HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE ROMANCE FANTASY GAME

Plopping down onto my bed, I let out a slow, weary sigh.

I don’t know what it is about coming home to your own bed, but no matter how long or short I’ve been gone, the comfort always feels nostalgic.

Just sinking into this soft mattress and staring up at the ever-familiar ceiling seemed to ease the constant tension weighing down on my shoulders.

It was a small, fleeting relief, but I welcomed it nonetheless.

I exhaled softly, allowing my body to fully relax for the first time in what felt like days.

“I wonder where Senior went…?”

I murmured absentmindedly, shifting my gaze around the room.

Alice wasn’t here.

“The practical are still ongoing for at least a week from now…”

Considering she had told me herself that she’d be staying in my room for a while, I had half-expected her to be here when I returned, since she didn’t seem to have much to-do other than her thesis’s.

But the room was empty.

It was already late afternoon.

Where could she have gone?

…Well, knowing Senior Alice, she was probably—

1 Being taken advantage of by the Student Council again. They always found ways to push their ridiculous workload onto her.

2 Hanging around with her best friend, Senior Lorraine. Those two were practically inseparable.

3 Fighting the White Queen’s forces in the Dimensional Rift.

I frowned slightly at the last thought.

It was the most concerning possibility… and, unfortunately, the most likely.

Alice had been secretly fighting against the White Queen’s army, making sure no one noticed.

Sooner or later, I’d have to step in and help her.

If I wanted to save Senior Alice from her bad end, then I couldn’t just sit back and let her bear everything on her own.

But that also meant she’d start questioning me.

She wasn’t the type to just accept things blindly no maybe she might….?

Though Cheshire won’t…

He’d demand to know how I knew so much about the White Queen… and I doubted I could come up with an explanation that wouldn’t sound completely impossible.

It would be a hassle to explain everything.

Still, when the time came, I’d just have to be as honest as I could.

Even if I couldn’t tell her everything…

I’d make sure she understood enough.

It wouldn’t be long before a bishop from the White Queen’s army would infiltrate the academy in a surprise attack.

And by then…

I would have to fight alongside Senior Alice.

There was no avoiding it.

I sighed, dragging a hand down my face before pushing myself up from the bed.

Sitting up straight, I let my gaze wander toward the full-body mirror positioned near my bedside.

A quiet moment passed as I stared at my own reflection.

“I really have changed…”

The scrawny, weak version of myself—the one who had once stared back at me in the mirror a year ago—was nowhere to be seen.

Most of my features remained the same, yet the subtle but significant changes that had shaped me into who I was now were unmistakable.

The strength I had gained… the experiences I had endured… the power I now wielded…

These were things the foolish, cowardly, and ignorant version of myself from the past could never have imagined.

And yet—

Even with all this strength…

Even with all the effort I had put in just to reach this point…

I still wasn’t satisfied.

Because this level of power…

It wasn’t enough.

At best, it might be able to match a single claw from Liyana’s true form.

And that was nowhere near enough to do what I needed to do.

If I wanted to save her from the fate that had already been written, if I wanted to stop the impending death she had placed upon me while saving her at the same time…

I needed more.

Way more.

The strength that end-game Lucas had in the game?

No.

Even that wouldn’t be enough.

I needed to surpass that.

Because anything less wouldn’t be enough to change fate itself.

Gathering mana into my hands, I focused—the air around me humming in response to the surge of energy.

With a thought, I reached into the pocket dimension connected to my soul pouch, summoning the weapon that had accompanied me through countless battles.

A familiar weight settled into my palm as a blade materialized before me.

[Item: Tempest Sword]

I gripped the hilt, feeling the raw power pulsing within its steel.

“It’s time to return your true name.”

But before that…

I summoned another item, causing a small, yet peculiar piece of metal to appear before me, floating in midair.

[Item: The Sleeping Blade: Vale (Unique)]

[Note: An essence of will and ego detected inside… This item is applicable for soul synergization with user weapons!]

A rare chance.

One that couldn’t be ignored.

The system prompt flickered before me.

[Would you like to consume the item?]

