How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 723: Festival Champion

"Is that all that occurred?" Rose’s tone remained placid, yet a subtle sharpness laced her words as she met his gaze across the table.

Riley offered a simple nod. "Yes."

She held his stare a moment longer, her golden eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly. "...But a dungeon of that nature... could such a thing possibly exist?"

Riley lifted an eyebrow. "Do you accuse me of falsehood?"

"Not precisely," she responded after a brief silence, her fingertips dancing lightly on the tabletop. "It is merely... inconceivable. Even when coming from you."

Her voice carried no hint of accusation, only a profound sense of disbelief.

Riley expelled a quiet breath, leaning back slightly in his seat. "...Aye. I anticipated it would sound so."

A subtle smile graced his lips. "Truthfully, it made little sense to me either when we first encountered it."

The palpable tension began to dissipate thereafter.

They were gathered around a circular table situated just beyond the main castle, encircled by an expansive, verdant garden that unfurled in all directions. Vibrant blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, their colors almost unnaturally perfect, excessively vivid—a spectacle only conceivable within Alice’s realm.

In stark contrast to the dungeon they had just escaped, the serenity here felt almost abrupt.

Peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Following the resolution of the matter concerning Duke Raymond, the four of them had convened in this tranquil setting—Riley, Rose, Alice, and Emilia.

Inevitably, the conversation turned to their recent ordeal.

Both Alice and Rose harbored a deep curiosity regarding the events that transpired during Riley and Snow's absence.

Thus, Riley commenced his explanation.

From the very outset.

Count Roverick’s official petition.

The dire circumstances plaguing the northern territories.

The troublesome dungeon plaguing the region.

And then... the deeper intricacies.

The rationale behind his and Snow’s decision to confront it personally.

The revelations uncovered within its depths.

The ultimate conclusion of their venture.

He did, however, omit any mention of Snow’s newly acquired capabilities.

He had not spoken a direct lie.

Not entirely.

He simply made no effort to make his account sound remotely credible.

Alice, who possessed a general understanding thanks to Cheshire, offered no challenge to his narrative. Even when certain portions veered into the realm of the fantastical, she listened with an unperturbed expression, her occasional smile suggesting a knowledge far exceeding her outward demeanor.

Rose, however, reacted differently.

She genuinely contemplated his words.

For in her estimation...

A dungeon capable of containing a being akin to a deity?

Such a notion transcended rarity.

It was a concept that, in practical terms, ought not to exist.

Such entities belonged to the pages of myth. Ancient annals. Tales passed down through epochs—not something one could simply stumble upon.

And yet—

Her gaze returned to Riley.

He was not the sort to engage in frivolous deception regarding weighty matters.

"...I comprehend."

She finally released a soft sigh, reclining slightly.

Even if the account defied logic—

If Riley himself vouched for it...

There remained little room for outright skepticism.

Not entirely.

Meanwhile, Alice propped her chin on her hand, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she observed the exchange between them.

"It sounds like quite the adventure you had~"

Emilia, in contrast, remained silent, visibly endeavoring to process the entirety of Riley’s account, her expression a complex mix of astonishment and bewilderment.

"...A dungeon such as that..." she whispered softly.

Right... the Saintess is present.

Riley blinked, as if suddenly remembering her presence.

At some point during his detailed exposition, Emilia’s presence had faded into the periphery. Not purposefully—it had happened quite naturally. Relative to the extraordinary nature of his revelations, it was easy to overlook that another individual was privy to this unfolding saga for the first time.

She was not precisely an integral part of their inner circle.

At least, not on the same level.

And yet—

She was still someone he placed his complete faith in.

Utterly.

Even if, for some unforeseen reason, Emilia were to contemplate acting upon anything she had learned here...

Riley cast a sideways glance at her.

...He doubted she could grasp even half of its implications.

A quiet chuckle nearly escaped his lips.

Emilia sat rigidly, her posture stiff, her mind utterly adrift. The more Riley elaborated, the more profound her confusion seemed to become. At a certain juncture, she had simply ceased trying to follow the narrative coherently.

It was understandable.

She lacked the complete context.

She was unaware of the sheer absurdity that invariably ensued whenever Riley and his companions became involved.

"U-Um... Seniors..."

Her voice finally pierced the charged atmosphere, quiet yet sufficient to capture their collective attention.

