How to Steal the Hero's Woman - 314: Yggdrasil (3-23)
“What? Han Yeoreum?”
Han Yeoreum swore she'd never forget that voice for the rest of her life—and hell, she couldn't forget it even if she tried.
'Fuck! Why the hell did he show up so early this time!'
Han Yeoreum couldn't wrap her head around the changed situation at all.
In the previous loop, Seong Su-ho hadn't raided this cave until two days later.
And during those two days, she'd been forced to watch Seong Su-ho and Han Bom having sex...
'Is it because of Hayeon? Did he come early to play it safe with her around? Fuck! No way! Not that recorded gem!'
The gem right in front of Han Yeoreum's eyes.
That was the one crucial item she had to protect at all costs.
If Seong Su-ho saw that footage, all the humiliation and scorn she'd endured in this loop would be for nothing.
And that nightmare was becoming reality.
“Oh... what's this gem? Nice... Red Summoners drop no inventory items even when you kill 'em, so lucky break.”
Seong Su-ho hummed as he tossed the item straight into his inventory without even checking it.
“Almost died to that curse, but good thing these guys had the antidote.”
Muttering to himself about what had happened earlier, he kept explaining in that casual tone.
“Curse is gone now... Found Han Yeoreum too... But...”
Seong Su-ho frowned at Han Yeoreum lying there like a corpse.
“Dead?”
He started lightly tapping her cheek—not hard enough to hurt, but annoying as hell, the kind that'd piss anyone off to no end.
Slap, slap, slap.
Just enough to make a nasty little sound...
'You fucking bastard!!!!'
Han Yeoreum couldn't show a hint of expression; she had to take the cheek-slapping like a good little girl.
After tapping away for a good while, Seong Su-ho looked puzzled.
“Huh? Skin's warm, so maybe alive...?”
He let out a sigh.
“Sigh... Just die already, don't make this annoying...”
At Seong Su-ho's sigh laced with complaint, Han Yeoreum felt her pride not just hit rock bottom, but get buried in manure.
'You... I'll torment you forever without killing you. Get ready!'
While Han Yeoreum screamed that inwardly, Seong Su-ho planted his shoe on her cheek and rubbed it around.
“Gonna leave this one here for now and take out the other guy first.”
His gaze shifted to Boris, lying right next to her.
Aiming his bow, he whispered softly.
“Hey, get up. And follow me.”
“Urgh...”
Seong Su-ho left Han Yeoreum there and dragged Boris to the cave entrance, where they started talking.
But it was barely a whisper—hard to even confirm they were actually conversing, let alone make out the words.
And soon after...
Crunch!
“Gaaah!”
With the man's dying scream, silence fell over the cave, broken only by approaching footsteps.
The owner of those footsteps...
“Sigh... What a completely useless fucker...”
Seong Su-ho spat one last glob on Han Yeoreum's pride, already buried in shit, and started rolling her up tight.
'Fuck...'
Han Yeoreum got rolled up and dragged along just like in the previous loop.
And in her dragged-along view, she caught glimpses of...
Blood splattered everywhere.
'What the hell is this guy's deal! Why is he so fucking strong!!!!'
Even with her cheat ability of regression, Han Yeoreum wasn't just failing to keep up—she couldn't even gauge when she'd catch him.
For someone who'd breathed superiority her whole life in a safe, peaceful world, this was pure hell.
Her pride was long buried in fertilizer, invisible, and the sense of superiority she'd felt as habit was fading into dimness.
Even with the hope of regression, she had no clue how to close the gap with Seong Su-ho.
'Anyway... In a day or so, the paralysis poison wears off. Somehow get that gem from him then...'
Dragged along like trash, she started plotting.
***
“Cheers!”
Clink!
The cheerful clink of cans echoed through the cave, followed by the sound of gulping drinks.
Gulp, gulp!
I downed the beer first, let out a refreshing sigh, and cheered.
“Ahh... hits the spot!”
Alcohol is always right.
Especially in this vibe, this spot—no campsite could top this scenery.
No smoggy air, just crisp green that cleans your lungs, with a faint fresh-water whiff from the rocks.
Drinking in untouched nature like this? Impossible not to taste amazing.
