How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 658: Frozen Resolve 3.5

The northernmost fringe of the continent remained a desolate territory, a place where warmth had long been forgotten.

A vast, unending expanse of snow unrolled beneath a leaden gray sky, hemmed in by colossal frozen peaks that carved out a natural sanctuary of ice and profound silence.

Biting winds shrieked without pause, whipping sharp slivers of frost through the air that sliced like daggers into any bare skin.

At the heart of this glacial basin sat a field of dark blue ice crystals, jagged and uneven, appearing as if the earth had been shattered and mended by frost a thousand times over.

And positioned there—

A gargantuan portal stood.

A deep blue haze shimmered across its surface, which warped like molten glass. Arcs of raw lightning and electricity spiraled around the frame, crashing into the frozen earth with violent thuds that thundered through the valley.

An endless stream of monsters surged from the gateway.

Grotesque entities of frost and ice emerged—some towering, some mangled, and others that barely held a recognizable form.

The storm muffled their roars, creating a rhythmic, hostile cacophony that made the desolate valley feel terrifyingly alive.

Among the beasts were humans.

Covered in blood and bound by shackles, they were dragged forward in heavy chains.

Many had already perished, their lifeless forms being hauled across the ice with utter indifference.

Those still alive were barely conscious, their gazes hollow and their breathing shallow, their spirits already broken beyond repair.

Every step was a forced labor, any spark of rebellion long since extinguished.

A massive frost troll led the procession, its breath billowing like thick steam in the frigid air.

To their side marched a legion of ice-born monsters—shifting beings of unknown origin whose shapes flickered as frost crept over their skin. Following from the rear was a far more terrifying presence.

A colossal frost bear.

It was the size of a small mountain, and the frozen ground trembled with every stride it took.

Its glowing eyes remained fixed on the shackled humans, seemingly waiting for the command to begin its feast.

One look at this landscape revealed a grim reality.

Escape was impossible.

Deep within the heart of the portal—

Far removed from the reach of the shrieks and the blizzard—

A figure of crystalline beauty slowly opened her eyes.

Her irises were a piercing, frigid blue, as sharp and clear as polished ice.

In contrast to the monsters she commanded, her appearance was almost human.

She possessed pale skin and hair that flowed like strands of frozen silk, exuding a presence so heavy it seemed to warp the very fabric of reality.

The Frost Queen.

Rising slowly from her throne of crystal, she tilted her head upward, as if her gaze could pierce through the portal and beyond the world itself.

A faint curve touched her lips.

It appears... a worthy successor has finally come.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the weight she had carried in solitude could finally be transferred.

The authority.

The crown.

And the destiny entwined with the frozen throne.

...

"I heard you two won your matches quite easily this time as well. Congratulations, you two."

Riley spoke with a warm, genuine tone.

A smile played on his lips as his gaze shifted between the two girls sitting across from him.

"Fufu, thank you, Riley," Snow answered softly, her smile reflecting her customary elegance.

Seo gave a small nod. "Yes... thank you."

On the surface, the scene was mundane. Relaxed. Almost tranquil.

However, a subtle tension hung between Snow and Seo, thin yet impossible to ignore.

Riley sensed it the moment he joined them.

They were having lunch in the academy park, positioned under the shade of a massive tree where leaves fluttered gently in the midday breeze.

Birds sang in the branches and students walked past with laughter, creating a lively atmosphere—but at their specific table, there was a sense of restraint.

Snow and Seo sat together, as close as they normally were, yet a strange distance separated them. Snow ate with perfect posture and graceful movements.

In contrast, Seo barely touched her meal, poking at the food aimlessly as if her mind were miles away.

The group had planned to meet before Rose’s match later that afternoon.

Alice was originally supposed to attend as well—she had been with Riley earlier that morning—but those plans had been abruptly interrupted.

Riley couldn't help but remember the scene.

"P-Please just follow me quietly, Miss Alice... t-the principal is begging you...!"

The desperate pleading of Professor Amelia still rang in his ears.

Whatever the principal required, it must have been grave for Amelia to resort to such begging.

Riley had several theories—none of them pleasant—but he brushed them aside for the moment.

What mattered more was the situation right in front of him.

The three were eating the food Yui had prepared earlier that day.

