How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game-Chapter 418: Winter Break 4

Seems like she'd been working hard while I was away.

Looking past her, I noticed the other girls behind her—Emilia, Flamme, Vanessa, Uriel… most of the first-year heroines, and from the looks of it, they'd all grown stronger in their own ways too.

'Why do I feel like a proud parent right now?'

But among them, Emilia's expression stood out.

She looked at me like she'd seen a ghost—eyes wide, lips slightly parted, frozen in place.

There was something intense in her gaze. A mix of confusion, shock, and something I couldn't quite place.

Maybe… awe?

Before I could even say anything—

"Y-You…" Reina breathed out.

"Hm?"

"Where the hell have you been, you stupid dumb big brother?!"

And just like that, Reina rushed at me like a bullet.

I barely had time to react before she flung her arms around my waist and pulled me into a tight hug. Her voice cracked as she buried her face into my chest.

"You dumb… stupid big bro… do you have any idea how worried I was!?"

For a second, I didn't move.

My brain was still catching up.

But when I looked down and saw her face—just barely tilted up at me, eyes glossy with unshed tears—I couldn't help but smile.

That was the Reina I remembered.

The crybaby little sister who would always come running to me when she scraped her knees or had a nightmare.

No matter how mature she seemed now… in this moment, she was still that same girl.

"…I missed you too, Reina."

"Stop laughing, you idiot!" she sniffled, pushing weakly against my chest when she noticed the way I was chuckling. "You disappear for months, don't even send a letter, and then you come back acting all casual like nothing happened!"

"Yeah… sorry about that, It wasn't exactly planned. Certain… circumstances forced me into a situation where I couldn't contact anyone. I didn't mean to disappear like that."

She didn't say anything at first. Her grip tightened a little, and I could feel her trembling just a bit.

But I let her hold on.

Evelyn did say she got slightly involved with the demonic cultist arc as well...

After everything she must've gone through, the least I could do was let her know I was here now.

Looking around I could see some of the students nearby looking at us suspiciously, and I could already imagine the rumors starting again….

When she finally pulled away, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her uniform, she gave me one last glare.

"So, where the heck have you been exactly that led you to not contact anyone?" Reina asked, her tone flat—but I could hear the edge behind it. It wasn't just curiosity. There was a subtle bitterness, maybe even hurt.

I smiled softly at her. I knew this question was coming.

Honestly, I'd prepared for it. Alice and I spent a good amount of time figuring out the most believable excuse—something that wouldn't raise too many eyebrows or attract too much attention.

Something that could explain our absence without digging into the chaos we'd actually gone through.

"Well… I got locked up in a dungeon."

She blinked.

Her face slowly twisted into something between disbelief and restrained annoyance, her eye twitching slightly.

Even the girls behind her who was openly listening made the same reaction as well…

'Why are they even still here?'

"You got locked up….?"

"Yeah, Alice and I ended up trapped in a high-level dungeon. Some ancient seal magic or something. It took months to break through the layers and clear it."

Honestly, it wasn't entirely a lie.

We did get trapped.

There were monsters.

And yeah, time passed differently inside.

But of course, we left out a few minor details—like accidentally fighting an entity that shouldn't exist, or the whole 'me and Alice almost dying multiple time's part'.

Alice and I knew this sort of excuse maybe bullshit to some people but this was academy noble students we were talking about, they would believe any bullshit rumor or reasoning at any point, and it's much more believable than telling everyone we defeated an almost literal god…

She narrowed her eyes at me, silent for a beat.

"You… You're lying, aren't you?"

"Do you think I'm lying?"

"Not exactly…" She frowned, arms crossed tightly now. "But you're definitely not telling the whole truth."

I let out a small chuckle.

Am I really that easy to read? or is it just because she's my sister?

"Why do you think that?"

"Because, you and Senior Alice are both too strong to get stuck like that. Even in a high-level dungeon. Something doesn't add up."

I shrugged, giving her the most casual expression I could muster.

"I don't know what to tell you. That's what happened. We got caught off guard. The place was weird—nothing we expected. Layers kept shifting, monsters respawned endlessly, and don't even get me started on the final floor."

