How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 669: Frozen North

"Hoho, it appears the caliber of the academy's students truly does improve with every passing generation, wouldn't you agree, Duncan?"

"Hoh? I wouldn’t go quite that far," Duncan countered with a light chuckle. "There are still those who argue the generation of the Emperor—and the Grand Duke—remains the most powerful in history."

"Well, there is some truth to that," Flora conceded, crossing her arms while gazing down at the massive coliseum. "However, considering the sheer density of geniuses gathered this year, I believe it’s fair to say these students have finally caught up... perhaps they’ve even eclipsed the old era."

The two maintained their casual banter, clearly relishing the atmosphere as the clamor of the Grand Continental Festival resonated throughout Lumen Academy.

Roaring cheers, the thunder of magic detonations, and booming announcements merged into a relentless tide of excitement.

"Fufu... the finals are almost upon us, aren't they, partner?" Flora remarked with a smirk. "I wonder who will claim the crown this time."

"The Golden Brilliance took it last year, didn't she?" Duncan replied. "A former champion competing once more... honestly, it’s logical. Based on her performance thus far, every bout she participates in becomes a grand spectacle."

"True," Flora nodded. "But the structure of this year’s event is different. Rankings and school years hardly seem to matter anymore."

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"And for the first time in a long while... there are individuals who might actually be her match."

Duncan’s gaze sharpened with intrigue as he looked back toward the arena.

"...Yeah. That is precisely what makes this festival so unique."

For the first time in years, even seasoned veterans like themselves found it impossible to predict the final result with ease.

Soon, the environment behind them began to transform.

The panoramic view of the coliseum vanished, replaced by the interior of a sleek, organized broadcast room.

Magical panels shifted into place smoothly as Duncan and Flora sat down, their chairs automatically adjusting for comfort.

A massive holographic screen materialized beside them, flickering with floating light runes and markers for replays.

"Now then, everyone," Flora announced brightly, clapping her hands, "let us take a look at the most spectacular highlights of the tournament so far!"

The screen shimmered—and scenes of violent, high-stakes battles began to play.

This initiative had been finalized earlier by the principal and academy leadership.

Given the massive surge of spectators—particularly foreign nobility, merchants, and visiting dignitaries—merely providing academy facilities and basic entertainment wasn't going to satisfy the crowd for an entire week.

Consequently, they adapted.

Utilizing live-recording orb stones scattered throughout the arena, the academy established broadcast feeds that could be transmitted anywhere—to taverns, inns, hotels, and even private VIP lounges.

No matter where a guest was staying, they could witness the matches, see the replays, and hear the commentary in real-time.

And more importantly—

It kept the public fervor at a boiling point.

On the display, images flashed by: catastrophic spells, narrow escapes, and sudden reversals that sent the crowds into a frenzy.

Even through the recording, the roar of the audience was deafening.

"Spanning across various academies and ranks," Duncan remarked, leaning back as he scrutinized the footage, "the individuals expected to reach the finals truly are a pack of monsters, hm~"

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Particularly those from Lumen Academy... actually, looking at it now, the majority of remaining participants are from Lumen, aren't they?"

He let out a dramatic sigh and clutched his chest.

"How tragic. My own Asforth Academy couldn't even manage to make it this far."

Flora let out a soft laugh, clearly amused by his theatrical display of grief.

"Oh, stop it, Duncan. You know that isn't entirely accurate," she chided. "Still... it's undeniable. This year, Lumen is truly terrifying."

As the highlights continued, every scene reinforced the same sentiment shared by all observers.

This competition was far from ordinary.

And whatever awaited them in the finals... would be anything but normal.

"Hehehe, well—our academy is the premier institution, after all," Flora said playfully, leaning toward the screen. "But I understand your sentiment, partner. That said... wasn't everyone shocked by the level of combat prowess displayed this year? Especially by these seven!"

As she spoke, the display shifted again, dividing into several distinct panels.

One highlight after another began to roll.

The first depicted Lucas stepping forward with an air of calm, systematically dismantling his foe with fluid movements and overwhelming power.

The duel concluded so swiftly it felt almost unfair.

The next panel focused on Seo.

She appeared as a mere blur—her blade already unsheathed.

Her opponent didn't even grasp the situation at first.

But unlike her typical instantaneous victories, she chose to cut them down gradually, strike by strike, each movement precise, cold, and almost experimental.

The reaction of the crowd in the recording was one of... visible unease.

Then Rose appeared.

True to form, her match ended in an instant.

Spells were woven, calculations were finalized, and the battle was decided before most observers could even blink.

Following her was Snow, who calmly raised a hand as her opponent’s mana was frozen solid—completely locked, suppressed, and silenced before they could even move.

The match ended without a drop of blood, yet the dominance was absolute.

The highlights rolled on.

Students from rival academies displayed their own capabilities—brilliant tactics, rare elemental affinities, and lethal techniques.

