[{"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-425":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},1218417,1604,"Chapter 425: Celestial Contract...","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-425",425,"\u003Cp>Recalling the events with Seo yesterday, Riley brushed aside a curtain of tall, sweeping leaves, his steps slowing for a moment as he carefully surveyed the area around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're getting close,\" he said, his voice steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you feel any celestial energy, Rose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose, walking just behind him, closed her eyes for a second and focused her senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint shimmer of mana brushed against her perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's weak,\" she replied, golden eyes narrowing slightly, \"but... there really is something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" Riley said. \"We should hurry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up their pace, both of them expanded their mana senses outward like a second layer of vision, scanning deeper into the dense, twilight-draped forest of the academy grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they moved, Riley's mind drifted back briefly to yesterday —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Seo's shy confession, to the innocent but genuine happiness that lit up her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to the envelope he'd secretly passed into her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His plan involving the Gyeoul Clan Head — Seo's influential relative — was already set into motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Seo delivered the letter safely, everything should unfold exactly as he hoped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the old man would take the bait immediately or play coy remained uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the clan head's stubborn and prideful nature, Riley fully expected he would eventually come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only question was when and how he would make his move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight flicker of guilt crossed Riley's heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had used the opportunity of the date — just a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just about making Seo happy, as much as he genuinely cared for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him, it was simply the most efficient choice at the time — killing two birds with one stone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seo got her special day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he laid the groundwork for securing one of his future guarantors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Riley,\" Rose spoke up again, glancing toward the distant treetops, \"I think the energy is pulsing from the northeast. Should we head there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... Even though it's pulsing in that direction, the real source is moving towards us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose immediately tensed at his words, adjusting her stance instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, deep within the monster-infested forest that sprawled beyond the academy grounds,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley was making preparations for his next step —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The encounter that would, if successful, secure his second guarantor for the future he was planning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their feet moved soundlessly over the uneven earth, weaving between thick roots and ancient trunks,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the heavy silence of the forest broken only by the occasional low rustle of unseen beasts lurking far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, venturing this deep into the academy's forests would have been a death wish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters lurked everywhere here — beasts drawn to the heavy mana that saturated the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this depth, even elite students would usually be swarmed by vicious creatures attacking from every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even the faintest sound of movement or the glint of hostile eyes from the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was eerily silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if the entire area within a full kilometer radius had been emptied of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The natural energy Riley and Rose gave off — vast, overwhelming, and quietly dominant — kept all lesser beasts far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most crazed of monsters, driven by instinct alone, would think twice before stepping into the aura of such power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley glanced sideways at Rose, who walked calmly beside him, her footsteps light against the frost-covered ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a simple, warm white cloak today, its soft fabric blending into the snowy atmosphere of the early winter morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden hair peeked out from under the hood, gleaming faintly whenever a sliver of sunlight broke through the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her golden eyes, sharp yet distant, scanned their surroundings with idle curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, she looked harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pretty girl out for a stroll in the woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But anyone who underestimated her would be making their last mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, despite the casual outfit and serene demeanor she gave off, Rose was arguably the most powerful mage in the entire academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley smirked slightly to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Lavine should take an interest the moment she sees Rose...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current plan to secure his other guarantor was built precisely around that idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Archmage Lavine — aloof, detached from worldly affairs, wrapped up in the endless mysteries of time and space —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even she wouldn't be able to ignore someone like Rose forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose's potential was simply too great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Lavine, with all her godlike pride, would have to acknowledge it eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once she did... Riley would have an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers brushed against the blue silvery earring on his left ear, almost absentmindedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It gave off a soft warmth — a faint pulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This earring wasn't just decoration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Tears of Chronos]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a magically bound artifact, tuned directly to Lavine's celestial mana signature —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a \"tracker\" of sorts, though extremely subtle and nearly impossible to detect without a special kind of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most wouldn't even realize it was doing anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Riley's \"opened eyes,\" the intricate lines of energy and guidance woven into the world around him were clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see the thin threads that pointed the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following them was as simple as breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, he didn't actually have to search blindly for traces of celestial energy in the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earring quietly guided him toward Lavine's presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she was getting closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the faint tracks of celestial energy led Riley back to Covan Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, he had been half-certain from the start that this place held some connection to Lavine's domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he stood here again, facing the familiar looming mouth of the cave, he was sure of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entrance was no longer as it used to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulsing across the cave walls were shimmering red runes — not the natural formations one might expect from old magic, but living runes, drawn with deliberate precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each rune throbbed with a subtle, almost musical cadence, exuding an aura of distortion and tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose, walking up beside him, narrowed her golden eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, she simply stared, processing the dense, warped energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with rare emotion in her voice, she asked quietly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you know a special crack was hidden here, Riley?