How to Steal the Hero's Woman - 308: Yggdrasil (3-17)
Hayeon really treasures Bom like a little sister.
I could finally grasp exactly what kind of girl Han Bom had been in the past as the two of them started chatting about romance.
She hated her brother for cheating on Min Hayeon, and before she knew it, that disgust had blossomed into a growing aversion to men in general.
Whenever Min Hayeon brought up guys, Bom would grimace and recoil in horror.
(Sigh… Sis, can we skip that topic?)
It was hard to believe those words came from Han Bom, who idolized Min Hayeon—she was genuinely pissed off about it.
(I'm just saying, it's a shame. Last time you stopped by our archery club, everyone…)
In contrast, Min Hayeon kept tossing similar subjects her way, perhaps out of pity for how Han Yeoreum had turned Bom into such a man-hater.
Min Hayeon had kept her distance from men due to her strict religious upbringing, but Bom's situation was entirely different.
(Sis, I'm seriously not interested in guys. No, I actually hate them. So please, just drop it.)
(Sigh… I was just worried, that's all. Sorry.)
And so, thanks to Han Yeoreum, Han Bom had developed a tendency to shy away from men during her blossoming teenage years.
Feeling sorry for Bom in that state, Min Hayeon would resolve time and again, whenever they were alone, to change her mind.
(If Bom ever takes a liking to someone, even a little, I'll hook them up right away. Wait… what if she likes girls?)
If Bom had any lesbian tendencies, Min Hayeon would've brought it up ages ago—but she was certain that wasn't the case.
(No way… If she was, I would've noticed. And if she was, I'd support her even more.)
That was when it clicked.
Min Hayeon hadn't misunderstood the situation in the room or jumped to conclusions upon seeing me.
She hadn't forced an NTL angle just because Bom emerged from under the table, either.
Min Hayeon had read that fleeting expression on Bom's face in an instant and known.
That Bom liked me…
(Why… why did it have to be those two…)
Even in her dream, Min Hayeon was tormented by it.
She's got sharp instincts, even without the full context. She zeroed in on it with total certainty.
Considering everything Han Bom has shown so far, Min Hayeon seems to value Bom's feelings more than her own love.
Min Hayeon hadn't experienced regression since arriving on the 1st floor.
From her perspective, with my duel from before and my savior-like entrance, it made sense for her to think Bom had fallen for me.
That wasn't the whole story, but Min Hayeon had completely read Bom's expression in my room and drawn her conclusion from there.
And her resolution was…
She seemed ready to step back, even if it meant giving up her own chance.
Comparing the dream scenario to reality, there was no other way to see it.
Especially since she'd said it in the dream, too.
(If Bom really likes him that much… I should bow out, right?)
Tears streaming down her face…
On the surface, Min Hayeon was dating Han Yeoreum, but she'd grown even closer to me than that.
Somehow, we'd settled into something closer than real lovers—a friends-with-benefits thing that we'd kept going.
And now, this Min Hayeon was willing to sacrifice herself to protect Bom's love.
From Min Hayeon's perspective, it doesn't seem like she even considers the possibility of you dating both of them at once.
Our views differ there…
In an atmosphere where Bom's feelings were practically confirmed, if Min Hayeon stubbornly clung to our relationship?
From my current vantage, her concern for Bom outweighed her pride—she'd probably tearfully settle for watching from afar.
I need to figure out how to handle this now, instead of hoping regression will fix it later…
But in the end, I couldn't find a clear solution before closing my eyes.
…
…
"Let's split into two groups."
It was Yang Ji-hyeon's call, facing the three-way fork.
Normally, they'd divide into three groups, but Han Yeoreum's presence threw off the balance.
The trio outright refused to group with her, and no one could be stuck babysitting a useless Yeoreum alone, either.
At first, Min Hayeon volunteered to take her solo to put distance between me and Bom, but Yang Ji-hyeon shot it down over safety concerns.
The groups ended up as me, Min Hayeon, Han Yeoreum, and Yang Ji-hyeon in one.
