How to Steal the Hero's Woman - 331: Yggdrasil (3-40)

"Mind if I ask for a more detailed explanation?"

Watching Lucien's actions, I felt a refreshing sense of possibility that we could spend more time together, but questions arose alongside it.

What could it be?

Maybe she just wants to spend more time with me!?

Why the silence? It could totally be because she wants to be with me…

Armonia started pouring cold water on my hopeful delusions.

Being with me could be part of that connection…

…

Ignoring my words, Armonia urged me to move things along, so I started playing a bit of push and pull.

"What's the reason?"

"I've never heard anything about there being a lot of Red Summoners around here."

"Ah… I see."

It was subtle, but I could tell she was deftly deflecting my questions.

Tsk… Guess I need to play along for now.

Dragging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out the conversation by dodging like that could just stir up hostility instead.

"Yeah, I heard there weren't many Red Summoners before. But now they're overflowing between the villages, and the central village is packed with summoners who came down from the upper layers."

"Hmm…"

"Since you're heading out anyway, how about going via the dungeon?"

I figured offering advice that would make her feel positively toward me was the way to go.

She wasn't my enemy, and from my perspective, gaining favor with someone from the upper layers could only help.

But her response revealed some unique information.

"We can't enter the dungeon."

"Huh? Really?"

"Yes, that's correct."

My question wasn't just for Lucien in front of me—it was for the others too.

"Why not?"

"…?"

It wasn't that he was strictly forbidden from providing a subtle hint or a strategic walkthrough tip—much like a hidden guide to a complex game—he simply harbored a personal reluctance and just didn't want to say anything at all.

Gekkosu was the type to chatter excitedly once his mouth opened, so if even he was holding back, there had to be a reason. I didn't push further.

I put on a regretful expression and said to Lucien,

"Then you'll need to be extra careful. They ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seem to have decreased lately, but still, better safe than sorry."

"…? Do you know why they've decreased?"

"Ah… I once turned one of their bases into a wasteland. Maybe that's why—they haven't been showing up much."

"…"

"Scam? I only spoke the truth."

It wasn't a lie. I really did wipe them out.

Lucien sank into deep thought and fell silent.

After a brief pause, she quietly turned to me and spoke.

"Impressive. Your actions must have greatly helped others wandering lost. And I suppose I'm one of them."

"Haha…"

Praise with unique phrasing… Note to self…

"Could I get info on the other villages too?"

"Sure, no problem."

I gave her a rough rundown of the villages' current state based on what I'd seen since arriving on the first floor.

Lucien nodded calmly, especially after hearing about the central village.

"I see… So that's why."

"…?"

"It's nothing. Sorry for muttering to myself."

With that, Lucien stood from the bench, gracefully showing off her legs as she bowed her head.

"Sorry to bother you. Thank you so much for answering my questions."

"No bother at all. Looks like you're leaving now—where to?"

"I'm planning to stop by the other village you mentioned."

"Ah… Do you know the way?"

"…This is my first time on the first floor, so I don't know the exact location."

I smiled and stood from the bench.

"Then let me tell you."

"…Thank you for your kindness."

She voiced her thanks, but her expression showed little emotion.

Maybe that's just her personality, or perhaps she was wary of a man's courtesy.

Someone like Lucien must have dealt with persistent summoners before.

There would have been genuine kindness among them, but plenty of fake stuff too.

I escorted her to the exit leading to the right village and checked my compass before pointing out the directions.

"Straight this way to the right village, and that way to the central one."

"Then the central village first…"

"Ah, if you're going to both, I recommend the right village first."

"…May I ask why?"

Lucien's face was stern as she asked, but I caught a flicker of suspicion in her expression.

I immediately explained.

"We walked from the right village here, and we didn't see any Red Summoners along the way."

Meaning, it was best to take the verified safe route first.

"The right village doesn't seem to be for night-active residents. Even if it's no big deal for us, you might get better info there, so that's why I suggest it."

"…I see."

It wasn't a lie.

I wanted to give her the most detailed and safe path possible.

The reason was simple.

"Whoa… how'd you know?"

Honestly, what I said was half-serious, half-joking.

"Not possible right now. But who knows if we'll meet again? Thinking ahead, helping out now is always the right move."

"…"

You said the same thing about Hayeon, dude?

But no way this guy would believe me.

It was something he'd said before the regression.

