How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 677: Unexpectedly Good?

As Alain disappeared back into the crowd, Riley’s gaze lingered on his retreating figure for a few seconds longer than necessary before he finally turned away.

He’s quick-witted, Riley thought.

He should understand exactly what I meant.

A faint sense of satisfaction settled in his chest.

The message had been delivered clearly—no theatrics.

Just enough pressure to make sure it would stay with him.

Still... encountering someone like that here hadn’t been part of Riley’s expectations.

That’s on me, he admitted inwardly.

Even if this event had been pushed forward compared to the original timeline of the game, it was still a key scenario tied to one of the main heroines—more specifically, Clara’s route.

And whenever a heroine’s route unfolded, the antagonists connected to it were bound to surface as well.

This was no exception.

Alain Etrama Zelova.

Riley recalled the name clearly.

A mid-boss character in Clara’s arc.

Not particularly strong on his own, but insidious in nature—one of those ”behind-the-scenes” antagonists who thrived on schemes, manipulation, and borrowed power.

Like many villains in the story, he was a demonized follower... or rather, a human who had willingly stepped into demonic influence.

A familiar archetype.

Born the second prince of a growing kingdom, Alain had lived his life in the shadow of succession.

He wasn’t the chosen heir—not because he lacked talent, but because fate itself had decided against him.

His backstory, as Riley remembered, was tragic in the simplest and cruelest way.

Alain was born to the kingdom’s queen herself, yet the king’s affection had belonged elsewhere—to the first prince, born from a favored concubine.

Despite his ”legitimate” bloodline, Alain had been overlooked, ignored, and gradually pushed aside as his older brother became the undeniable center of the royal court.

His mother, frail and terminally ill, had clung to him as her final hope.

Take the throne, she had urged him.

No matter the cost.

And Alain had listened.

Driven by jealousy, desperation, and a warped sense of devotion, he had resolved to claim the crown by any means necessary—even if it meant selling his soul, surrendering his humanity, and becoming a vessel for something far darker than ambition.

Quite the cliché story, really.

Originally, the prince hadn’t been someone who would stoop so low.

He had even managed to resist the corruption at first, holding his ground when he signed a contract with that particular Demon King.

The whispers, the temptations, the promises—they hadn’t taken him immediately.

But humans had limits.

No matter how strong the will, no matter how firm the resolve, there was only so much a human mind could endure when standing before a Demon King.

Desires you pretended didn’t exist would be dragged into the open, polished, and fed back to you until resistance became meaningless.

Looking at Alain’s current state, Riley could tell.

He’s close to his second phase.

That explained the impatience.

Up until now, Riley had mostly ignored Clara’s situation.

Compared to the others, she felt... distant.

He hadn’t thought too deeply about each heroine’s main scenario unless he was personally involved.

Part of it was trust—after all, Lucas was fated to play a role in those paths.

Things were supposed to work out.

Or at least, that was what the story claimed.

But if that guy was already here, then there was no doubt about it.

Clara was present at the academy.

And if Clara was here, then Lucas was involved as well.

Riley fell into thought.

Interfering carelessly could cause massive butterfly effects—he’d already seen how small changes warped events in unexpected ways.

But at the same time... this situation wasn’t entirely natural either.

If he was being honest with himself, what was happening now was at least partially the result of his own interference.

He had altered the pace.

Shifted events forward.

And now, consequences were beginning to surface earlier than they ever should have.

This was just a result of all of those.

Riley let out a slow breath.

All things considered, even if dealing with Alain was a bit annoying, he wasn’t exactly a dangerous opponent.

As a mini-boss, he was on the weaker side.

Compared to the main cast, he barely measured up.

Even if he had already stepped into his second phase, the most he could realistically do was stall Lucas for a few seconds using illusions or tricks.

With Lucas’s current growth and combat specs, losing simply wasn’t an option.

Even if Alain somehow managed to call down the being he served—the so-called Demon King, or rather the Demonic Queen—it wouldn’t change much.

Riley was confident of that.

And also, even if chaos erupts in the hall now....

He had already made his warning clear.

Whatever Alain was planning at this gathering, he would at least be cautious enough not to involve Snow.

And if he wasn’t smart enough to understand the meaning behind Riley’s words... then Riley wouldn’t hesitate to erase him entirely.

Along with his queen, if necessary.

Still, there wasn’t much benefit in killing Alain right now.

Aside from a bit of experience, it wouldn’t really gain him anything.

No...

Maybe it was better to leave this to Lucas.

Letting him face a Demon King’s pawn—and eventually the Demon King herself—on his own might be exactly what he needed.

A proper test.

A step forward.

Riley found himself genuinely curious.

He knew Lucas would win.

That much was obvious.

But seeing it firsthand... watching how Lucas handled a Demon King on his own terms—

That was something Riley wanted to witness

Thinking it over, Riley paused for a while before finally settling on a decision.

I’ll only move if it becomes necessary.

There was no real benefit in acting right now, but at the same time, there was no benefit in doing nothing either. In the end, he chose neutrality.

