How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 740: Fateful Encounter Interlude

As the day went on, excitement only grew.

With the first match concluded, the crowd buzzed with anticipation for what was coming next. Conversations filled every corner of the academy—speculation, debates, even bets on who would come out on top.

It didn’t take long before another announcement was made.

Both the emperor and the academy principal stepped in, formally declaring the schedule for the remaining matches of the Continental Grand Festival.

One match.

Per day.

"...."

The reaction was immediate.

Some were surprised.

Some complained.

But most—

Didn’t really mind.

It was obvious what this was.

A way to stretch things out.

To draw in more attention.

More profit.

More influence.

And honestly?

It worked.

With how massive the event had become, spreading out the matches only made each one feel more important. More focused. Something people would look forward to instead of consuming all at once.

For the academy, it meant more revenue.

For sponsors, more exposure.

And for the broadcasting division—

It was the perfect testing ground.

Their reach had already expanded beyond expectations, but this... this was a chance to push even further. To see just how far their influence could go across the continent.

"...Hmm."

Away from the crowd—

Blending into it, yet completely separate—

Evelyn walked quietly.

Her figure shimmered faintly, almost transparent, covered in soft bluish-white runes that flickered gently across her skin.

[Rune Spell: Invis]

A high-level concealment spell.

To anyone else, she simply didn’t exist.

"...Maybe I pushed things a little too far."

She murmured to herself, her voice light, thoughtful.

"But this is the better move... for now."

Her gaze shifted slightly.

In the distance—

She spotted him.

Riley.

Surrounded.

Cornered, even.

"...He really is having a hard time."

A faint smile formed on her lips.

"This is all for his growth."

Her eyes softened just a little.

"I know~ I know~"

"But.... Right now, if he overthinks everything... if he stays too cautious..."

"....."

"....."

"He’ll eventually make mistakes."

So instead—

"A little trust is necessary."

Her gaze lingered for a moment longer.

On Liyana—

Clinging to his side like she belonged there.

"...."

Then Evelyn turned away, her steps light as she disappeared deeper into the crowd.

Still smiling.

...

"We just spent the rest of the evening on a casual date..."

"...Just a casual date?" Rose repeated, her tone calm—but not entirely convinced.

"Yes," I nodded. "Liyana’s still new to the academy. I was just showing her around, helping her get familiar with the place."

I paused for a second.

"If anything, it was more like being a tour guide than an actual date."

"What are you saying, darling~"

Liyana cut in immediately, smiling as she leaned slightly closer.

"With how much fun we had, it was clearly a date. Hehe~"

"...."

I glanced at her.

That smile again.

In the end, I just gave a small nod.

"...Yeah. I guess you could say that."

Sigh...

I let out a quiet breath inwardly.

At the very least—

That situation passed... peacefully.

Which was already more than I expected.

For a moment back there, when that system warning suddenly appeared again—

I almost lost focus.

It had been a while since I’d seen it.

Long enough that I thought maybe the system had stopped interfering... or at least stopped caring about how things were going between me and Liyana.

Considering the level of divinity I’d reached—

I assumed I had some leeway.

"...Guess I was wrong."

My bad ending was still there.

Still watching.

Still waiting.

"Here are your orders."

The waiter’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Please feel free to call us if you need anything."

"Thank you," Alice replied with a small smile.

We all nodded as the table was filled with sweets and drinks.

Right now, we were sitting inside Panda Café.

A quiet place, warm and calm—perfect for conversations like this.

Alice’s choice, of course.

Knowing how much she liked this place, it wasn’t surprising she picked it for this.

"...."

After explaining what happened between me and Liyana yesterday—

At least the parts I could explain—

They seemed mostly satisfied.

Or at least...

They didn’t press further.

But I could tell.

There were still doubts.

Especially from Rose and Seo.

Their eyes lingered on me a little longer than usual.

Measuring.

Thinking.

Even though I told them the truth—

Just not everything.

Alice, on the other hand...

"...Mhm~"

She was already enjoying her sweets like nothing was wrong.

Completely accepting it without question.

I guess she just trusts me that much.

Enough not to care—no matter how suspicious Liyana made things sound.

...Or maybe she just didn’t think that deeply about it.

Honestly, knowing Alice, that was more likely.

I glanced around the café for a moment.

Yeah... she probably picked this place to lighten the mood—

"Hey, you guys have to try this pudding! It’s really good~ mm~!"

...Or maybe she just wanted sweets.

"So good~!"

"...."

Yeah.

Definitely the second one.

"Slow down, Alice... too much sugar is going to—"

I stopped mid-sentence.

Right.

Bad topic.

"...."

"Fufufu~" Alice giggled, completely unfazed. "You don’t have to worry about me getting bigger, Riley."

She gave a small wink, clearly amused.

"My metabolism is amazing. If anything, everything just goes to the right places... the ones you like so much~"

She added a thumbs up like that somehow made it a valid explanation.

"...That’s not how it works."

And even if it was—

That didn’t justify the amount she was eating.

Macarons, cakes, pudding...

She wasn’t even pacing herself.