Han Bom and the trio in the other.
And this lineup was exactly what I'd planned.
First, separate Bom from Hayeon.
If those two stuck together and their conversation went sideways, my harem dreams were toast.
But even separated, nothing dramatic happened.
Throughout the dungeon crawl, Min Hayeon didn't exchange a single word with me, while Yeoreum just sniped at me to rile me up.
"Luckily, the forks aren't too long."
That brought us to the junction where the paths converged, and soon the other group arrived, allowing us to regroup.
But a problem arose.
The trio pulled Yang Ji-hyeon and me aside for a private word.
"Han Bom's been off since we entered—her condition's not great."
"She's trying hard, but we're worried."
Bom was off by herself right now, and even from afar, her poor state was obvious.
Even in the 1st and 2nd loops, the dungeon's humid, stuffy air had wrecked her.
And now, thinking her bond with Hayeon was strained? Her body and mind were crumbling together.
Sweat poured down her forehead like rain—it was heartbreaking.
"…"
Min Hayeon couldn't wear a happy face watching that, either.
And above all, one glaring issue caught my eye.
This is bad…
Bom was clutching her chest, face twisted in pain.
To outsiders, it might look like the stuffy air was just getting to her lungs, but I knew instantly.
What's wrong?
Her lactation flare-up's hitting again?
The problem? I couldn't do a damn thing about it right now.
Bom had to approach me first for help, but she'd been dodging me since entering the dungeon, hyper-aware of Hayeon's gaze.
I handed the trio a bunch of potions while worrying about her.
"Take these and use 'em if needed. Even if you burn through them all, prioritize potions over recovery skills—it'll be better for max healing."
"Got it."
They nodded, understanding, and started prepping food.
Min Hayeon gazed endlessly at Bom with worried eyes but never approached her side.
And then, the oblivious self-centered jerk sidled up to me.
"Hey, untie me."
"Say 'please untie me' first."
"Fuckin' asshole…"
Han Yeoreum, of course, only asked me—probably too prideful around the girls.
And she figured she'd forget it all post-regression anyway.
…Come to think of it, she'll probably pull the same shit this loop, too?
She'll likely act the same way this time, too.
Han Yeoreum had slipped hallucinogens to Bom before.
Not some casual acquaintance from work—her real, blood little sister.
Confident Bom wouldn't suspect the drugs she gave her…
Oh! Got a great idea.
I cut the cable ties binding Yeoreum from behind, one by one.
Feeling them snap, she started smirking.
She grinned at me but said nothing.
Hey, let's use this one.
To get intel on me, Yeoreum would try dosing whoever traveled with me this time, too.
That raised an intriguing question.
If I grouped with both Hayeon and Bom, who would Yeoreum drug?
Probably not Han Bom again, since she already dosed her once before.
Truthfully, that'd be the rational, efficient play for a regressor.
Proven results and all.
Manipulating Yang Ji-hyeon made grouping whoever I wanted a breeze.
The real issue was Bom right now…
This is trouble. She's starting to react.
Bom skipped food, saying she wanted to rest, and ducked into her tent.
Obvious lactation issue.
But as far as I knew, Bom couldn't handle it alone.
I was the only one who could help, yet the situation made it impossible.
Can't just approach her now, either…
The biggest problem: In this vibe, Bom wouldn't come begging for a suckle first.
If you're sticking to the plan, avoid approaching Han Bom first for a while.
…Yeah.
Sorry, Bom, but this was for her sake, too.
I fully cut Yeoreum's ties and said,
"Eat up, then come back. Don't worry about lurking awkwardly."
"Fuck…"
No matter how much she trash-talked, being bound all day wasn't easy.
Arms behind her back, fingers tied individually the whole time.
Couldn't even handle personal business without me.
Yeoreum eyed me warily, dragging out her meal.
But meal time ended, and everyone gathered to discuss the new fork.
Yang Ji-hyeon at the center again.
"This time, swap Han Bom and Min Hayeon."
"Is… a swap really necessary?"
