Chapter 106

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Translator: uly

Chapter: 106

Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman

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She doesn't regress?'

Upon hearing my words, Armonia fell silent for a moment before speaking.

[...I did not think Su-ho-nim would be unaware of that part. I shall explain. The ship—.]

'No, I know. Hehe....'

Unable to deduce the meaning behind my words, Armonia expressed her confusion.

[...? My apologies. I am not understanding the current situation.]

'Armonia.'

[Yes.]

'A way to counter the regression... I've found it.'

[...Is that true?]

Even the usually composed Armonia sounded startled over the comms.

Lying in bed with a goofy grin, I responded.

'Yeah, I think it'll be possible.'

[Just in case, I believe it would be best for you to tell me now.]

'Alright.... The method is... warping.'

[...You mean warping?]

I explained it to Armonia.

Han Yeo-reum's regression was being carried out through a Blessing.

And the system of that Blessing could only be utilized on this planet, Yggdrasil.

Naturally, such a regression system would only affect beings residing within Yggdrasil.

What if...

'Right before the protagonist dies, I warp to the ship, and then immediately return to my original position?'

[...That is possible. Warping can be used twice in succession. I can summon Su-ho-nim to the ship and immediately return you to the point of regression.]

'Great!'

[...My apologies. Despite being in charge of warping, I had not thought that far.]

'Haha... what's there to be sorry about.... I only figured it out by chance.'

Because we had been victimized by that piece-of-shit ability called regression, both Armonia and I had been in a state of mental disorientation.

As a result, our vision had narrowed, and we had been trying to find a solution only from within the existing system.

For now, I have found the most important piece of the puzzle.

However....

[However, there is still something lacking.]

'...Right. The fact that we don't know when that idiot will die....'

If I couldn't solve that, it was only a half-baked solution.

As long as I was in Zephyrum, there wouldn't be a problem.

Because the only situation where Han Yeo-reum would die here was during the boss fight.

And when Shock Bee fired its paralysis wave during the boss fight, I could just use the warp.

Unless he somehow managed to trip and die like a fucking moron again, the worry about regression was gone while I was in Zephyrum.

Then, the one who would fill in the other half of the solution....

'It must be a Blessing....'

[It seems the Su-ho-nim of the 5th loop came up with everything after seeing Shock Bee's paralysis wave.]

Seeing is believing; he must have come up with the solution instantly through direct experience.

And thanks to Han Yeo-reum suggesting we kill the boss later, I was able to stall for time and find the answer....

Now, it was time to focus on the Blessing that would make this half-baked solution perfect.

'Stopping, huh....'

[The problem is that it eventually has to be linked to regression, and the points required for a Blessing linked that way are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beyond imagination.]

The moment the word "regression" was written into a Blessing, it demanded an astronomical amount of points.

"Armonia, can you show me the Blessings I've tried to write so far?"

[I can. Please wait a moment.]

Shortly after, a list floated before my eyes.

- Retain all memories and abilities upon regression. -

- Retain all memories upon regression. -

- Retain all abilities upon regression. -

- Receive a refund of points used in that loop upon regression. -

..

..

Every single one started with the phrase 'upon regression.'

Well, it was an obvious result.

For me right now, solving the regression was the most important thing.

But because those Blessings all required astronomical points, they were all judged as "Impossible."

Even something as simple as getting a point refund....

'Thanks, I'll call you if I need you. Leave this as is and go to Lena.'

[Understood. Please call me if you require assistance.]

I sank into thought while looking at the list.

Time would surely solve it.

The problem was that time wouldn't just wait for me.

I had to find it before Han Yeo-reum gained enough intuition and level to defeat the boss of Zephyrum.

..

..

"What!? Again today?"

"Yes, at this rate, I feel like I'll only be a nuisance when we fight the boss on the final day."

"...Sigh."

Han Yeo-reum looked down at me, leaning on one leg with an expression that looked like his irritation was about to explode.

Son of a bitch... he's damn tall....

The party members, who had been quiet yesterday, began to complain.

"Um... Alchemist-nim. If we keep going like this, won't it be a problem on the last day too?"

"Right.... We lost a lot of time yesterday as well."

"Exactly. If we'd known it would be like this, we would have found someone else sooner."

Their complaints weren't as intense as Han Yeo-reum's, but they weren't letting it slide quietly this time.

To keep staying at the hotel, they needed a constant supply of points.