And yet—

Funnily enough...

Seo was actually the one who had eaten the most so far.

Without saying a word, she kept taking small, quick bites—efficient, precise.

Before anyone even noticed, another slice of cake would just... disappear.

"...."

At this rate, she might outpace Alice.

Rose, at least, was eating normally.

Though even she looked a bit impressed.

"...."

I glanced around.

Other customers—mostly girls, some with their partners—were openly staring at our table now.

Not even trying to hide it.

I mean...

Fair.

Watching two girls casually demolish that much dessert was bound to attract attention.

Thankfully—

Alice and Rose didn’t seem concerned at all.

Mostly because...

They could afford it.

"...."

Come to think of it—

The café felt more crowded than usual.

More people were coming in, filling up seats almost immediately.

"...Guess it got more popular."

With the festival going on and visitors flooding into the academy, it made sense.

Places like this would naturally become hotspots.

"I don’t really like sweets but... this place is good."

Rose said it casually as she took another bite of her cake, like she was just stating a fact.

"I recall you enjoying it last time we came here though..." I replied.

"That was because I was trying to woo you, Honey."

"...."

"...."

Honey?

The word landed a little louder than it should’ve.

"...Honey?" Liyana repeated almost immediately, her eyes shifting toward Rose.

Of course she caught that.

"Yes, Honey~" Rose answered without hesitation, her expression calm. "It’s our call sign now."

She took another small bite before continuing.

"Since you call him ’darling’ all the time, we thought it was only fair he gave the rest of us something too."

"...."

Liyana went quiet for a brief moment.

Then—

She smiled.

"Oh, I see..."

Her tone was light. Easy.

"I suppose me calling him ’darling’ all the time was a bit unfair to everyone else, hmm~?"

A soft laugh followed.

"’Honey,’ though... that’s quite cute. Did you come up with it?"

"No," Rose shook her head slightly. "Riley did."

"...."

That earned a small pause.

"...I see."

Her smile didn’t fade.

If anything, it deepened just a little.

"How about the others?"

"Ah!" Alice immediately leaned in, clearly excited to share. "Riley calls me ’babe’ now, and I call him ’baby’ in return~"

She clasped her hands together happily.

"It’s super cute, right?"

"...Yes."

Liyana nodded.

"It is."

Then her gaze shifted.

"To you?"

"...Love."

Seo answered simply.

"Riley and I call each other that now."

"...Love?"

"Yes."

"...."

Liyana went quiet again.

"Honey... Babe... Love..."

She repeated them softly, almost like she was testing how they sounded.

"...Simple," she murmured.

"But... affectionate."

A small smile returned to her lips.

"...Fufu."

"I guess that means..."

Her eyes slowly drifted back to me.

"...I don’t have a unique one for you anymore, do I... Darling?"

The moment those words left her lips—

Something... lingered.

It was subtle.

So subtle that, if I wasn’t paying attention, I might’ve missed it entirely.

Liyana was still smiling.

Still talking casually with the others, blending into the conversation like nothing had changed.

But when our eyes met—

Those crimson eyes—

"...."

I couldn’t move.

For a brief second, everything else faded into the background.

Was it caution?

A warning?

I didn’t know.

But something, deep within me, reacted.

Because behind that smile—

Behind that warm, affectionate gaze—

There was something else.

Something I recognized.

"...."

Rage.

Not loud.

Not obvious.

But buried.

Hidden so well that no one else would notice.

Except me.

Because I’ve seen it before.

Those same eyes.

That same quiet, suffocating intent.

The look she used to give—

When she decided something needed to disappear.

"...Did I push her too far...?"

The thought slipped in without me realizing.

Did that conversation just now...

Bring that side of her closer to the surface?

"Darling~"

"...Hm?"

"Ahn~"

My thoughts were cut off as she suddenly leaned closer, holding a spoon up to my lips.

"...."

I blinked.

The pressure—

Gone.

Just like that.

What replaced it was the same warm, gentle expression she always showed.

Like nothing had happened.

Like I imagined everything.

"...."

I opened my mouth slightly, letting her feed me.

She watched me the whole time, smiling softly.

Then—

She pulled the spoon back...

...and brought it to her own lips.

"...."

"Fufu~"

"You really are like a baby when I feed you, darling~"

"...."

And just like that—

Something twisted in my chest.

Because those words—

That tone—

They dragged something back up.

Memories I didn’t want.

Didn’t need.

For a split second—

The world shifted.

Dark red lightning cracked across my vision.

The ground beneath us—

Wet.

Heavy.

Soaked in red.

The smell—

Rotten.

Thick.

Like death itself lingered in the air.

"...."

It lasted less than a second.

A flicker.

A fracture in reality.

Then—

Gone.

The café returned.

The noise.

The warmth.

The normalcy.

"...."

No one reacted.

No one noticed.

It was like time itself had paused—

Only for me.

"...."

I looked at her again.

Liyana.

Still smiling.

Still gentle.

Still—

Perfect.

But deep within those crimson eyes—

Just for that brief moment—

I saw it.

The same presence.

The same being—

That once ended my world.