How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 617: Ritual of Light Interlude

“Did you do that on purpose?”

“Whatever could you mean, fufu~”

“There’s no way Emilia would do that willingly…”

“Fufu~ I really have no idea what you’re talking about. This sweet and graceful goddess is as innocent and pure as the heavens themselves.”

“Right…”

After Emilia’s kiss, it didn’t take long before light swallowed everything.

A surge of divine energy ran wild, threading itself between me and her, like two hearts beating under one rhythm.

I thought the goddess would simply descend using our combined divinity as a power source, maybe take control of Emilia’s body for a moment—just a temporary incarnation.

But to think my own consciousness would get pulled straight into Eris’s realm… that was something else.

Did she plan this from the start?

I glanced at the so-called “innocent” goddess of light, who only smiled back at me with that amused little look of hers. I sighed internally.

Whatever her reason was, Emilia doing that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing… but it would cause its share of trouble later.

Snow’s probably going to kill me for this.

“You might need to compensate me later, oh dear goddess.”

“My, my~ quite the greedy young god, aren’t you? Did you not enjoy those soft, pure, and innocent lips?”

“Well, I did,” I admitted, “but that doesn’t mean I have to like or accept it. I’m quite the loyal man, you see.”

“Fufu~ says the academy’s one and only manwhore, womanizer of the century. I must say, I do admire your honesty, but there are limits to shamelessness, you know~”

“Huhu, I believe now for a fact that none of those rumors are true.”

The goddess chuckled, her laughter light and teasing as she looked at my reaction.

Golden hair and golden eyes — a beauty beyond mortal comprehension.

It seems she’s staying true to her divine form this time. If before, even glancing at her would’ve been enough to make my soul crumble, now that I’ve ascended, I can finally look at her directly without falling apart.

Though… even now, I can tell. This isn’t her true form — not completely.

“Staring at me too much might cause you some problems, dear~” she teased with that same sing-song voice.

I almost laughed.

For someone who’s literally the goddess and creator of this entire world, she acts way more childish than I expected.

Where did the all-powerful, graceful, and wise goddess I once believed in go?

“Fufu~ now why are you looking at me with such a disappointed gaze?”

“Nothing…” I muttered, glancing away.

Her brow twitched, clearly not satisfied with that answer.

But instead of pressing the issue, she coughed lightly and straightened her posture, pretending to act serious again.

“Ahem… since we’ve already wasted enough time, why don’t we proceed with the matters at hand?”

You were the one wasting it though…

I didn’t bother saying it out loud. Just nodded quietly instead.

With a single snap of her fingers, the white, heavenly domain around us shifted.

Reality blurred like ripples on water, and moments later, we stood in a windy meadow under a soft golden sky.

The scent of flowers carried through the air as a white table and two matching chairs appeared before us, along with a freshly brewed tea set that steamed gently in the breeze.

We sat across from each other.

“For polar opposites, you and your sister are actually quite similar,” I said without thinking.

“Hm?” She tilted her head, curious.

I didn’t bother to explain, only gave a faint smile and looked away as the goddess poured the tea.

Speaking more seriously this time, I looked straight at her.

“Goddess… you must already be aware of the situation, right?”

Her golden eyes softened, and for once, the teasing tone in her voice vanished.

“…Yes.”

“Then are you fully aware of what’s happened so far?”

“Yes. It is, after all, a matter concerning my creation—my beautiful world.” She sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “Of course I’m aware of what’s happening, and of the doom that’s coming. But… as all-powerful as people believe I am, even I can’t stop what destiny has already set in motion.”

“So you’re saying there’s no way to stop the fate Erebil cast upon the world?”

Silence.

For a moment, all I heard was the wind sweeping through the meadow, brushing past the table and our untouched tea.

Then she chuckled softly.

“I can neither confirm nor deny that, dear,” she said with a knowing smile. “Though I believe you’ve already realized it yourself — your existence, in and of itself, might be the very key to preventing that fate… or changing it entirely. I didn’t give you my blessing for nothing, you know.”

“…I see.”

I had my suspicions, but hearing it from her made things clearer. The [Blessing of Change] she’d given me… it wasn’t some random divine favor. She must have done it intentionally.

“Fufu~ I know what you’re thinking,” she said lightly, swirling her tea before taking a sip. “But don’t worry. My blessing was merely a reward I gave you — nothing more, nothing less.”

I watched her for a while, studying her expression. She wasn’t lying. I could feel it.

