?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just around the time the incident at the academy happened,\" I answered, keeping my tone\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>calm and steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does he believe me or not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duke's face was as impenetrable as stone, his expression unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, he was an expressive man, someone whose emotions could be gauged with ease-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when he wasn't wearing the mantle of his office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, sitting across from me as the Empire's Sword, his crimson eyes sharp and\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>unyielding, he was a completely different person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to guess what he was thinking was like staring into a bottomless abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite my outward composure, unease prickled at the back of my mind. I couldn't afford a\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>single slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the structure of my explanation was fabricated, at its core, it was built on truths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explaining everything that happened through the excuse of Weaver's Dream was the best alibi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could muster at the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I couldn't exactly tell him that I knew most of it thanks to a video game, could I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weaver's Dream-a rare and mysterious affliction-was the perfect scapegoat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obscure enough to explain my sudden awareness of deeply hidden imperial secrets, yet\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>plausible enough not to arouse immediate suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, it provided a context that I could subtly manipulate without outright\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>contradicting established facts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I saw the emperor... struggling to take control of his curse before dying on his bed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of my words settled into the room like a heavy fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Empire fell into ruin as a great calamity occurred.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each syllable cut through the silence, and the Duke's crimson eyes sharpened, narrowing as he\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>absorbed the gravity of what I was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess Snow is a key figure in helping delay the inevitable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused, the memory fragments from the game rushing through my mind like disjointed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>pieces of a puzzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I saw you...\" I hesitated, my voice dropping into a somber tone, \"...ultimately giving up, Father. Abandoning everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze flickered, a subtle reaction, but one that didn't escape my notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In order to prevent it...\" I pressed on, my voice steadier now, \"...reaching the end of the Trail\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>is a must.\" These weren't just words strung together for persuasion; they were declarations of\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>inevitability, echoes of events that I knew would unfold from the game's narrative. Fragmented scenarios of absolute facts-that's what I laid before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Luther, my words must have been both perplexing and plausible, a confusing mix of\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>cryptic foresight and undeniable urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Weaver's Dream as my shield, he couldn't outright dismiss them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable, though I could see the weight of\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>contemplation in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't doubting me outright; the plausibility of my statements, paired with my conviction, made them hard to refute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, his voice came low and deliberate, cutting through the tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know how long Leo has?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question was serious, devoid of any hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know the exact date,\" I admitted, my tone reflecting both truth and frustration. \"Everything felt fragmented, like pieces of a broken mirror... but it will happen soon.\" The room fell silent again, the air thick with unspoken questions and looming uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I knew it wasn't too far into the future, I thought grimly, but seeing how messy things have already become, how certain butterfly effects could override what I once knew... even I can't be sure anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a reason why the other Riley was rushing me, driving me forward despite the risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mentioned that the Trail of Light was the way to prevent the calamity from happening...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this true?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" I replied with a firm nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duke's sharp eyes scrutinized me, searching for even the smallest crack in my response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't afford to falter-not now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, there were other ways to avert the calamities, paths tied to the game's mechanics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upgrading the protagonist's specs to the max level, acquiring ultimate-tier skills, or obtaining the legendary weapons scattered across the empire and the world even upgrading the heroines to their full potentials-all of these could lead to victory. However, in this specific event tied to Snow's arc, the Trail of Light was the defining route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could tell from his expression that the Duke likely believed my warning centered on the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>calamity that would unfold after the Emperor's death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't entirely wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In [Bad End No. 94: Emperor's Demise]-a personal bad ending tied to Snow's route-the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>empire collapsed in the wake of the Emperor's passing, and chaos ensued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tragedy of that timeline still haunted me. It was the only scenario in the game where\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow could be lost, even with her love percentage maxed out at 100%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought sent a chill down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not even I have the qualifications to enter the Trail,\" the Duke said suddenly, his voice\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>somber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" I blurted out, caught completely off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even Leo-the Emperor-tried once,\" he continued, his gaze distant, as though recalling a painful memory. \"He was qualified to enter, yes... but he ultimately failed. That failure cursed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>him. While he achieved greatness within the Trail, the price he paid was severe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of his words left me stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duke doesn't have the qualifications to enter the Trail of Light?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This revelation wasn't in the game. Nowhere in the lore or narrative had this ever come up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If what he was saying was true, it shattered a fundamental assumption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duke was a legendary figure in the empire, his level and abilities far exceeding most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By all accounts, he should have been able to conquer the Trial with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he couldn't even enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does that mean the requirements in the game were nullified?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, level 150 was only the recommended level for entering the Trail of Light, not a strict\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>prerequisite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since there was no way to rush to this scenario so early in the game, most players probably\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>never had the opportunity to attempt the trial this fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This realization opened a floodgate of possibilities and uncertainties in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could dwell further, the Duke's voice brought me back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you certain you'll take on the trial... son?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried both concern and a hint of doubt, as if he was still gauging whether I truly\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>understood the enormity of what I was about to face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ye-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started to answer confidently, only to be cut off by an unexpected-and chaotic-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>interruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GWACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SMACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy wooden door next to us suddenly buckled inward, splintering at the edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface as the magic barrier placed on it flickered and then\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>shattered with a faint hum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"O-Ouch...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, quiet voice filtered through the commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From behind the collapsed door, a young woman stumbled forward, struggling to regain her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hands pressed against the splintered frame as she slowly lifted herself upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her wide, violet eyes met mine, and her face immediately flushed a deep shade of red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"U-uhm, t-this is...\" She stammered, her voice trembling. Her gaze darted between me and the Duke, as if caught in a crime she hadn't meant to commit. \"Princess-\" The Duke's words faltered as he stared at her in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I didn't mean to pry!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She straightened herself immediately, bowing so deeply that her silvery hair spilled over her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>shoulders like a curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her obvious nervousness and desperation to explain herself only made the situation more\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>surreal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked, trying to process what just happened. This girl...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was Princess Sophiel White Germonia Leven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow's half-sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the villainess of her route, known infamously as \"the Fool Princess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2487,"2026-06-03T14:40:38.925Z",1,"novelbin.me","933b38e17e36ba0ad267addc034d4e3736012f995e34f4ae4c72af47b17e0229","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-271","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-269",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]