How to Steal the Hero's Woman - 337: Yggdrasil (3-46)
“Everyone, fall back!”
At my shout, the women—who'd been glaring pitifully at Han Yeoreum—scattered in panic around the glowing gem.
The gem writhed in grotesque, unnatural shapes.
By now, calling it a "gem" felt ridiculous given its bizarre form.
The jelly-like mass that had once been a gem began expanding uncontrollably.
“W-what is that?! W-what do we do?!”
“M-Mr. Su-ho!”
“Get behind me, all of you!”
That was the best I could do right now.
But even that meager defense quickly proved useless.
The oozing green gem swelled larger and larger until it towered over 30 meters high.
More importantly, as its size grew, the jelly-like form solidified into something recognizable.
A body covered in fur, thick legs, and three dog heads branching out.
I knew exactly what it was.
...Isn't that Cerberus?
The moment that thought hit me, the three-headed green dog howled.
Kyaaaaaaa!
The air trembled, and the ground and ceiling shook with its roar.
We couldn't win.
Not just me—the women behind me froze, heads tilted up in trembling terror.
This was on another level from Shockwave.
Shockwave had lunged at Son Hye-eun's arm the instant it appeared, delivering a momentary shock. (Though that was from a past loop.)
But this Cerberus? Just manifesting crushed our remaining will to fight, instilling a thirst for despair that nearly suffocated us in seconds.
It wasn't mere fear from its presence—it made you feel death itself.
As we quaked in horror, the fully formed Cerberus scanned its surroundings, locked eyes on us, paused... then howled again.
Awooooo!
Grrrrrr...!
“Run, everyone!”
“Kyaaak!”
“Uwaaaak!”
My shout rang out as darkness suddenly engulfed us.
The blackness lifted quickly, but...
“What!? Where am I? And where is everyone?”
It was the same underground sewer dungeon, but Min Hayeon, Han Bom, and the others were gone.
'Armonia! Can you hear me?'
[I can hear you. Analyzing the situation now.]
With Armonia confirming she was checking things out, I scanned my surroundings warily.
Earlier, it had been a dark open space; now, it was a maze of massive tunnels.
And as I got my bearings, a hologram popped up in front of me.
A ticking timer and a new label I'd never seen before.
The situation was obvious, and Armonia's response matched my guess.
[It looks like you and all your party members have been scattered across the map.]
'Haa... scattered again?'
[But it's strange.]
'What is?'
[According to Zodiac's intel, similar trials existed before. But even if not on Floor 0, adopting such an extreme survival format here doesn't make sense.]
Armonia was right.
Shockwave on the way from Floor 0 to 1 had been optional.
You could skip the boss fight.
But this Defense trial—we'd cleared almost all of it—had suddenly flipped into a survival game.
No choice involved, no matter how I sliced it.
We'd barely escaped being mobbed by monsters, only to face becoming Cerberus's chew toy.
And with my level, I doubted I could even scratch it, let alone win.
'Full-power Stage 2 shot might do some damage, right?'
[Possibly. But dealing damage might make survival even riskier.]
She was spot on. Killing it wasn't the goal.
Escaping it was.
Provoking it with an arrow out of desperation could turn a narrow escape into a death march.
'Survival game it is, then... Shit. What about Hayeon and Bom?'
[I can share their locations.]
'You know where they are?'
[As you know, they're under our affiliation. No exact map, but I can track their approximate positions and views.]
'Great!'
So that's what she meant by "checking the situation"—monitoring those two.
And the trio's positions too.
[I've also confirmed the positions of the three we affiliated last time.]
'Phew... Good thing I added them preemptively.'
Same side meant maximizing joint survival.
'So all five are safe for now.'
But "for now" was key.
"Survivors" implied danger ahead.
'Armonia, guide me. Let's move fast.'
[Heading to the nearest first.]
I bolted following her directions.
..
..
It looked like the underground sewers we'd seen before.
But only superficially—this was a whole different beast.
“Whoa... the ceiling's so high I can barely see it.”
[Likely designed for that monster to roam freely.]
The tunnels were insanely tall, with ample space for that thing to prowl.
'If it spots me, I'm dead...'
That also meant escape wouldn't be easy.
Narrow passages barely wide enough for a person dotted the route.
