"...What is going on?"
The woman walking aimlessly, gazing at the evening sunset, was named Park Jin-hee.
She was the woman who had just stopped by the herb shop to sell some items.
As one of the members of Han Yeo-reum's party, she had always been timid and hesitant to step forward.
Even after joining Han Yeo-reum's party, she never really spoke to him properly, but she was content just being in the same party.
A few days ago, he suddenly came to her room, and before she knew it, they ended up in a physical relationship.
She had a faint hope that she might be able to hold onto Han Yeo-reum.
Then, she accidentally witnessed Min Ha-yeon and an alchemist whose name she couldn't remember.
Despite not being the type to act on impulse, at that moment, she felt a surge of greed and a desire to do something.
Eventually, she confronted Min Ha-yeon with a bluff.
But the result...
"Could they really be in that kind of relationship? Why? Did she find some leverage?"
Instead, Min Ha-yeon readily offered to help her.
"No... They seemed to get along well on the surface. Could it be... that she's planning to betray him later?"
When she received the offer, she was flustered and accepted it without thinking, but as she came to her senses, she began to feel scared.
She wasn't the type to threaten someone by nature.
"...Since I've already started, I'll just stay quiet until they make the first move..."
With a mix of faint hope and anxiety about being caught, Park Jin-hee headed to the hotel.
***
"Seong Suho... Don't do that again, okay?"
"Okay... How many times do I have to hear this..."
Suho said with a tired expression but a smile on his face.
He had been caught by Min Ha-yeon trying to buy Moonlight Grass at the herb shop and had been scolded for it all night.
'If this keeps up, I'll be hearing this all night.'
Suho, not wanting to hear any more nagging, tried to change the subject.
"By the way, what were you talking about with that person earlier?"
"Ah... It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Suho was asking about the conversation she had with Park Jin-hee at the herb shop earlier.
Min Ha-yeon thought she had done a good job of keeping it under wraps, but she couldn't help feeling worried.
'From what I saw, she doesn't seem like the type to blabber, so it should be fine...'
Min Ha-yeon just hoped that no troublesome situation would arise.
Suho, with his drunken, relaxed eyes, looked at Min Ha-yeon with concern.
"Even if you say not to worry... If this gets out to your boyfriend, it'll be a big deal, right?"
"A big deal... Hey! And!"
"...?"
"Don't talk about him here. It's annoying..."
Min Ha-yeon muttered, sticking out her tongue slightly.
Suho found Min Ha-yeon's unusual behavior cute and chuckled.
Seeing him laugh, Min Ha-yeon thought to herself.
'He's really weak with alcohol... Oh right!'
Min Ha-yeon's eyes sparkled as she asked Suho a question.
"By the way, you said you've been to other worlds, right?"
"Huh? Ah... Yeah."
"Can you tell me about those other worlds? I'm really curious."
"Ah... Sure. But where should I start..."
Suho began his story with a nostalgic expression.
Of course... Suho only shared the parts that were safe to tell while keeping the secrets.
...
...
...
"Wait, you learned magic too?"
"Yeah, but... I can't use any overpowered magic."
"Wow... That's amazing..."
At first, Min Ha-yeon thought Suho was exaggerating.
But after seeing him perform a simple magic circle, she couldn't help but believe him.
As Suho performed the magic circle, her channel was also flipped upside down.
└LOL, isn't that something that should be restricted?
└What are you going to restrict? Seal their innate abilities?
└Hey, but when summoning here, don't they check the specs to some extent?
└Yeah, if too strong people are summoned, it'll break the balance, so they should filter them out, right?
└What are you talking about? If that's the case, then archers shouldn't be allowed to use swords?
└Oh, right.
Min Ha-yeon could confirm while looking at the chaotic chat window.
'He's really amazing...'
Not the kind of specs you'd put on a resume for a corporate job, but specs that defy the laws of physics necessary for survival.
He was drunkenly drawing a magic circle with his finger, showing it off to Min Ha-yeon.
Although he said his level was far from adequate, Min Ha-yeon didn't feel that way at all.
