How to Steal the Hero's Woman - Chapter 402: Strata Magic School (3-13)

The moment I opened the door, Sonya apologized first, her face full of regret.

"Sorry for coming so late."

"No need to apologize. Come on in."

Sonya stepped cautiously through the door I'd opened and began looking around the room.

As she glanced over my room, she ran her palm across the dining table and murmured softly.

"It's different from a double room. I've always used doubles, so this is my first time seeing a single."

"Now that you mention it, I'm curious about the doubles too."

Sonya smiled at my words and glanced at the chair by the table.

"Mind if I sit for a bit and talk?"

"Of course not."

I pulled out a chair for her, speaking in a gentle tone as I gazed calmly at her face.

"Have a seat here, Mrs. Sonya Friedrich."

"Oh..."

Sonya beamed and sat in the chair with my escorting touch, thanking me warmly.

"Thank you. You've learned some fun tricks."

"Haha... I guess I've been too clueless all my life, so I'm picking up a few things."

I switched back to my normal voice, then leaned in playfully toward her as I sat across from her.

"What's up?"

"Hmm..."

Sonya closed her eyes, pondering for a moment, then winked one eye open and asked quietly.

"Enjoying the trip?"

"Ah... yeah. It's been great."

We hadn't reached our destination yet, but honestly, it had been incredibly fun.

Spending each day blissfully with Luna.

Seeing my hesitation, Sonya smiled and said,

"Glad to hear it. Just be careful not to get caught."

"...Pardon?"

"I overheard the coachmen talking."

Sonya explained she'd gone to arrange the dean's dinner for the next day and ended up eavesdropping by accident. The coachmen hadn't noticed her and were chatting freely.

Sonya had pieced together who they were talking about and come straight to me.

'These guys have looser lips than I thought.'

The coachmen were really unlucky, honestly.

Most of their passengers holed up in their rooms, summoning staff with bells to handle everything...

Especially after arriving in a village like this—they'd let their guard down completely.

I apologized to Sonya right away after hearing the story.

"Sorry about that..."

"Don't apologize. I'm not here to scold you. You're both adults. There's no reason it should be a problem."

She wasn't here to reprimand us.

She was just worried because she knew about Louis Brandt Rup and his connection to me and Luna.

"It's fine to have fun, but be careful. Especially with Louis... It won't end well if he finds out."

"Got it. I'll be more careful."

Sonya smiled at my response and gazed at me warmly.

"You're soulmates. I... envy you."

Sonya's expression turned melancholic as she stared at me intently. Drawn by her smile, I slowly approached her.

"Professor Sonya..."

"Student Su-ho..."

Sonya flinched in surprise for a moment but stayed seated, watching me draw near with steady eyes.

I was almost right in front of her when—

"W-well, I should get going."

Sonya suddenly shot to her feet, giving a bitter smile as she headed for the door. Stunned, I grabbed her wrist.

"Wait. Professor!"

"Rest well. And..."

Sonya gripped the doorknob and fell silent, turning her head slightly away without looking at me.

"...Take good care of Student Luna. Alright?"

She gently shook off my hand, then quietly and swiftly opened the door and left.

I watched her go, then flopped into the chair with a heavy sigh.

'Aigoo... This is tough.'

'Yeah... She fell right away at first.'

Back then, Sonya had been pent-up with frustration and lost her reason under my pheromones.

And when we first hooked up, Luna and I weren't lovers yet, and Karl had no idea about me and Sonya.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But the biggest issue was—even if Karl and Luna approved, Sonya herself didn't know that.

'I can't just tell her, "Hey, my girlfriend and your husband gave us the okay!"'

Lately, with all the dangerous spots like the embassy or Yggdrasil, I hadn't even thought about raising my sexual traits.

These were the ones that had risen naturally after my initial Enel investments.

Only Sex and Oral had gone up noticeably.

Empathy and Pheromones weren't the type you could force higher with effort—they'd stayed the same.

'Time to raise them.'

There weren't any real threats in this world anyway.

I had plenty of Enel to spare. Better to spend some and grow steadily.

'Perfect. Let's bump Empathy to 10 and Pheromones to 15.'

Once the skill levels rose, my impression was...

'As expected... I feel absolutely nothing!'

For example, when I'd learned status ailment immunity in the dungeonized Everica HQ, the effect was crystal clear. But now? Zero sensation.

'Roger that! Sonya's a lost cause tonight anyway. Off to Luna.'

I turned off all the lights in the room, flung my cloak dramatically, and dashed to Luna's quarters.