Moreover, they had to consider hoarding as many points as possible for the future....

It seemed that yesterday, they hadn't earned points properly.

"By the way... what happened to the archer?"

"Hah... that's none of your business."

I had poked him to see if he suspected Min Ha-yeon and I were close, but I received confirmation through Han Yeo-reum's typical unpleasant facial recognition.

'He really has no clue that Min Ha-yeon and I hunted and drank together.'

[Min Ha-yeon does not think highly of Han Yeo-reum, so she likely handled that part well.]

Actually, even if I just ignored them and left, I wouldn't face any sanctions from Yggdrasil.

The problem was the possibility that the Han Yeo-reum of the next loop wouldn't let me join the party, so I decided to play the sucker.

"I'm not saying I'm just quitting. Out of apology, I'll give you all a thousand points each."

"Well... then...."

"Wow! Really?"

Han Yeo-reum and the three beauties didn't care where my 4,000 points came from; they were simply happy to receive them.

Han Yeo-reum, who had been projecting a 'level one' rotten expression, seemed to have his anger subside, as he was downgraded to a 'level three' rotten expression.

In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the end, the fact that it was a rotten expression didn't change.

I quelled their anger with points and was able to go meet Min Ha-yeon.

Guardian of the Gay Little Penis

-Lmao, it's like he's giving alms to beggars LOLOLOL

"Well, they're still beginners. It's a lot of points for them."

Guardian of the Gay Little Penis

- Some people earned 60k in a day though LOLOLOLOLOL

"Hey now! I'm not a beginner. It's unfair to compare."

I chuckled slyly and stopped by the herb shop first.

'To stock up on Zephyrum Moonlight Herbs. Better to buy with points if possible instead of using Enel.'

Even if the value was the same, using points was more useful than spending Enel.

I quickly found the Zephyrum Moonlight Herbs.

The only downside was...

'Ah... Limited stock.'

'Gotta buy them all anyway.'

I shelled out 50,000 points for 25 Zephyrum Moonlight Herbs.

"What, we earn as much as we spend."

With the Moonlight Herbs secured, I headed straight to the west village entrance.

Min Ha-yeon was there, inspecting her bow and waiting for me.

Spotting me, she flashed a bright smile and said,

"Hey! Late fee: 10,000 points!"

"Haha..."

..

..

"Phew..."

"Good work. Take a break, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then let's finish with the last hunt."

"Sure."

Min Ha-yeon and I headed to the Safe Zone after our third hunt.

Her archery skills were a work of art. With potions, she wielded her bow like an elf dominating the hunting grounds.

The problem was...

"Those bugs are tough."

"Yeah, so many of them, and fast too. Looked rough."

Zephyrum Field featured slimes, bats, and cricket-like insect monsters.

Slimes were slow and no threat at all. Bats were quick but mostly flew around scouting before getting shot down by Ha-yeon's arrows.

The real issue was the cricket-like insect monsters.

Face-sized crickets clustering together, then swarming en masse the moment they spotted an enemy—it was a sight.

Melee fighters hated their grossness; ranged ones hated the sudden charges.

And they spawned more heavily in the west.

'Can't hunt in the east instead...'

If I hunted east to avoid hassle and ran into Han Yeoreum's group, it'd be trouble.

But this hunting ground wasn't all bad.

The west forest was avoided by most, so we rarely bumped into others.

Thus, no sharing monsters with other parties.

Ha-yeon, chugging potions, could one- or two-shot them anyway—no help needed.

"Here, potion."

"Thanks."

I handed Ha-yeon a potion and we resumed hunting.

"Whoa... Today... 140k... For real..."

Min Ha-yeon let out a wry laugh as she checked the point settlement screen.

She'd partied with Seong Su-ho and started hunting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the same way today.

Luck was on their side—more monsters appeared while using potions, netting even more points.

Recalling yesterday, Min Ha-yeon began the split.

Exactly 70k each.

Grinning, she said,

"I worked hard today too, so you don't mind me freeloading, right?"

"Haha... We earned the same? Well... Not like I can't afford it. Let's go."

The two chuckled and entered the village.

On the way to the Zephyrum inn like yesterday, Seong Su-ho suddenly remembered something.

"Ah... Ha-yeon, sorry, mind going ahead?"

"Huh? Why?"

"Gotta stop by the herb shop real quick..."

"What... Let's just go together."

Seong Su-ho scratched his head awkwardly.

