How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 588: Continental Festival 12

Deep inside the great forest of monsters, a small campfire flickered to life.

The scent of simmering broth drifted through the trees, faint but warm, cutting through the usual damp smell of moss and bark.

On a flat stone she had painstakingly chipped down into a makeshift cutting board, a young girl with short violet hair carefully sliced an onion.

Each cut was neat and measured, almost too precise for someone her age.

Beside her, another flat slab of stone had been hollowed out in the center, where wood burned and snapped beneath a pot of boiling water.

Inside, vegetables and strips of meat bubbled together into what looked like a simple but hearty stew.

”Athy?” a voice called out.

She looked up. ”Hm?”

”Are you done cutting the onions?”

”Yes!” she answered, brushing a bit of juice from her hands.

”Good, then help Andre set up the camp.”

”Sure,” she replied without hesitation, setting down the knife.

Her name was Athy Lors—first year, Class A.

Her bright sky-blue eyes flickered toward the edges of camp, where her teammates were arranging supplies.

She took in the sight for a moment, her lips curving into a small, quiet smile.

I’m really glad I ended up on this team...

Athy wasn’t weak by any means.

Among the freshmen, she was one of the rare few who had earned a spot in Class A, the so-called ”elites” of the academy.

But she wasn’t foolish enough to compare herself to the true monsters that walked the halls of the academy.

When it came to raw talent and power, Class A students were nothing more than stepping stones meant to showcase the brilliance of the chosen few—students who stood on an entirely different plane.

And somehow, she had ended up in a team with two of them.

Riley Hell. Lucas. Both second-years, both infamous in their own ways.

Riley carried himself with an unsettling calm that made even older students uneasy, while Lucas shone with that unshakable light that made people want to follow him instinctively.

For someone like her, who had lived her entire life clawing for every scrap of recognition, every step forward earned through blood and sweat, being here—like this—felt almost surreal.

The atmosphere wasn’t tense, nor competitive.

Instead, laughter echoed faintly as teammates moved about, the fire crackled warmly, and the bubbling stew smelled almost too inviting.

”This really feels more like a picnic than a competition...” Athy murmured under her breath, half in disbelief, half in wonder.

For the longest time, ever since she’d first stepped foot into the academy, the names of her two seniors had never been far from anyone’s lips.

Rumors about them drifted through every hallway, whispered between classrooms, traded in the cafeteria like currency.

Their feats, their infamous acts, even the more... bizarre rumors about Riley—none of it was something you could ignore if you were a student here.

Titles like pinnacles of strength clung to them, not because of official recognition, but because everyone else simply couldn’t think of a better way to describe students who always stood above the rest.

Athy had always wondered what kind of people they were outside of that unreachable image.

How did monsters like them act in day-to-day life?

Did they really live up to all the tales, or were they even worse than the rumors suggested?

Her own mental picture had always been of towering greatness.

They were the academy’s heroes—if you ignored the darker stories tied to Riley, the ones that painted him as a cold, merciless man who could smile while pulling someone’s spine out while taking your girl away from you.

Of course....

She doesn’t know how much of that was true, but one thing was certain: both Riley and Lucas were treated as symbols one way or another.

That’s why actually being here with them, on the same team, came as such a shock.

They weren’t untouchable statues of power.

They weren’t the godlike figures the rumors made them out to be.

They were... normal.

Almost painfully so.

As she carried a few chopped vegetables over toward her teammates, who were busy layering illusions around their camp to conceal their team crystal, Athy couldn’t help but let her eyes wander.

Off in the distance, Riley and Lucas were standing together, speaking in low voices.

I wonder what they’re talking about...

She slowed down without meaning to, her gaze lingering on the two.

From the things she’d heard, they were supposed to be rivals—bitter ones, even.

Some rumors went as far as saying they secretly hated each other, like two sides of a coin destined to clash.

Yet... what she saw now didn’t fit that picture at all.

Riley, for all the cold sharpness that lingered in his tone and expression, didn’t seem hostile.

And Lucas, ever bright and earnest, didn’t look wary in the slightest.

Watching them, it almost felt like looking at an extroverted friend dragging along his quieter, more withdrawn counterpart.

The contrast was striking. Lucas shone like a golden retriever who couldn’t stop wagging his tail, while Riley carried himself with the silence of a shadow that had reluctantly gotten used to being pulled into the light.

”Athy, please help us out here!”

”Okay!”

Balancing the vegetables in her arms, she set them back down by the makeshift kitchen.

With a casual flick of her hand, her telekinesis magic lifted the edge of the large cloth tarp the boys were fumbling with, stretching it high above the camp.

The fabric floated and shifted smoothly under her control before fastening into place.

”Thanks, Athy!” one of the older students called out with a relieved grin.

