[{"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-677":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},1218896,1604,"Chapter 676: Frozen North 7.5","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-677",677,"\u003Cp>Watching the prince’s figure slowly melt into the crowd, Lucas’s golden eyes gleamed for a brief moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>sharp, radiant, almost predatory—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>before quietly darkening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Was I mistaken?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only lasted an instant, but he was certain of what he felt then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That disgusting, crawling presence that clung to the prince the moment his hand touched Janica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sensation Lucas knew all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"U-um... Lucas?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Janica’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned immediately and, without hesitation, gently took her hand. His gaze dropped to her wrist, brows knitting together in concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine,\" she replied quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Is that so,\" he muttered. \"Still—just in case.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could protest, his other hand joined the first, carefully cradling her wrist and palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft warmth spread from his touch as faint divine energy flowed through her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Janica felt her face heat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was always like this—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>completely natural, utterly unaware of how intimate his actions felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trait she sometimes wished he’d realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was better if he didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head, chasing away the pointless thoughts, then looked up at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That prince,\" she said quietly. \"Did you notice something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes... but it isn’t something you should worry about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought I sensed something off,\" he answered honestly. \"But it seems I was probably mistaken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Janica frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew something had happened. That strange warmth, the dizziness, the instinctive warning screaming at her the moment he touched her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet for some reason, the details refused to take shape in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it was, that prince was dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see,\" she said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at Lucas, then smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, she was really glad he had arrived when he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he was a troublesome, muscle-brained idiot who solved most problems with force—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it truly mattered, he was the most reliable person she could rely on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright... that should do it for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas finally pulled his hands away, looking satisfied as he examined Janica’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint marks left by the prince’s grip were completely gone, and more importantly, that lingering, unpleasant sensation he had felt earlier had vanished as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you feel anything strange,\" he added calmly, \"tell me immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Janica rotated her wrist, opening and closing her hand a few times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry, everything feels fine,\" she said. \"Though... when that prince touched me earlier, I did feel something unpleasant. Kind of disgusting, actually. But it’s probably just because I didn’t want him touching me in the first place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Disgusting...?\" Lucas echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas fell silent, his expression turning serious as his gaze drifted slightly downward, clearly lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him like that, Janica couldn’t help herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled and leaned in just a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s with that face? After leaving me out of almost everything lately, don’t tell me you’re suddenly worried about me now? Fufu. Don’t worry—even if that suspicious prince did try something, I could’ve handled it myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her teasing smile froze almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Lucas was staring straight at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not flustered. Not embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about, Janica?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course I’d be worried about you,\" he said plainly. \"That’s only natural. You’re someone important to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"L-Lucas...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So don’t say things like that,\" he continued, his tone firm but gentle. \"You’re the most precious person to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does this idiot even realize what he’s saying...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Janica’s face burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt like she’d just been scolded—and confessed to—at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You really are unfair,\" she muttered, looking away as she tried, and failed, to calm her racing heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Prince Alain melted back into the luxurious crowd of the grand hall, moving smoothly as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He avoided unnecessary conversations, slipping between nobles and merchants with practiced ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...That was dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression darkened as Lucas’s intense gaze replayed in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should’ve been more careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planned for interference, but not like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not from someone who could cross the entire hall in an instant and crush his arm so effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, he should have prepared something to keep Lucas occupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It only lasted a moment, yet standing under those golden eyes made him feel unbearably small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, he would never have tolerated such humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instinct told him clearly—if he pushed further, things would have ended far worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retreating was the right choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was frustrating to abandon such a promising candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Janica Mortelina was ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her compatibility, her soul, her potential—she would have made an excellent vessel for his queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything about her fit the requirements almost too perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for that annoying obstacle beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That boy... no, that thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already been warned, but seeing it firsthand confirmed the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the rumors were real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas was the Child of Light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being that stood in direct opposition to his queen’s existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alain’s fingers slowly clenched as he exhaled through his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Then the plan changes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, he would withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reassess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Redirect his efforts elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, as long as the Child of Light remained alive...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any move made without preparation would only invite ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, eliminating threats was part of his duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing what needed to be done and actually having the means to do it were two entirely different matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now... he lacked both power and certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he would simply have to seek another vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once my queen descends, dealing with that wretched boy will be effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought steadied him, restoring a measure of confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expanding his mana, Alain let his perception spread outward, slipping through the senses of the few followers he had brought with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes became his own, scanning the hall from different angles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There—another suitable vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not as perfect as Janica, but still acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, as if the world enjoyed mocking him, an irritating presence lingered nearby on the other vessel as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, as long as it wasn’t someone blessed by divinity, it posed no real issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he had already drawn Lucas’s attention, he avoided drawing more eyes, slipping through the crowd with practiced ease, keeping his mana tightly restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No unnecessary risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No surprises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh—?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision spun as his body was abruptly halted, his legs giving out as he fell backward, landing hard on the polished floor. A sharp pain shot up his spine, his face contorting as the impact rattled his bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Did I hit a wall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That resistance was far too dense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning, Alain lifted his gaze—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Piercing blue eyes stared down at him, cold and bottomless, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden hair, sharp features, and an overwhelming presence that pressed down on him like the weight of the world itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no mistaking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Riley Hell?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley simply looked at him in silence for a few seconds, as if examining an insect beneath his shoe. Then, in a low voice devoid of emotion, he muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mid-boss... that’s right. You were supposed to be here as well...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Alain could process the words, Riley extended a hand and pulled him up with alarming ease, his grip firm yet controlled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley made no attempt to explain further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the first time that night, Alain felt a chill far colder than Lucas’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a threat he could miscalculate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine,\" Riley replied casually. \"But why are you in such a hurry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alain paused for half a beat, then smiled lightly. \"It’s rather personal. That’s right, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s no need.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll probably forget it anyway,\" Riley said plainly. \"So there’s no need to tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Is this man serious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a split second, irritation flared inside Alain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being dismissed so casually—no, erased—was something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the feeling vanished just as quickly, buried beneath a polite smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, is that so?\" Alain laughed lightly. \"Then I’ll excuse myself. Once again, thank you for the help—and sorry for bumping into you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine,\" Riley said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still unsettled by Riley’s unreadable gaze, Alain turned and began walking away, forcing himself not to look back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every instinct screamed at him to leave this place quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever it is you’re planning...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley’s voice reached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alain stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...make sure my beloved doesn’t get involved, alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, Alain turned around, a question forming on his lips—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FOOOOSHHH.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An overwhelming pressure slammed into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something far worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath caught, his limbs stiffened, and for a terrifying moment, it felt as if his very soul had been frozen in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or I’ll pay your queen a personal visit,\" Riley continued calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alain looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue eyes from before were gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their place were dark, void-like eyes—endless, empty, and absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gaze that made one thing painfully clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alain trembled, cold sweat running down his back, his mouth dry as he forced a nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when the pressure vanished did he realize how close he had come to collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without another word, Alain turned away and disappeared into the crowd—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his confidence shattered, his thoughts in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>",1590,"2026-06-03T14:41:09.353Z",1,"novelbin.me","c85ab03db860c76203f7d89ba635234cc9ec4ff510217dcacc1c335986fe0c22","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-678","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-676",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]