How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game-Chapter 348: Party 5

"We’ve arrived at our destination, young lords!"

With the coachman’s hearty declaration, the party of six slowly stepped out of the carriage, their boots meeting the dirt road beneath them.

Riley gave the coachman a small nod of acknowledgment.

The man, in turn, tipped the brim of his fedora-like hat with a respectful gesture.

Right now, they were in Savel—a small lodging town that had been established specifically to house and accommodate incoming merchants from various countries across the continent.

It served as a convenient rest stop before they continued their journey to the academy, making it a vital hub of trade and commerce.

Despite his curiosity, the coachman refrained from questioning why Riley had instructed him to bring the group here instead of heading directly to the dungeon’s entrance.

He was a professional, after all—he knew better than to pry into the affairs of his passengers.

"Wow… So there was a place like this so close to the academy?"

Janica muttered in awe as she turned her head left and right, taking in the bustling scene around her.

Carriages of various sizes lined the streets, their drivers unloading wooden crates stacked high with goods from across the continent.

Merchants called out to passersby, negotiating deals and promoting their wares, while workers hurried back and forth, carrying supplies and stocking up inns with food and drink.

The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the faint aroma of exotic spices, making the air thick with the essence of trade.

"Yes," Riley replied, his tone casual. "Although this place was originally just a resting area for foreign merchants before they entered the academy, over time, it naturally expanded into the small town it is today."

Even from their drop-off point near the town’s entrance, the lively atmosphere was evident.

Inns and stables were abundant in the central part of the town, catering to the constant influx of travelers.

But beyond the main road, further in, one could spot residential homes, evidence that people had begun settling here permanently.

Despite its origins as a simple stopover, Savel had flourished into something more—a thriving, ever-

"Imperial people sure have a way of maintaining protection…" Kagami muttered, his gaze fixated on the towering walls surrounding the town.

At first glance, the guards stationed at the high walls appeared ordinary, standing in disciplined rows as they surveyed the bustling streets below.

But upon closer inspection, something felt off—their movements were too precise, too calculated.

The way they turned their heads, the synchronized way they adjusted their stances… it was unnerving.

"…Golems?"

Lucas, noticing the same eerie stillness, narrowed his eyes. His gaze flickered toward the supposed ’guards’ as realization dawned on him.

Although he was a citizen of the Germonia Empire himself, this was the first time he’d seen such human-like golems.

Typically, golems were bipedal in nature, but their sizes, designs, and armor varied greatly depending on their purpose—some were built for construction, others for combat, and a rare few were even used for menial labor.

But these… these were different.

Their proportions were nearly identical to that of a human.

Unlike the usual bulky, earthen constructs he had seen before, these ones were dressed exactly like Imperial soldiers, donning the pristine, dark-blue uniforms of the empire’s military forces.

If not for the subtle glow of mana pulsing beneath their ’skin’ and the faint hum of magic that resonated in the air around them, one might have mistaken them for real people.

Back in his hometown, security was handled by either stationed knights or mercenaries hired by the village elders.

The idea of relying on such high-grade constructs for border security was unheard of in smaller towns.

"What kind of mana core is powering them?".

Unlike the standard golems he’d encountered before, these ones weren’t just mass-produced defense models.

He could feel the mana radiating from each of them—dense, refined, and almost too potent. They were leagues above the ones back at the academy.

"These aren’t just security constructs," Kagami noted, his brows furrowing. "They’re military-grade. And the highest tier at that."

Riley turned his gaze toward the towering golems stationed around the town’s perimeter before speaking.

"This town serves as a major hub for some of the largest merchant groups traveling across the continent. With so much wealth passing through, it’s only natural that the empire would implement a high level of security to prevent any unexpected problems from arising."

"I see…" Kagami muttered, nodding slightly.

The explanation made sense, but a part of him couldn’t shake the thought that this wasn’t just about security.

It felt more like a statement—a way for the empire to flaunt its overwhelming abundance of both wealth and power.

After all, manufacturing golems of this caliber wasn’t cheap.

The sheer amount of rare materials required to construct them, not to mention the high-level mana cores sustaining them, would cost a fortune.

