[{"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-579":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},1218848,1604,"Chapter 579: Assessments before the festival","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-579",579,"\u003Cp>Cristo Kal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I remember of him in the game, he was one of those side characters who only got a brief spotlight in this arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a mini-boss, not a mid-boss, and certainly not a final one. Just... there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piece on the board that most players overlooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was, however, described as a candidate for true demonic possession by the demon king Asmodues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the many routes I completed, he never quite reached that point—but when[Act 4 — Chapter 5: Lightbringer]came around, he did end up becoming a dangerous assassin-class demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t strong enough to be a serious opponent on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But tricky? Absolutely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoyingly tricky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His role in the climax wasn’t to overwhelm the protagonist, but to create openings—just enough of a distraction for Asmodeus to land hits that actually mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was what made him dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of experience points, he was practically worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No major loot, no meaningful rewards. Which is exactly why he’s the perfect target for an early elimination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why let someone like him live long enough to become a thorn later?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not like I particularly liked or disliked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just... there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another face in the crowd of villains and pawns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some might argue it’s cruel to kill him now, especially since he isn’t a demon or a worshipper yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s still human. Still redeemable, maybe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then you remember the atrocities he committed later—everything he did in blind loyalty to his so-called master’s orders and desires—and sympathy quickly dries up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hardly anyone would waste their pity on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, of course, there’s Seo. In one of the bad ends, Cristo’s involvement with her was... unforgivable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone was enough reason to erase him early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he isn’t just a potential threat down the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, he’s Hajey’s spy and informant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Removing him would cripple Hajey’s movements, limit his eyes and ears in the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing two birds with one stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he was still technically a foreign student on tour, erasing him right away would only bring unnecessary trouble to the principal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, for now, an initial evaluation would have to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foreign students were probably still wandering through Killian Hall, trying to familiarize themselves with the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, academy students like us had been told to stay in our dorms for the time being, to give the newcomers space before any mingling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant there should be an influx of them roaming the main halls and open areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which narrowed down the places I could find him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing Cristo’s personality—and the fact that Hajey was the one pulling his strings—the odds of him strolling around in the open were low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t the type to waste time pretending to be casual when he had orders to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spread my mana sense as I walked forward, scanning the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, two signatures stood out from the rest, tucked away deep within Killian Hall—in the hidden training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was massive and steady, almost overwhelming in its presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had to be Kagami.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was faint, flickering in and out like a flame on the verge of going out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That one could only belong to Cristo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he really did sneak this far in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could guess Hajey’s instructions easily enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most likely, Cristo had been sent to find Seo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But considering our history, the chances of him looking for me as well were high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, everyone from the Gyeoul household should already be aware of my interest in Seo—assuming, of course, Master Beon had already informed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t deny my curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How exactly did the demon king Asmodeus decide on his potential incarnation targets for possession?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could glimpse even a fraction of the essence behind Cristo, it might prove useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, I already knew who Asmodeus would possess in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But variables existed for a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Trisha, for example—her ties with Erebil were a constant reminder that nothing was set in stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just because the game had shown me one path didn’t mean this world would follow it perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all I knew, Asmodeus might shift his plans, or worse, collaborate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that happened—if Asmodeus and Erebil were colluding—then things would spiral quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether out of spite for me, or simply to test me, Erebil could easily throw Asmodeus into the mix earlier than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I wasn’t about to let it get that far. Lucas would handle the main threats. That much, I was determined to see through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I descended the broad stone staircase toward the center of Killian Hall, I passed groups of foreign students scattered in the empty corridors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes followed me as I walked, filled with curiosity, awe, and maybe a hint of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attention wasn’t something I wanted today, but it couldn’t be helped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For them, spotting one of the academy’s top students must have been like seeing a rare beast in its natural habitat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring their stares, I pressed on until the hall finally opened up into the outside field of the hidden training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SWOOOSHH!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOMMM!