[{"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-680":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},1218899,1604,"Chapter 679: A nightfall end","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-680",680,"\u003Cp>After Kagami’s commotion, the hall descended into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispers turned into murmurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murmurs into heated speculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before long, assumptions, half-truths, and outright rumors spread through the hall like wildfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scale of the incident alone was unprecedented. A guest—no, a foreign prince—had been struck down in the middle of the Lumen Commerce Association Ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assailant wasn’t some unknown thug either, but a highly favored S-class student of the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to make matters worse, the guards—boasted to be among the finest private security forces on the continent—had been completely unable to stop it in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an event that prided itself on absolute safety, this was catastrophic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since its establishment, the Lumen Commerce Association Ball had never once suffered an incident of this magnitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every guest was meticulously verified—either a titan of commerce, a powerful investor, or a carefully evaluated political asset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entry alone required layers of background checks, contracts, and magical scrutiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something like this had slipped through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People began questioning the association itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a royal guest could be nearly killed in the middle of the hall, what did that say about their security?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone like Kagami could unleash such power before being restrained, how safe were the other attendees?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And most importantly—what had truly happened between him and Prince Alain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, a similar scene did occur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it ended quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas would step forward, golden eyes burning with divine authority, and expose Prince Alain’s true identity on the spot—a demonic worshiper hiding behind royal blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth would unravel instantly, justifying Alain’s immediate arrest... or execution, depending on the player’s choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Order would be restored within minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this wasn’t the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Kagami possessed no divine blessing capable of unveiling demonic corruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sacred authority that forced truth into the open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he had were his instincts, his experience, and the faint but unmistakable stench of demonic mana that had driven him to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And without proof—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the eyes of the world, he was merely a violent academy brute who had assaulted a royal guest in public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That difference—small as it seemed—changed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t really matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley assessed the situation almost instantly, his thoughts moving far faster than the chaos unfolding around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emergency healers present in the hall were nowhere near sufficient to deal with Alain’s injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was practically pulverized—crushed beyond what ordinary restoration magic could mend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Alain’s survival depended on only two options: immediate transport to the Church or the summoning of a high-ranking cleric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it spelled the same outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment divine power was applied, the truth would be exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still undercover paladins roaming the academy grounds—agents of the Church placed precisely to detect this kind of corruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once holy magic touched Alain’s body, the demonic taint festering within him would be revealed without fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when that happened, execution on the spot would be the most likely conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a legal standpoint, Kagami was safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least... mostly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t mean there would be no consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Alain was unmasked as a demonic worshiper, he was still a prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An attack on him—especially one this public—was technically an affront to the nation he represented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Depending on how the royal family of Zelova chose to spin the incident, Kagami could become a political liability, a convenient scapegoat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with the Church inevitably involved?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley doubted Zelova would dare push the issue too far. No sane ruler willingly antagonized the Church over a condemned heretic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All in all, the damage would be contained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the scenario Riley had expected—far from it—but there was nothing he could do now to alter the flow of events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, Kagami had simply accelerated an outcome that was bound to happen sooner or later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still... it was a shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Prince Alain eliminated, the chances of the demonic queen making a move dropped significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like in the game, she was a cautious existence—paranoid even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loss of a subordinate, especially one as valuable as a royal vessel candidate, would only make her retreat further into the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, a cockroach like Asmodeus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would investigate, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But direct action? Unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley glanced toward Clara, where Lucas and Janica had just arrived, their expressions filled with confusion as they pressed her for answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, he considered approaching them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Then he shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dealing with Lucas right now would only be a headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Riley turned away from the growing cluster of attention and began scanning the crowd instead—his gaze searching for a familiar figure of silver hair and quiet dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow should be around here somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the commotion, the night of the ball continued as though nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, fragments of conversation still floated through the grand hall—whispers layered with curiosity, speculation, and thinly veiled fear—but they were quickly buried beneath laughter, clinking glasses, and carefully rehearsed smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time at all, the incident faded into the background, dismissed as an inconvenience rather than a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Business came first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always prioritize profit...