"Nah, no need to bother. Go on ahead."

"What are you talking about? We were gonna eat together anyway. Come on, come on~"

Min Ha-yeon dragged Seong Su-ho to the herb shop.

As soon as they entered, Seong Su-ho said to her,

"I'll be quick. Wait a sec."

"Okay."

Min Ha-yeon looked around as she waited.

The herb shop was smaller than expected, with not that many varieties.

'Beginner village, I guess?'

As she browsed, she spotted the herb Seong Su-ho was buying.

"...? Zephyrum Moonlight Herb? What's it for?"

Min Ha-yeon asked loud enough for the channel to hear.

The chat exploded with info-sharing.

Min Ha-yeon frowned in confusion at the chat. She asked again.

"Why? Material conversion? Can't make it without?"

In truth, Seong Su-ho didn't use Mana for material conversion, but they couldn't think of any other reason.

Min Ha-yeon sighed inwardly.

'Why's he taking the loss alone... Or is it not that expensive?'

She sneaked behind Seong Su-ho and peeked at the price over his shoulder.

Zephyrum Moonlight Herb - 2,000 points

"..."

Min Ha-yeon was dumbfounded, at a loss for words.

40 stalks a day—that was 80k points just for the herbs.

And he'd bought them himself to share potions with her.

Utterly oblivious to Min Ha-yeon's shock, Seong Su-ho muttered to himself.

"What... Out of stock?"

"..."

Rare items needed sellers to restock.

"Hey, Seong Su..."

Min Ha-yeon was about to chew him out when a woman's voice came from the side.

"Oh? Min Ha-yeon... And... Alchemist?"

"...Huh?"

"Huh? Jin-hee...?"

"Yes... What are you two doing here?"

The woman who'd called out was Park Jin-hee, a member of Han Yeoreum's party.

Min Ha-yeon and Seong Su-ho looked at her in panic.

Min Ha-yeon was supposed to be bedridden at the hotel with a fake illness; Seong Su-ho was supposed to be recovering at the inn.

Yet here they were together at the herb shop?

'If she finds out we're partying just the two of us...'

Not a good situation. For Seong Su-ho, or for Min Ha-yeon...

Min Ha-yeon dragged Park Jin-hee to the corner of the shop without thinking.

Unlike the others, the innocent-looking woman trembled fearfully at being pulled along.

"Wh-what..."

Seeing Park Jin-hee quake in fear, Min Ha-yeon forced the gentlest smile she could and asked,

"Don't worry. Not doing anything weird. What brings you here?"

"Oh... Um... Yeoreum asked me to sell today's items..."

"Ah..."

Then Min Ha-yeon remembered.

Han Yeoreum never moved if he could avoid it.

He always made the girls handle item sales, and this one had unluckily—or luckily—come to the herb shop.

'If Han Yeoreum had come himself, it'd be a perfect setup for drama.'

'Haa... But what now...'

Min Ha-yeon racked her brain to navigate this crisis.

It was only a matter of time before Han Yeoreum heard.

Blackmail her?

Ridiculous. No way that'd work here—in fact, it'd just spark backlash.

'Should I just come clean now and say we've been hunting together?'

As Min Ha-yeon scrambled for excuses, Park Jin-hee eyed her suspiciously and said,

"Um... You said you were feeling unwell today... Why are you with the Alchemist?"

"Ah... Well, today..."

"Cheating?"

"...Pardon?"

Min Ha-yeon gaped at her in disbelief.

Park Jin-hee smirked, clearly suspicious.

'Come to think of it... She likes Yeoreum too...'

Park Jin-hee's face screamed "gotcha."

The innocent look was gone, replaced by a woman armed with jealousy.

'...Fine, since it's come to this...'

Min Ha-yeon steeled herself inwardly and said,

"Yes..."

"...Pardon?"

"I'm cheating."

"...Huh? What? Th-that..."

Park Jin-hee panicked instead, staring at Min Ha-yeon.

She'd never even considered Seong Su-ho and Min Ha-yeon in that way.

Cheating on Han Yeoreum with him? Absurd from her perspective.

Min Ha-yeon was a beautiful woman by any measure.

Park Jin-hee had only intended to tattle to Han Yeoreum about seeing them together. And wedge herself into the spot next to him.

To the flustered Park Jin-hee, Min Ha-yeon leaned in close to her ear and whispered softly,

"Do you... want to date Yeoreum?"