How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 669: Frozen North

"Hoho, it appears the caliber of academy students truly does improve with every passing generation, wouldn't you agree, Duncan?"

"Hoh? I wouldn’t go quite that far," Duncan countered with a light laugh. "There are still those who argue that the generation of the Emperor—alongside the Grand Duke—was the most formidable in history by a wide margin."

"Well, there is some truth to that," Flora conceded, crossing her arms as she gazed down at the colossal arena below. "However, given the sheer concentration of geniuses assembled this year, I believe it’s fair to claim the current students have finally caught up... perhaps they have even surpassed the previous era."

The pair carried on with their lighthearted banter, clearly relishing the atmosphere as the clamor of the Grand Continental Festival resonated throughout Lumen Academy.

The air was a cacophony of cheers, magical explosions, and booming announcements, all blending into a relentless wave of fervor.

"Fufu... the finals are just around the corner, aren't they, partner?" Flora remarked with a smirk. "I’m curious to see who will claim the crown this time."

"The Golden Brilliance took it last year, didn't she?" Duncan noted. "A former victor competing once more... it makes sense, honestly. Based on her performance so far, every bout she enters becomes a grand spectacle."

"True," Flora agreed with a nod. "But the structure this year is different. Ranks and school years hardly carry any weight anymore."

She leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

"And for the first time in a long while... there are individuals who might actually be able to rival her."

Duncan’s eyes sharpened with intrigue as he turned his gaze back toward the battlefield.

"...Yeah. That is precisely what makes this festival so unique."

For the first time in years, even seasoned experts like themselves found it difficult to predict the eventual winner.

Shortly after, the scenery behind them transformed.

The panoramic view of the coliseum vanished, replaced by the sterile, organized environment of a broadcasting suite.

Magical panels shifted into place seamlessly as Duncan and Flora sat down, their chairs adjusting automatically to their forms.

A massive holographic screen flickered to life beside them, shimmering with floating runes and markers for match replays.

"Now then, everyone," Flora announced cheerfully, clapping her hands together, "let us take a look at the most spectacular highlights of the tournament so far!"

The screen pulsed, and scenes of fierce combat began to unfold.

This initiative had been finalized earlier by the principal and the academy board.

With the massive surge of spectators—particularly foreign aristocrats, merchants, and visiting dignitaries—simply providing academy facilities and basic amusements wasn't enough to satisfy the crowd for an entire week.

Thus, they adapted.

By utilizing live-recording orb stones stationed throughout the arena, the academy established broadcast feeds that could be transmitted anywhere—to taverns, inns, hotels, and even private VIP lounges.

No matter where guests were staying, they could witness the duels, replays, and expert commentary in real time.

And more importantly—

It kept the hype at a fever pitch.

On the display, images flashed by: catastrophic spells, narrow escapes, and sudden turnarounds that sent the crowds into a frenzy.

Even through the recording, the roar of the audience was palpable.

"Spanning across various academies and ranks," Duncan remarked as he leaned back, observing the footage, "the candidates expected to reach the finals truly are a pack of monsters, hm~"

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Especially those from Lumen Academy... actually, looking at it now, the majority of the remaining participants are from Lumen, aren't they?"

He let out a theatrical sigh and rested a hand over his heart.

"How tragic. My own Asforth Academy couldn’t even manage to get this far."

Flora let out a soft giggle, clearly amused by his dramatic display of grief.

"Oh, stop it, Duncan. You know that isn't entirely accurate," she chided. "Still... there’s no denying it. This year, Lumen is truly terrifying."

The highlight reel continued, each frame cementing the same realization in the minds of the viewers.

This tournament was far from ordinary.

And whatever awaited them in the finals... would be anything but normal.

"Hehehe, well—our academy is the premier institution after all," Flora said playfully, leaning toward the screen. "But I understand your sentiment, partner. That being said... everyone was genuinely shocked by the level of combat skill displayed this year, right? Especially these seven!"

As she spoke, the display shifted again, dividing into several distinct panels.

One highlight after another began to play.

The first featured Lucas stepping forward with composure, deconstructing his foe with fluid motions and sheer power.

The duel concluded so swiftly it almost seemed unfair.

The next panel transitioned to Seo.

She moved like a blur—her sword already unsheathed.

Her opponent failed to even grasp what was happening at first.

Yet, contrary to her usual lightning-fast finishes, she dismantled them slowly this time, strike by strike, each blow precise, calculated, and almost experimental in nature.

The reaction of the crowd in the recording was... unsettled.

Then came Rose.

As anticipated, her match was over in a heartbeat.

Spells were woven, calculations were finalized, and the outcome was decided before the audience could even process the exchange.

Next was Snow, who calmly raised her hand as her opponent’s mana froze solid—bound, suppressed, and silenced before they could even act.

The match ended without a drop of blood, yet her dominance was absolute.

The highlights rolled on.

Students from rival academies displayed their own prowess—cunning strategies, rare elemental affinities, and lethal techniques.