”Haha, you’re welcome, senior,” she replied, smiling lightly as she lowered her hand.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make her feel useful.

Being the only freshman in this team of elites was no small thing, so she made sure to pitch in wherever she could—whether it was chopping vegetables, fetching water, or lending her magic to speed up the process.

Still, her attention never strayed too far from the real cornerstones of their group.

Riley and Lucas.

Athy caught herself smiling again.

They really were perfect references.

For all her skill with magic—her natural talent that had gotten her into Class-A despite being a freshman—her true passion had never really been spells or incantations.

Unlike the other mages who studied grimoires like they were sacred texts, her heart had always belonged elsewhere.

To words.

To stories.

Ever since she was a child, she had scribbled tales in her journals, letting her imagination fill the empty pages.

She dreamed of someday publishing her own novel, a story that would inspire people the way she had once been inspired.

And her favorite kind of story?

Journeys of heroes.

Rivalries that shaped destinies.

Characters who stood as perfect foils to each other, clashing not out of hatred, but because the world itself demanded their contrast.

That’s exactly what she saw when she looked at Riley and Lucas.

A silent, intimidating shadow with eyes sharp enough to cut glass.

And a radiant knight-in-the-making, whose optimism burned too bright to be ignored.

Athy could already imagine it: the story of two figures who began as rivals, only to discover they were both essential halves of the same path forward.

She secretly opened her small leather notepad, the worn corners betraying how often she had handled it, and hugged it tighter against her chest, her heart practically skipping with giddiness.

If I ever write my masterpiece... it’ll have characters just like them.

Already, her mind was spinning with possibilities—scenes, twists, inspirations.

She could almost hear the narrative forming in her head, the clash of ideals, the dramatic tension, the growth of two forces destined to either destroy or elevate each other.

Just watching Riley and Lucas exchange a few words was enough fuel for a hundred Chapters.

Ideas flowed faster than she could even write them. Perhaps a story of two rivals bound by fate... or maybe of unlikely companions whose differences would one day reshape the world.

That’s why Athy couldn’t help herself.

Once the camp setup was nearly complete and everyone was relaxing into their tasks, she made her move.

Approaching Dana—the pseudo-leader of their group when Riley and Lucas weren’t directly involved—she straightened her back and tried to look casual.

”Dana,” she called gently.

The older girl glanced up from stirring the pot. ”Yes?”

”The soup is cooked now, so... I’ll go ahead and call out the two captains!”

”Oh, sure, that’d be good.” Dana exhaled, relief clear in her voice. ”Honestly, I was having a hard time deciding who to ask. Being around them makes everyone feel uneasy.”

Athy giggled softly. ”Hehe, I know right? They really do exude this... otherworldly aura.”

Dana frowned in thought, lowering her ladle. ”Is this what they mean by the natural gap between the strong and the truly strong? Just standing near them feels... heavy.” She sighed, shaking her head. ”Well, anyway, thanks for volunteering.”

Athy nodded with a bright smile, though inside her chest she felt her nerves twist tightly.

The truth was, this wasn’t just about helping the team.

This was her chance.

She wanted more than stolen glances from afar.

She wanted to see them up close, to watch their little gestures, the way they carried themselves, the subtle expressions that rumors could never capture.

She wanted material—the kind of physical, lived reference that would breathe life into her stories.

Now that she knew they weren’t as unapproachable as the academy’s rumors painted them to be, she felt braver.

If she could just make small talk—even a few casual words—it would be more than enough.

This might be her only chance in her entire academy life to do so.

Clutching her notepad tighter against her chest, she whispered under her breath, half in prayer, half in determination:

”Alright... here I go.”

She approached the two, holding her notepad tightly against her chest.

”Uhm, seniors—”

But before she could even call out to them, Lucas’s voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the forest’s silence.

”I know I’m still lacking in so many ways...” his tone was fiery, determined, the kind that could shake hearts. ”But I swear—one day my sword will reach you this time! And when that time comes, your entire focus will only be on me!”

E–Eh????

Athy froze on the spot, her brain short-circuiting.

For some reason her body acted on its own—she ducked and instinctively crouched into the nearest bush, peeking through the leaves with wide eyes.

Lucas wasn’t done.

His gaze was locked firmly on Riley, his voice burning with sincerity.

”I don’t know if you’ve already realized it, but... you’ve become someone really important in my life, Riley. You made me see sides of myself I didn’t even know existed. You forced me to confront the parts that were wrong... the parts that were weak. The recent trials I’ve faced are proof of that.”

Riley didn’t say anything, arms crossed, staring blankly ahead as if this kind of speech wasn’t new to him.

”Honestly,” Lucas continued, his voice softening, ”every time I look at you, you inspire me. You’re the goal I can’t stop chasing. Right now, I can see just how far I still am from reaching you. But without you... I don’t think I would’ve been as whole as I am now.”

