How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game-Chapter 347: Party 4

Clip! Clop!

The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed through the vast open road as four massive horses pulled an almost gigantic carriage, its frame shimmering ever so slightly with traces of mana.

The magical reinforcement made it evident—this wasn’t an ordinary ride.

Each of the four horses was larger than normal, their muscular forms moving in perfect synchronization, their coats glossy under the faint glow of the evening sun.

The sight alone was enough to make passersby take a second look.

Inside the carriage, Riley sat in the center of the plush seating, flanked by two distinct presences.

To his left, Rose rested her head against his shoulder, her rhythmic breathing signaling she had dozed off mid-ride.

The faintest smile tugged at her lips, as if she were enjoying the warmth she leaned against.

To his right, Seo sat with her usual apathetic expression, staring blankly ahead.

She didn’t say anything, nor did she seem particularly interested in anything happening around her.

Riley looked in front of him, feeling the slightly tense atmosphere between the two groups sitting across from them, decided to break the silence.

"Since most of us already know each other, let’s all get along, shall we?" he said casually.

Seo turned her gaze slightly toward him and responded with a soft, indifferent, "Ohh…"

Meanwhile, sitting directly across from them were Lucas, Janica, and Kagami.

The three of them stared at Riley as if he had just said something absurd… no rather was showing them something absurd.

Before anyone could respond, a quiet mumble came from Rose.

"Riley, can you spread your arm more?" she murmured, still half-asleep.

"Sure," Riley replied without hesitation, adjusting his posture slightly so she could be more comfortable.

That’s when Seo’s gaze subtly shifted.

"Riley…"

He turned to her. "Yes, Seo?"

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her red eyes flickered between him and Rose for a few seconds, as if trying to convey something without words.

Riley blinked before realization dawned on him. With a small nod, he leaned ever so slightly toward her, silently giving permission.

Seo’s normally unreadable face seemed to twitch for the briefest moment—was that excitement?—before she coolly rested her head against his other shoulder, mirroring Rose.

A heavy silence followed.

"…This fucker," Kagami muttered under his breath, his expression twitching as he watched the scene unfold.

Riley glanced at him, tilting his head. "Come again?"

"Nah, it’s nothing..." Kagami sighed, averting his gaze in irritation.

Riley, confused for a moment, wondered what Kagami’s problem was, but he didn’t dwell on it for too long.

Outside, the carriage continued its steady pace toward their destination, the sound of hooves echoing in the background as the night slowly crept in.

Right now, all six of them were making their way toward the northeastern dungeon, located just a few miles away from the academy.

The journey wasn’t particularly long, but with the quality of their transportation, it was bound to be an exceptionally smooth ride.

Janica glanced around the interior of the carriage, her fingers lightly running over the polished wood of the armrest.

The intricate craftsmanship was impossible to miss—though the design itself remained rather minimalistic, there was an undeniable touch of luxury behind it.

Even the cushions they sat on were made of high-quality fabric, their softness almost making her forget they were on their way to a dungeon.

"We didn’t really have to rent out such a huge carriage, right?" Janica muttered, her eyes trailing over the sleek carvings that decorated the walls.

The more she looked, the more she realized just how expensive the whole thing was.

As a noble herself, she understood the costs behind such extravagant carriages.

A well-made one could already be a significant investment, but this?

This wasn’t just a regular noble’s carriage—it was a high-class transport, something closer to what high-ranking officials or royalty would use.

And that wasn’t even mentioning the horses.

She turned her gaze outside, watching as the four massive beasts pulled them forward with an almost unnatural grace.

These weren’t just ordinary horses—they were bred to breathe mana, their bodies enhanced to withstand long travels and high speeds without tiring.

In a way, they were more akin to magic beasts than actual horses.

"…Should we pay you back for some of the expenses?" Janica asked after a moment, shifting her attention to Riley, who sat comfortably in the center of the carriage.

Riley, who had been absentmindedly gazing out the window, turned to her. "Snow bought this carriage for us to use, so you don’t have to worry about that."

Janica blinked. "A-Ah, I see…"

She couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice, nor the slight nervousness that followed. Renting a carriage like this would’ve been one thing, but outright buying it just for them to use?

She already knew Riley was close to Princess Snow, but… this close?

Her thoughts trailed back to the rumors she had heard—whispers of absurd stories regarding Riley and Princess Snow’s relationship.

Some of them were highly questionable.

Erotic, even.

’Are the two of them really official…?’ she wondered, stealing another glance at Riley, who didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the implications of his words.

The idea of the princess casually buying a luxurious carriage for him wasn’t something one could just brush off.

Was this just an act of generosity?