[Avoid the side passages if possible.]
'Yeah, too dark—emergency only.'
It was a brief taste of bug life.
Like the pests sneaking around my house—my mindset now.
As I trekked on, a woman's voice echoed faintly.
(Where is everyone!?)
(W-we should stay quiet, right? Shouting like that...))
(But we can't just sit here silently!)
(I-I guess, but...))
Tone, cadence, personality—it was Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee.
I hurried toward them.
They startled at my footsteps, then beamed and rushed over upon seeing me.
“Thank God! We're not alone!”
“I was worried we'd been sent to a whole different place...”
“You two okay?”
I calmed them and explained via hologram.
“Looks like we gotta evade for two hours.”
“Yeah... fighting that thing? Suicide's less stressful.”
“I'm so scared, I think dying now might be better...”
They'd adapted to this world somewhat, but Cerberus had shattered their confidence.
Even I'd lost the will to fight against that overwhelming presence.
I'd seen a variant at Maou Castle before, but this was leagues beyond.
Just looking at it felt like being dragged to hell.
No monster—this was hell incarnate.
“Let's find the others.”
That's when it started.
Thud... thud... thud...
The ground quivered faintly. Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee paled, staring at me.
They knew the quake's source instantly.
I pointed grimly opposite the tremors.
“That way—now.”
Faces ashen, they nodded frantically and followed.
Thankfully, no party members in its path—no detours needed.
But worry gnawed.
'No read on Han Yeoreum, right?'
[Correct. I'll alert you if she meets others.]
Anything but Han Yeoreum dying.
Even if torn apart, she needed Min Hayeon and Han Bom nearby.
No regression yet meant she was alive.
I prayed fervently.
'Han Yeoreum... survive to the end. Please...'
We crept toward the others, footsteps muffled.
***
Thud... thud... thud...
'What the hell is this!? What is it?!'
Han Yeoreum clamped her mouth shut, hiding rat-like as vibrations rumbled through the tunnels.
She'd heard Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee and was heading their way when the quakes hit. She frantically scanned and found a hiding spot.
'Fuckin' rat hole...'
Human-sized, but not standing room—she had to hunch and crawl like a bug.
As she squeezed in, a blue hologram floated before her.
Han Yeoreum cursed inwardly at the hologram.
'What? Can't stay here forever? Bullshit safe zone!'
Not even a comfy hideout, and it collapsed after a timer.
She eyed the tunnel's dark end.
Endless blackness screamed at her rationality to stay put.
She waited, paralyzed, for the footsteps to pass.
'What if it's a dead end? Better hunker here till it's safe... Wh-what... what... WHAT?!'
Turning to check if Cerberus had passed...
“H-heuk... huu... huu...”
Krroo... krroo... kuh...
Her fear-numbed hearing revived to reveal a massive green eye—slit pupil vertical—glaring from the entrance she'd crawled through.
For the first time, the woman who'd placed the world beneath her pride and arrogance felt like vermin.
This wasn't some cartoon or game mob.
An insurmountable existence.
Like a god gazing down at the speck called Han Yeoreum.
The chat exploded in mockery.
The channel treated Cerberus—towering over Han Yeoreum like vermin—as some neighborhood stray.
Just an annoying point-farmer.
For the first time, genuine fear of them bloomed in her.
'F-fuck... why won't that bastard move?!'
Cerberus stared unblinkingly with burning green eyes, unmoving.
Krroo... grrr... krroo...
A declaration: You're here, so I'm not leaving.
'C-can't wait... Gotta go deeper. Otherwise, eaten or crushed—I'm dead!'
Panic overrode reason. She bolted into the tunnel.
The darkness her mind had rejected in terror now beckoned.
But Cerberus's gaze had issued her death warrant; emotion seized control.
'Flee opposite! Just hold out an hour!'
The contract with Seong Su-ho expired in one hour automatically.
And the gem she craved was already hers.
'One hour, watch the footage, then get eaten... g-get eaten!'
Dying vs. being devoured.
Both triggered regression before, but now devouring terrified her more than death.
“Fuck! No! I don't wanna get eaten by that monster!”
Devoured by terror that had feasted on her shattered reason, Han Yeoreum fled into hopeful darkness.