[{"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-521":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},1218967,1604,"Chapter 521: New faces","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-521",521,"\u003Cp>In the deep, endless pit of the void, where even the concept of time had long since unraveled, an ancient being sat upright upon a throne sculpted from pure darkness—an obsidian silhouette shaped like a woman, draped in the shadows of eternity itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was still, unmoving, yet the void around her pulsed as if breathing in reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her form, though without detail, exuded an overwhelming allure and authority—an ancient beauty born from chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From her formless gaze, she stared unblinkingly at the crimson sphere now floating gently before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sphere of condensed infernal energy, burning with silent intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparks of red lightning crackled across its surface as a voice finally echoed from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[He is indeed... interesting, O Great One.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice trembled with reverence, layered in distortion as though countless whispers were speaking in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A projection, and yet its presence was still heavy—none other than Asmodeus, a demon king whose name had long commanded fear across countless worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The throne-bound entity tilted her head ever so slightly, the first movement in what might have been centuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, feminine giggle echoed from the abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fufu~ I knew you’d understand his worth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her tone, Asmodeus couldn’t tell if she was pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no warmth behind the sound, no sincerity or cruelty—just a resonance of timelessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that she lacked emotion... it was that emotion, as he understood it, simply did not apply to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asmodeus had lived for millennia, ascended through fire and slaughter, climbed the endless tower of demon kind to reach the rank of King, and yet—before her, his spirit shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he was merely projecting himself into her realm, it felt as though the entity was directly in front of him, breathing down his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind screamed at him to flee, but his pride, honed through epochs of dominance, forced him to remain still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the Primordial Evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being whose name no longer needed to be spoken—because no one dared to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A presence that made even the most wretched creatures of the lower realms kneel in primal fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, a creature forged in sin and crowned in flame, was but a flicker against her eternal night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silent gulp stretched across his otherwise calm expression—an involuntary reaction, betraying the tension crawling up his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Am I... free to act as I see fit now, O Great One?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[He is, after all, a being touched by your will... I would rather not risk offending you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice—normally calm, laced with arrogance—was now cautious, almost reverent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even for someone like him, a King of the Lower Realms, speaking to her was walking the edge of a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So quiet, even the void itself seemed to hold its breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the answer—soft, cold, yet brimming with cruel certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Proceed. Just make sure... it becomes a tragedy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then with a flicker of her finger Erebil summoned something in front of the sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson sphere pulsed, as if in agreement, before unraveling in a twist of red mist—vanishing completely from her domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the silence that returned, the shadows around the throne thickened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cloud of dark smoke formed just beside the great being’s throne, twisting upward in a slow spiral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From it stepped a figure dressed in a flawless black suit, his face hidden behind a simple black mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no flare to his arrival—just quiet authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood calmly beside the throne, eyes hidden, posture respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you certain about this, Erebil?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was quiet, but firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wasn’t he your light?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The being—Erebil, the Primordial Darkness—didn’t turn to face him. Her voice answered like a whisper tangled in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes... he is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone was almost... tender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not quite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But he is growing too slowly. Too dim.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers, made of shadow and shape, lifted lazily from her throne as though cradling something only she could see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My light should be radiant... bursting with flavor and nourishment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was hunger in her voice now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ancient, consuming hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because for her to enjoy such a brilliant light—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most exquisite thing in existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man lowered his gaze slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’ll hate you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no judgment in the words. Just truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that truth made her chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned back into the dark folds of her throne, her gaze distant, almost dreamy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then that...would make everything all the more delightful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy continued as if nothing unusual had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Classes resumed like normal, as though the grand evaluation event from just days ago was nothing more than a minor blip in the school calendar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no celebrations, no extended breaks—unlike last year, where any major event usually meant at least a week or two of rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, however, the academy seemed to be in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without much warning, the pace picked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students barely had time to catch their breath before another announcement dropped—not just any announcement, but one involving yet another evaluation exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, it would focus on dungeon hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, just hearing the words \"evaluation\" and \"dungeon\" in the same sentence sent a wave of anxiety across the student body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tension stirred, especially among those still recovering from the last one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disapproval wasn’t quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First years and second years alike—those who had been directly involved in the recent evaluation—voiced their complaints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many were mentally and physically exhausted, and the idea of diving into other high-stakes test so soon didn’t sit well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But surprisingly, the backlash died down almost as quickly as it rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All thanks to a certain announcement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reward, in a way—one that made most students feel a bit better about everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, it was revealed that students in the specialized courses would be exempt from the upcoming midterm written exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone lifted the spirits of many, especially those in the Knight Department—who, frankly, didn’t rely much on academic scores to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, and more importantly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grand ball was announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A formal social gathering to be held for both first years and second years—a chance to unwind, dress up, and maybe, for a night, pretend they weren’t being crushed under pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The venue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evergreen Hall—the academy’s largest banquet hall, located right at the center of the Academy Square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elegant, historic, and rarely used except for the most important events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in