Watching from the sidelines was the safest option for now.

If that guy needs a vessel for his queen... is he trying to find Clara?

The thought amused him slightly.

For a brief moment, Riley felt the urge to follow Alain.

Part of him wanted to see the scene he had only ever experienced through the game play out in real life.

To witness it directly, to confirm the details he remembered.

But he shook his head.

That moment belonged to Lucas.

Lucas’s rescue scenes were meant for the heroines alone.

Riley had no intention of intruding on them. Besides, from what he had seen so far, there hadn’t been any real development between Clara and Lucas yet.

Her falling for him immediately after being saved was unlikely.

Still, it would spark something.

This was the turning point.

The moment Clara, with her sharp, business-minded, fox-like thinking, would begin to view Lucas not just as a person—but as an investment worth watching.

For now, Riley had something else to attend to.

I should go and fulfill my beloved’s request.

His gaze drifted across the crowded hall, filled with moving figures, quiet conversations, and carefully hidden intentions.

Since Snow wanted him to learn how to navigate these kinds of social settings, he had no reason to refuse.

If this was part of her wish, then he would do it properly.

With that in mind, Riley stepped forward, scanning the crowd as he decided who to approach first.

Soon, Riley’s eyes settled on someone who looked... manageable.

Not overly guarded, not drowning in political tension—just a well-dressed, middle-aged merchant quietly enjoying his drink near the edge of the hall.

Riley moved first.

”Hello.”

”H–huh?”

The man startled slightly before squinting at him.

”Y-you are... a-aren’t you Lord Riley Hell?”

Riley let out a soft laugh.

”I appreciate the formality, but please, be at ease. And I’m not a lord yet.”

The merchant froze.

His expression practically screamed with that presence and prestige, you might as well be one already.

Riley chose to ignore the unspoken thought.

Sensing the man’s tension, he smoothly shifted the topic, offering a few polite, engaging remarks—light comments about the hall, the event, and the atmosphere.

Enough to ease the pressure, enough to give the merchant room to breathe.

Soon after, proper introductions followed.

The merchant straightened his posture, pride slipping back into his voice as he spoke of his trade.

Riley listened, nodding at the right moments, responding with just enough interest to keep the conversation flowing.

It didn’t take long.

”Hoho! So, you’re interested in that sort of thing as well, Master Riley?”

”Well,” Riley replied casually, ”they are excellent investments.”

”Hahaha! I knew you’d understand!”

The merchant laughed loudly, clearly pleased.

”Back in my days—”

As the merchant launched into a story, Riley noticed something only after the fact.

There were more people now.

A small group had naturally gathered around them—other merchants, minor nobles, attendants—drawn in by the easy flow of conversation and the merchant’s growing enthusiasm.

They joined in one by one, adding comments, laughter, and their own experiences.

...When did it get like this?

Riley wasn’t sure.

He hadn’t felt the shift happen at all.

Somewhere along the way, the conversation had grown beyond the two of them, becoming a small social circle of its own.

Midway through it all, Riley realized he was letting about half the conversation pass straight through his ears—names, dates, exaggerated tales, and bits of useless information blending together.

Still, this was part of the process.

So he focused instead on the rhythm.

The pauses.

The reactions.

The way people leaned in or pulled back.

Even if he didn’t absorb every word, he understood the flow—and for now, that was enough.

I should probably get out of here soon...

Riley reached that conclusion with a small sense of satisfaction.

This had been... practice, in a way. Awkward, noisy, and mostly pointless—but practice nonetheless.

Socializing, he thought wryly.

And now that he thought about it—

If Lucas was here, then Janica was most likely somewhere in this hall as well.

The thought barely finished forming when—

BOOOOMMM!!!

A violent explosion tore through the air behind him, scattering shards of light and glittering starlike dust across the hall.

The shockwave rippled outward, rattling chandeliers and sending guests screaming as defensive barriers flared into existence far too late.

”You bastard!”

The roar came from a young man whose appearance alone screamed problem.

He had a bulky build far too excessive for his age, muscles packed so densely they strained even against his formal suit.

His buzz-cut hair, sharp features, and towering physique gave him the look of a dangerous thug rather than a guest of high society.

Kagami Kento.

He cracked his fists slowly, mana and aura rolling off his body in oppressive waves.

The defensive magic chains that snapped toward him shattered instantly, while emergency arrays carved into the hall flickered uselessly, unable to restrain him in the slightest.

At his feet lay a body.

Prince Alain.

Or rather... what remained of him.

Half of his face was completely shattered—no, smashed—as if a custard cake had been struck with overwhelming force, flesh and bone ruined beyond recognition. His body twitched faintly, mana leaking erratically.

...Is he even alive?

Riley stared at the scene in silence.

He knew unexpected situations always tended to arise the moment he started predicting events—but still.

Damn.

Slowly, Riley shifted his gaze back to Kagami, feeling a rare flicker of genuine bewilderment.

Why is this guy even here?