Lunchboxes were a rarity at the academy.

Most students opted for meals from the commercial district—it was fast, convenient, and decent enough.

But Yui’s cooking was in a different league.

Taking a bite, Riley smiled instinctively. It was familiar. Warm. Comforting.

Snow took small, tidy bites, clearly enjoying the meal.

Seo hesitated before finally taking a mouthful, though her expression remained unchanged.

Riley looked from one to the other again.

Something had occurred.

He didn't know the details, but he could feel the shift—particularly from Seo.

Her typical quiet composure seemed... disturbed.

And Snow, despite maintaining her usual smile, had a distant look in her eyes, as if she were carefully concealing something.

Riley rested his chin on his palm, observing them in silence.

What had happened?

Of all the girls Riley knew, these two were the last he expected to have an awkward dynamic.

Snow and Seo had always shared a natural bond.

They didn't require constant conversation or validation.

They understood one another intuitively, moving at the same rhythm and respecting each other’s boundaries.

If anything, they were the closest when it came to silent understanding.

Yet now...

Things were clearly wrong.

Snow sat with her usual flawless posture and grace, but there was a noticeable stiffness in her movements.

Seo was abnormally silent, preoccupied with poking her food rather than eating it, her eyes avoiding Snow entirely.

The atmosphere between them was heavy.

It wasn't hostile.

It was just... strained.

Riley tried to recall any friction. Had they fought?

That seemed unlikely.

Snow wasn't the type to lose her temper, and Seo wasn't the type to hold a grudge even if she tried.

An argument—whether physical or verbal—was hard to imagine.

He considered ignoring it.

They weren't children; whatever happened, they would likely resolve it themselves.

That was the usual way of things.

But still...

As their man, and the person standing between them all, Riley couldn't just look away.

Small rifts, if neglected, tended to grow into something worse.

It was better to address it now rather than face regret later.

They continued their meal in silence, the rustling of leaves and distant noise filling the gap that no one wanted to bridge.

Riley swallowed a bite, hesitated for a second, and then spoke up.

"Uhm... by the way," he began casually, trying to keep his tone light. "Did something happen between you two?"

The moment he asked, everything went still.

Snow froze in place.

Seo’s hand tightened around her chopsticks.

For several seconds, total silence reigned.

Snow looked at Seo.

Seo looked at Snow.

Then, almost simultaneously, they both turned their heads in opposite directions.

The ensuing silence was deafening.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Riley sighed inwardly.

...Yeah. Something had definitely happened.

It was undeniable now.

Whatever had transpired between them wasn't something Snow or Seo felt comfortable discussing—at least not with him.

Riley took a quiet breath before speaking again, his voice becoming calm but firm.

"I know misunderstandings happen. Even close friends clash sometimes," he said. "I don’t know the specifics of what happened, but... I’m here. So let me help you resolve it."

He realized he was being quite direct. He always tended to be when dealing with matters like this.

Regardless, he had a hunch—if he didn't intervene now, the gap between them would only widen.

He was right.

As soon as he finished, both girls paused.

Their movements ceased at the exact same moment.

Slowly, they looked at him... then at each other... then away once more.

The silence lingered.

Then—

"Riley," Seo said softly, her voice devoid of emotion. "Snow is cruel. And evil."

The weight of those words was heavier than expected.

"What—?" Snow tensed up. "N-no, I’m not, I was only—"

"She told me to try and kill her."

"...Excuse me?"

Riley’s eyes widened as he looked at Seo, then back at Snow, trying to make sense of what he had just heard.

"N-no, that was just—" Snow cut herself off and let out a weary sigh. "Fine. I did say that. And I did... somewhat force Seo to do it."

"...."

Seo remained silent, simply staring at Snow.

Her face was calm, but Riley could see it—she was furious.

It wasn't a loud or explosive anger.

It was the quiet kind that burned deep within.

"Snow," Riley said slowly, his tone dropping. "What exactly does Seo mean by that?"

In that moment, Snow went cold.

Not just figuratively.

Her shoulders locked, her grip on her chopsticks tightened, and for the first time since their meal began... she was at a loss for words.

Because Riley’s expression had changed.

His gaze had become cold.

He wasn't shouting or furious.

He was just cold.

And that was far more painful.