Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Huh?"
While I was analyzing the footage from the previous round, someone knocked on the door.
Startled, I asked through the communication system.
'What's going on? Armonia, has anyone ever come here before?'
[No. This is the first time something like this has happened.]
Even after being swept up in several regressions, no one had ever come to my bedroom before.
I cautiously opened the door, staying on guard.
As soon as the door opened, my only viewer started spamming the chat.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: WTF, why is she here?!
Standing on the other side of the door was Min Ha-yeon.
"Huh? What brings you here…?"
"Sorry for dropping by suddenly. Are you busy?"
"No."
"Then, can I borrow your arm for a moment…?"
"…?"
Though confused, I offered her my left arm.
She suddenly grabbed my wrist, held it for a few seconds, and then let go.
As if nothing had happened, she spoke.
"500 points. That means today, you and I each get 2000 points."
"…You didn't have to do that."
"I felt uncomfortable, so I did. That's why I came. Well then…"
After finishing her business, Min Ha-yeon flipped her brown hair and left.
…Did she use some kind of elastin?
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Phew… I thought she was gonna waste 100,000 points…
As if that would happen so easily.
Though, I have to admit, I was secretly hoping for it…
I stood there dumbfounded and communicated with Armonia.
'Wow, this must be because of Han Yeo-reum's nonsense earlier, right?'
[I can't think of any other reason.]
'…Then there's a high chance she'll come again tomorrow.'
Judging from the relationship between the two, Min Ha-yeon probably didn't tell Han Yeo-reum about this.
And Han Yeo-reum will definitely find something to nitpick about the distribution tomorrow.
Then I'll let it slide, and Min Ha-yeon will come again.
The chances are high.
The only problem is, even if she comes tomorrow, she'll just hand over the points and leave.
I need something to keep her engaged…
As I opened the door and stepped out, I spoke through the communication system.
'Armonia.'
[Yes.]
'Let's learn stealth.'
I decided to follow Min Ha-yeon first.
***
Late at night in Zephyrum.
Min Ha-yeon was distributing points to her party members and heading back to her lodging.
If she said she had no regrets, it would be a lie.
Though she had only experienced it for two days, Min Ha-yeon quickly realized how important points were in this place.
Moreover, she was staying at the Zephyrum Hotel, which cost 1500 points per night.
"Sigh… If only I could stay at an inn like that person, I'd feel much more at ease."
Min Ha-yeon wasn't staying at the hotel by choice.
She had been dragged there by someone.
When she was forcibly brought to the Colosseum, Min Ha-yeon, who usually maintained her composure and calmness, was quite flustered.
A lover who happened to be there with her.
Han Yeo-reum, whom she had liked since childhood and once loved.
As soon as they left the Colosseum, he told her to trust him and dragged her along.
And the women he brought with him…
"…I'm tired of trying to understand."
Min Ha-yeon and Han Yeo-reum had been a couple since high school.
The problem was there from the beginning.
She grew up as the only daughter in a devoutly religious family.
Her father was a pastor, and her mother was a writer who wrote deeply religious books.
Min Ha-yeon's parents were always gentle and righteous, and she grew up well under their care.
As a result, she greatly valued premarital chastity.
The problem was that Han Yeo-reum wanted to have sex with her as soon as they started dating, but Min Ha-yeon couldn't accept that.
If he had taken his time to coax her, she might have given in.
But Han Yeo-reum, who usually relied on his looks to charm women, lacked such skills.
"Back then, I stupidly said something strange…"
The problem was that she felt so guilty for disappointing Han Yeo-reum that she ended up saying something she shouldn't have.
"If… if you really can't hold back, it's okay to be with other women… I don't want to see you suffer because of me. I can wait until marriage."
To others, it might sound ridiculous, but Min Ha-yeon never thought he would actually go and sleep with other women.
She mistakenly believed he would understand the meaning behind her words.
After that, he started sleeping with other women and showed no remorse to Min Ha-yeon.
Under the guise of her permission, he had let loose.
Most people wouldn't understand why Min Ha-yeon stayed with Han Yeo-reum in such a situation.