a while, students had something to actually look forward to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The event was fully sponsored and managed by the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant everything—from the decorations to the food, even the dresses and suits students would wear—was provided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could even place a custom order for your own outfit if you wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear the school was trying to make it feel like a proper, relaxing break. Just a single night to forget everything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for most students, especially those exhausted from non-stop training and exams, that was more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, some still thought the whole thing was pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the dungeon evaluations were still happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if we’re being honest, it wasn’t like the noble kids cared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea of a fancy party inside the academy walls was already more than enough to get them excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess they missed their balls and banquets—the kind of events they used to attend regularly outside the academy, back when their status meant more than their performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was their chance to bring a bit of that life back, even if it was just for a night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still... as nice and relaxing as the event might seem on the surface, I already had a good idea of how toxic it could get.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re talking about academy students here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of people who smiled politely while sizing each other up, who never missed a chance to play social games even when they were dressed in silk and drinking wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since this whole thing was being led by Snow herself, I figured I should probably ask that lover of mine about how the night was going to play out beforehand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing her, she’s already got the entire flow of the event sorted down to the minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though honestly, I had other priorities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was hoping to use the extra downtime to check in on the clown’s condition—especially with Stacia’s current situation still being... unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small memory crept into my mind, and I found myself shaking my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That crazy princess really did a number on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It almost felt like déjà vu—the way things turned out after my first kiss with Snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That whirlwind of confusion, the whispers behind my back, the stares that lasted too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was already bracing myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way rumors spread in this place... they were probably blowing everything out of proportion again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snapped myself out of it with a shake of my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right. Focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started thinking again about the clown—whether or not I should go all in and finish things for good now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>End the threat, take control of the board before it spirals out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again... Stacia wasn’t permanently out of commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as she had mana, she could still move, still fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe taking the slower, safer route would be smarter—watch things unfold and only interfere when absolutely necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a bad option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since there was still the possibility of Asmodeus doing something unexpected. Something different from what I remembered in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because as much as I trusted Lucas’s fate as the \"protagonist\"—the guy who naturally draws the world’s attention and bends it to his favor—what happened during the evaluations was already a sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the same world I remembered from the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just because Lucas was meant to lead the story didn’t mean he’d bring about a good ending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both options had their merits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if I had to choose...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d probably go with the first one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stacia’s health mattered, of course. I wasn’t about to let her die or break down just to chase some ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if protecting her too much meant stopping her growth... if it meant she wouldn’t be able to stand on her own in the end...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what was the point of everything I did for her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the pain, all the improvements, all the risks?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she can’t use any of that to move forward on her own, then it’s as good as keeping her caged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On a side note, though... the official class rankings for the second years had just been released, and by tomorrow onwards, the S-Class of the second-year Knight Department would finally be restored to its full top 10 alignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two new students were scheduled to join us, and honestly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a little excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s been long overdue—our class had stayed at only eight members for quite a while now, which was unusual given that the top 10 format was kind of a tradition at this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having new classmates after all this time stirred a small sense of curiosity in me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shift in dynamics always brings change, and change, whether chaotic or calm, is still movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, for reference, here’s the current updated ranking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1. Seo\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2. Riley\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3. Kagami\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>4. Janica\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>5. Lucas\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>6. Susan\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>7. Theo\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>8. Gilbert\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>9. Antony\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>10. Trisha\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seo and I didn’t really change ranks, which was about what I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After everything that happened during the Evaluation Exam—especially my fight with Stacia—there wasn’t really much room for complaint or surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the ranking does kind of feel like favoritism on the academy’s side as Seo and I didn’t exactly do much in the exam....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kagami rising up the ladder wasn’t unexpected either; the guy’s been putting in serious work, and it’s finally showing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Janica too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even some of the quieter names started inching their way upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas, on the other hand... his drop from rank 3 to 5 was a little surprising, though I suppose it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his status as a shining symbol among the commoners and one of the most recognizable names in the academy, I half-expected the higher-ups to be a bit more lenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I guess the performance during the Evaluation Exam was weighed more heavily than public perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Word has it he got caught in some kind of trap, which led to an early elimination—which was absurd but well considering his character... it kind of made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, the only reason he didn’t fall lower might’ve been due to how high performance of his trained junior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing Lucas, the \"dear protagonist\" of this world, rankings probably don’t matter much to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’ll spin fate in his favor eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s just how he is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now as for Antony and Trisha... the new additions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m genuinely curious about them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who they are, what they bring to the class, and whether or not they’ll stir up any chaos—or maybe something more subtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, tomorrow’s going to be interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>",2175,"2026-06-03T14:41:03.112Z",1,"novelbin.me","adde92be04edbd451117f70ee3f1650eec6ad7a02b1967b6582755af8b122e9c","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-628","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-627",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]