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley smiled faintly, brushing a hand through his hair as he studied the flickering runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just... felt it,\" he admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that why you brought me here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly, when it comes to anything connected to celestial magic, you're the best person to have around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, turning his gaze toward the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's precisely this type of spatial crack that trapped Alice and me here... months ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't bother giving Rose the full story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation back then hadn't been exactly the same, but the principle was close enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crack between domains, improperly sealed, leaking foreign mana — it had almost become a familiar sight by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowing in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her golden eyes darkened, growing serious as she continued to inspect the shimmering crack from a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Want me to close it?\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, no, not exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose gave him a puzzled look, her arms loosely crossing under her cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it would be dangerous to leave something like this open, right?\" she said, her tone analytical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although... it does feel a little different. Calculated, even. Like someone intentionally opened it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She crouched slightly, reaching out a gloved hand, feeling the distortions without touching them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's more like... the aftermath of a rogue experiment,\" she murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not stable. Dangerous. I thought you brought me here to close it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice held a soft questioning note at the end, like she was trying to confirm his intentions one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley chuckled under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well... I did bring you here because I needed your help,\" he said, slowly approaching the crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But no — I don't want you to close it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted a hand toward the red, shimmering wall of magic, feeling its chaotic energy lick at his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he turned back slightly toward Rose and asked, voice calm but firm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rose... Can you open this crack fully?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose blinked once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She straightened up, golden eyes sharpening as she stared at him, trying to gauge his seriousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening an unstable crack like this was reckless at best, suicidal at worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Riley stood there with that same steady confidence he always wore whenever he made one of his insane plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This crack... I want you to fix it, Rose. And then...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley trailed off, touching the blue earring on his left ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint shimmer ran through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he focused, the earring pulsed — releasing a thread of celestial energy, weaving into the surrounding space like a silent symphony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose's eyes sharpened immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a genius mage who had read through thousands — perhaps hundreds of thousands — of magical tomes, many of them involving celestial magic, she recognized the intricate patterns instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The celestial energy Riley released wasn't just resonating with the crack in the cave wall — it was harmonizing with it, guiding it, as though it were the missing piece of an ancient puzzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more than that — she recognized who the mana patterns belonged to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her immense talents, Rose had learned not to trust only her own genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her youth, and even now, she had diligently studied the legacies of the greatest minds in history — especially the one who stood above them all:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strongest archmage to ever live.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The founder of the academy itself, nearly a thousand years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unrivaled Grand Archmage of celestial magic —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lavine Chronos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the celestial runes clicked in her mind; Rose's breath subtly hitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana flowing from Riley's earring carried the unmistakable traces of Lavine's signature — the same signature she had memorized, studied, and admired for years without ever once believing she would encounter it outside dusty records and long-forgotten magical relics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't you want to meet the source of this magic, Rose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley's voice was light, teasing even, but it carried a weight that settled deep into the air around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose looked at him sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her golden eyes, normally clear and unreadable, now shimmered with a rare flicker of emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, like so many times before, Riley was pulling her into a world of mysteries — mysteries that clung to him like a second skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Questions flooded her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did he know all of this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was he connected to Lavine Chronos?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What secrets was he hiding under that casual smile?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Rose, as she always did, pushed those questions aside for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because no matter how many riddles Riley brought with him, one thing was always certain —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life was never boring with him around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And somehow, she didn't mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small, amused smile tugged at her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without another word, she walked toward Riley, her golden eyes beginning to gleam with calculated intent as she studied the magical crack.\u003C\u002Fp>",1853,"2026-06-03T14:40:38.926Z",1,"novelbin.me","337e1b6dd08974593ca5fe54333a130bfa28a3c32a02f1f5a70e68ea48a0221b","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-426","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-424",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]