How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 655: Frozen Resolve

How many errors had I committed in my past lives?

Was it one?

Two?

Three?

Perhaps the tally had grown so vast that the very notion of keeping track had become pointless.

Regardless of the final count, the conclusion remained an unwavering truth—to be human is to be defined by one's mistakes.

Falling, failing, and drowning in regret... these were not mere accidents, but certainties of existence. Many individuals eventually learned to embrace them.

There were those who found a sense of peace in conclusions they never truly desired, gaslighting themselves into believing that mere closure equated to happiness.

They buried their burdens, locked the past behind heavy gates, and walked away.

But I was never capable of such detachment.

I had faced failure across a multitude of worlds.

I made choices, attempted to fix them, and forged new paths—only to witness the exact same tragedies manifest time and again.

Though progress was made and wisdom was gained, the final curtain always fell the same way.

No matter how cautiously I navigated the journey or how much knowledge I gathered, an inescapable fate always lay in wait at the finish line.

That is precisely why this iteration had to be different.

There would be no following cycle.

No more regressions.

The time for healing old scars or rewriting past regrets had run out.

Instead... this time, I would forge a new reality.

A trail blazed not by fixing what was broken, but by sheer determination.

The fabric of reality might shift. I might lose the essence of my identity, shed pieces of my soul along the way, or transform into a stranger even to my own recollections.

Yet, even if that transpired—even if the person I once was dissolved into nothingness—one truth remained absolute in my mind.

As long as my destiny was tied to this world,

I would stand as its protector.

For the sake of the laughter shared with comrades.

For the warmth discovered in brief, stolen moments.

For the delicate joy that people struggled so desperately to hold onto.

And... for my own sake as well.

That was why, when the moment of truth finally arrived—when the ultimate choice could no longer be deferred—I hoped my future self would find understanding.

That none of these actions were hollow. That none of this was a betrayal.

It was all done for you.

For the happiness of everyone.

.....

Evelyn—my clone.

She was not a mere construct of flesh or mana, but a vessel for the collective memories of the countless versions of me scattered throughout ruined timelines.

Worlds where I fell short. Worlds where my victories were hollow and led to total loss.

She was designed to be the ultimate synthesis of those experiences—a flawless, more perceptive version of myself, tempered by endless cycles of destruction and rebirth.

Her intellect was an extension of mine.

Her principles mirrored my own.

Her devotion was absolute.

The concept of betrayal did not exist for her.

After all, even if she was a duplicate forged by my own skill and shaped by my intent... she was still me.

"What exactly would you like to know, Original?"

Her tone was composed, nearly soft, as if this were a simple chat between peers rather than a confrontation sparked by suspicion.

"..."

"Everything."

She gave a single blink, followed by a faint, knowing smile.

"That will be quite a lengthy tale," she remarked casually. "There is much I could explain to you. However, it would consume an immense amount of time." She inclined her head, her blue eyes fixed on me. "If you prefer, I could simply end my own life and let you take my memories directly."

"...That won't be necessary."

I let out a sigh, massaging my temple as I observed her.

Despite the situation, a soft chuckle escaped my lips.

Even with the knowledge that she was me, the experience remained jarring.

The way she composed herself.

The natural grace with which she inhabited that form—as if the transformation into a woman was a reality she had long since embraced.

You were once me, after all...

Pushing the thought aside, I locked eyes with her once more, my gaze hardening.

"Evelyn," I began deliberately, "I am certain—without a doubt—that whatever you are doing is for my benefit."

She offered no contradiction.

"However, keeping me in the dark," I went on, my voice firm yet chilling, "and pulling strings behind my back is not something I appreciate."

I needed to discern just how much of me... she truly was...

.....

Evelyn’s grin remained. In fact, it grew softer, holding a sort of affection that felt jarring against the underlying tension of the moment.

"Whatever could you mean, Original?"

Her voice was airy, nearly teasing, but Riley noted the way her gaze sharpened—resembling a blade concealed by fine silk.

"First, it involved Janica," he murmured.

"...."

"Then Stacia. And now, Snow." His eyes remained fixed on her as he spoke. "All of them have been under your subtle influence. I failed to see it initially, but the runes I can sense within their souls are abnormal. They aren't malicious—I can sense that—but there is a sophisticated veil of secrecy woven into them. This is intentional. So speak, Evelyn... what is your true objective?"

For the first time since their encounter, Evelyn went quiet.

She looked down, her fingers interlacing slowly as if she were sorting through thoughts too heavy for casual speech.

A gust of wind swept by, tossing her hair, and in that short silence, Riley felt the full weight of every detail he had chosen to overlook until this point.

He had felt it for a long time—those small discrepancies, the events that felt just a bit too perfectly timed.

He had dismissed them, placing his faith in her because she was him.

Or at least, an offshoot of him.

But following the events with Stacia... and his own ascension...

After evolving into something the gods themselves viewed as an anomaly rather than a human—

Was that, too, a piece of her master plan?

Her actions were understated. Helpful, even. Any other person would have accepted them with blind gratitude.

But if her schemes involved Erebil...