One youth in particular stood out: Felix Anders, whose rare celestial affinity for gravity allowed him to distort the very battlefield.

It was a performance more than worthy of a place among the finalists.

Yet despite all of this—

Despite the monsters, the prodigies, and the geniuses—

Most of the audience was waiting for one specific person.

Even as the highlights looped, people leaned closer to the screens, whispering the same name in taverns, inns, and private halls throughout the city.

"...But in all honesty," Duncan said slowly, squinting at the screen, "there is still one individual everyone has been anticipating."

Flora smiled, knowing exactly who he was referring to.

"And it isn't because of flashy magic or overwhelming stats," she added. "It’s because no one can quite figure him out."

The screen went black for a fleeting second.

Then, a new name materialized in glowing script.

Riley Hell.

Although his battles ended quickly—almost disturbingly so—the manner of his victory was nearly identical to Seo’s.

Clean.

Efficient.

Finished before the opponent could comprehend what had gone wrong.

There was no wasted effort, no pointless flair. Simply results.

Given his growing influence and the mountain of rumors following him, it was inevitable that Riley would be the center of attention.

But what truly captivated the public wasn't merely his combat style.

It was the company he kept every time a match concluded.

By now, it was public knowledge—no longer mere gossip—that he was officially betrothed to Alice Holloway, Rose Brilliance, and even Princess Snow herself.

That fact alone was enough to stun most people. Any one of those pairings would have been unthinkable.

Yet the crowd was even more shocked by how open his relationship had become with Seo Gyeoul... and several other women who were just as breathtaking as the four everyone already knew.

Among them, the most discussed was Stacia Alger Del Luna.

Following her defeat by Rose, most expected a cold distance. Rivalry. Awkward tension.

Instead, Stacia was frequently spotted near Rose, the two of them standing together as they cheered for Riley without a trace of resentment.

That sight alone shattered countless expectations and ignited even more speculation.

Hushed voices spread the news like wildfire.

"Sigh... Senior Riley’s matches are a show in their own right," someone remarked with a dry laugh. "But seriously, you should be careful around him, fufu~"

Another voice joined in, half-joking and half-envious.

"I won't lie, I'm a bit jealous... but he has the strength to back it all up. No wonder such beauties fell for him."

"Naturally. He's the academy's hero, after all. Ah—but besides his incredible battles and power, have you heard the latest rumor?"

The announcer leaned forward, lowering her voice for dramatic effect. "I know everyone in the academy is dying to know, right?"

"Oh?" Duncan arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Now you’ve piqued my interest. Go on then, Flora—do tell your partner."

"Well~ word has it that Senior Riley isn't content with just collecting all the beauties of our generation."

"Hoh? And what exactly does that imply?"

Flora snapped her fingers, creating a small rectangle in the air as the projection changed.

A highlighted image appeared on the display.

"Someone claims they’ve verified seeing him on a date with Aera Nari Gyeoul herself!"

"Oh my—targeting the mother of his lover now? He truly is a player, hm—"

Bzzt!

The broadcast was cut off without warning.

Riley’s brow twitched in irritation.

"...What the hell was that?"

"Fufu, did it not please you?" Alice’s amused voice drifted from beside him.

"No."

Snow chuckled softly as she stepped forward, placing a hand on the magical orb to completely deactivate the projection.

"You know, an interruption like that is quite expensive."

"Ah... my apologies."

"Fufu, it’s alright." Snow turned toward him with a teasing glint in her eyes. "But what exactly about that report made you so annoyed?"

Riley didn't blink.

"Everything."

Snow laughed, clearly delighted by his rare, visible irritation.

"Well, everything they’ve said so far was done with my permission, so don't be too hard on those two."

Riley exhaled a long sigh, rubbing his temple. "Fine... but is this sort of thing truly necessary?"

"Not strictly," Snow admitted calmly, crossing one leg over the other. "But it is the most efficient form of distraction. You wanted people to back off a little, didn't you? And even if it annoys you, the academy has already seen a massive spike in revenue and sponsorships. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."

"We only just implemented this, you know."

"Yes," Snow replied with a small smile, "but I can already tell it is proceeding very well."

Riley leaned back into the sofa, sinking into the cushions as he watched Snow gracefully return to her seat across from him.

At this moment, only the two of them occupied the student council office, the usual chaos conspicuously absent.

"You mentioned you brought this idea to the principal a while ago, right?" Snow continued. "I honestly didn't think she'd agree to something so taxing. Coordinating an operation of this scale in such a large academy... I can imagine it must have taken a toll on her."

"Well, she moved the moment I mentioned the word money, so don't worry too much about her," Riley said dismissively. Then, after a short pause, he added, "But... is trashing my reputation even further really necessary? And when did they even get a recording of me and Aera, anyway?"

"Fufu~ I have my ways."

As Snow observed Riley’s rare, genuine annoyance, her smile grew wider.

Perhaps I should do this more often, she thought, finding the sight far more entertaining than she was willing to admit.