Min Ha-yeon asked with a mix of concern and pity.
"Um... Is it okay to tell me all this?"
"Huh? Why?"
"...It's like your secret weapon, right?"
Of course, having more abilities is better.
But revealing too much early on could provoke jealousy.
After all, in this Yggdrasil, only one person who reaches the final floor will receive glory.
Most people wouldn't view Suho's actions in a purely positive light.
Even Min Ha-yeon felt a slight pang of jealousy.
But Suho's response caused her budding jealousy to wither before it could bloom.
"I think it's important to share with people you want to trust."
"..."
"And..."
"...?"
Suho said with a playful smile.
"I haven't told you everything, of course. But I think it's okay to keep sharing with you."
"..."
Min Ha-yeon smiled wryly and thought.
'What is it that he wants...'
For a moment, Min Ha-yeon felt guilty towards Suho for her own rising greed.
A trustworthy comrade...
That was really important to her.
To erase her own feelings, Min Ha-yeon cautiously asked.
"Um... That girl you said you dated at the magic school."
"Ah, Luna. Why?"
"Can you tell me how you two got together?"
Min Ha-yeon still had some curiosity about the woman Suho mentioned.
Suho, with his drunken, relaxed eyes, smiled and said.
"I can't say no."
"Tell me, tell me."
Min Ha-yeon, with an excited expression, began to listen attentively to Suho's story.
...
...
...
"So... That day was a complete mess."
"Ah..."
As Suho started talking about Luna, he began to chatter away with a bright smile, different from his usual self.
To Min Ha-yeon, this was a completely different side of Suho.
Suho spent about an hour talking about Luna.
At first, Min Ha-yeon listened with sparkling eyes, but soon her expression turned cold.
It wasn't because she was bored.
'...Why am I so annoyed?'
After 10 minutes of listening with a smile, Min Ha-yeon's heart began to fill with irritation.
She quickly realized the reason.
'You're like this, but what about me...'
Min Ha-yeon began to compare her own situation with Luna's, and her anger started to build.
A man who, despite being right next to her, was happily reminiscing about a woman he had been separated from for a long time, with no certainty of when they'd meet again.
Normally, she would have calmed herself and listened, but the alcohol in her system was causing waves.
Suho said to Min Ha-yeon.
"...Are you okay? Ah, sorry, was it too boring?"
"Huh? Ah, no! I think I'm just tired from running around a lot today..."
"Ah, it's gotten pretty late."
Although Suho said that, it wasn't really that late compared to yesterday.
For some reason, Min Ha-yeon didn't want to go back to her room now.
'If I run into him now, I might really kill him...'
She thought that if she ran into Han Yeo-reum at this awkward time, she might really shoot an arrow into his stomach.
If Han Yeo-reum was going somewhere at this time, it was definitely to see a woman.
"Ah, no! I'm not tired! Let's have one more!"
"Hey, hey! Let's save the rest for tomorrow..."
"Come on, come on!"
Min Ha-yeon forcibly filled Suho's glass and tried to revive the drinking atmosphere.
***
'...What is this?'
[At least we know Min Ha-yeon's alcohol tolerance...]
As Armonia said.
Min Ha-yeon's alcohol tolerance was about 14 bottles of soju.
How did I know?
Because Min Ha-yeon passed out after drinking her 14th bottle.
'Is it a problem if I take her to the hotel?'
[I think we should just let her stay at this lodging for now.]
"Sigh... sigh..."
'How can someone make such soft breathing sounds after drinking so much...'
Whether it's a man or a woman, when they get drunk and sleep, they tend to snore.
But even the way this beautiful woman sleeps after drinking is beautiful.
'Let's just get another room and let her sleep there.'
I tried to wake Min Ha-yeon by shaking her roughly.
"Hey, Ha-yeon! Wake up!!"
"Hmm... Haa..."
Min Ha-yeon frowned in her sleep, showing her irritation.
She clearly had no intention of waking up.
"...Alright."
Feeling my heart race, I carried Min Ha-yeon on my back.
Her ample chest pressed against my back, and my penis threatened to push forward.