In fact, there was another reason she couldn't break up with him.
Family.
Han Yeo-reum was the eldest son, with three younger siblings.
In their childhood, the four siblings lost their parents in a sudden accident.
Fortunately, Min Ha-yeon's father, who was close to them, took good care of Han Yeo-reum's siblings.
As time passed, Min Ha-yeon grew close not only to Han Yeo-reum but also to his siblings, treating them like her own family.
Min Ha-yeon's parents, unaware of Han Yeo-reum's womanizing, comforted her by saying that's just how relationships are.
Ironically, it wasn't her parents but Han Yeo-reum's siblings who truly comforted her.
Especially Han Yeo-reum's younger sister, who even punched him on her behalf.
The reason Min Ha-yeon was still with Han Yeo-reum wasn't because she liked him.
It was because she loved his family… the other three siblings too much.
And those siblings… desperately wanted Min Ha-yeon to marry Han Yeo-reum.
Because they loved her so much.
The situation had become so entangled that it was impossible to break free.
"…Will things get better if we get married? No… more importantly, will the others be okay?"
Right now, she wasn't worried about Han Yeo-reum but only wanted to see the other three siblings.
She was also afraid that she might never leave this place and never see the kids again.
Lost in her worries, she walked nervously until she reached her room.
"I'll rest for today… huh?"
Just as Min Ha-yeon was about to open her door, the door next to her opened, and someone stepped out.
It was Han Yeo-reum.
Startled, Min Ha-yeon hid behind a decorative object next to her room.
As soon as Han Yeo-reum stepped out, he muttered quietly.
"Heh~ I slept with Sun-hee yesterday, so today I'll sleep with Hye-eun~"
"…."
Han Yeo-reum hummed cheerfully as he bounced down the stairs.
Once his footsteps faded, the sound of teeth grinding could be heard.
Grind…
"…."
No matter how thoughtless Han Yeo-reum was, he never openly talked about his affairs in front of Min Ha-yeon.
Even if he got caught with another woman, he would ditch her and cling to Min Ha-yeon, apologizing.
But seeing Han Yeo-reum talk like that, Min Ha-yeon couldn't help but grit her teeth and tremble with anger.
It was a side of Han Yeo-reum she had never seen before.
She stood there, clenching her fists tightly, trembling for ten minutes.
"Haaaaa…"
She let out a roar-like sigh and entered her room.
***
"…Wow."
From behind another decorative object, I watched Min Ha-yeon enter her room.
Having learned stealth, I immediately leveled it up to 8.
For someone like Han Yeo-reum, level 1 would have been enough, but I raised it to a reasonable level in case something unexpected happened with Min Ha-yeon.
As I followed Min Ha-yeon after learning stealth, Armonia spoke.
[Suho, the Enels used cannot be refunded after regression. I understand it's necessary, but please use them carefully.]
According to Armonia, the Enels used were already offered to the gods, and the abilities gained were converted into personal traits, so they wouldn't be affected by regression.
I chuckled and communicated.
'It's fine, it's fine! The next round's me will handle it anyway.'
I boldly used the skill, as if leaving it to the next round's me.
Armonia quietly spoke as she watched me.
[…I'll show you a video.]
'…? What video?'
Armonia didn't answer and played the video.
In the video, I was lying on the bed, communicating with Armonia.
[Guardian, please be careful when using Enels. If you regress, your abilities will reset.]
"It's fine, it's fine! The next round's me will handle it. Hehehe."
Watching the video, I felt anger boiling up towards myself… no, the pre-regression me.
How dare you dump the installment on me?
'You bastard…'
[It's not advisable to curse at yourself.]
'That's not me!?'
[Yes, it's definitely you.]
Damn…
Well, anyway, the Enels I've already used are gone…
As I left the Zephyrum Hotel, I recalled tailing Min Ha-yeon.
'I don't know what she was muttering about, but it seems like her feelings for Han Yeo-reum have cooled, right?'