[Yes/No]

There was no hesitation.

“Yes.”

The moment I answered, the metal fragment disintegrated into golden sparks, each ember drifting toward the Tempest Sword, wrapping around its blade like threads of light.

A low hum filled the air.

Then, the system’s voice rang again.

[Success!]

[Item: Tempest Sword] Rank increased! Item rank potential [Unique] → [Legendary]! Potential rank [Mythical] now applicable!]

The blade trembled in my hands.

A surge of power coursed through it as its color shifted, golden light etching intricate patterns into the steel.

Then, another notification appeared.

[Item: Tempest Sword (Nameless) has now awakened!]

[Tempest Sword wishes to form a contract with you.]

[Would you like to accept?]

[Yes/No]

I could feel it—its will, its presence.

It was alive.

It had recognized me.

I exhaled, tightening my grip.

“Yes.”

At that moment, the sword erupted in light.

A brilliant white glow spread from its hilt, before deepening into gold, surrounding me in an overwhelming warmth.

Then, a final system message appeared.

[Contract successful!]

[Soul contract established!]

[Item: Tempest Sword will now answer only to your call and will.]

As the light faded, I looked down at the blade in my hands.

It felt different.

Stronger.

As if it had truly become a part of me.

[Note: Tempest Sword is eagerly waiting for you to give it a name!]

I couldn’t help but smile as I felt the sword’s anticipation.

It was a strange sensation—almost surreal.

Could Lucas also feel the Holy Sword’s emotions like this?

It was as if the blade wasn’t just an object but a living being—one that expressed its thoughts and feelings directly, despite having no face, no voice… only its radiance.

My fingers ran over the weapon’s newly strengthened steel, feeling its warmth, its energy, its… expectation.

“Valeria… your name shall be Valeria from now on.”

At that moment, a surge of golden light burst forth from the sword’s core, bathing the room in its glow.

A notification followed.

[Note: Tempest Sword (Valeria) is expressing its happiness toward you!]

It was an odd message.

But I could feel it—Valeria’s joy.

Then—

[Note: Tempest Sword (Valeria) Unique Ability Effect Activated!]

[Tempest Sword (Valeria)]

[Unique Skill: Master’s Strength] [Activated!]

[Effect: Tempest Sword shall now gain the strength of its user!]

[Tempest Sword (Valeria)] [Level: 149]

The moment the system processed the changes; I could feel the difference.

Though the sword’s weight remained the same, there was now an undeniable heaviness behind it—like wielding a force far beyond what metal alone could provide.

It had truly become a legendary-ranked weapon.

I tested its edge, running my fingers lightly across the sharpened steel.

Subtle, but powerful.

Its blade had grown even keener, its weight distribution was now perfect, and, above all—there was an unshakable feeling that no matter what happened—this sword would never break.

This was proof that Valeria was evolving alongside me.

Of course, it didn’t carry the broken, cheat-like abilities of the [Holy Sword] that Lucas wielded or the [Void Blade] in possession of the Gyeoul Clan Head.

But in terms of reliability—

Valeria’s potential was limitless.

“I’ll be counting on you from now on, partner…”

In response, Valeria gleamed slightly, a soft glow running along its blade.

I could feel it—its approval, its assurance.

It was a strange but welcome sensation.

This sword—this girl—was about to make most of my upcoming ordeals a lot easier.

With that settled, I willed Valeria to rest.

A faint impression—almost like a nod of compliance—emanated from the weapon before it floated above the back of my hand.

Then—

A golden stigma pulsed, glowing briefly before sucking the sword inside.

This was one of Valeria’s unique abilities—a special trait that allowed her to reside within me and be summoned at will.

It was also why, in the game, she was considered an invaluable weapon.

Her ability to fill an open weapon slot while remaining dormant meant that players could carry extra weapons without sacrificing inventory space—only calling her forth when needed.

And that wasn’t all.

Valeria had another effect—one tied to Divinity.

If infused with Divine Energy, her blade would undergo an entirely different transformation.

But…

That was something I could test later—perhaps after I entered Ascension again.

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