How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 3: My happy ending

According to the game's lore, Liyana was supposed to feel next to nothing for Riley. When we first crossed paths, I desperately clung to that detail, hoping I could remain invisible to her and avoid her scrutiny.

However, reality defied the script. Not only did I catch her eye, but she began to project her affection toward me with startling openness.

Haha... I'll admit, a small part of me tried to look on the bright side of this development.

After all, isn't it every man's dream to experience a youthful romance with a woman of such breathtaking beauty?

On paper, I should have been considered the luckiest guy on the planet, right?

Unfortunately, fate is a cruel mistress, and the path laid out for me was as unavoidable as it was grim.

From the moment our lives intersected, I was shackled to her, our futures woven into a single, tragic thread.

My role in this story? To die by her hand.

And hers? She is destined to either become the protagonist's lover or the catalyst for the world's total annihilation, depending on the hero's choices.

I used to believe that isekai adventures were synonymous with wonder, overpowered cheats, and sprawling harems.

So why did I get dealt such a rotten hand?

Of all the possibilities, why am I trapped with the most formidable yandere in existence?

It feels like a sick joke played by the universe.

Haah... I was almost tempted to just throw in the towel and end it all, hoping that death might trigger a return to my original world. But deep down, I recognized those impulses as nothing more than cowardly delusions.

Especially when I look at this.

[Status:] [Riley Hell] [Race: Human] [Level 7] [Strength: F] [Agility: D] [Endurance: D] [Luck: 0] [Power: F] [Skill info....] [Invalid: no skills found] [Special Traits] [Crazy Magnet] [Description: Evil people will have a certain liking to you] [Overview: A person who's fated to be surrounded with happiness]

Just staring at this organized status window makes my blood boil with pure irritation.

How the hell am I "fated to be surrounded with happiness" with stats like these? And what kind of nonsense is this "Crazy Magnet" trait?

I never encountered such a thing during my time playing the game.

Is this even a legitimate mechanic?

The mere thought infuriates me.

The idea that villains would be naturally drawn to me... well, that certainly explains a lot, doesn't it? It's likely the primary reason Liyana became obsessed with me in the first place.

It’s almost poetic—even my "skills" seem designed to lock me into the role of a villainess's fiancé. It would be funny if it weren't so damn frustrating.

A sea of F-ranks with a couple of Ds... and my Luck isn't even a letter; it's a literal zero. Ha-ha, I honestly want to burst into tears.

Trash. Cannon fodder. That is the only way to interpret this status sheet.

Nearly a decade has passed since I arrived in this world. Despite all my efforts to train and build strength, my attributes haven't budged an inch.

While the character Riley was meant to be a disposable weakling, this is my actual life now.

Shouldn't I have received some sort of "cheat" or advantage?

Isn't that the standard package for transmigrators, reincarnators, and regressors? Why am I the exception?

With a heavy sigh, I dragged myself out of bed and rushed toward the bathroom.

The sun hadn't even broken the horizon yet, but I couldn't waste another second wallowing in my bad luck.

"Today is the day."

[Mission: Attend the Academy]

A golden screen shimmered into existence beside me, distinct from the standard blue interface.

These mission prompts only appear when the enigmatic system decides to give me a task.

I don't fully get what the system is trying to achieve, but I suspect these missions are its way of forcing me to stick to the world's primary script.

When the status window first appeared eight years ago, my first directive was simple: "Live and be happy."

But as the years went by, the tasks became more specific, eventually forcing me to win Liyana's heart—a goal I somehow achieved despite my best efforts to stay away from her.

Seeing this new mission fills me with dread. Truthfully, I’d love to ignore the system entirely, but I’ve learned through painful experience that disobedience has a price. About four months ago, I tried to dodge the mission of loving Liyana so I could save my favorite heroine instead.

The result? A constant, deafening ringing in my skull that made it impossible to function.

Luckily, the protagonist followed my lead and saved her just in time.

However, the fallout was catastrophic for me—a "bad luck" outcome where Liyana tightened her grip by making our engagement official.

I had prayed that would never happen, but my own meddling backfired.

Now, it looks like I'm shackled to her for the remainder of my short life.

[Warning: Consecutive mission failures will result in a Bad End.]

The system doesn't mince words with its warnings.

Seriously, I'm not the hero of this story, so why am I being hounded with these missions?

Whatever entity dragged me here must be a total sadist.

Well, there's no point in overthinking it now...

I have many things I enjoy, but above all else, I love happy endings. I will secure mine, no matter what it takes.

"Oh, Riley, there you are."

A massive man with a messy beard met me outside, pulling me into a crushing bear hug. Despite his fierce look, he is the kindest soul in the family—my father, Count Leto Hell.

He looked absolutely beaming as he messed up my hair.

I suppose any father would be overjoyed to see his son off to the most prestigious Academy in the world. "I'm genuinely proud of you, Riley. My little boy is finally becoming a man. Haha, Kirsta and I did a fine job raising you."

I simply nodded, giving him a polite smile. Growing up with divorced parents in my past life made this warm, nurturing family dynamic feel... strange? It was a bizarrely comfortable sensation that I still wasn't used to.

"I know you aren't big on talking, but take this advice to heart... never pick a fight with someone of higher rank, okay? Life is much smoother that way," he said, laughing heartily with a hint of nostalgia.

He released me from the hug and looked me over. "Have you checked in with Lady Liyana?"

"Not yet..." I answered.

"You really should visit her before you leave. She was incredibly upset yesterday when she visited, knowing you'd be gone today."

I was well aware of that. In fact, that woman nearly chained me to the bed so I couldn't leave. If Mother hadn't intervened, I might still be trapped there.

"I'll go see her."

The Count smiled, patting my shoulder as he nudged me toward the gate.

"Wait, one more thing, Riley..."

"?" I turned back, wondering what else he had to say.

A playful spark lit up his eyes as he leaned closer. "Never cheat on her."

"..." I froze, stunned by the bluntness of his words.

"Hahaha, I recognize that expression," he laughed. "But seriously, that's the one rule you must never forget."

"Do you really think I'm the type to cheat?"