[{"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-288":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},1218780,1604,"Chapter 288: Trial's End (Interlude)","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-288",288,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were three distinct paths to defeating the Evil God Erebil, each tied to a specific set of choices that determined her epilogue route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first was through the sole romance route with Saintess Emilia, which offered a clear but morally complex resolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second was a critical decision made during the demons' invasion of the academy, where your stance and alliances shaped the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last, and perhaps most challenging, was the secret Harem route-a path fraught with its own set of complications and requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother, unsurprisingly, had chosen the third option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just like I remembered her playstyle: chaotic but oddly effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defeating Erebil on this route wasn't exactly easy, but it wasn't impossible either if you knew what you were doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key lay in understanding each character's strengths and how to seamlessly switch between them mid-battle, utilizing the precise skills and strategies needed to counter Erebil's overwhelming power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dodging and blocking her devastating area-of-effect (AOE) attacks was manageable with Emilia on the roster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her divine support skills provided critical healing and damage mitigation while reinforcing the team's resistance against dark magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Restraining spells, the cornerstone of this strategy, were handled expertly by Rose and Snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At their maximum potential, these two could immobilize the Evil God for just long enough to create critical openings in her defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Seo and Flamme provided relentless damage from the rear, their precision and firepower ensuring Erebil couldn't fully unleash her abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their combined assault kept her on edge, limiting her ability to retaliate effectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle's linchpin, however, was the attack on Erebil's real body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liyana, fighting behind the scenes, targeted Erebil's physical form, preventing her from anchoring her power fully in the material plane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dual-front assault forced her soul into an incredibly vulnerable state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that's where Lucas, the protagonist, came into play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His divine light-based attacks struck directly at her core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Erebil's defenses already fractured by the coordinated assault, Lucas's abilities dealt heavy, decisive damage to her soul, preventing her from regaining momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-BOOM!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-SWOOSH!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-SWISHHH!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-BANGGG!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screen erupted into chaos, a symphony of explosions, streaks of light, and swirling mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic circles overlapped with crackling auras, and intricate patterns filled the air like an unending cascade of fireworks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The relentless assault of animations and effects was almost hypnotic, pushing the limits of sensory overload.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like the kind of dazzling spectacle that could fry most minds trying to process it all in real-time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the game's POV locked onto a specific character, the sheer number of moving parts -characters darting around, attacks converging, and the ceaseless flashing of spells-was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the kind of display that would've turned most gaming rigs into molten scrap by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn't really a problem...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the device given to mother was practically a supercomputer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn't be surprised if it could run a small mothership.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're still using Seo,\" I said, noting her choice of main character on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, she is my favorite,\" Mother replied nonchalantly, her fingers dancing over the controller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Using Lucas in this stage would make it a lot easier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's the point in that?\" she said, a sly smile tugging at her lips. \"Besides, it's not like we'll lose if I use her, right? You said so yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a point. There was no real downside to her preference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this stage in the game, every character in her party was maxed out, their stats pushed to their absolute limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their abilities were optimized for every situation, their synergy so fine-tuned that even a random button-mashing approach would've yielded decent results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had carefully guided her through the early game, making sure she avoided pitfalls and gained all the key resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was just normal mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her current team, victory was a foregone conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every heroine with their unique and unpredictable devastating attacks, paired with Alice's calculated precision and undying red army and Liyana's overwhelming magical chaotic prowess, made them unstoppable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it into perspective, Alice and Liyana at this point were on par with the partial true form\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>of Erebil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she switched to full auto mode and simply watched the chaos unfold, the game would still end with a perfect happy ending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We won!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden-highlighted text flashed across the screen, marking the victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beautiful, cinematic cutscene that followed was as heartwarming as I remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The protagonist stood at the center of the battlefield, battered but victorious, as each of the girls bombarded him with joyous hugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their laughter filled the scene, a stark contrast to the grim struggles they had faced moments before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden sun broke through the ominous clouds, its rays casting warmth and hope upon the darkened world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The protagonist, still clutching his sword, raised it high into the sky-a symbol of their\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>triumph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him, the people who had joined the fight against the Evil God's army cheered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some cried tears of relief, while others clutched their weapons tightly, shouting the hero's\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>name in celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was grand, beautiful, and everything I had remembered it to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehehe... That was fun,\" Helena said with a satisfied smile, leaning back slightly, clearly\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>proud of their achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not over yet,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh-?