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley watched the crowd with a detached gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This really is the world of gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With practiced efficiency, the event’s hosts stepped in—offering reassurances, redirecting attention, and smoothing over the unease with elegant words and expensive wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lumen Commerce Association Ball resumed, its atmosphere stitched together by half-hearted concern and fully artificial faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley soon found Snow and briefly explained what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, she didn’t dwell on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Riley’s calm assurance that the matter would resolve on it’s own, Snow simply nodded and moved on, her priorities lying elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their conversation shifted naturally—first to light remarks about his so-called \"training,\" then gradually to more pressing matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They discussed routes, timing, and conditions, eventually settling on a tentative date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quiet, efficient, and strangely comforting—plans made not out of urgency, but trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the orchestra transitioned into its final piece, the night began to wind down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A warm, gentle melody filled the hall, soft and flowing, mirroring the pale moonlight spilling through the high windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobles and renowned merchants alike took to the floor with their chosen partners, each step measured, each smile hiding intent—every dance an unspoken negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was, undeniably, a beautiful song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas and Janica didn’t let the moment pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Lucas appeared hesitant and somewhat oblivious, Janica forcefully dragged him onto the floor, her laughter bright as she guided his stiff movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contrast between them drew more than a few amused glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second-floor balcony, Clara leaned quietly against the railing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched the dancers below with a neutral expression, her eyes unfocused, her thoughts drifting far from the music and lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world around her moved on, but her mind remained elsewhere—caught between unfamiliar warmth and a belief system that had quietly begun to crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, outside on a balcony of the grand mansion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fufu... this is rather anticlimactic compared to how I imagined the night would end,\" Snow said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cool night air carried her voice as she gazed at the stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it’s more personal, right?\" Riley replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow nodded, her fingers tightening ever so slightly around his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Side by side, they stood beneath the open sky, watching the stars shimmer in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No bargains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No masks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the final notes of the music echoed faintly from within, they swayed gently together—hands intertwined, hearts aligned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that quiet moment, away from gold and ambition, a silent vow bloomed between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the quiet corner of his private chambers, Duke Raymond Brilliance sat motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall doors to the balcony stood wide open, allowing the cold night air to seep inside and granting an unobstructed view of the star-strewn sky beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight spilled across the marble floor, painting long shadows that clung to the walls like silent witnesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond’s face remained half-shrouded in darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-brilliant dignity that had defined the Duke of Brilliance was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His posture sagged, shoulders heavy, and the sharp handsomeness he had once carried with pride now bore the subtle but undeniable marks of age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark golden eyes—eyes that once radiated authority and confidence—looked dulled, strained, exhausted beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hand rested a half-drained bottle of wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below his chair, scattered carelessly across the floor, lay several empty bottles of stronger liquor—clear proof that this was no momentary indulgence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been drinking since morning. Perhaps longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time had blurred into something indistinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, atop a finely crafted table, were stacks of documents—petitions, financial reports, territorial disputes, correspondence that demanded the attention of a ruling duke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even here, far from his lands, responsibility had followed him relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Raymond only stared at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind was elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Rose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name escaped his lips as a whisper, barely louder than the wind slipping through the balcony doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sound of it, something shifted within him—a fragile resolve forming amid the fog of alcohol and grief. It had been several days now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days of silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days of avoidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And deep down, he knew he could not continue like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a dull clink, the bottle slipped from his fingers and rolled to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond straightened slightly and looked down at the object clenched in his other hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its surface was unnaturally smooth, swallowing light rather than reflecting it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he stared, mana began to stir—thin tendrils of black smoke curling from the stone like living shadows, pulsing faintly with an ominous rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You can grant my wish, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone pulsed once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blankness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolute darkness swallowed him whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his body remained seated, his consciousness was torn away, plunged into a void so complete it erased all sense of direction, sound, and time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic surged as his confused mind attempted to scream, but even his voice was stolen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, from everywhere and nowhere at once—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What is your wish?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice whispered directly into his being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It carried an eerie serenity, the kind people imagined when speaking of goddesses—soft, vast, and irresistible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet beneath that divine cadence lurked something far worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something ancient, oppressive, and unspeakably cruel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raymond’s breath hitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hands trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... wish—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words left his mouth quietly, shakily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And within the endless darkness behind him, something smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>",1738,"2026-06-03T14:41:09.353Z",1,"novelbin.me","d719973270259ca643367c36fdea34ffd6e55dbdb34888f9876d23a500b1cf7a","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-681","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-679",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]