Even with her inner resolve to yield, Hayeon flashed a momentary reluctance.
Yang Ji-hyeon explained.
"Just try switching once. Min Hayeon and Seong Su-ho are our aces—better to push fast."
Bom's group with the trio had arrived late, after all.
Made sense.
"And stock up on potions—no big issues then."
"…Alright."
Hayeon nodded reluctantly, then cautiously glanced at Bom.
But Bom seemed in no state to notice.
Looked like mere fatigue from afar, but close friends like Hayeon would've sensed something off ages ago.
Though she'd probably chalk it up to something else.
"Let's head out, then."
And so, I ended up grouped with Bom, Yang Ji-hyeon, and Yeoreum.
…
…
As expected, a few hours later, we hit a safe zone.
"Timing's iffy. Let's crash here for the night."
"Yeah."
Party was three besides Yang Ji-hyeon, but only I replied.
Yeoreum was tense about her ties; Bom couldn't endure the chest pain.
"S-sorry… I'm turning in first."
"Sure, rest easy."
Yang Ji-hyeon nodded sympathetically at the ailing Bom.
She eyed me, then hurriedly pitched her tent and went in, groaning.
And then, another groaner appeared beside me.
"Fuck… h-hurry and untie me! It hurts like hell!"
"…"
I stared at Yeoreum in disbelief.
Damn… she really doesn't give a shit about her sister hurting.
It's not that she doesn't care— she can't.
Yeoreum had been bound for two straight days trailing us.
Untied only for meals and bathroom breaks.
Not just wrists—fingers crossed and tied individually.
Precaution against her pulling a knife from inventory to cut free.
With ties squeezing each finger, no blood flow—had to hurt.
For two whole days…
Considering Yeoreum's patience, it was a miracle she'd lasted.
But I wasn't the type to pity her.
"Quit whining and sleep."
"Fuck… just loosen 'em! My fingers are gonna fall off!"
"Never seen fingers fall off from that."
"You fucker!"
Arms bound behind, Yeoreum charged with a body slam.
"You psycho…"
Her tackle was so sluggish even a Magikarp would scoff—I sidestepped easily.
Thud!
"Gah!"
Yeoreum tumbled hard, craned her neck up, and yelled at me.
"It's a safe zone anyway! Can't do shit even if I wanted!"
"Promise is a promise."
I kept up the pretext to taunt him, then leaned in to whisper in his ear.
"Besides, no reason to untie you, dumbass."
"You… fuckin' bastard!"
Yeoreum flailed on the ground; I ignored him and asked Yang Ji-hyeon,
"This guy's gonna be a problem left like this, right? Noisy all night."
"Ah… yeah, but no other options…"
"How about this?"
"…?"
***
"Guh! Mmph! Mmmph!"
Han Yeoreum's muffled gags echoed in the safe zone.
Fuckin' bastard! I'll kill you someday!
He vowed it inwardly, over and over, but couldn't let anyone hear.
Blindfolded, gagged, no tent—just rolling outside.
Legs cable-tied too—couldn't even stand.
Blindness spiked his anxiety; gag silenced him completely.
All he had left: touch, smell, and hearing for intel.
I'll kill him! No—make him suffer worse than death forever!
Any normal person would've broken and behaved by now in my position, but not Yeoreum.
Far weaker in skill and status, but she had regression.
Even in hell, as long as she could loop back, she'd endure.
Just escape the dungeon, get the intel! Then next loop, be more careful… Huh?
As Yeoreum calmed his rage to plan the next loop, a moan pierced his ear.
"Hic… It hurts… Hah… haaah…"
Female voice.
Two women here, but this one was etched in his memory: Han Bom.
What? Bom? Hurt somewhere?
Forgetting the ties biting his fingers and wrists, he focused every sense on hearing her.
But with the moans came another sound.
Step… step… step…
Echoing footsteps in the cave.
So faint, a sleeper wouldn't notice.
Then, after the steps, a man's soft voice tickled his ear.
"Han Bom. You okay?"