How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 631: Day before the tournament 4

“Hm~ what’s this?” Flamme leaned in with that trademark fox-like smirk.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Senior Lucas~ Did you and Reina come together? Are you perhaps joining us?”

Her suspicious stare burned into the two of them.

Lucas let out a nervous chuckle and instinctively took a tiny step away from Reina, as if putting distance would somehow clear his innocence.

“N-No, not at all. I actually have another appointment. I was just passing by when I saw Junior Reina getting lost so I helped her out.”

“So you were just helping out?” Flamme asked, eyes narrowing.

“Yes,” Lucas answered immediately.

“Well aren’t you kind…” Her tone softened for half a second before she tilted her head. “But if that’s all, why are you still here?”

Lucas froze.Flamme’s smirk widened.

“I was just worried that Junior might—”

“There’s no need to interrogate him like that, Flamme,”

Reina cut in sharply before he could finish.

“Senior was simply helping me. That’s all. And ah—I’m really sorry about her, senior. You know how absurdly direct and rude this girl can be, but even still, I deeply apologize.”

Reina bowed politely while forcibly dragging Flamme’s head down beside her.

Of course, Flamme tried to resist, but a mage like her didn’t stand a chance against Reina’s physical strength, so she ended up bowing stiffly with an annoyed growl.

Lucas quickly raised his hands in a light panic.

“Haha, there’s no need for you to apologize, Junior. I’m sure Flamme was just… worried. In any case, I guess my stay has been a bit overdue. Since you’re safe now, I should take my leave.”

He offered a small, courteous smile as he straightened up.

“Eh? You’re leaving already? What a shame~”

Flamme slipped out of Reina’s grip like an eel and immediately latched onto Lucas’s right arm.

Hugging it tight, she leaned her body against him with that overly practiced seductive smile.

“Why don’t you join us for a while, senior~? I’m suuure you’ll like it more than whatever appointment you’re going to.”

“That’s…” Lucas stiffened, unsure if he should pull away or politely endure it.

Flamme didn’t give him the chance.

Sliding a finger along his chest, she pressed her softness against his arm and whispered,

“Oh come on~ I can even make you feel exclusively loved, you know? I’m certain you’ll really enjoy—”

SMACK!

Before she could finish, a fist slammed down on top of her head like divine punishment.

“O–Ow!!” Flamme winced, her eyes going wide as she was yanked clean off Lucas’s arm and held like a misbehaving cat.

Reina had her by the collar with one hand, already dragging her away.

“You can go on ahead, senior,”

Reina said with a polite bow, though her smile was tight with obvious annoyance.

“I’m sure you have something important to do. I’ll… take care of her.”

Flamme dangled in her grip, rubbing the top of her head, muttering curses under her breath.

“A-Alright then…”

Lucas watched the scene, uncertain whether he should laugh or be concerned.

In the end, he let out a small, nervous chuckle and waved awkwardly.

“Then… I’ll see you two around.”

With that, he turned and walked off, glancing back once more at the bizarre pair—Reina dragging Flamme like a criminal being escorted away.

….

“Ah! Reina! Flamme!””Enna!”

Hearing Emilia’s cheerful voice, Reina’s face lit up.

The two girls closed the distance in a heartbeat and hugged each other tightly.

Emilia let out her usual soft giggle—”hehe~”—as she buried herself in Reina’s arms like a puppy seeking warmth.

When she pulled back, her eyes shifted to Flamme, who stood right beside them with an obvious pout.

“Flamme, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing~” Flamme grumbled, looking away dramatically.

Emilia tilted her head.

Even without a single magic spell, she could sense that Flamme was clearly upset about something.

But experience taught her one thing: pushing for answers would only end with Flamme teasing her until she cried.

So, with a gentle smile, she decided to let the girl sulk in peace.

It had been a few minutes since Lucas had gone on his way, leaving Reina and Flamme behind, and now the two girls were steadily regrouping with their friends.

Their plans for the day weren’t strict or official, but seeing everyone show up one by one made Emilia’s heart flutter.

She had wanted an outing like this with her friends for a long, long time.

Right now, only Uriel and Stacia were missing.

The two had already informed them that they’d be arriving a bit late due to personal circumstances, so the group decided to enjoy the festival first instead of waiting around.

Even so, Emilia kept glancing around the area with an excited sparkle in her eyes.Reina noticed it and smiled softly.

Today, finally… they were all going to have fun together.

But…

“Who are those two?” Flamme asked bluntly, eyes narrowing with curiosity as she glanced at the two elven students standing just behind Vanessa.