"You…" Reina's voice trailed off. It looked like she still wanted to press me further, but instead, she just sighed and crossed her arms. "So now that you're back… what are you gonna do? The exams just ended, you know. Finals—both written and practical. Even the results are out."

I chuckled quietly at her concern.

She tried to sound nonchalant, but I could hear the worry threading through her words.

Honestly, this side of her—the responsible, overprotective little sister—was something I missed more than I realized.

As annoying and as fiery as she used to be a few years ago, there was always that part of her that cared too much for her own good.

"I'll figure it out," I said with a small grin, raising a hand to gently pat her on the head.

"Eh—!?" She flinched a little at the sudden contact but didn't move away. If anything, she just stood there awkwardly, her expression frozen between embarrassed and secretly enjoying it.

"You don't need to worry so much," I said, keeping my voice soft. "Alice and I already talked to the principal. There's going to be a special practical exam for us—some kind of re-evaluation. As for the written part…. Well, we'll probably have to ask for a special case there too."

She frowned, clearly not satisfied with that answer. "You really should treat this more seriously—"

Before she could finish scolding me again—

BOOOONNNGGGG!!

The sudden deep chime of the academy bell echoed across the sky, loud and clear.

It signaled the official announcement of the start of the Semestral Winter Break—something every student was anticipating.

The sound came from the gymnasium, where all the first-years were being called to gather.

Reina blinked and looked toward the source of the sound.

"That's your cue," I said, stepping back slightly. "Looks like you're about to be late."

She hesitated. "We're not done talking, okay?"

"Sure, sure." I waved her off with a teasing smile. "Let's save the next lecture for later."

She gave me a lingering look, still clearly dissatisfied, but finally turned around.

"Let's go, everyone," she said to her group.

The other girls nodded, though several of them shot curious glances my way—especially the ones who had been lingering behind Reina.

They didn't say anything, but it was painfully obvious they'd been eavesdropping the whole time.

Especially Flamme.

She wasn't even trying to hide it—her spirits were inching closer and closer to me, their presence subtly flaring in my senses.

Not that she knew I could sense them.

She probably still under the assumption that I still couldn't see spirits.

[Skill: True Sight]

[Activated!]

With a soft pulse of mana, the world became clearer.

My gaze drifted over the group from a distance, and I had to admit—it made sense why these girls were considered heroines in the first place.

I didn't have a full, detailed assessment of their strength just yet, but I could tell at a glance: they'd grown stronger.

A lot stronger.

Flamme, in particular, stood out.

As if that high-ranked dragon-fish spirit of hers wasn't already excessive… when the hell did, she form a contract with another high-tier spirit?

That massive, rock-like bear spirit floating just behind her was on a whole different level.

The way its mana condensed around its form—dense, solid, like it could crush most A-rank students without much effort—it was terrifying.

If someone like her seriously tried to fight now, even seasoned upperclassmen would hesitate.

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Uriel as well... she seemed much more refined than before, so it would be safe to assume Stacia who wasn't present right now would be at almost the same category as her, in terms of overall strength at least...

My eyes drifted slightly toward another girl standing in the group.

Emilia.

She'd been staring at me peculiarly since the moment she saw me.

It wasn't the normal kind of curiosity either.

No, it was like she was trying to see through me.

Like she was searching for something hidden beneath my skin.

I frowned slightly.

It's obviously the amount of divinity I have now…

Did it react with hers somehow?

It wouldn't be strange.

In the game, her senses were highly attuned to divine beings, even sealed ones.

That said, this reaction wasn't quite the same as what she had with Lucas.

There was no overwhelming surprise or adoration.

Just quiet, puzzled interest.

'I'm glad it wasn't the look of someone who fell in love at first sight at least…'

The amount I have might be high but I doubt my quality matches that of Lucas still?

I shook my head, well whatever was the case I decided to shelve the thought for now.

There'd be time to figure out what to do about Emilia later.

Turning on my heel, I began walking toward Killian Hall.

The training grounds there had been designated as the place for our re-evaluation—a special assessment the principal arranged just for Alice and me.

No doubt because of our… extended absence.

To be honest, I had no idea what kind of practical test they were planning to throw at us. A normal spar?

A high-level simulation?

Maybe even a mock dungeon?

Whatever it was, it wasn't like we had room to complain.