Or was there something more behind it?

Janica wasn’t sure.

But one thing was certain—Riley’s relationship with Princess Snow was far deeper than she had initially thought.

But… ignoring all those facts aside…

’He just casually called her Snow, right? Not "Princess Snow" or "Her Highness"—just Snow…’

’Then… they really must be going out….?’

Janica felt her thoughts spiraling as she tried to make sense of it all.

A relationship between Riley—and the princess?

Wouldn’t that cause all sorts of problems?

Even if Snow was the type to do whatever she wanted, there were still political ramifications to consider.

And f the two really were in a relationship…

’T-then why is he acting so close with Seo and Rose right now…?’

Her eyes flickered toward Riley, who was sitting there as if nothing was amiss, his usual apathetic expression unchanged as both Seo and Rose rested against his shoulders.

Seo, in particular, was completely still, her usual blank face showing no emotion—but Janica had already noticed the slight shift in her mood earlier, that tiny moment of excitement when Riley had understood her silent request.

She’s… actually comfortable enough to be this close to him?

Janica wasn’t naïve.

She was fairly acquainted with Snow—after all, during their first year, Snow had practically stuck to Lucas.

And because of that, Janica had learned firsthand just how cunning the princess could be when it came to matters of closeness.

If she hadn’t been around back then, Lucas would have been wrapped around her finger completely.

That was how much of a vixen Snow was, at least in her mind.

But Seo?

Seo was different.

Janica understood that Riley’s relationship with her wasn’t something simple.

On the surface, they were incredibly close, physically affectionate in ways that would make most assume they were a couple.

But despite that, there was something missing—something that made it clear that whatever was between them wasn’t properly romantic.

And yet… there were rumors.

Not just any rumors, either—slightly sexual ones. Ones that made even Janica, who usually didn’t care about gossip, raise an eyebrow.

And then there was Rose.

Seo might have been complicated, but Rose was another matter entirely.

Sure, Janica had heard a few whispers about Riley and Rose before, but it was never to a degree where she would expect this.

She would’ve never thought Rose—the same disciplined, sharp-eyed Rose who carried herself with a refined air—would just… casually fall asleep on Riley like this.

And act like a spoiled Girlfriend… in front of them no less…

As if it was the most natural thing in the world.

As if she had done it before.

’They’re not trying to hide it whatsoever….’

’…Ahh!!!’

Janica groaned internally, resisting the urge to shake her head.

Why am I even bothering to think about all this!?

Riley was Riley.

If he wanted to date multiple girls, that was his problem, not hers.

It wasn’t like it affected her in any way… right?

Janica’s mind rattled, struggling to keep up with the sheer absurdity of the situation unfolding in front of her.

All of this—all of this—from just a single glance.

From one brief moment, where Riley, in his usual, unbothered way, had effortlessly turned everything into chaos within her head.

Why…

She knew she shouldn’t care.

She knew it shouldn’t matter to her in the slightest.

And yet, for whatever reason, something about watching Riley be so affectionate with other girls was bothering her.

It had never happened before.

So why now?

Janica clenched her jaw, quickly shaking her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts. This is stupid.

She was overcomplicating things. Her emotions were getting all tangled up for no reason, and she hated it.

She exhaled sharply through her nose and turned her gaze away, focusing instead on Lucas, who was seated next to her.

And yet, to her surprise, Lucas wasn’t paying attention to her at all.

No—he was staring directly at Riley.

And the look on his face was unmistakable.

A mix of disapproval.

Subtle disappointment.

Frustration.

But it wasn’t directed at Seo. Or Rose.

No—far from it.

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All of it was directed at Riley.

Lucas wasn’t angry at the girls for being so close to him. He wasn’t irritated by their presence.

His irritation came from something else entirely.

Something Riley had said to him not too long ago.

Something that still echoed clearly in his mind.

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It had been just the other day, back at the public training grounds—

Riley’s voice had been steady, his expression serious.

"Lucas. Janica. Would you two be willing to form a party with me?"

"…A party?"

"Yes. Let’s go clear a dungeon together."

"I doubt you need any help with dungeons, though," Janica had muttered.

But Riley had only shaken his head.

"I’m planning to clear a special one."

Lucas had frowned. "Why us?"

And Riley—

Riley had looked at him.

Not just a glance. Not just an idle stare.

It had been deliberate.

The weight of his gaze had been firm. Unwavering.

"Because I need you, Lucas."

Lucas’s fingers twitched slightly at the memory, his jaw tightening.

But now…

Now, with Seo and Rose right by Riley’s side, nestled so comfortably against him… two of the strongest in the academy.

Was there really any point in bringing him and Janica along at all?