Vanessa stepped forward with a gentle smile.”Allow me to introduce them. Flamme, Reina—this is Melan, and this is Fay. These two are childhood friends of mine from the elven kingdom. Since they’re still unfamiliar with human customs and the culture here, I thought it would be nice to let them join us on our outing today. I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine,” Flamme said with a shrug. “The more the merrier, really. And Emilia already told me two more would be joining… I just didn’t expect you to be the one bringing people, Vanessa. I seriously thought this

little nugget would be the one dragging strangers around.”

She pointed straight at Emilia.

“Hehe~ Melan and Fay can be a little quiet,” Emilia said proudly, “but they’re really kind and gentle! You’ll like them, I promise!”

“Is that so? Well, whatever.” Flamme crossed her arms then smirked casually. “Anyway, nice to meet you two. As Vanessa said, I’m Flamme. You can call me Flamme if you want—just don’t mind me calling you by your names too.”

Melan and Fay both nodded politely.

“Yes, nice to meet you as well, Miss Flamme,” Melan said.

“And you too, Miss Reina,” Fay added with a small bow. “Please take care of us today.”

Reina smiled warmly.”Of course. Nice to meet you too, Fay, Melan.”

As Reina greeted them, Fay’s eyes subtly shifted to her brother.

Melan’s cheeks were slightly pink… and his usually calm, unreadable gaze looked almost mesmerized.

It was rare—very rare—to see her brother react like that.

So rare that Fay had to blink twice, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Her brother… blushing?

This was going to be an interesting day.

…

Meanwhile, Lucas—who had just arrived at the café Janica told him to meet at—let out a small sigh when he spotted her.

Janica sat alone at a corner table, a book resting neatly in front of her as she quietly sipped her drink.

Her eyes weren’t even on the page; instead, she stared off to the side, clearly lost in thought about something.

…Did I make her wait? Lucas checked the time, a little worried he might’ve messed up.

But seeing that he was actually a bit early, he relaxed.

Maybe she had just gotten here too.

“Janica,” he called out gently.

She looked up, and he gave her a small smile. Honestly, this felt like their first real date.

All their past outings had been under the excuse of “just being friends,” even though both of them somewhat knew there was always something a bit more going on.

And now… after knowing how she truly felt, and even after turning her down, Lucas still felt he owed it to her to at least make this day comfortable—fun, even.

But the complicated feelings between them still lingered in his chest, poking at him like tiny needles.

At first, Janica’s gaze softened—warm, familiar.

The same way she always looked at him.

But the moment he stepped closer—

“Stop!”

Lucas froze.”??? J-Janny?”

She shot up from her seat, face bright red like she’d been caught doing something embarrassing.

“Y–You… you dirty bastard!” she blurted out. “H-How could you let Riley do that to you!”

“…Huh?”

“You should’ve resisted! Or—or maybe not… b-but still! Letting him teach you something like that from behind is just… it’s shameful!”

Her voice got higher and higher as she spoke, practically steaming, and Lucas could only stare at her in bafflement.

Then he noticed it.

The other girls sitting around the café…They were all looking at him.

Blushing.

Fidgeting.

Some even covering their mouths as if holding back squeals.

They all had the same exact book as Janica.

….

I was just intending to see what was going on…

But…

This is just shitty.

Riley’s hand trembled as he held the book. It wasn’t even that big—more like one of those thin light novels you could finish in an afternoon.

But the content inside…

Yeah.

Horrifying.

Disturbing.

And way too explicit in certain parts about him.

Things he would never, ever imagine doing.

Things he didn’t even want to imagine.

Evelyn, who was leaning casually against the wall in front of him, tried to hold in a laugh.

She really did.

But her shoulders shook, her lips twitched, and eventually she just broke.

“Fufu—Riley, you must really not like the book, hm? Can’t you feel the passion the author poured into it?”

Riley ignored her teasing, pressing two fingers to his temple as if that would erase the cursed images now burned into his mind.

He came to see Evelyn today to ask about a few troubling things happening behind the scenes.

She gave her usual cryptic, half-useless answers, and he was already planning to leave and go straight to his fiancée afterwards.

But then… of course… Evelyn just had to hand him this book.

“Do you know the author?” he asked, voice flat.

Evelyn smirked.

“As far as I know, she’s a student in the academy. Why? Don’t tell me you’re planning to stop the publication? Poor girl probably just made her biggest sales ever~”

“Find her.”

“Alright,” she said immediately.

But her tone made it obvious—she had zero intention of actually doing it.