If they put Snow at any kind of risk—

That was a boundary he would not permit anyone to step over. Not even a version of himself.

"Original," Evelyn eventually whispered, her voice losing its playful edge. "How many of those other worlds have you actually witnessed?"

"..."

"How many catastrophes?" she asked softly. "How many finales where you bled, struggled, and gave everything—only to see it all fall apart? How many times did you stand at the end of all things, knowing you had exhausted every option... and still failed?"

Her words felt like a physical pressure bearing down on him.

"I am certain there were many," she continued, raising her eyes to meet his. Her expression held no mockery—only a deep conviction. "After all, you endured the same trials as the rest of us. The same routes. The same hopelessness."

She closed the distance between them by a step.

"But this time," Evelyn said in a hushed, almost reverent tone, "you haven't lost yet."

Her smile returned, devoid of mischief, replaced by a warm, devoted light.

"Because you are the star we cherish most."

The wind died down.

Riley suddenly understood that whatever Evelyn was orchestrating, it wasn't fueled by malice or greed—but by something far more perilous.

Certainty.

"You wish to know my plan?"

Evelyn stepped closer, her movements silent and purposeful.

Standing directly before Riley, she rested her hand gently against his chest, right over his heartbeat.

Her palm was warm—familiar in a way that was more disturbing than any threat could be.

"I am planning to ease your burden, Original," she murmured. "For the sake of everyone."

Riley’s eyes narrowed slightly, not out of hostility, but due to a quiet realization.

"...Is it because you are forbidden from saying it?" he questioned.

Evelyn’s lips tilted upward. It wasn't an arrogant smirk—it was something much kinder, almost full of pride.

"I admire your intuition," she answered. "Yes. Let us leave it at that—for the time being."

She walked past him, her eyes drifting toward the horizon where the spires of the academy pierced the clouds.

"Do not be troubled," she added. "All of us desire the same future you seek. We simply... wish to attain a happy ending this time around."

She looked back at him, her blue eyes meeting his with unwavering resolve.

"My ability to interfere is limited. I have already utilized every loophole available to me. From this point forward, the outcome lies in the hands of those who possess the potential."

Her voice grew even softer.

"So rest easy, Original. I will not resort to extremes—nothing that would jeopardize the ones we love."

Riley frowned slightly at her statement, then let out a quiet breath, shaking his head as if to clear the lingering tension.

"...Do I truly sound like this?" he muttered, caught between amusement and annoyance. "No wonder they get so frustrated when I keep secrets."

Evelyn gave a light, musical laugh.

"Fufu~"

The sound drifted through the air, carrying affection and a depth of history Riley couldn't see, yet could feel lurking just out of reach.

And for the first time since she had appeared, Riley grasped one undeniable fact:

Evelyn was telling the truth.

....

When the sun rose—

Snow gradually opened her eyes and sat up in her bed.

She scanned the silent room, a faint glow illuminating her striking features.

Yet again...

The same dream.

How long had this been happening?

Ever since the incident with the demon, these vivid dreams had returned almost every night.

Always clear.

Always feeling too authentic.

The images would sear themselves into her consciousness, only to shatter just as she was about to understand them.

This setting...

It was her private chambers within the imperial palace.

Snow turned her gaze toward the tall mirror positioned against the wall.

The glass showed her familiar reflection, yet she felt a strange tightness in her chest that she couldn't explain.

"What are you trying to reveal to me this time?"

Initially, there was only silence.

Then—gradually—the figure in the mirror began to move independently.

It offered a smile.

"Fufu..."

The reflection let out a soft, mature chuckle, one that felt chilling and entirely unlike Snow’s usual gentle demeanor.

The atmosphere shifted.

A cold chill permeated the room, creeping over the floor and walls like living frost. Before Snow could even react, the image in the mirror vanished.

And then—

She was right there.

Perched on the edge of the bed beside Snow.

Snow was paralyzed, unable to move as the woman—who shared her exact likeness—began to speak softly.

"There are many forces in this world that will attempt to corrupt you," she stated calmly. "However, you must stay true to your own will and your deepest desires."

Her voice was velvety, yet possessed a sharp edge.

"Let your beauty be brilliant... yet frigid. As cutting as crystal ice."

Snow’s breath hitched as the woman went on.

"As you walk the path ahead, never lose sight of the light you have chosen. Master it. Accept it."

She raised her hand, pointing a single finger.

"And never forget... sometimes a single finger is all that is required to deliver a cold judgment."

The moment those words took hold—

Snow snapped awake.

Her eyes flew open as the present reality came rushing back.

"W-Winner—Snow Luvenitia White Germonia Leven!!!!"

The announcer’s shout boomed throughout the arena.

The audience exploded into a roar of cheers.

Snow blinked, her thoughts still clouded as she stared ahead.

The sight before her took her breath away.

The arena floor had been transformed.

In its place was a frozen wasteland—sharp shards of crystal ice jutting from the earth in every direction.

At the very center of the frost stood the place where her opponent had been, now completely encased in ice.

Her own arm was extended.

Her finger was pointed straight forward.