Athy’s cheeks turned red on their own.

W–Wait, wait, wait, what is this???

Her heart thumped like crazy, her mind spinning with wild thoughts.

Why is Senior Lucas saying things that sound like... like... l-like a confession?!

She covered her mouth with both hands, eyes wide, watching as Lucas practically glowed with passion in front of Riley.

Th-their rivalry isn’t just normal? A-are they... p-perhaps...?

Her imagination ran ahead of her.

Pages of her future novel already began sketching themselves in her mind—two warriors bound by fate, a rivalry so deep it blurred into devotion.

But then she shook her head furiously.

N-no! That can’t be it! They’re just rivals! Right? R-right...?

And yet... the blush on her face refused to fade.

”Our promised fight has yet to come,” Lucas said, voice firm, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. ”But when that day comes, if I win... I want you to promise me something.”

Riley tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. ”...Sure.”

Lucas’s lips curved into a determined smile. ”Promise me... that you’ll try to see me. Truly see me, as I’ve seen through you.”

A pause.

”....”

”..... Fine.” Riley’s voice was flat, like he was indulging him more than agreeing.

But Lucas’s smile only widened, burning brighter, like a knight who had just sworn his oath under the stars. ”And Riley... if I do manage to win—” his eyes shone, unwavering as they locked with Riley’s, ”—will you promise to accept anything I ask for?”

”...Something you would ask for?” Riley narrowed his eyes, voice low, suspicious.

Lucas chuckled softly, but there was a nervous edge to it, as if he was holding something back. ”Haha, well... it pertains to a certain wish of mine. A wish of acceptance... something that might tie me into your life for good. For life, even.”

Athy nearly dropped her notepad.

T-that— that was a confession, right???

Her brain scrambled to make sense of it.

Wait, no... that can’t be...! Senior Lucas is always around that beautiful red-haired senior, isn’t he? And Senior Riley—he’s a literal scoundrel! He’s already officially engaged to Senior Snow, Senior Rose, and Senior Alice! That’s... that’s three fiancées! He can’t possibly—no, no way!

And yet—

Her hands were already moving on their own, scribbling furiously into her notebook, every word she overheard transforming into ink and story beats.

Her cheeks burned as her imagination spiraled: a forbidden bond between rivals, a vow that sounded far too much like a lover’s promise, the possibility of a devotion so fierce it would outlast everything else.

This... this isn’t just rivalry.

This is something else entirely.

A different kind of story...

A different kind of genre was being born in the young author’s mind, and Athy couldn’t stop it now.

.....

Meanwhile, at the eastern part of the forest—

A group of students in black silk-like uniforms embroidered with intricate designs halted in their steps.

Their disciplined posture did nothing to hide the uneasiness in their faces.

Even though there were more than twenty of them—a clear sign that at least two full teams had combined—their numbers suddenly felt small.

They had just finished gathering and finalizing their plan. A plan meant to crush a certain team in the coming contest. Confidence had been high only moments ago.

But then—like a meteor tearing through the sky—she appeared.

A flash of gold. A presence that pressed down on them like a mountain.

”You...”

Hajey, the leader of the group, froze. His voice came out dry, trembling despite himself.

”I thought I noticed a familiar energy earlier.” The voice that answered was calm, almost indifferent. Yet every syllable carried weight. ”But it turns out... it’s only you lot.”

Every single one of Hajey’s companions swallowed hard.

Her eyes swept across them like blades, and not one dared meet her gaze directly.

There was only one student in the entire academy who could make more than twenty trained martial artists step back with nothing but her presence.

Golden hair that shimmered faintly even under the dim light of the forest.

Golden eyes, sharp and absolute.

A beauty so refined it seemed to break the limits of what a human should possess—comparable to Alice Holloway, the famed prodigy, and even Princess Snow herself, the empire’s very image of beauty.

Rose Brilliance.

As she stepped forward lightly, almost casually, the entire group found themselves instinctively stepping back.

”You guys...” she said softly.

”Y-Yes?” Hajey stammered before he could stop himself.

”Did you notice anything strange in this area a while ago?”

Hajey’s throat went dry. ”N-No... nothing at all.”

Rose’s eyes lingered on him for a moment that felt like eternity. Then she gave the smallest nod. ”...I see. Perhaps it was only my imagination.”

With that, she turned her back on them and began to walk away, her golden hair swaying gently as if untouched by the tension she left behind.

The forest went silent again.

Not one of them dared to breathe too loudly.

And then, only when her figure completely vanished beyond the trees, the entire group let out the breath they had been holding.

”What... what the heck was that?” one of the students whispered, voice shaking.

No one had an answer.