Even if Eris really had granted me that blessing with a purpose in mind, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Still… deep down, I could tell her decision wasn’t purely her own.

There were traces — faint, but there — of the other “me’s,” the echoes from the broken worlds I’d seen.

Somehow, they had reached even her, nudging her hand in ways neither of us fully understood.

Honestly, even I find Evelyn suspicious. That girl… she’s been acting more and more on her own lately.

At first, I ignored it. Everything she did seemed to benefit me anyway, so I didn’t really care.

But as time went on, it became clearer — she’s starting to move with her own will.

Even if she is my clone, she’s not exactly me anymore.

I can trust that her actions still align with my goals, sure.

That much I believe.

But since she’s a creation born with all my memories from those broken worlds… her intentions, her methods, even her sense of purpose — all of it’s uncertain now.

“Since you’ve said I became a key to prevent the inevitable darkness,” I asked, “what about Lucas?”

Lucas — the protagonist of this world. Loved by the world itself, blessed by the goddess, carrying the divine bloodline.

He was meant to be the perfect counter, the destined light to fight the coming ruin. Just like in the game… even if the end approached, as long as Lucas was there, a happy ending still seemed possible.

The goddess stayed silent for a while, her golden eyes drifting upward toward the endless blue sky.

When she finally spoke, her voice was softer — almost wistful.

“Fate and destiny are two threads woven tightly together,” she said, “they shape what’s to come… yet even they cannot halt what lies at the true end. Perhaps they merely guide us to it — or create new crossroads that lead to even more conclusions.”

She paused, a faint glimmer of light playing across her hair. “My blessed child is indeed fated to save the world — that much is true. But whether or not he can do it… that’s still undecided.”

Then she looked at me, her tone shifting — curious, testing.

“Tell me, Riley… if the roles were reversed, do you think you could bear Lucas’s burden?”

“…Yes,” I said quietly after a moment.

Her lips curved into a soft, knowing smile.

“Fufu~ I expected as much.”

The breeze picked up again, rustling through the field, and for a moment, the goddess looked both distant and human — as if she too wondered whether fate could be changed, or if all of us were just playing the parts written for us long ago.

I didn’t know why, but when the goddess looked at me — really looked — I felt something strange.

In her golden eyes, I could see a reflection of myself… but it wasn’t me. It was another version — someone I’d been before, or maybe someone I’d become.

Could it be…?

“Goddess,” I said quietly, “can you remember those broken worlds?”

“…”

Silence.

Her gaze didn’t waver, but something shifted behind it.

For a moment, her expression softened — like she was remembering something she shouldn’t.

Then she closed her eyes and sighed faintly.

“That,” she said at last, her voice low, “is a question I cannot answer… the price would be far too high for you, my dear.”

It was then I noticed it — a faint hum in the air, the vibration of something vast and immeasurable.

The flow of energy that balanced the universe itself.

The line of causality… it lingered between us, heavy and dangerous.

So, the truth behind it wasn’t something I could hear — not yet, at least.

Should I try—

“Fufu~ don’t even think about using your Authority,” she interrupted, smiling knowingly. “Even an anomaly cannot override an absolute.”

“…”

“Don’t be too disappointed,” she added softly, her tone carrying a strange warmth. “I understand this is a rare chance for you — a chance to uncover the truth you’ve been chasing. But even so, there’s a limit to everything… my dear.”

Originally, I just wanted to confirm if she was aware of the distortion and Erebil’s movements — to see what her stance was, or what her plan might be.

But now that I was sitting here with her, I could tell… she’s exactly what you’d expect from a god.

Detached. Patient. Watching from above, but never stepping in.

She lets the river flow.

She won’t directly interfere — not unless the rules themselves allow it.

And even if she wanted to… she can’t.

“Is that all you wished to speak with me about, dear?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“I have a feeling that most of my other questions can’t be answered,” I said with a tired smile. “So yeah… I guess that’s it.”

“Fufu~ since time is momentarily halted in the mortal world, we still have a bit of time left for conversation. So, do speak your mind while you can.”

I paused, thinking carefully. What could I even ask now? What answer did I actually want?

“…Goddess,” I finally said, “is the future I seek… possible?”

A stillness filled the air.

The wind stopped.

The faint sound of her teacup touching its plate echoed like a chime.

When she looked at me again, her golden eyes gleamed — calm, but deep, like the light of creation itself.

“You have my utmost blessing, dear.”

Her words settled over me like a weight — both comforting and unsettling at the same time.

An answer… that was both everything and nothing.