\" she hummed, her curiosity piqued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main story was complete, but that didn't mean the game had reached its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an open-world RPG, after all-concluding everything with a single victory scene\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>would've been far too simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed were the epilogue events-each girl's individual resolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the harem ending being the default conclusion, the game had meticulously crafted\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>extra scenes for each character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These scenes offered closure, heartfelt moments, and opportunities to deepen the connection\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>with each love interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, it paved the way for the true secret harem ending, the ultimate reward for\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>players who managed to balance all the character routes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true harem ending of marrying all the heroines at once...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could already feel Helena's excitement growing as she leaned forward slightly, her gaze\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>fixed on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might've played casually, but even she couldn't resist the allure of unlocking every single\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>bonus event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hoh-so this is where the R-18 parts come in, right?\" Helena teased, her voice laced with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mischief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a given option,\" I replied, keeping my eyes on the screen, unwilling to entertain her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>antics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh~ do you want to see it together?\" she continued, her tone dripping with playful\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>provocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|| ||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehehe, I'm just kidding-\" she giggled, clearly amused by my silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring her dry joke, I pressed on with the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The story unfolded as we progressed, with each heroine's side story taking center stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some tales were lighthearted and fun, while others carried a melancholic weight that tugged\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>at the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were romantic moments that made even me pause and reflect, and genuinely funny scenes that had Helena chuckling softly beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of the main heroines had a story that stood out-a unique confession, a poignant expression of their feelings, or a deeply personal reason for their actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching it all again, I was reminded why I had once lost myself in this game. Back then, it wasn't just about escapism-it was about crafting a world where everyone could find their happy ending, no matter how complicated or flawed their stories were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soft weight of her head pressing onto my left shoulder startled me for a moment. Turning slightly, I saw her resting against me, her eyelids drooping as fatigue began to claim her. \"Hehe~ Seo was so cute~ we should've gone on more dates with her,\" Helena murmured, her voice faint and tired but carrying a hint of genuine affection. \"All the other girls were too~ I'm surprised the developers of this game actually managed to create so many heroines with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>their unique quirks... though I wish they weren't that obsessed~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words trailed off, but the warmth in her tone lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the dryness of her voice, there was no mistaking the joy she felt from the stories she\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had just witnessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a rare, genuine moment-one where her walls seemed to crumble, and the Helena in front of me wasn't the mischievous woman with snarky remarks, but someone simply\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>savoring a fleeting happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, I shifted slightly to make her more comfortable against my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the scene unfolded on the screen, the sound of bells chimed softly, echoing through the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>virtual cathedral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere was serene yet grand, the kind of moment that felt larger than life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother let go of her controller, her hand reaching out to clasp mine gently. \"They're all so pretty~,\" she murmured, her voice light with admiration, her grip surprisingly\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screen displayed a magnificent white hall inside a cathedral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man stood at the altar, his posture calm but expectant, waiting for what was to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, the girls began to appear, each wearing a unique and dazzling white wedding\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>dress. Some entered gracefully, others in pairs, while a few hesitated before walking forward, their nerves evident even through the game's animations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehehe~ haah~,\" Mother chuckled softly, leaning back as her expression turned wistful. \"How I wish I could see a wedding like this in real life... Too bad my life has always been\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>dedicated to the Empire. I guess we've all got our bad luck, huh, kiddo?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stayed quiet, watching as the scene reached its climax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blessing of the pope was delivered with solemnity, and the goddess above-represented\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>by a radiant, celestial figure-bathed the entire church in a cascade of shimmering lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a breathtaking sight, so vibrant and ethereal that it felt as though the heavens themselves had descended to bless the occasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The characters smiled one by one, their faces glowing with joy as they sealed their vows with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>kisses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each girl leaned in toward the young man at the altar, sharing their moment of happiness\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>with him. \"Hey, Han,\" Mother said suddenly, breaking the silence, \"would you invite me to your wedding... you know, if you ever get one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, who am I kidding?