[It definitely seems like her affection for Han Yeo-reum has almost disappeared. However, it seems there are personal reasons for staying with him.]
'…The gap is wide, but the problem is that the gap is filled with iron.'
Even if I want to wedge myself in, squeezing through an iron gap isn't easy.
The only noticeable trait is [Trustworthiness]…
The strategy I could think of was simple.
I needed to give her a big reason to trust me.
And in a short time…
***
At noon, Han Yeo-reum spoke to me and the party members gathered in front of the village.
"I found out some important information yesterday."
"…?"
Han Yeo-reum put on a serious expression and explained about the boss of Zephyrum Village.
"If we defeat him before leaving here, we'll get a great reward."
"But… isn't the boss a strong monster? Wouldn't it be better to just carefully collect points for 7 days?"
In this tutorial village, Zephyrum, there was one important rule.
The stay period was forcibly set to 7 days.
After staying for 7 days, you would be forcibly moved to either the upper or lower layer.
However, there was a way to leave this place before 7 days.
By defeating the boss monster.
If you defeat Shock Bee, which uses paralysis waves, you can move to the upper layer.
"Well, yeah… At our current level…"
"If we die here, we die for real. It's not a game…"
"Yeah, Yeo-reum. There's no need to take unnecessary risks."
Everyone was hesitant and anxious.
There was one reason…
Han Yeo-reum.
No matter how much they liked him, after seeing him for a few days, they must have realized.
He had no talent for combat…
In fact, he sometimes got in the way.
But the clueless guy pointed at me.
"Well… I understand you're worried because of the alchemist."
"…."
What the hell is he talking about?
'Is this guy really that clueless? Or is he just trying to save face?'
[From what I can see, he's genuinely clueless.]
Has he lived his whole life relying on luck, completely oblivious to others' feelings...?
Out of all the people I've met, he's the most trashy and idiotic.
He has nothing but regression… no, he has nothing but regression and his looks.
Han Yeo-reum glared at me and continued.
"I'm not saying we should do it right now. On the last day, we'll assess the situation and decide."
This guy probably doesn't even remember how he died from the paralysis waves.
It seems he's decided to get as strong as possible before facing the boss.
I almost felt proud of him for showing a bit of wisdom and nodded along.
"…So you're not saying we have to do it no matter what?"
"Yeah."
"…."
You bastard… If being annoying is a talent, this guy was born with divine talent.
'I'm never talking to him again…'
[That seems like a good idea. No matter how well you treat him, he tends to completely ignore men.]
'Ugh…'
In the end, our party decided to gather information and grow stronger with points until the last day.
Fortunately, unlike the 5th regression, we wouldn't recklessly charge in and die.
We finished hunting and were about to settle our points in front of the village.
But Han Yeo-reum didn't mess with me and started the distribution right away.
"Today's total is 14,000. Let's distribute it."
"…."
What's this? Is he actually going to distribute it fairly?
'I'd rather he just pull his petty antics like yesterday…'
[That doesn't seem to be a concern.]
'Huh? Why?'
I asked, not understanding the reason.
But Armonia simply answered.
[It seems he's planning to give you 1500.]
'Wow, what a bastard. Hahahaha.'
It was so ridiculous that I couldn't help but laugh.
Just as Armonia said, Han Yeo-reum didn't even ask for my opinion and gave me 1500, while the rest got 2500.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: LOLOLOLOLOL what a trash LOLOLOLOLOL
Even GGLD was bursting with laughter.
However, Min Ha-yeon's expression as she watched the process wasn't good.
Today, she didn't say a single word to anyone, including me, except for greetings.
It was probably because of what happened yesterday.
Unlike in previous regressions, this was the first time she directly heard Han Yeo-reum's cheating remarks.
It must be hard to stay calm.
She must hate seeing her boyfriend's petty behavior too…
In the end, after the distribution, I quietly entered the village without a word.
Unlike usual, I didn't head straight to the inn but started wandering around the village as the evening sun set.
The GGLD, curious, asked me a question.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: ...??? Where are you going?
I simply answered.
"I'm looking for something that might help me win her over."
***
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