One youth in particular caught the eye: Felix Anders, whose rare celestial gravity affinity allowed him to warp the very battlefield.

It was more than enough to secure his position among the finalists.

Yet despite all of that—

Despite the monsters, the prodigies, and the geniuses—

Most eyes were searching for one specific person.

Even as the highlights looped, people leaned closer to the screens, whispering the same name in taverns, inns, and private halls throughout the city.

"...But in all honesty," Duncan said slowly, his eyes fixed on the display, "there is still one individual everyone has been waiting for."

Flora smiled, knowing exactly who he was referring to.

"And it isn't because of flashy magic or overwhelming statistics," she added. "It’s because no one can quite wrap their head around him."

The screen went dark for a fleeting moment.

Then, a new name manifested in shimmering letters.

Riley Hell.

Though his battles ended quickly—almost eerily so—the manner in which he secured victory was nearly identical to Seo’s.

Clean.

Efficient.

Finished before the opponent even realized where they had failed.

There was no wasted motion, no needless flair. Only results.

Given his growing influence and the mountain of legends surrounding him, it was inevitable that Riley would become a focal point.

But what truly seized the public’s attention wasn't just his combat style.

It was the people standing by his side every time a match concluded.

By now, it had become common knowledge—no longer mere gossip or theory—that he was officially betrothed to Alice Holloway, Rose Brilliance, and even Princess Snow herself.

That fact alone was enough to stun most. Any one of those unions would have been deemed impossible.

Yet what shocked the public even more was how blatant his relationship had become with Seo Gyeoul... and several other girls who were just as breathtaking as the four everyone already knew.

Among them, the most discussed was Stacia Alger Del Luna.

After her loss to Rose, most expected distance, rivalry, or awkward friction.

Instead, Stacia was frequently spotted near Rose, the two of them standing together as they cheered for Riley, often without a trace of animosity.

That alone shattered countless assumptions and sparked even more rumors.

Hushed voices spread like a wildfire.

"Sigh... Senior Riley’s matches are a show in their own right," someone remarked with a dry chuckle. "But seriously, you’d better watch yourself around him, fufu~"

Another voice chimed in, half-joking and half-serious.

"I won't lie, I'm a bit envious... but he clearly has the strength to back it all up. It’s no wonder beauties like that fell for him."

"Of course. He’s the academy’s hero, after all. Ah—but besides his incredible battles and power, did you hear the other rumor going around?"

The announcer leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice for dramatic effect. "I know everyone in the academy is dying to know, right?"

"Oh?" Duncan arched an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. "Now you’ve piqued my interest. Go on then, Flora—do tell your partner."

"Well~ word has it that Senior Riley isn’t content with just gathering all the beauties of our generation."

"Hoh? And what exactly is that supposed to imply?"

Flora snapped her fingers, creating a small rectangle in the air as the projection changed.

A highlighted image materialized on the screen.

"Someone claims they’ve confirmed seeing him on a date with Aera Nari Gyeoul herself!"

"Oh my—targeting the mother of his lover now, is he? He truly is a player, hm—"

Bzzt!

The broadcast was cut off without warning.

Riley’s brow twitched in irritation.

"...What the hell was that?"

"Fufu, did it not please you?" Alice’s amused voice drifted from beside him.

"No."

Snow let out a soft chuckle as she stepped forward, placing a hand on the magical orb to completely deactivate the projection.

"You realize that kind of interruption is quite expensive, don't you?"

"Ah... my mistake."

"Fufu, it’s fine." Snow turned toward him with a mischievous grin. "But what exactly about that report made you so annoyed?"

Riley didn't blink.

"Everything."

Snow laughed, clearly delighted by his rare, openly frustrated reaction.

"Well, everything they’ve broadcasted so far was done with my consent, so don’t be too hard on those two."

Riley exhaled a long sigh, rubbing his temple. "Fine... but is this sort of thing actually necessary?"

"Not strictly," Snow admitted smoothly, crossing one leg over the other. "But it is the most efficient form of distraction. You wanted people to back off a bit, didn't you? And even if you’re bothered, the academy has already seen a massive surge in revenue and sponsorships. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."

"We only just started this, you know."

"Yes," Snow replied with a faint smile, "but I can already tell it is proceeding very well."

Riley leaned back into the sofa, sinking into the cushions as he watched Snow gracefully return to her seat across from him.

At that moment, only the two of them occupied the student council office, the usual commotion notably absent.

"You mentioned you proposed this idea to the principal a while ago, right?" Snow continued. "I honestly didn’t think she’d agree to something so taxing. Coordinating an operation of this magnitude in an academy this large... I can imagine it must have taken a toll on her."

"Well, she moved the moment I brought up the profit, so don’t worry too much about her," Riley said casually. Then, after a short pause, he added, "But... is dragging my reputation through the mud even further really that vital? And when did they even manage to get a recording of me and Aera, anyway?"

"Fufu~ I have my methods."

As Snow observed Riley’s rare, genuine annoyance, her smile widened.

Maybe I should do this more often, she mused, finding the sight far more entertaining than she was willing to admit.