"Haa..."

The moment Sonya returned to her room after finishing her errands, she let out a quiet sigh.

Her husband, Karl, was already asleep inside.

Even though he'd gone to bed, he'd left the room lights on, considerate of her arrival.

Looking at him, Sonya felt another wave of guilt.

'Haa... What have I been doing?'

Sonya liked Seong Su-ho, but she despised herself for falling for him.

Truth be told, she'd gone to him earlier intending to be direct.

'Failed again...'

She'd planned to draw a firm line, make it clear they couldn't meet anymore.

If Luna hadn't existed, Sonya might have buried her guilt in the corner of her heart's garden and wandered it eternally with him.

But thanks to Luna and her husband, the seed of guilt buried in the soil had grown into a tree, now bearing fruit.

The fruits of that guilt tree in her heart's garden began tempting her with their sweet scent.

'Why does my mind go so hazy whenever I'm near Student Su-ho...'

The scent that had first drawn her to Seong Su-ho.

Though she could now maintain her reason unlike back then, every whiff of his body odor brought back memories of their sex.

Because of his pheromones, to which she hadn't built tolerance, her resolve melted away softly, turning today's visit into another empty errand.

'...This can't go on.'

Sonya needed to make a decision.

She wasn't afraid of getting caught cheating and being chewed out.

She didn't fear taking responsibility for her actions.

But she worried her behavior might hurt her husband and jeopardize his business.

'Karl...'

Sonya quietly approached the bed where he slept and gazed down at his face.

Karl slumbered with a dignified air, even in sleep.

Gazing at her husband, she wondered.

'...He's not doing it on purpose, is he?'

Sonya didn't know Karl's exact intentions, but she occasionally sensed hints from him.

On weekends with no business, he'd vacate the mansion; he'd even separated their rooms, leaving easy openings.

And crucially, putting up a male visitor in their home.

No matter how much Karl liked Strata students, it was a tough call. Seeing that, Sonya began harboring suspicions.

She entertained the doubt briefly but shook her head.

'Ridiculous. Karl wouldn't think like that. Don't get your hopes up for nothing.'

Humans have a psychology that fills uncertainties with hopeful thoughts.

I'll probably get away with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it today? This time I might even get pregnant? And so on.

Sonya herself had gambled her life on such countless hopes while sleeping with Seong Su-ho.

And that runaway gamble had barely stopped because of Luna.

Sonya nodded firmly.

'Before this trip ends... I'll decide.'

..

..

"Hngh..."

At Sonya's moan, Karl beside her asked worriedly.

"What's wrong? Are you hurting?"

"I-I'm fine."

Sonya gave a bitter smile, squeezing her eyes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shut to focus her mind.

But the more she concentrated to steady herself, the sharper her senses became, unraveling her thoughts instead.

With her mind briefly scattered, Sonya stared blankly at someone with dazed eyes.

'He's not actually wearing perfume, is he?'

It was Seong Su-ho, just finishing breakfast and about to board the carriage.

She'd only passed by him briefly that morning, but his emanating scent had stimulated her lower abdomen.

'Am I overthinking it? Today it feels especially strong...'

Sonya, who'd resolved herself last night, felt her determination waver again under the intensely piercing aroma.

"Hoo..."

"Hm? Professor Sonya, are you alright?"

Her dazed state even reached the Dean, who was deep in concentration.

Sonya panicked and forced a smile toward him.

"Y-yes, I'm fine."

"Hmm? Your face is flushed. You don't look fine."

"Sorry for worrying you."

"Worrying..."

The Dean smiled wryly and said to her,

"I was too absorbed in my work and didn't notice. My bad. Professor Sonya, stop worrying about me and enjoy the trip."

"N-no, I..."

"Professor Sonya."

The Dean gave a pleased smile and ordered her.

"That's an order. If something urgent comes up, I'll call you. Until then, rest."

"...Understood."

Once the word "order" left the Dean's mouth, Sonya couldn't push back anymore.

And the Dean issued one more command.

"Professor Sonya, today..."

..

..

'I should've forced myself onto the Dean's carriage...'

Sonya fretted inwardly, exhaling carefully.

"Hoo..."

With her sigh came a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠concerned man's voice tickling her ear.

"Professor Sonya, are you okay?"

"Hnght... Y-yes, I'm fine."

"If you're feeling unwell at all, just say so. I'll tell the coachman right away."

"Th-thank you."

Seong Su-ho, riding in the same carriage, smiled brightly at her.