How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 658: Frozen Resolve 3.5

The continent's northernmost boundary was a territory forsaken by all warmth.

An infinite expanse of snow unrolled beneath a leaden gray sky, boxed in by massive frozen peaks that created a natural sanctuary of ice and absolute stillness.

The gale shrieked without pause, whipping sharp fragments of frost that sliced into any bared skin like jagged blades.

In the heart of this glacial basin sat a field of dark blue ice crystals. They were uneven and sharp, appearing as if the earth had been crushed and frozen over again in an endless cycle.

And positioned there—

A colossal portal stood.

A murky blue haze shimmered across its surface, which rippled like molten glass. Bolts of raw lightning and static danced around the gateway’s frame, crashing into the frozen earth with violent thunders that resonated through the entire valley.

Monsters surged out from the portal's depths in a ceaseless tide.

Grotesque entities made of frost and ice emerged—some were gargantuan, some horribly warped, and others barely held a shape recognizable as a living thing.

Their guttural roars merged with the howling blizzard, generating a persistent wall of sound that made the environment feel sentient... and predatory.

Mixed among the beasts were humans.

They were covered in blood and bound by shackles, dragged forward by heavy chains.

A few were already corpses, their remains pulled across the jagged ice without a second thought.

The survivors were barely conscious, their eyes hollow and breathing shallow, their spirits having already been broken long ago.

Every step they took was coerced; their will to resist had been utterly extinguished.

A massive frost troll led the procession, its heavy breath turning into thick steam in the frigid air.

To their right, a legion of ice-born monsters marched—enigmatic beings whose forms shifted constantly as frost spread over their skin. Yet, something far more terrifying trailed behind them.

A monumental frost bear.

Its sheer bulk rivaled a small mountain, and the frozen ground trembled under each footfall.

Its luminous eyes never strayed from the captive humans, as if it were merely waiting for the signal to begin its feast.

A single look at this desolate place made the reality of the situation clear.

There was no path to freedom.

Deep inside the portal—

Far beyond the reach of the screaming winds and the cries of the prisoners—

A figure of crystalline beauty slowly unsealed her eyes.

They were a piercing, frigid blue, as sharp and transparent as polished gems.

In contrast to the monsters she commanded, her appearance was nearly human.

She possessed pale skin and hair that flowed like strands of frozen silk, radiating a presence so heavy it seemed to warp the very fabric of reality.

The Frost Queen.

Rising gracefully from her throne of solid crystal, she turned her gaze upward, as if looking through the portal... and beyond the world itself.

A faint smile touched her lips.

It appears... a suitable successor has finally arrived.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the weight of the duty she had endured in solitude could at last be transferred.

The authority.

The crown.

And the destiny chained to the frozen throne.

...

"I heard the both of you secured your victories quite easily again today. My congratulations to you both."

Riley’s tone was filled with warmth and sincerity.

He offered a smile as he spoke, his eyes shifting between the two girls sitting across from him.

"Fufu, thank you, Riley," Snow answered in a soft voice, returning his smile with her characteristic elegance.

Seo gave a nod as well. "Yes... thank you."

On the surface, the scene appeared ordinary. Informal. Nearly serene.

However, an undercurrent of tension lingered between Snow and Seo—faint, but definitely present.

Riley had sensed it the moment he joined them.

They were having lunch in the academy park, positioned under the canopy of a tall tree where the leaves rustled gently in the midday wind.

With birds singing above and students walking past with laughter, the surrounding environment was vibrant—yet at their specific table, things felt stifled.

Snow and Seo were sitting side by side, as close as they usually were, yet a peculiar distance separated them. Snow ate with a calm demeanor, her posture impeccable and her movements refined.

Seo, conversely, had barely touched her meal, poking at it distractedly as if her mind was elsewhere.

The group had agreed to gather before Rose’s match scheduled for later that afternoon.

Alice was originally supposed to join them—she had spent the morning with Riley—but their plans had been abruptly altered.

Riley couldn't help but think back on what had occurred.

"P-Please just come with me quietly, Miss Alice... t-the principal is practically begging you...!"

The desperate pleading of Professor Amelia still rang in his ears.

Whatever the principal required, it had to be significant for Amelia to be reduced to such a state.

Riley had several theories—none of them pleasant—but he cast those thoughts aside for the moment.

What was more pressing was the situation right in front of him.

The three were sharing the meal that Yui had cooked earlier that day.

Packed lunchboxes weren't a common sight at the academy.