'Damn it, hold on... If I do something while drunk, it's game over...'
It would be better to cause trouble at the Stura or the Hero Academy.
At least there, I could face legal judgment.
Not that it's better, but at least I could argue my way out of it.
But this place was different.
I could be branded as a Red Summoner, and if word got back to Han Yeo-reum, I could be beaten to a pulp throughout the regression.
I tried to ignore Min Ha-yeon's chest and asked the innkeeper.
"Um... Could I get another room? I think I need to let my friend sleep here."
"Oh my! I forgot to mention that..."
"Huh?"
"One summoner can't rent more than one lodging facility."
"Huh? Why?"
I made a confused face at the absurd explanation, but the innkeeper quickly explained.
In peaceful and relaxed places like this Zephyrum village, there's no problem with lodging facilities.
But as you go higher in the floors, lodging facilities become scarce, and to prevent abuse, one person can't rent multiple lodging facilities.
This isn't just a rule of the inn, but a rule applied to all summoners in this Yggdrasil.
"Then Ha-yeon can't rent a separate lodging..."
"That's... She has to pay for it herself. And from what I heard yesterday, she's already staying at a hotel, so it's probably not possible."
The innkeeper explained that Min Ha-yeon had already prepaid for her hotel stay, so she couldn't stay here.
"Ah... What should I do..."
"Hey, young man, why are you worrying so much?"
"...? Huh?"
"Just sleep together. She's your girlfriend, right?"
"Haha... No."
I answered with a bitter smile.
'I want to have a fuck buddy.'
[....]
Fortunately, Armonia had sobered me up at the last moment, so I didn't say anything stupid.
The innkeeper laughed heartily and said.
"Hey... Be a little more proactive. From what I see, she doesn't seem to dislike you either."
"Hahaha..."
"Well, we can't let her sleep on the streets... You two can share a room for now. You'll just have to endure for a day..."
"I guess so."
There was no other way.
If I tried to take her to the hotel now and ran into Han Yeo-reum or any other party members, it would be a disaster.
Even if I managed to get to the hotel without being noticed, there was a chance I wouldn't be able to enter Min Ha-yeon's room...
I took Min Ha-yeon to my room and laid her down on my bed.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Ooh... Are you going to do it?
I spoke in the channel so only GGLD could hear.
"...Does anyone want to draw a red line?"
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Who knows? Maybe she'll fall for you after you do it? LOL
I made a dumbfounded expression and said to Armonia.
'...That's convincing?'
[Get a grip. This isn't a game.]
'You told me to believe in the game...'
I guess I've played too many adult games.
I left her clothes as they were and covered her with a blanket.
'Wow... She looks amazing when she sleeps. An elf when fighting, a drinking buddy when drinking, and a goddess when sleeping. She's got it all.'
[It seems this target is quite different from the women you've met so far.]
Would you say she has a strong sense of self?
She definitely gives off a strong, decisive, and clear-cut vibe.
[But her expression earlier was concerning.]
'It should be fine.'
I was somewhat aware of what Armonia was worried about.
When I was talking about Luna, her expression had hardened at some point.
Of course, I didn't stop because of that...
'It's not jealousy from affection, so it should be fine.'
[And if it doesn't work out...]
'I can just regress. Hehe...'
Although I'm not the one regressing, I've prepared a way to counteract the regression.
If today's actions caused a negative outcome, I just won't do them after the regression.
I sat on the bed and stared blankly at Min Ha-yeon.
Then, an interesting idea came to mind.
'...Let's use Dream Invasion!'
[That's a great idea. Besides, Dream Invasion isn't considered a status ailment, so it should be usable even now.]
Armonia praised me... She must have thought it was a really good idea.
Moreover, this was my personal space.
There was no chance of any issues arising.
[Just be careful. There might be watchers on Min Ha-yeon's channel right now. Be cautious when casting the magic circle.]
'Okay! Now, then...'
I muttered to myself as I lay down on the floor.
"Let's see..."
I spoke so that the beings in Min Ha-yeon's channel could hear and carefully cast the Dream Invasion magic circle.
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