How to Steal the Hero's Woman - Ep. 341 Yggdrasil (3-50)
[You have safely escaped.]
Safely escaped.
Phew… What a relief.
I let out a sigh of relief after Armonia explained the full situation to me.
Han Bom, standing beside me, gave me a puzzled look as she noticed my exhale.
"Mister, what's up?"
"It's nothing. You okay, Han Bom?"
"I'm totally fine."
Han Bom forced a smile, trying her best to look cheerful for me.
We had just linked up with her moments ago.
Following Armonia's directions made it easy to rendezvous.
The best part was that Han Bom was the only one in our group who hadn't directly encountered Cerberus.
All she'd experienced were indirect sounds from afar.
"Is sis okay? I ran when she told me to earlier…"
"She's fine. The survivor count hasn't dropped. That's proof she's alive."
"Haa… Please…"
Han Bom nodded, convinced by my words right away.
And that was the moment.
Survivors: 7
[Death's Eye], [Death's Nose], [Death's Ear], [Death's Whisper], [Death's Illusion]
Death's Illusion has activated. The visage of death begins to beguile you.
It wasn't just one mountain after another—it felt like crossing one only to face the Pacific Ocean.
What the hell was this illusion? We still hadn't figured out what the whispers even were, and now something new popped up, ramping up the anxiety.
The silver lining? It didn't mean much to me personally.
Well, since Hayeon's group isn't nearby, I just need to suspect anyone I meet now.
[I'll alert you immediately if they get close.]
Above all, if Armonia yelled "Not her!", it basically meant "monster bitch."
The ones truly trembling in fear weren't me—they were my party members around me.
They didn't voice it, but they grasped the alarm's implications.
I spoke to the three of them in a firm tone.
"Alright, let's move. We're almost there for real now."
"Ah! Yeah!"
At least Han Bom responded quick as ever.
She hadn't faced Cerberus head-on yet, so despite the fear, she was keeping up a bright front.
…Even if we survive, she should probably see that monster's face at least once.
[Why? Wouldn't it be better to avoid it altogether?]
We don't know what's waiting above. For someone like Bom, it won't scar her for life—she'll work to overcome it.
No matter how terrifying Cerberus was, enduring a face-to-face without getting caught would toughen her up. That scar from staring death in the eye would form calluses, making her stronger. I was sure of it.
With that in mind, we pressed on along the path Armonia described.
Park Seon-hee stuck close to my side and offered a suggestion.
"If we're almost out, shouldn't we make the most of these holes?"
"You're right, but… let's hold off."
"Why?"
"We haven't gathered everyone yet."
What if we used a hole, and Min Hayeon's group entered a different branch of it? If they were being chased? Dead meat.
Imagine slipping in with only 10 seconds left. Pure despair.
No room for complacency till the end.
"R-right. I didn't think that through."
"No, don't apologize. Speak up anytime you have an idea. It might be something even I haven't considered."
"Okay."
I kept moving after hearing Park Seon-hee's reply.
With a bit of breathing room now, Han Bom behind me finally spoke up to the women beside her.
"Isn't it weird, though?"
"What is?"
"No matter how I think about it, I can't wrap my head around this difficulty."
She wasn't complaining about the unfairness.
Han Bom had clashed with the summoners who'd come down from upstairs during the inn turf war.
Not physically—just a shouting match—but it gave her insight into their skills and tendencies.
And judging by those, it was impossible to believe they'd cleared this defense.
"Doesn't it seem off? Mister took out a hundred of those upstairs guys like it was nothing, but we barely scraped by the final wave before that monster showed. And those people… I seriously doubt they made it to the end without Su-ho."
"Yeah… it's weird. We would've died midway without Su-ho too. Whether they actually cleared it? Big question mark."
Honestly, I shared that doubt.
This difficulty didn't feel like something for ascending to the 2nd floor.
Even Armonia had called it strange…
And that's exactly what had terrified Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee.
Facing a monster like that on just the 1st floor—what horrors awaited on the 2nd? The fear of the unknown gripped them.
But in the end, we had one job.
"Let's clear it first. Then we'll know everything."
Clearing it would reveal the truth.
Comparing notes from Zodiac, this defense was solid despite the inconsistencies.
But more worrying than clearing…
What'll the finale be…?
Honestly, surviving 40 minutes felt easier than whatever modifier dropped in 20.
If it was designed to be clearable, the last one might be an absurd nightmare to crush all hope.
And the real issue was Cerberus's state.
It started casually strolling, sniffing us out leisurely, but as time passed, it grew frantic, thrashing wildly.
The whispers might be muffling its footsteps in our ears too…
Park Jin-hee muttered quietly, reminding us of the situation.
"Holes are getting scarce now."
"…"
With most passages sealed, holes were visibly thinning, just as she said.
Our safety came from Armonia's GPS.
Counting them, if I hadn't gathered everyone, we'd have run out ages ago.
Maybe 10-20 minutes of hole-hopping time total.
Two smart uses, and we'd survive. That was the math.
On the flip side, the remaining holes might be on the verge of collapse, linked to Min Hayeon's current one.
The women trailing me—minus me—were dragging their feet heavier now.
Holes nearly gone, and if Cerberus caught up? No escape. They fixated on every glimpse of one.
That very thought hit me.
"Huh?"
At the far end, a human figure flickered like a mirage.
A woman glancing around, searching for someone.
Even from afar, I knew instantly.
"Hayeon?"
"Sis! Unnie!"
The moment I called out.
Min Hayeon spotted us from afar, smiled, and started running our way.
At the same instant, Armonia's voice pierced my ear like a needle.
