How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 1: Surprises are Shit...!
'I liked surprises.'
Surprises have a way of sneaking into our lives when we are least braced for them, catching us off guard like a mischievous prankster in the middle of our daily routines.
They are the uninvited guests that disrupt the party of predictability, tossing a splash of spontaneity into an otherwise mundane existence.
Whether it is an unplanned run-in with an old friend on a crowded street or discovering a stunning sunset during a casual walk, surprises serve as a reminder that life is packed with excitement and mysteries waiting to be unveiled.
'Yes, surprises were enjoyable… But right now, why on earth are they the reason I’m staring death in the face?'
"Riley, Darling?"
'Fucking hell, I never should have played that cursed game…!!!'
I have made plenty of poor decisions in my time, but none quite as catastrophic as this.
'What did I even do to deserve this?'
That elderly shop clerk looked like he was on his deathbed if I didn't purchase that game, so I bought it and played it out of pure kindness.
Since I enjoyed being surprised, I figured, why not give it a go?
And much to my shock, it turned out to be a hidden masterpiece, a truly exceptional game.
I even began to wonder why it wasn't more famous, as very few people seemed to be discussing it.
I genuinely loved playing that game.
But why...?
Why is this happening to me at this very moment?
Just outside my door, a dragon was lurking.
"I know you're in there, Darling."
I had done my absolute best to avoid triggering any flags with her if I could help it, yet I still ended up in this nightmare.
'Based on how eerily calm her voice is, I can tell she’s furious with me right now.'
[Hero's Legacy]
To put it simply, it was a romance fantasy game set in an academy. It followed the innocent and youthful drama of the students, featuring intricate and well-developed characters with their own distinct personalities and histories, balanced with a healthy serving of action and adventure.
It wasn't flawless, as the game relied on several overused archetypes and clichés.
However, I didn't mind.
After all, clichés and archetypes are still utilized today for a simple reason: they are 'Fun.'
All in all, it was a solid game.
The gripping plot and the stunning heroines kept me obsessed, leading me to explore every single detail of each girl's route and even suffer through every bad ending for all of them.
Not to mention the rather spicy erotic scenes that awaited if you successfully romanced the girls by the end.
If I hadn't been pulled into the game myself, it would have easily ranked in my top 5 favorite romance games of all time.
How did this even occur in the first place?
Did that old man place a curse or a spell on the game when he sold it to me?
He isn't some kind of god, is he?
Or was it because my heart raced so fast when I finally cleared the harem ending during my last playthrough?
Was it because I genuinely fell for every heroine?
'Did I suffer a heart attack while gaming all night?'
No, that’s a ridiculous thought.
Falling for a fictional character shouldn't cause someone to fall into the game world itself.
Granted, I was overjoyed to reach the best ending, which cost me a staggering amount of time and countless retries.
But after finishing it, I simply collapsed into sleep because I was exhausted.
Only to wake up, surprisingly, in a new body—and as a damn child, no less…
"Hello, Darling~ are you not going to answer me?"
"…"
I kept my mouth tightly shut. I knew she was already aware of my presence; that woman was a fucking dragon, after all.
She could likely hear a page turn from miles away. Detecting my heartbeat and breathing would be effortless for her, especially with those overpowered eyes of hers.
Even so, I clung to a tiny hope—the hope that if I stayed silent, she might just walk away, understanding my dread and fear of her right now.
Snap….!!!
But of course, that hope vanished instantly as the magically reinforced door of my room snapped like a dry twig. The handle was crushed and crumpled like a scrap of paper in her soft hand.
"I'm sorry, Darling, you just wouldn't answer, so I started to get worried…"
'Don't you mean you were getting impatient, you goddamn monster?'
As I scrambled to hide under my blanket, I could hear the sound of her footsteps drawing closer to me.
"Mother and father, as well as your parents, are already discussing our engagement at this very moment."
"…"
So we ended up engaged after all. I had been attempting to stall this for as long as possible, but I suppose this was inevitable.
"Don't you think it's time you faced reality, darling?"
"…"
"Ignoring me won't change your destiny, Darling."
I felt a rustle on the mattress and could hear her breathing more distinctly now.
'Fuck…'
"Hiding like that only makes you look more delicious, darling~"
She whispered directly into my ear. Even with the blanket muffling her voice, the allure she projected was still overwhelming.