And thanks to him, I knew.

She was someone I couldn't seduce in this short encounter…

If Gekkosu said that much, she was no pushover.

Should I… regress?

…?

Yeah, figured…

Armonia usually tolerated my wandering eyes to some extent.

But only when we had plenty of leeway or it helped in some way.

Lucien right now wasn't a target, and there was no guarantee she'd be useful.

Okay. Skipping her for now. But I still gotta check her out, right?

With Armonia's words, a disposition window floated up behind Lucien's head.

Even with a level drop from the upper layers, martial arts levels like that meant she was a powerhouse up there.

But what caught my eye just as much as her skills were her personality traits.

Whoa, what an amazing woman…

I really wanna fuck her. Making me want to regress now.

No joke—seeing that disposition window fired me up even more.

Like the noble ladies before or the trio, they all had rare top-tier looks.

But the key difference from the women I truly loved was the wall.

Beyond "can I seduce her?"—an insurmountable barrier.

That's what made the women I love now so special.

The world's best women rank looks first, but also exude an aura I can't even dream of touching.

Especially the thrill of NTL—breaking through or dismantling that wall.

But the fact was, to Lucien right now, I was probably just a random passerby, level 5 at best.

Later… way later, I'll have her.

I barely suppressed my Han Yeoreum murder impulse (forced regression) and handed Lucien an item.

"Take this."

"What's this?"

I gave her spare tent and rations.

"Looks like without the inn here, shopping must be tough. Did you manage to get a tent and food?"

"I have extra rations. But… as you said, no tent."

She really seemed bad at lying.

"Take it."

"No, I have no reason to accept such kindness…"

I forced it into her hands.

"You treated me to dinner yesterday. I'm not planning any weird demands for this. And…"

"…?"

"In my world, they say even brushing sleeves means fate. I don't want to hear bad news later and feel bad about passing by."

"…I see. Thank you for your consideration."

Honestly, if she'd refused again, I wouldn't have pushed.

Good thing the proverb worked.

Ancestors… thanks for the wisdom. Watch over me! I'll make sure it goes beyond sleeves to skin next time!

As I vowed that and finished seeing her off,

"Take care then. I'll head back…"

"Wait a moment."

"Yes?"

Lucien suddenly stopped me and pondered something deeply.

Then she spoke.

"If it's not too much trouble, could you guide me for about 10 minutes using the compass?"

"Uh… sure."

"Sorry to inconvenience you."

She explained she wanted a precise direction over a set distance.

But watching her, Gekkosu suddenly started laughing in the chat.

What the?

Something felt off no matter how I thought about it.

Her disposition showed she wasn't the type for shady stuff.

And 10 minutes of walking was no big deal.

But…

What's this? She didn't seem the type to ask favors so readily…

…Yeah.

I couldn't say no there.

As we walked side by side, soon a rustle came from the bushes.

Snap, crackle!

That instant.

Lucien, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠walking beside me, instantly nocked an arrow and fired into the unseen bushes.

A piercing screech hit my eardrums as some unknown monster took the hit.

Thwack! Kieeeek!

Direct hit.

Elf skills, huh… She nailed it without even seeing it.

As I admired that, Lucien turned to me.

"With monsters appearing, continuing to accept your kindness would just burden you. Better part ways here."

"Huh? Let me help more."

She'd said 10 minutes, but only 2-3 had passed.

I couldn't figure why she'd say that suddenly.

"This is plenty helpful. And if something happens to you on the way back, I'd feel uneasy."

"Ah…"

"If we meet again someday, I'll repay your kindness. Farewell then…"

With those words, Lucien turned and swiftly vanished.

Watching her, Gekkosu laughed again.

"What's so funny?"

"…What the hell?"

I watched her back until she disappeared into the bushes, then prepared to head back.

"…? What else? Jerk off here?"

…It was a throwaway line, but he took it seriously.

I shook my head and turned toward the village.

"…?"

Something was up. Different from his excited jerk-off bait earlier.

A hint of regret?

…Come to think of it, she killed a monster earlier.

Feeling uneasy, I approached where the monster had died.

It had died in the bushes at night, so tracking was tricky, but I pinpointed it from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the sound.

What I saw wasn't the monster—but an arrow stuck in the ground.

The monster had already despawned after death.

But I picked up what seemed to be its drop.

The item was…

"…Found it."

A token.