[Su-ho! Dodge! That's not Min Hayeon!]
Huh? That's Hayeon? Wait, what the—?
I sensed something off even as I said it, but I couldn't tear my eyes from that distant Min Hayeon.
Armonia shouted louder, snapping me out of it.
[Min Hayeon is moving elsewhere! Evade now!]
Eh? …Oh! Wait! Why am I being so dense?!
Her words jolted me awake. I grabbed Han Bom's arm as she lunged forward and bolted backward, yelling.
"Everyone, run!!!"
"M-Mister!"
"Eek! S-Su-ho!?"
"Run, now!"
"Ah! Got it!"
Recalling a cave I'd clocked earlier, I yanked Han Bom's arm hard and sprinted. Glancing back briefly.
It was Min Hayeon.
Panting in panic, chasing us desperately.
Head to toe, the Min Hayeon I knew.
Her running form, closing distance… No way this was Cerberus's illusion.
Just Min Hayeon charging in alarm.
But I ignored her, eyes fixed ahead on the distant hole, sprinting.
"Kyaaah!"
"In, quick! Hurry!"
I shoved Han Bom into the hole like a sack, stepping aside for Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee right behind.
As the two scrambled in gasping, Min Hayeon was nearly upon us, shouting.
"What?! Why run?! It's me! Me!"
"…"
Undeniably Min Hayeon's voice.
Beguiled again, I shook my head, confirmed the two inside, then dove after.
Right as Min Hayeon arrived.
Kaboom! Crash! Scraaaape! Clang!
Haaaang! Kyaaaah!!! Kiiiiiieeeek!!!
Three dogs' voices wailed like damned souls, lamenting their failure to drag us to death.
Clawing the walls in desperate fury to snag us.
Bam! Kaboom! Kraaaash!!
Kyaaaaah!!! Kiiiek! Whine! Arf!
Two massive green-flamed forepaws began shredding the cave.
Sensing the threat, I scrambled deeper inside.
Han Bom nearby…
"Hah… Wh-what… What the hell is that… Th-that…"
"Get up! Now!"
"M-Mister… Th-that… M-monster!"
"Up, now!!"
"Eek! Y-yes!"
At my barked order, Han Bom sniffled, legs quaking as she stood and clutched my arm tight.
I shouted to Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee amid the deafening roar.
"Let's go, quick!"
"Yes!"
Unlike Han Bom, their faces were set; they fell in right behind.
Having endured terror once before, calming them was straightforward.
And Cerberus…
Awooooooo!!! Gyaaaaah!! Kiiiiiiek!!
Quaking the cave with earthquake roars, howling in rage at losing us.
Leaving that grievance behind, we pushed deeper.
As the din faded enough to speak.
"Everyone okay?"
"Haa… haa… Yeah. But what was that? It looked exactly like Min Hayeon in a spot she shouldn't be, and we all stared like zombies…"
"I lost my mind too all of a sudden…"
Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee clutched their heads, dizzy recalling it.
"…That must've been the illusion."
I'd figured illusion meant minor misperceptions.
Wrong. Totally different league.
My very ability to doubt that approaching figure vanished—I fully believed it was Min Hayeon.
The form, the run. Pure Min Hayeon.
Without Armonia, I'd have been chomped on the spot.
Armonia, thanks.
[Lucky I sensed the anomaly.]
She'd detected my odd behavior and yelled to jolt me awake, she explained.
If it happens again, same deal.
I thanked her, then eyed Han Bom trembling, gripping my arm.
"Hah… Sc-scary… Th-that thing… M-Mister… S-so scary…"
Same as Park Seon-hee and Park Jin-hee facing Cerberus.
I checked the hole's timer, then asked Park Jin-hee and Park Seon-hee.
"Sorry, mind giving us three minutes?"
"Sure, we'll hang back."
They got it instantly. I started calming Han Bom.
Same words I'd given the others: This fear would fade with familiarity, so push forward.
Thankfully, she listened quick, settling soon after.
"Phew… Thanks, Mister."
"No sweat. Now let's find the real Hayeon."
"Heehee, yeah."
With Han Bom steadied at last, we set off again.
Han Yeoreum chased the frantic Min Hayeon ahead, despair sinking in.
No, no way. At this rate, we might actually clear it!
Survivors: 7
[Death's Eye], [Death's Nose], [Death's Ear], [Death's Whisper]
You are currently in a hole that can evade death. Time until collapse: 1 minute 15 seconds.
Perspectives varied by viewer.
Other party members fretted over the remaining 40 minutes, but Han Yeoreum dreaded the end approaching.
From her view, clearing this boss was a lose-lose.
Fuck, what if we clear and head straight to the next floor? No! Anything but that…
Mid-chase, light signaling the exit gleamed ahead.
Min Hayeon halted upon spotting it, glanced back subtly, and whispered to Han Yeoreum and Son Hye-eun.
"Walk quietly. Minimal talk from here."
"Got it."
40 seconds till collapse.
Slow pace, no issue.
But Han Yeoreum barely registered the hole.
N-now's the chance?
She'd racked her brain for ways to block ascent.
Bound by Seong Su-ho's contract, options were nil. Her one plan?
Yeah… This is all I can do.
Trailing cautiously, she rummaged her inventory.
…Gotta try everything.
Min Hayeon peeked out, signaled silently to emerge.
They crept out soundlessly, then split to scout new holes.
Last out, Han Yeoreum watched the hole seal as bricks piled from the ceiling, energy spent.
Yeah… This'll do it.
Two semicircular items, abandoned by their owner, vanished into the darkness within the blocking bricks.