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds of battle hit me immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, the air quivered with explosive force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man wielding twin daggers was darting desperately across the arena, his body twisting and bending just to avoid the incoming barrage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Towering fists, each blow heavy enough to rattle the ground, hammered toward him in rapid succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Kagami. His strikes were merciless, a storm of raw strength packed into every swing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Cristo—poor Cristo—was clearly struggling. His daggers flashed, his feet scrambled, but from the pale, almost whining look on his face, it was obvious this wasn’t his idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had probably been dragged into training by Kagami’s sheer force of will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost amusing, really, watching these two unlikely characters train together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I narrowed my eyes, letting my mana stretch out and brush against Cristo’s essence from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing abnormal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No corruption, no hints of demonic energy laced through his veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it because he hasn’t been influenced yet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or has Asmodeus simply not taken an interest in him at this stage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, not everyone turned into demons by the end of Act 4, Chapter 5.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only certain individuals, under certain conditions, managed that \"demonic transcendence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant there had to be a special reason behind Asmodeus’ choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something more than coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-Wait, senior—PLEASE STOP!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cristo’s panicked pleas echoed through the training ground, met by Kagami’s booming laugh as his massive fists crashed down again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clash of raw strength against frantic agility painted a ridiculous picture—like a giant trying to squash a squirrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but shake my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kagami wasn’t holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against someone as slippery as Cristo, I supposed he couldn’t afford to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, when I noticed the faint scratch trailing across Kagami’s cheek, I raised a brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Cristo had managed to land a hit. Small, but enough to sting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No doubt the big guy took it personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How petty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I cared what happened to Cristo in the grand scheme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But letting my experimental subject die here, in a meaningless sparring match, would be a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was still so much to learn from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body blurred forward in a single movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOM!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground split and cracked beneath the shockwave as Kagami’s mana-coated fist came down—but it never connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand stopped it cold, fingers wrapping firmly around his knuckles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure reverberated outward, rattling the air and leaving fractures spiderwebbing across the stone floor behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kagami blinked, eyes wide. \"Huh, bud...??? Where’d you suddenly come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just around...\" I replied casually, not bothering with explanations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my gaze to the side, where Cristo stood frozen, both arms raised protectively over his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wide eyes peeked out between them, staring at me with open shock—half-relief, half-disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, at one of the three most prestigious buildings of the academy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Royal Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place where only those of royal and the highest noble bloodlines could stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very air carried an air of superiority, as though even the stone walls whispered of bloodlines, pedigrees, and centuries of privilege.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A carriage adorned with white panels and golden detailing rolled to a stop before the grand entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coat of arms gleamed on its side, polished until the crest almost seemed to shine with its own light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within stepped a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden hair, golden eyes, posture straight as a blade. His very presence radiated a cold, untouchable authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adjusting his thin-framed glasses, his expression did not so much as waver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A manservant already awaited him, bowing low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,\" the servant intoned smoothly. \"My name is Albert, head butler of Royal Hall. I trust your journey here was without issue, Duke Raymond Brilliance. Please allow me the honor of guiding you to your quarters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The duke gave only a short nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sharp golden eyes flicked across the surroundings with a single sweep, evaluating and memorizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He followed without a word, every step echoing with quiet dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been some time since he last left his dukedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years, in fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when he returned to this academy... everything looked the same. Awfully, disgustingly the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that he expected much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, wasn’t it basic courtesy to greet someone of his standing properly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, the principal or the student council president should have made their appearance. Sending a mere butler—it was laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His assessment of the academy soured further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t come here to complain about trivial formalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reaching his assigned quarters, Duke Raymond dismissed Albert with a single glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His personal attendants were already waiting, swift to hand over the documents he had requested in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sank into the velvet sofa, crossing his legs with practiced elegance, golden eyes narrowing as he read through the papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One name stood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Riley Hell...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was cold, measured, as though simply uttering the name was distasteful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The document was simple—basic information about the young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its implications were not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the man who was to marry his daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His most brilliant daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all of it had been decided without his knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without his consent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow crossed the duke’s face, his grip on the paper tightening ever so slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This academy...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This boy...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither would be allowed to trifle with the Brilliance family.\u003C\u002Fp>",1750,"2026-06-03T14:41:08.409Z",1,"novelbin.me","49fc497486de4ccb313b4e25b1fabdc56fd655463f36206c7fd9093dc8b7b78f","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-580","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-578",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]