Riley turned his gaze towards her.

"Yes?"

Emilia hesitated, fidgeting subtly before speaking again.

"Is it... truly permissible for me to be privy to all of this?" she inquired, evident uncertainty coloring her tone. "I mean... I don't entirely grasp the situation, but... what you're discussing now seems to pertain to matters between you and Senior Snow, correct...?"

A brief silence ensued.

Riley responded without hesitation.

"It is acceptable."

His declaration was straightforward.

"I trust you, Junior."

Emilia froze.

"Th-That is..."

Her face flushed crimson almost immediately, but she quickly shook her head, attempting to regain her composure.

"Y-You are remarkably naive, Senior!" she exclaimed, clearly flustered. "I-I might appear this way, but I am capable of doing terrible things, you know!"

"I find that highly doubtful," Riley countered without a moment's hesitation.

This only served to increase her embarrassment.

Before she could offer another retort—

"Yes, Riley is correct," Alice interjected, resting her chin on her hand with a gentle smile. "Although I haven't known you for long, Junior, you exude a rather... innocent aura."

She accompanied her words with a small, playful wink.

"And frankly? Even if you were to reveal all of this to others~ I doubt anyone would actually believe you."

Emilia's eyes widened.

"...What is that supposed to mean?"

She tilted her head slightly, clearly uncertain if she had just been complimented or insulted.

Rose responded without looking up from her task.

"It means you appear too harmless to be taken seriously... almost to the point of seeming foolish."

Emilia's expression froze.

"...T-That doesn't sound like a compliment."

"It wasn't," Rose stated calmly.

Meanwhile, Riley simply leaned back slightly, observing their interaction with a subtle smile.

At least the atmosphere had lightened somewhat.

...

Meanwhile, back at the academy—

Deep within the central training grounds of Killian Hall, the air hung heavier than usual.

This was not due to any magical presence.

Rather, it was a palpable tension.

Lucas stood at one end of the field, his gaze fixed intently on the figure before him.

Focused.

Sharp.

"...Hoooh..."

He exhaled slowly, regulating his breath as mana began to coalesce around him. It wasn't chaotic or overwhelming; instead, it distributed itself thinly and evenly, forming a subtle layer over his body – controlled and refined.

Step by deliberate step, he adjusted his posture.

Right foot positioned forward.

Shoulders remained relaxed.

His blade held at an angle, ready to move at any given moment.

This mastery was not acquired overnight.

He had dedicated weeks to its development.

Every single day.

All in preparation for what lay ahead.

The finals of the Grand Continental Festival.

Across the field, Kagami instinctively tightened his stance, his jaw clenching subtly as he observed Lucas.

"...He's different."

He could sense it.

Not merely stronger—

Sharper.

More perilous.

Then—

They moved.

—or rather—

Lucas vanished.

FOOSH—!

In an instant, his form blurred into non-existence, reappearing directly beside Kagami. His blade had already executed a clean arc through the air, its trajectory aimed squarely at Kagami's chest.

But—

Swoosh!

Kagami's body reacted with split-second timing, stepping back at the very last possible moment. The blade sliced through empty space, narrowly missing its target by a hair's breadth.

His eyes narrowed, sharp and alert.

"Got you."

He immediately advanced, his fist already drawn back—

Mana surged into it, compressing intensely until it emitted a low hum.

[Meteor Fist (S)]

VOOOM—!

He drove the punch forward.

It connected.

But—

Not cleanly.

Lucas had managed to raise his arm, blocking the blow at the final instant.

Still—

BOOOOM!!!

The impact erupted outwards, the ground beneath them fracturing as both combatants were propelled backward in opposite directions.

A cloud of dust billowed into the air.

The resulting shockwave radiated across the training field.

Then—

Silence descended.

For a brief moment.

"...Does that make the score forty to thirty-seven now?" Lucas inquired, rolling his shoulder slightly as he regained his footing.

Kagami pushed himself up from the ground, releasing a deep breath as he wiped the sweat from his face.

"...No," he stated, shaking his head. "That last exchange was a tie."

A faint smirk touched his lips.

"You're still ahead, though."

Lucas let out a soft chuckle.

"Fair enough."

The palpable tension dissipated as quickly as it had appeared.

Both individuals walked back towards the center of the field before settling onto the ground without particular concern for their appearance.

The training session was concluded.

For the time being.