Without giving me a second to react, she yanked away the blanket I was hiding under.
Her glowing red eyes locked onto mine…
Standing before me was a breathtakingly beautiful woman with hair as white as fresh snow and eyes as deep as blood.
She was dressed in a black gown that accentuated all her impressive assets…
'Beautiful.'
That is the first thought anyone would have upon seeing her.
But what made her presence truly chilling was the unnatural aura she radiated.
She carried an air of grace and nobility so intense that just looking at her made you want to drop to your knees and kiss her feet.
No matter how often I see her, engraving her image into my mind always feels like a new experience…
You simply never grow tired of it.
She was Liyana Heavens, the ultimate final boss of the game, known as the villainess and the ancient black dragon of destruction. She was the reason the world would end if you failed to stop her.
She was also my childhood friend and, as she just confirmed, my future fiancée.
"H-hi…?" I managed to stammer.
"Fufu… You're still as awkward as ever, Darling."
She gave a smile as she stroked my cheek, sending a wave of goosebumps across my entire body.
The hair on my neck stood up in terror as her tone suddenly turned cold.
I’m sure most men would be thrilled to have such a stunning woman touch them and show affection, but for me, this was nothing but a living nightmare.
"I've noticed this frequently lately, but aren't you avoiding me quite blatantly? I might be patient, but there's a limit to how long I can go without your affection, you know, darling?"
"…."
'Shit…'
I was completely speechless.
Telling a lie now would only make my death even more certain...
The light in her eyes began to dim and darken.
Memories of the CGs from the game flooded back as I witnessed that expression.
[Bad end no.89: A Dragon's Dessert]
It was the exact same face she wore before transforming into her true form and devouring the protagonist whole.
'Fuck… she isn't actually going to eat me, is she?'
I knew that avoiding her for three weeks straight was a mistake, but what other choice did I have?
I had to ensure that the incredibly dense protagonist successfully saved my favorite heroine…
I couldn't exactly tell her, "Liyana, there's this girl I need to save, can you help me?"
Given her temperament, the moment another girl's name passed my lips, not only would I be dead, but that woman would be too…
Since she was a secret heroine who wouldn't even appear in the main story if she wasn't rescued early on, I had to act to ensure her survival.
Naturally, the odds of me romancing her were non-existent, considering I’m basically just a mob character in this world.
"You were missing for two weeks and nobody knew where you went… Because of that, I had to do what was necessary to ensure you belong entirely to me, Darling."
In the game, there was one golden rule if you wanted to romance Liyana: never, ever go after the other heroines.
Tragically, I broke that rule the moment I saved my favorite character.
Was it a stupid move?
Yes.
But even so, as long as she was alive, I felt I could live somewhat happily in this hellish world of monsters and dungeons.
At least, that was my logic back then... the way Liyana was staring at me now was terrifying... I knew I had blown it.
As someone who had finished the entire game and uncovered its deepest secrets, I knew exactly how cruel and heartless this woman could be to both the protagonist and me.
I can still vividly recall her skinning the protagonist alive after seeing him hold hands with another girl in [Bad end no.63: Skin for Love].
"Liyana-"
I tried to explain myself, even if just a little, but Liyana silenced me by pressing a gentle finger against my lips.
'Her finger was so cold... it actually started to sting a bit.'
It felt as though frost was slowly beginning to encase my mouth.
Liyana then ruffled my hair before leaning her head against my chest.
My terror kept my body frozen in place, even though every instinct was screaming at me to run away…
"You aren't cheating on me, are you?"
'Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't. Or rather, I can't even fathom the idea of cheating with another woman while I have your... temporary affection.'
Haha, I tried so hard to avoid any flags early in my new transmigrated life and live as a background character, but is this really my path?
My fate as Riley Hell is to be the fiancé of this absolute monster—the very fiancé she slaughters in front of the protagonist the moment she falls for him.
"No…"
I uttered just that one word, and the crushing aura she exerted vanished in an instant…
It seemed she was satisfied that I was speaking the truth…
She snuggled closer, cuddling against me like a cat.
"Riley, you're mine…"
Honestly, I still couldn't wrap my head around this situation.
To think that the woman who will destroy the entire world in just a few years was this fixated on me.
I wonder what sins I committed in my past life?
With her hovering over me.....
How the fuck am I supposed to survive in this romance fantasy world?