Most of the student body preferred to buy food from the commercial district—it was fast, convenient, and decent enough.

But Yui’s culinary skills were on another level.

Riley took a bite and found himself smiling. It was familiar. Warm. Comforting.

Snow took small, tidy bites, clearly savoring the taste.

Seo hesitated for a moment before finally taking a mouthful, though her facial expression remained unchanged.

Riley looked between the two once more.

Something had definitely happened.

He didn't know the details, but he could feel it—particularly coming from Seo.

Her typical quiet composure felt... disturbed.

And Snow, despite maintaining her usual smile, had a subtle air of detachment, as if she were carefully concealing something behind her eyes.

Riley leaned his chin on his hand, observing them in silence.

What had transpired?

Of all the girls he was acquainted with, these two were the ones he least expected to experience friction.

Snow and Seo had always shared a natural bond.

They never required constant conversation or validation.

They understood one another effortlessly, moving at the same rhythm and respecting each other’s boundaries.

If anything, they shared the deepest level of unspoken understanding.

And yet, right now...

Things were clearly out of balance.

Snow sat as upright as ever, her form perfect and her gestures fluid, but there was a subtle rigidity in her behavior.

Seo, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically silent, playing with her food more than consuming it, her eyes avoiding Snow entirely.

The atmosphere between them grew heavy.

It wasn't exactly hostile.

Just... strained.

Riley attempted to recall any recent events. Had they fought?

That seemed unlikely.

Snow wasn't the sort of person to lose her temper, and Seo wasn't someone capable of holding a grudge even if she wanted to.

A conflict—whether a physical spat or an emotional fallout—was hard to imagine.

He thought about letting it slide.

They weren't children. Whatever the issue was, they would likely resolve it between themselves.

That was how these things usually worked.

But even so...

As their man, and the one who stood at the center of their group, Riley couldn't simply ignore it.

Small fissures, if left unattended, tended to expand into something much worse.

It was better to address it now rather than face regret later.

They continued their meal in silence, the noise of the wind in the trees and the muffled chatter of other students filling the void no one wanted to mention.

Riley finished his bite, paused for a second, and then spoke up.

"Uhm... by the way," he began casually, trying to keep his tone light. "Did something happen between the two of you?"

The instant he asked, all movement stopped.

Snow froze in place.

Seo’s hand gripped her chopsticks tightly.

For several seconds, the table was silent.

Snow looked toward Seo.

Seo looked toward Snow.

Then, almost simultaneously, they both turned their heads away in opposite directions.

The following silence was incredibly telling.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Riley sighed inwardly.

...Yeah. Something had definitely happened.

It was undeniable now.

Whatever had occurred between them wasn't something Snow or Seo felt comfortable discussing openly—at least not with him present.

Riley took a quiet breath before speaking again, his voice becoming calm but steady.

"I know that misunderstandings occur. Even close friends can clash sometimes," he said. "I don't know the specifics of what happened, but... I'm right here. So let me help you work through it."

He was aware he was being quite blunt. He usually was when dealing with matters like this.

Still, he had a hunch—if he didn't intervene now, the gap between them would only widen.

He was right.

The moment he finished his sentence, both girls went still.

Their movements ceased almost in unison.

Slowly, they turned to look at him... then at each other... then away once more.

The silence dragged on.

Then—

"Riley," Seo said in a low, flat voice. "Snow is cruel. And she's evil."

The weight of those words was heavier than anyone anticipated.

"What—?" Snow's body stiffened. "N-no, I’m not, I was only—"

"She commanded me to try and kill her."

"...I'm sorry, what?"

Riley’s eyes went wide as he stared at Seo, then shifted his gaze back to Snow, struggling to wrap his head around what he had just been told.

"N-no, that was only—" Snow cut herself off and released a long, weary sigh. "Fine. I did say that. And I did... somewhat pressure Seo into doing it."

"...."

Seo remained silent, simply staring at Snow.

Her face was calm, but Riley could see it—she was truly angry.

It wasn't a loud or explosive anger.

It was the quiet, deep-seated kind.

"Snow," Riley said slowly, his voice dropping an octave. "What exactly does Seo mean by that?"

In that instant, Snow froze.

Not in a metaphorical sense.

Her shoulders went rigid, her grip on her chopsticks tightened, and for the first time since their lunch began... she was at a loss for words.

Because Riley was looking at her with a different expression now.

His gaze had gone cold.

He wasn't yelling or furious.

He was just cold.

And to her, that was far more painful.