Lucas glanced sideways, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he looked at Kagami, who was already drenched in sweat and had removed his tank top to cool himself.

"You've become faster," Lucas commented. "Your reaction time has improved significantly."

Kagami emitted a light snort.

"I could say the same about you," he replied, leaning back on his hands. "Your mana control... it's far more precise now."

He met Lucas's gaze.

"It's hard to believe it's only been a few days since you demonstrated that technique you were refining."

Lucas ran a hand over the back of his head, letting out a small laugh.

"Yeah... I had to ensure I perfected it."

His gaze drifted upward momentarily.

"With the finals approaching... I really couldn't afford to be lax."

Kagami sighed softly.

"...Figures."

For a moment, a comfortable silence settled between them.

They simply sat there, recuperating their breath.

They had been engaged in relentless training ever since the extended break had commenced.

Day after day.

Without complaint. Without excuses.

Just pure, unadulterated training.

What began as a scheduled event had gradually transformed into an unspoken routine, an expectation neither of them felt the need to voice aloud anymore.

The reason was simple: they both understood what they were gearing up for.

Or, more accurately—

Whom.

Riley.

Seo.

Two individuals.

Two blades.

Both possessed techniques capable of instantly deciding the outcome of any conflict.

Lucas shifted back slightly, his arms propped behind him as his gaze drifted toward the heavens.

Last year, he had been defeated.

Decisively.

It wasn't due to a lack of strength on his part, but rather Riley's mastery of unknown, hidden skills and layered magic—elements that only revealed themselves when it was far too late to react.

And even then—

Riley had clearly held something back.

That particular sword technique.

The very one Lucas had only recently begun to comprehend.

His fingers twitched involuntarily.

That disparity...

It had not vanished.

Not entirely.

However, the chasm was no longer as vast as it once was.

More importantly—

His determination remained unshaken.

If his aim was for Riley to recognize him—not as someone trailing behind, but as an equal—

Then victory was not merely a possibility, but a necessity.

Kagami, conversely, harbored a distinct kind of focus.

He released a breath, his gaze fixed forward as he rotated his shoulder.

The previous year, he had lost to Seo.

Utterly.

But unlike Lucas—

He felt no burden of frustration.

Nor resentment.

Not even a burning ambition for vengeance or a decisive win.

"...I simply wish to endure longer this time,"

That aspiration alone would suffice.

A full minute.

Just sixty seconds against her.

And if fortune allowed—

To land even a single blow.

He exhaled softly, his hand clenching subtly.

Because, much like Lucas...

He also possessed something yet to be revealed.

An ability he had been meticulously honing in solitude.

Something that might grant him even the faintest glimmer of hope.

Naturally—

There was no certainty that they would even face the adversaries they desired.

The tournament structure didn't guarantee such matchups.

Yet, as long as they advanced sufficiently—

Reaching the semi-finals, at the very least—

Their eventual confrontation was assured.

Riley and Seo would be present.

Awaiting them.

All that remained was—

To triumph in every preceding match.

"...Hey, you two."

A recognizable voice interrupted their thoughts.

Followed by a drawn-out sigh.

"Seriously... are you at it again?"

Both of them turned slightly towards the sound.

Janica approached, her expression clearly one of irritation, a canteen held in her hand. Without breaking stride, she extended it towards them.

"Here."

Lucas accepted it with minimal fuss.

"...Thanks."

Kagami, however, brightened considerably.

"Thank you, Janica!"

She folded her arms, her demeanor unimpressed.

"I understand you're both focused on preparation, but remember, rest is an integral part of training too."

Her gaze then shifted, focusing on Kagami.

"And you—didn't you just get released from academy detention recently?"

Kagami faltered for a moment.

"...That's—"

"At the very least, try to ease up for a while," she continued, cutting him off. "You'll end up collapsing if you push yourself like this."

Her eyes then narrowed subtly.

"...Or should I inform Clara?"

Kagami's face turned ashen.

"...Alright, alright—message received."

Beside him, Lucas let out a quiet snort.

Janica simply shook her head, releasing another weary sigh.

Honestly—

Witnessing their relentless self-exertion was, in its own way, quite draining.

Yet, concurrently...

She couldn't bring herself to forcibly halt them.

Because she, too, understood—

Just as they did—

That the upcoming rounds would not be contests they could afford to underestimate.