Min Hayeon hugged my arm while staring at the campfire, humming happily.
“Really glad... really...”
“Yeah.”
Just earlier, Min Hayeon's face was pure despair.
Hallucinations making her attack me and Han Bom, plus stabbing me with that Cursed Dagger.
Thinking her mistake might kill me had filled her expression with bleakness.
But once everything was sorted, she switched back to her usual bubbly self.
Min Hayeon let go of my arm and went to Han Bom, hugging her tight and mumbling.
“Bom... sorry. I shot an arrow at you earlier, right?”
“Unnie, that wasn't your fault. Don't worry.”
“That I did that to you... I'm really sorry...”
Min Hayeon started sniffling like she'd gotten drunk off one can.
Makes sense—from her view, brushing it off with a laugh was impossible knowing the truth.
But thanks to it, we figured out why she and Han Bom had those hallucinations.
“That psycho fuck... Fine for me, but feeding you that drug? Didn't see it coming...”
“No, me drugging my own little sis feels even more insane.”
After sharing regression experiences, they were certain.
The hallucinations were Han Yeoreum's doing.
And the Cursed Dagger too.
They just hadn't connected it to the Red Summoners yet.
We'd caught one of those Red Summoners passing by earlier, got the antidote item in exchange for sparing him, and cured my curse.
Then I went alone to save Han Yeoreum.
(No! Suho, just run. Too dangerous...)
(It's fine. Han Bom said I caught her solo before, so don't worry.)
I convinced them, dragged the guy I'd caught, and turned the Red Crescent hideout upside down.
Of course, I didn't kill a single member.
Then I gave Boris some items, kicked his leg once, and ordered.
(I didn't kill the others, so heal 'em when I leave.)
(Urgh...)
Boris didn't reply, just glared with contempt.
Can't understand it, right?
Why Yang Ji-hyeon was showing me this favor...
'He won't pull anything stupid, right?'
Command structure is solid. Unless Yang Ji-hyeon's superiors intervene, no rebellion.
'Yeah... Plus, seems like he likes Yang Ji-hyeon.'
Yang Ji-hyeon and Boris seemed into each other, even if not obvious.
With her orders, he'd never disobey.
And the Han Yeoreum I brought back...
“Han Yeoreum—we don't know when she'll wake up?”
“Yeah.”
Was lying dead-still inside the cave.
We three were outside by the campfire, boozing it up happily, while Han Yeoreum rotted alone like a corpse.
'This distance, she won't hear shit, right?'
Han Yeoreum's probably straining to eavesdrop on our chat.
Probably can't hear, but best to avoid leaking key info.
Decent distance mutes normal talk, but regression slipping out would be a pain.
I told Min Hayeon and Han Bom.
“Still, gotta be careful. Even comatose, people sometimes remember outside sounds.”
“Ah... yeah, let's watch it.”
“Yeah.”
Min Hayeon and Han Bom nodded quietly, avoiding the R-word.
While I trashed Red Crescent, they'd shared info.
Han Yeoreum as the regressor, past events...
And who was at the center...
Han Bom gave me a hollow smile.
“Saying it out loud feels so relieving.”
“Right? I was going nuts at first too.”
Min Hayeon grinned at her.
The old Min Hayeon had confessed regression to me after agonizing.
After spilling, her pent-up frustration melted away.
Both seemed the type to hate bottling shit up.
Probably from their athlete life.
But Han Bom smiled without approaching me boldly.
Stuck to Min Hayeon, giving a wry smile.
Simple reason.
Regression sorted with Min Hayeon, but not her relationship with me.
She'd admitted pre-regression relations, but drew a line at "past me."
We got lost in the campfire, drinking, until Min Hayeon—watching the dying flames—grinned and whispered in my ear.
Her tipsy voice tickled my eardrum.
“Suho.”
“Yeah?”
“Gonna talk to Bom alone a sec. Wait here?”
“Sure, don't go far.”
Min Hayeon stood, hooked her arm with the tipsy Han Bom's, pulled her up, and led her off.
Han Bom glanced back anxiously.
“Unnie? Why?”
“C'mon, just a bit.”
Leaving her uneasy look, Min Hayeon took Han Bom just out of easy sight—but still in view—and started talking.
'As long as not too far.'