And yet, they were stationed here, in a small lodging town? Kagami’s eyes flickered around as he sharpened his senses.

He could feel them—at least dozens of these military-grade golems patrolling the streets, blending in among the human guards.

It was an unsettling display of the empire’s might.

"But why bring us here, Riley?" Kagami asked, turning his attention back to their leader. "I thought the dungeon was supposed to be near the forest, right?"

"Yes, that’s right," Riley affirmed with a slight nod. "But we shouldn’t rush in just yet. The dungeon won’t open until after midnight tonight. We can enter it tomorrow."

Janica raised a brow at him, skepticism evident on her face. "So… we’re just going to wait? I thought you were worried about the difficulty of this place."

"We still have a week and a few days left before the deadline for this practical," Riley reminded her. "Rushing in without preparation would be reckless. Besides…" He glanced at the rest of the group. "This might be the only time we get to relax before diving into something dangerous."

Janica considered his words for a moment before sighing. "…Well, if you say so." She crossed her arms. "I guess it would be nice to unwind a little before dealing with whatever hellhole you’re about to drag us into."

Riley simply nodded; his expression unreadable.

"For now, let’s head to our lodging and get settled. Later this afternoon, we can buy any extra equipment and supplies we might need for the dungeon hunt tomorrow."

Considering they had been traveling for several hours, a bit of rest and relaxation would be welcome for the entire group. Riley took a step forward before adding, "I’ve already booked and fully paid for your stay at the hotel, so feel free to enjoy the place to your heart’s content."

A few meters away from where they had been dropped off stood a grand, towering building.

Its polished marble exterior and intricate golden trimmings exuded an air of luxury, making it clear that this was likely the most expensive establishment in the entire town.

The group exchanged glances before nodding in silent agreement and making their way toward the lavish hotel.

As they approached, Rose suddenly spoke up, her golden eyes flickering toward Riley.

"Riley, are we staying in the same room?"

Riley gave a brief nod. "Yes."

Before he could take another step, Seo tilted her head slightly, her voice soft yet expectant.

"What about me, Riley?"

He glanced at her and answered without hesitation. "Actually, the three of us are sharing the same room, but we’ll be sleeping on different beds."

For a brief moment, both girls looked at him—disappointed.

"…I can still sleep with you, right?" Rose reaffirmed, her voice carrying a teasing lilt as she took a step closer.

Riley hesitated. The weight of both their gazes made him feel a bit pressured, but after a brief pause, he sighed and nodded.

"…Yeah."

Seo’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, while Rose, seemingly satisfied, gave a small smirk.

Meanwhile, as the conversation unfolded behind them, three of the group walking ahead found themselves unconsciously straining their ears, their thoughts spiraling in entirely different directions.

’This goddamn motherfucker…’

Kagami’s face twitched, the vein on his forehead pulsing in irritation.

His fists clenched tightly at his sides, and he had to resist the urge to turn around and glare.

Out of all the possible scenario’s he could be presented with right now…, why did it have to be this one?

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Janica, however, was experiencing something entirely different.

’H-He’s staying in the same room as both of them?! B-But… that means… he’s really doing it with them, right?!’

Her face turned impossibly red, and she nearly tripped over her own feet. Find more adventures on novelbuddy

’I-I mean, it’s safe to assume… And if that’s the case, then does that mean his relationship with the princess was real all along?! S-So all those rumors… were actually true?!’

Her mind was spiraling in dangerous directions, filled with images she definitely shouldn’t be thinking about.

She shook her head furiously, trying to dispel the thoughts, but it was no use. Smoke practically rose from her ears.

A linger of unease resonated deep inside her….

Meanwhile, Lucas had an entirely different frustration gnawing at him.

’I wanted to clash swords with him this evening…’

His disappointment was immeasurable.

A rare opportunity had presented itself—a perfect chance to test himself against Riley, to push his limits, to prove himself to the one person whose acknowledgment truly mattered.

Instead… instead of training, instead of a fight that could’ve strengthened their rivalry…

Riley was about to spend the night in the same room as Seo and Rose.

Lucas exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

"…Tch."

This wasn’t what he had envisioned at all.