\" she laughed, the sound tinged with self-deprecation. \"There's no\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>way a wimp like you could ever talk to a girl, let alone get married. Hehehe~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her teasing tone might have stung a bit, but I didn't rise to the bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room began to darken subtly as the sun outside sank below the horizon, casting long\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>shadows through the windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The automatic lights should have turned on by now, but for some reason, they remained off, leaving the room bathed in an oddly dim glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know, Han... there's a lot this mother of yours wants to say to you right now, but... there's just not enough time~\" Her voice carried a softness that felt out of place, tinged with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>something deeper-something heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't reply. I couldn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My shoulders felt damp, her silent tears soaking through my shirt. Despite the joyful, triumphant atmosphere portrayed on the screen-the bright lights of the cathedral, the laughter of characters, and the uplifting music-the room felt muted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if the game was trying to mask the somber reality before me, deliberately hiding her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>true emotions behind its cheery facade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds of the cathedral's music swelled, carrying the energy of celebration, and the characters began their final dance under the stained-glass light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ending credits were drawing closer, but the weight in the room seemed to deepen with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>each passing\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Han...\" she said again, her voice trembling ever so slightly, \"Did you have fun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>11\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|| ||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"... Yes,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm~ I see~ That's good~ I had fun too, really, really fun...\" She chuckled softly, but it\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>sounded fragile, like it might break at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds of the game began to fade as it approached its final moments, the rhythm\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>slowing, the melodies softening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with it, I felt her warmth slipping away-so subtle at first that I thought I imagined it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but then undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tight firmness of her grip on my arm, the slight pressure of her presence, the life in her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>touch—all of it was fading, slipping through my fingers like grains of sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't dare look at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if I did, I knew what I'd see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth I didn't want to face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth she was trying to hide behind her smiles and playful teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trial was relentless, forcing me to confront things I'd rather leave buried. It laid bare illusions wrapped in the guise of a \"what if\" scenario, and no matter how much I\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>tried to remind myself that this wasn't real, the lines between illusion and reality blurred in\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ways that made distinguishing them feel nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A perfect happy ending... it's really plausible, huh? How enviable~\" Helena's voice carried a teasing lilt, but beneath it, there was a weight I couldn't ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't respond, my focus locked on the protagonist on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sword glinted as he raised it high, a final, triumphant blow that filled the room with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>blinding light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words hung in the air, lingering like smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, Han,\" she said softly, almost too softly. \"Just like all the heroines in this game... if you\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>were given the option, if I were given the chance... would you give me a happy ending as\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze for a moment, my hands gripping the controller tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The after-credits music started to roll as the screen faded to black, and her words hit me\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>harder than I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shifted beside me, her presence closer now, almost as if she didn't want the world to hear\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>what came next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice dropped to a whisper, trembling and fragile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Han... I'm sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't loud, but it echoed in my mind like a scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a quiet sigh, an exhale that carried more weight than I intended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My left hand moved on its own, resting gently atop her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her shoulders, which had been stiff, seemed to relax as I softly ruffled her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the act, I could feel her trembling, the vulnerability she rarely showed seeping\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>through in waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's alright,\" I murmured, keeping my voice steady as I felt the tremor in her subside. \"I've\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>already forgiven you... a long time ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it the truth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this moment, it felt like the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that's what she needed to hear right now, I wouldn't take it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand continued to move gently, an almost instinctive motion to calm her. I waited for her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>usual sarcastic, biting comeback-the obnoxious quip she always had ready to mask how she truly felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as I continued to wait.... no reply came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Progress 100%]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Trial of Choices Completed!]\u003C\u002Fp>",2494,"2026-06-03T14:40:38.925Z",1,"novelbin.me","e18b053d2473900ebd5496a59cb41c64b90e039503a5964ddd6813a17f04de52","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-289","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-287",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]